In today’s episode of the Pickleball Connection Podcast, we hit three hot topics:

• Rec-Play Drama: What do you do when someone shows up with a clearly out-of-spec or delaminated paddle? Where we draw the line (and a funny racquetball racket story).
• Vintage Open Takeaways: Pros played with identical wooden paddles—who popped, who struggled, and what this says about modern styles vs. gear.
• Malaysia Conditions: Heat, humidity, slow ball… and surprising results. How climate and ball choice can flip matchups—and which players benefit.

👇 Drop your take:

• Would you call out an illegal paddle in rec?
• Which player would improve most if everyone used the same paddle?
• Are you better in crisp altitude air or Florida soup?

The PPA Cincinnati Open was full of surprises—huge upsets, paddle drama, and even a sneak peek at the upcoming Sacramento Vintage Open 🎾 In this episode of The Pickleball Connection Podcast, Barrett and Danea break down:

• How Jackie & Jade Kawamoto stunned Anna Leigh Waters & Anna Bright—and then won it all.
• Why paddle testing shook up the pro scene and left players scrambling.
• What destructive testing really means for the future of paddles.
• Why Selkirk’s Boomstik passed while others didn’t.
• A look ahead at the Wooden Paddle tournament—can modern pros thrive with old-school gear?

In this Pickleball Connection Podcast episode, Barrett & Danea dig into two big topics shaping your game right now: 1) “Learn New Shots” = Level Up? Why adding tools (60% dipping drives, one-hand flicks, the bunt drop, smarter baseline defense) matters—and how rhythm and timing can instantly upgrade your drives, drops, and dinks even more than swinging harder. 2) DUPR Debate (Age/Gender & Tourney mashups) A fiery thread on mixing age brackets, how ageless/genderless ratings impact rec & tournament players, whether DUPR needs age/gender lanes (or even AI), and how often you should log matches for accuracy.

Are you avoiding games against stronger opponents? In this episode of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea dive into a hot community debate: is your unwillingness to seek out tougher competition what’s holding your game back? We also break down the latest drama and excitement from Major League Pickleball playoffs—including shocking upsets, dream breaker chaos, and betting entering the pickleball world. Plus, we share unfiltered first impressions of Selkirk’s newest power paddle, the Boomstick, and why it’s already changing the game. ⏱ What You’ll Learn:

• Why challenging yourself against higher-level players can accelerate improvement.
• How the Columbus Sliders shocked the pickleball world by knocking out the Dallas Flash.
• What betting on MLP could mean for the future of the sport.
• Honest player feedback on the Selkirk Boomstik (and whether it really lives up to the hype).

First, the new UPA Players Association:

• What it means for PPA and MLP pros
• Why Zane Navratil was voted in as player rep
• How it could shift rules, fines, contracts, and working conditions
• The long-term impact on trust, pay structure, and competitive balance

Then, we dive into the new official tour ball:

• The Lifetime ball’s performance
• How it compares to the Vulcan, Dura, and Selkirk Pro S1
• What pros are saying (and what it might mean for the amateur game)

Plus: thoughts on recent MLP event quality and why top-team matchups matter for fan excitement.

Major League Pickleball just had its most chaotic week ever—and we’re here to break it all down.

In this episode of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea dissect the blockbuster trade that sent Ben Johns to the LA Mad Drops and reshaped the MLP power structure. Which teams are legit title threats? Who's just cashing out? And what team chemistry questions remain?

We also dive into:

Our updated Top 5 MLP Teams 🏆

Whether Premier Division is too top-heavy

Surprising takes from the community on rule changes

Should the serve be regulated more strictly?

And yes… is it time to change the name “pickleball”?

In this episode of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea break down the latest changes to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), including how you can now lose rating points even after a win. 🤯 We cover:

• Why winning isn’t enough anymore
• The real consequences for high-level players
• How rally scoring and “margin expectations” change everything
• Whether DUPR should factor in age and gender
• The bigger issue of sandbagging in tournaments
• And… an AI-powered solution that might actually fix it all 👀

This week on The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea dive deep into two HOT topics in the pickleball world 🔥:

🏓 1. Should Your Rec Games Count Toward DUPR?

💰 2. New PPA/MLP Prize Structure for Pros

👉 Let us know in the comments: Would YOU still show up to rec play if every match counted toward your DUPR?

✅ Like, comment, and subscribe to stay connected with all things pickleball.

In Episode 44 of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea sit down with legendary coach and educator Mark Renneson to explore the future of pickleball coaching—and challenge the outdated methods many instructors still cling to 🧠 🔥 🎙️ In this episode:

• Mark’s journey from tennis to pickleball coaching
• Why third-shot drops and dink drills might be a waste of time for beginners
• The difference between a good coach and a great one
• What makes Pickleball Coaching International (PCI) a game-changer in coach certification
• How PCI is expanding access to quality coaching—even in Africa

💡 Whether you're a current coach, aspiring instructor, or just obsessed with learning the game, this episode is packed with insight 👇 Let us know in the comments: What's the best coaching advice you've ever received?

Welcome to Episode 43 of the Pickleball Connection podcast! In this episode, Barrett and Danea Bass share what it's like playing competitive pickleball with your spouse. They also discuss the growing influence of AI on pickleball, including its potential to enhance coaching and gameplay analysis, as well as the impact of pickleball paddle technology on the growth of the sport. Higher quality paddles can make a significant difference in performance, but having an understanding paddle technology is crucial for players looking to improve.