This Hasn't Happened Since 2021!

Welcome back to The Pickleball Clinic Newsletter!

It was an absolutely shocking result! Today, we’ll take a look at the end of two amazing winning streaks, an interview with the great Tyson McGuffin, and a whole lot more!

Let’s do this! 👇

You know what they say, the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes — and Anna Leigh Waters winning gold in every pickleball tournament she enters.

Well, not so fast.

At the Veolia Austin Open last weekend, Anna Leigh Waters lost in the finals of both the mixed doubles and women's doubles tournaments. Plus, she didn't play in the singles event, which means she didn't win one gold the entire tournament.

Let's put this into perspective... this is the first time Waters didn’t win at least one gold in a tournament she’s entered since 2021!!!

Waters and her mixed doubles partner, Ben Johns, had been in 30 finals together before last weekend. How many did they win? All 30! And they hadn't even lost a match in more than a year!

In women's doubles, Waters and her partner, Catherine Parenteau, had NEVER lost — not once in more than 60 matches!

Both streaks ended at the Austin Open, and one woman ended both of them — Anna Bright. Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher defeated Waters and Parenteau in the women's doubles final, and Bright defeated Waters in mixed doubles alongside her partner, Andrei Daescu.

Andrei Daescu had an equally impressive tournament, as he also won gold in men's doubles, a medal almost always reserved for the Johns brothers, Ben and Collin.

In all likelihood, this is simply a small hiccup in the illustrious careers of GOATs Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns. But it was a remarkable end to some historic streaks, and Anna Bright and Andrei Daescu deserve all the credit.

Watch where your opponent makes contact with the ball.

Pay attention to the height of the ball relative to the net when your opponent is hitting. This will help you determine whether you should reset or counter attack.

If your opponent is attacking from below the net, prepare to counter attack; they will need to hit up, giving you an opportunity to hit hard back down at them. If your opponent is attacking from above the net, prepare to reset; they will be hitting down so you’ll be contacting the ball below the net, making a counter attack really difficult.

Born and raised in Spain, Judit Castillo started playing tennis at the age of 12. Five years later, she received a full scholarship to Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Judit is now a pro pickleball player, and today, she discusses her love of pickleball and where she thinks the sport is headed.

“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, and while some people might wonder why or how, those who have the chance to enjoy this sport, know. What pickleball has brought to our lives is more than we could have imagined: friendships, exercise, competition, a fun job, a chance to travel or even escape, and so on.

The question of where pickleball can go is something we cannot imagine, but, honestly, having traveled to South America and Spain for pickleball, I can only say that the sky is the limit. Everyone has a different motivation for this sport, but if we combine all of those, we can make magic happen.

Sharing the experiences and lessons learned with the younger ones is one of the main things I love about this sport. Seeing more and more juniors jumping into the tournament scene is magnificent. And for us pros to help pave that journey for future generations is something we cannot take for granted.

Pickleball has brought me some of the best people in my life, unique experiences worldwide, the thrill of competition and a chance to stay in the United States. Grateful.”

Follow Judit’s exciting pickleball journey on Instagram.

It’s Time to Get Engaged!

When you think of the word "engage," what do you think of — other than being on the verge of getting married?😃 Well, here's what we think of — "focused," "all in," "in the zone." When you're committed to something, and all your attention is on it, it's a powerful feeling. Wait, maybe that's why it's used in the marriage sense too.🤔

But there's yet another use of the word, "engage," — it's the name of one of the best pickleball paddles out there. In fact, Engage's Pursuit Pro line of paddles are as good as they get. Made with Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber, these are top-flight paddles that provide unmatched control, spin, and just the right amount of power. That's why Jesse Irvine, one of the best players in the world, trusts one with her game.

Plus, there's the Evolution Extreme V2, a more affordable alternative that's still top-notch and made with Raw Radial Carbon Fiber. Check out both of these lines of paddles here.

Watch the patience here… and then the quick decision to pull the trigger down the line.💪

Drake knows what’s up. 😂 

It’s All About the “T”

Who here remembers Mr. T? He’s a tough, muscular guy who “ain’t no wimp,” and who “pities the fools” who don’t know what they’re doing. Actor, wrestler, he’s done it all.

Unfortunately, you can’t get Mr. T to beat up your pain😁, but you can get the next best thing – Formula-T pain-relieving patches. From Splish Naturals, these are transdermal patches that provide long-lasting, soothing relief. Plus, they're waterproof and easy to apply. Click here and use code “clinic15” for 15% off.

Aaron recently got a chance to speak with one of the true legends of pickleball — the “most electrifying man in sports,” the one and only Tyson McGuffin.👇

Tyson touched upon many topics including:

• Why he’s so electric

• Building his brand and his business

• A personal story about his late father

The middle part of a pickleball net is two inches lower than it is on the sides. (We realize that the net you play on might not be set up that way — but it’s supposed to be.😄) Yup, the sides of the net should be 36 inches high, while the middle should only be 34 inches high.

Two inches might not sound like much (well, it depends what we’re talking about😁), but when it comes to pickleball shots, it’s a whole lot! Something to keep in mind when deciding where to aim your dinks, drops, and drives.

Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next week!

- Your Friends at The Pickleball Clinic

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