Update: The Pickleball Kick Heard Round the Internet

Good evening, picklers.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

• Pickle Talk: Update: The Pickleball Kick Heard Round the Internet

• Bite-sized: Battle for the MLP Title: Final Four Face-Off

• Golden Pickle: $400,000 PickleBarn Completed

PICKLE TALK

Update: The Pickleball Kick Heard Round the Internet

If you thought the infamous Quintana Roo Invitational altercation was done making headlines, think again. Because it’s everywhere.

And we’ve got new details that paint a clearer picture of what happened—and how everyone is moving forward.

Here’s what’s fresh in the saga:

• Peter Shonk (green shirt) speaks out:

• Shonk revealed he lost three hours of memory after the kick but has no plans to press charges. Why? “I have a family, two healthy businesses, and I play pickleball for fun. I don’t have time to waste with this guy,” Shonk said.

• The kicker remains unidentified:

• The player in pink shorts has yet to be named publicly. No word yet from the tournament organizers on any potential consequences.

• Shonk’s take on the viral fame:

• Despite the chaos, Shonk seems to be rolling with it. He shared the now-viral clip on Instagram, writing: “We broke the internet.”

• The aftermath:

• Teammates and bystanders intervened quickly after the incident, ensuring things didn’t escalate further.

• Shonk’s team still managed to celebrate the win, medals and all. One teammate called it “the craziest ending everrr.”

Bigger Questions Arise

As pickleball’s popularity explodes, incidents like these raise eyebrows:

• How will tournaments enforce better behavior moving forward?

• Should there be stricter rules—or even penalties—for on-court altercations?

For now, Shonk seems ready to move on. But for the rest of us, the clip remains a shocking reminder that even the friendliest sports can have fiery moments.

Stay tuned—this might not be the last chapter in the kick-gate saga.

BITE-SIZED PICKLES to watch out for this week 👀

1/ Battle for the MLP Title: Final Four Face-Off

After a season packed with epic rallies and nail-biting finishes, Major League Pickleball’s grand finale is here. Orlando is hosting the final showdown this weekend, where four teams are left standing. Here’s the breakdown of who’s bringing the heat and who might walk away with the championship medal.

🏆 Matchup 1: New Jersey 5s vs. Texas Ranchers

This one feels like David vs. Goliath. The New Jersey 5s have dominated all year, finishing with a jaw-dropping 20-3 record.

Oh, and they’re undefeated in Dreambreakers (6-0). You know, just in case anyone thought they weren’t the favorites. With a deep roster and an edge in tight matches, the 5s are a well-oiled machine.

Meanwhile, the Texas Ranchers might be underdogs, but they’ve got grit—and a wildcard in Quang Duong. Drafting an unproven player was a bold move, but Duong’s been lights out under pressure.

If Etta Wright, Tina Pisnik, and Christian Alshon bring their A-game, the Ranchers could make this one interesting. Still, the 5s are the team you don’t want to face in a Dreambreaker.

🔥 Matchup 2: St. Louis Shock vs. Dallas Flash

This is a classic clash of raw talent and veteran savvy. The Shock are young, hungry, and having their best season yet, with Anna Bright leading the charge.

Gabe Tardio, Kate Fahey, and Hayden Patriquin are riding career-best years in 2024, giving the Shock serious momentum.

But don’t sleep on the Flash. With sibling phenoms JW and Jorja Johnson running the show, they’re a team that thrives under pressure.

Add Augie Ge, a breakout doubles star, and Hurricane Tyra Black, whose singles and doubles games have both exploded this year, and you’ve got a lineup ready to shock the world (pun intended).

Who Takes It All?

The 5s might be the Vegas favorites, but this isn’t a slam dunk. Every team left has the tools to pull off the upset, and momentum means everything in playoff pickleball. Watch out for the Shock’s scrappiness and the Ranchers’ underdog magic—they could flip the script if they catch fire at the right time.

📺 Tune in: The first semifinal match kicks off at 4 PM ET on Friday, Nov 22, live on Pickleball TV.

2/ Indoor vs. Outdoor: The Great Pickleball Debate

💡 The Setup:

Pickleball is the Swiss Army knife of sports—you can play it anywhere: parks, converted tennis courts, even your uncle’s driveway. But when the weather turns nasty, it’s an indoor game. And according to rising pro Grayson Goldin, that’s exactly where it belongs.

🏓 The Argument:

Goldin didn’t hold back: “If you want extremely high-level pickleball, it has to be indoors.”

Here’s why:

• The ball is feather-light—even a slight breeze can ruin a perfectly placed shot.

• He compares it to ping pong, another light-ball sport that’s strictly indoor. Wind + tiny court margins = frustration city.

• “The scale of the court is smaller, so outdoor factors mess with the game more than other sports.”

And he’s not wrong. Anyone who’s played outdoors knows the pain of a rogue gust turning your killer smash into a blooper reel moment.

🤔 The Debate:

Goldin’s take has weight, but there’s a catch:

• The U.S. already has a pickleball court shortage.

• Fewer indoor courts = even fiercer competition for court time.

Still, the question remains:

• Does outdoor play build character by forcing adaptability?

• Or does it create too much randomness, undermining the skill and integrity of the game?

🔮 Our Take:

Look, playing outside is great for amateurs—it’s social, gets you some Vitamin D, and gives you a chance to yell, “The wind cheated!” But at the pro level? I’d rather keep the elements out of it.

Talent should decide matches, not gusts of wind or sun glare.

📖 Want the full scoop?

Read Grayson Goldin’s full take at Pickleball.com.

What do YOU think? Indoor-only or let the wind blow?

GOLDEN PICKLE: Your must-clicks of the week

Just a few crumbs before you go…😉

1️⃣ Bison Paddles and Arches Graphic Utah State University’s Utah Conservation Corps teamed up with Bison Paddles to release a special pickleball paddle set featuring a stunning Arches National Park design. Proceeds support conservation efforts in Utah.

2️⃣ Top 10 Plays from the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships Check out this PPA video showcasing the best and most intense pickleball rallys that’ll leave you questioning if you’ve ever hit a ball with this much determination.

3️⃣ $400,000 PickleBarn Completed He has the land. He has the money. So why not build a pickleball barn? This Reddit post unveils the newly completed PickleBarn. One word: Stunning.

4️⃣ Miss the last Pickle Talk? 👉🏻 Pickleballer Kicked in the Face. Things got heated at a recent pickleball match—literally. A player accidentally got kicked in the face, sparking controversy.