Good day, picklers.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: The Twoey Takeover: The Skill No One Cared About Until NOW

• Bite-sized: Sonic Drive-In Serves Up Burgers… and Pickleball?

• Golden Pickle: When splitting it down the middle is taken way too literally…

PICKLE TALK

The Twoey Takeover: The Skill No One Cared About Until NOW

Pro pickleball is changing, fast. And we can prove it, thanks to this one skill many people didn’t think 🧠 would become a staple in this new era of pickleball we are entering. (The answer will be revealed verrryyy shortly, if you just keep on reading👇🏾)

Now-a-days, if you’re relying solely on a one-handed backhand, sorry bruh…

…it’s just not enough. It’s still a stellar skill to have, for sure, vital if you are time traveling back to the 2018 pickleball era....(the era of the slowwwww, strategy game)

But now, the two-handed backhand, or “twoey,” is the skills even the pros are trying to perfect, transforming the way the game is played. (SEE? Told you it would be quick (; )

Not only that, It’s infiltrating every aspect of the game, from crosscourt drives to aggressive dinks.

Why? Well…change is good. Don’t like it? You might want to find anther sport cause that’s all pickleball is right now. Change. 🤷‍♂️

And we shouting THIS from the roof tops since no one else wants to admit it:

The power game is KING right now. Cause we in the power era, ba-by.

The rise of the twoey isn’t just a subtle shift either. OH NO, King Charles and your royal servants. What was once considered a rare move back in the slower days is now becoming the go-to shot, particularly among the pros…

…Like one of our faves: Mr. Quang Duong. The “King” of the twoey. 🤴🏻

Even Dylan Frazier, a one-hand backhand guy, humbly admitted that he’s working on his twoey after witnessing the chaos Duong caused at Bristol.

We’ve seen this before in other paddle sports, too. Not just in pickleball.

In tennis, the two-handed backhand fundamentally changed the sport decades ago, giving players more control and power in baseline rallies. Just take a look a Serena Williams for example. 

She drives power through the ball, returning a 138 MPH ball, and she has her two-handed backhand to thank. Do you need a lollipop to go with that open mouth?!

In padal, two-handed strokes are a MUST for generating spin and keeping volleys low and returning power hits.

The same skill is now sweeping through pickleball. Even some of the best players like Ben Johns, who once relied on their one-handers, are now incorporating the twoey into their games.

Honest to the pickleball Gods? If you’re not adapting, you’re falling way, way behind. And someone like Ben John knows that all too well. (and no shade, so does Collin 😁)

The future 🛸 is clear: If you want to compete at the highest levels of pickleball NOW, you need to start working on your twoey. Otherwise, the time machine back to 2018 awaits for you and only you. 👽

The days of the one-handed backhand being the default shot are expiring. And so will you if you don’t learn to adapt.

Players who get ahead of the trend now will rely on the twoey not just for defense, but for aggressive crosscourt rolls, speed-ups, and—like Duong showed us—deadly offensive dinks.

BITE-SIZED PICKLE

1/ The UPA-A Drops Its 2025 Paddle Certification Plan

HANDS UP. GIVE ME YOUR MONEY.

Big news in pickleball paddle world—UPA-A just released its 2025 Paddle Certification Rollout, and it’s about to shake things up.

THE BIG NEWS: Starting January 1, paddle manufacturers will need to meet new, stricter standards, with full certification mandatory by April 1, 2025, for all pro tournaments.

THE EVEN BIGGER NEWS: The testing includes spin limits, deflection force requirements, and hefty fees—$20K annually, plus $5K per paddle model.

Missing deadlines? That’ll cost you extra. Smaller brands may feel the pinch, but the UPA-A is making sure pros are playing with paddles that meet top-tier performance and fairness standards.

After all…we don’t need another year of paddle cancellations and lawsuits. (even thought its good for our business 😉)

But the real question now is: who’s eatin’ the cost cause I sure hope it ain’t my wallet…

2/ Sonic Drive-In Serves Up Burgers… and Pickleball?

Finally. A way to NOT feel guilty about consuming impossible amounts of calories. (Skittle Freeze…here I COME)

Did you know…the pickleball fever hit Sonic!? 🍔 (yes, the place with the roller skating food delivery people)

If you are part of the lucky-charmed residents, the Sonic Drive-In in Canton, Texas, just an hour from Dallas, has three pickleball courts alongside its famous drive-in menu.

That’s right…grab a burger, serve a ball, and play under the lights, perfumed with burgers, shakes, and way too much sugar.

It’s the first Sonic in the country to add pickleball to its setup, combining America’s fastest-growing sport with fast food. With covered seating and a playground, this “eatertainment” spot is setting the bar for what dining out can look like.

It’s nice marketing alright, but hey… what about the rest of us? :(

3/ From Poker Tables to Pickleball Courts: Bernard Lee Takes the Crown

Bernard Lee, former poker pro with $2.4 million in earnings and a WSOP Main Event deep run, just hit another milestone—but this time…

…not at the poker table. ♠️♥️♣️♦️

Alongside partner Michele Tezduyar, Lee clinched the Massachusetts State Pickleball Mixed Doubles Championship in the 2024 Massachusetts Senior Games.

Competing in the 4.0+ bracket for ages 45-54, the duo battled through fierce competition to secure the title.

Pickleball face and all…

Lee, now Head Pickleball Pro at Life Time Fitness Boston Metrowest, continues to rack up wins on the pickleball court, adding to his impressive resume of accomplishments.

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

Just a few crumbs before you go…😉

1. From overweight, lazy, and unmotivated, this lady reached her GOAL weight after 30 years of failed attempts by playing pickleball. She might have lost big toenail in the process, but hey, who said battle scars aren’t sexy? 😁
   

2. One of our favorite pickleball influencers, Ed Ju, has officially built his own pickleball court. Thorough as always, he gives you a BTS of how the process went and EVEN broke down the cost & construction as well. If you’ve thought about building a court yourself, hey, why not get details before making a costly mistake?
   

3. Just when you thought you’ve seen every trick on the pickleball court. I’m pretty sure that’s not what they meant when they say split it down the middle…👀 (pst..Serena Williams did it first)
   

4. So, you want to know the insider secrets that will get from a 4.0 to 5.0 fast, right?🚨 You might think you’ve seen it all, but THIS video from Briones Pickleball makes understanding the 5 secrets EASY and straight to the point.
   

5. Miss Monday’s Pickle Talk news banger? Well, did you know that pickleball is set the hit a $4.4 BILLION market by 2033?💰 Also, learn about the countries behind the US, coming to steal the #1 pickleball spot. OH, and one more thing… 2 LIMITED EDITION items just released. Read it here…👈🏻