Last Updated on November 25, 2025 by Drew Pierce
Roscoe Bellamy secures his first PPA Gold in Lakeland, while ALW wins her 39th Triple Crown. In community news, Carmel, CA bans pickleball in public parks due to noise. Scroll down for verified Black Friday codes from CRBN, Holbrook (50% off), and Gearbox.
Happy Thanksgiving week, pickleball family! Ace here, writing this from my kitchen table with replays from Lakeland still running through my head. The PPA Veolia Lakeland Open just wrapped up, and holy moly, did it deliver some unforgettable moments. Plus, if you’re reading this on Black Friday, I’ve got some seriously good paddle deals to share that might just make your wallet a little lighter (but your game a lot better). Let’s jump in.
The Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting For: Roscoe Bellamy’s First Gold
Let’s start with the story that had me jumping out of my seat this weekend. Roscoe Bellamy, the 11th seed, just captured his first-ever PPA Tour gold medal in men’s singles at Lakeland. And he didn’t just win—he dominated on his way there.
For those who don’t know Roscoe’s story, this guy was the number one junior tennis player in the nation before injuries derailed his career. He transitioned to pickleball in early 2023, and we’ve all been watching him steadily climb the ranks. He’s had close calls before—two silver medals and a bronze—but could never quite break through to gold. Until now.
The path to victory was impressive. In his early rounds, Bellamy absolutely pickled three opponents (yes, three 11-0 games), showing a level of dominance we rarely see even at the pro level. In the semifinals, he took down Noe Khlif, who was having a breakthrough tournament of his own, winning his first career medal with bronze.
The final against Hunter Johnson was dramatic, tight, and honestly a bit controversial. After splitting the first two games, Bellamy jumped out to an 8-3 lead in game three. Then came a bizarre sequence where Bellamy hit a backhand that ricocheted off part of the net post, and after 15 minutes of review and discussion with referees, the score ended up at 10-3 with Bellamy serving match point. He closed it out on the next point.
What struck me most was Bellamy’s grace in victory. Despite the controversy overshadowing his win, he gave a heartfelt shoutout to Hunter Johnson and the entire Johnson family, calling them his “second family.” That’s the kind of sportsmanship that makes pickleball special, folks. At just 22 years old and already ranked in the top 12 on tour, Bellamy is absolutely someone to watch heading into 2026.
Anna Leigh Waters: Making the Impossible Look Routine
Speaking of dominance, can we talk about Anna Leigh Waters for a second? The 18-year-old just secured her fourth consecutive Triple Crown—and her 39th career Triple Crown overall. Let that sink in. Thirty-nine.
Waters swept all three divisions: women’s singles (defeating Zoey Wang 11-3, 11-1 in the final), women’s doubles with Anna Bright (including revenge against the Kawamoto twins who had handed them their last loss back in September), and mixed doubles with Ben Johns. That mixed doubles final was an absolute war—a five-game thriller against Jorja and JW Johnson that tallied 86 total points, the tournament’s highest-scoring match.
Here’s what really impresses me about Waters: it’s not just that she wins, it’s how she battles back from adversity. In the Round of 16, she actually lost the first game to Salome Devidze—a rarity these days. Most players would panic. Waters? She crushed the next two games and never looked back. That mental fortitude separates good players from all-time greats.
It’s been 71 days since Waters lost in any discipline. Seventy-one days. In professional sports, that level of sustained excellence is almost unheard of. As a coach, I tell my students all the time: study how the pros handle pressure. Waters is a masterclass in competitive drive.
The Carmel Controversy: When Pickleball Gets Too Loud
Now, let’s talk about something that’s getting a lot of attention in the pickleball community—and not in a good way. The wealthy California coastal town of Carmel just became the first city in California to permanently ban pickleball at a public park due to noise complaints.
The Carmel City Council voted to prohibit the sport at Forest Hill Park, the only public pickleball location within city limits, after residents complained about the constant “popping” sound of paddles hitting balls echoing through their neighborhood. One resident actually said at the council meeting, “It’s been so peaceful and quiet,” after a temporary ban was put in place.
Look, I get it. Pickleball can be loud. That distinctive “pop” carries, especially in residential areas. But banning the sport entirely from the only public courts in town? That feels like an overreaction to me. There are solutions—quiet paddles, foam balls, designated playing hours, sound barriers. Cities across the country are finding ways to balance community access with noise concerns.
This is a growing issue as pickleball explodes in popularity. We’re seeing noise complaints and court battles (pun intended) in communities nationwide. The solution isn’t banning the sport; it’s smart planning, compromise, and investment in proper facilities. As a community, we need to be good neighbors while also advocating for our right to play.
This is a growing issue…and one reason why some people claim pickleball sucks.
Black Friday Paddle Deals: Don’t Sleep on These
Alright, let’s shift gears to something more fun—saving money on gear! Black Friday is here, and some truly killer deals are dropping on paddles. I’ve been tracking these all week, and here are my top picks:
CRBN is running a sitewide sale with 10-50% off. Their TruFoam Genesis paddle (which I raved about in an earlier column) is 10% off through December 3rd. Use code THEDINK for the discount. At around $180 after discount, this is one of the best foam core paddles on the market.
Holbrook has an absolutely wild deal—50% off their Arma Paddles from November 18 through December 2. Use code BFCM50. That’s half off, people. I haven’t personally tested the Arma series yet, but at 50% off, it’s worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new paddle.
Ronbus is running 25-70% off sitewide. Their Quanta series paddles are excellent all-court options, and with code RonbusBF20, your final checkout price is $89.99. That’s an incredible value for a paddle of that quality.
Gearbox is offering $100 off their GX2 and Pro Ultimate Collection. The Pro Ultimate Power 14mm ends up at $174.99 after discount—not cheap, but these are premium paddles built to last.
For those on a tighter budget, check out Pickleball Apes (25% off all paddles, stack it with code THEDINK for an extra 10% off) and Luzz (50% off their Infinity series, plus an extra 15% with code THEDINK).
My advice? If you’ve been eyeing a specific paddle all year, now’s the time. These Black Friday deals are legit, and you’re not likely to see prices this good again until next year.
Looking Ahead
The PPA Tour wraps up its 2025 season with the Dairy Farmers Daytona Beach Open in mid-December. It’s been an incredible year for professional pickleball—record attendance, breakthrough performances from players like Bellamy, and continued dominance from established stars like Waters and Johns.
As we head into the holiday season, take some time to appreciate how far this sport has come. Ten years ago, most people had never heard of pickleball. Now we’re filling stadiums, streaming matches to millions, and debating equipment technology like it’s Formula One racing.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, snag those Black Friday deals if you’re in the market for new gear, and I’ll see you next week with more analysis, stories, and maybe a rant or two about kitchen rules.
Stay hungry (for pickleball and turkey), and remember: every champion was once a beginner who refused to give up.
—Ace