Last Updated on November 20, 2025 by Drew Pierce
What’s up, pickleball fanatics? Ace here, and wow—if you blinked over the past week, you missed some absolutely incredible moments in our sport. Between historic championship performances and mind-blowing paddle technology hitting the market, there’s so much to unpack that I barely know where to start. Pour yourself that morning coffee (or afternoon IPA if that’s your vibe), and let’s dive into what’s been happening on and off the courts.
The Jenius Bank World Championships: A Masterclass in Dominance
Let’s talk about what just went down at the Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships in Dallas. This wasn’t just another tournament—this was the 100th event in PPA Tour history, and it lived up to every bit of hype. Over 3,500 players descended on Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, and the professional action was absolutely electric.
The star of the show? Anna Leigh Waters. Again. The 18-year-old phenom accomplished something that’s becoming almost routine for her yet remains extraordinary: another Triple Crown. She dominated women’s singles, partnered with Anna Bright to take women’s doubles, and teamed up with Ben Johns for the mixed doubles title. That’s her fourth consecutive Triple Crown, folks. Fourth. The young woman’s competitive drive is genuinely unmatched—she operates at what seems like 110% intensity on every single point.
What struck me most about Waters’ performance wasn’t just the wins, but how she battles back from adversity. In her singles semifinal against Kaitlyn Christian, Waters dropped the first game 11-9. Most players might let that shake their confidence. Not Waters. She roared back to take the next two games 11-2 and 11-6. That mental toughness is what separates good players from champions, and it’s something we can all learn from, whether we’re playing at the 3.0 or 5.0 level.
The mixed doubles final with Waters and Johns was equally impressive. They defeated Jorja Johnson and JW Johnson in straight games: 11-7, 11-4, 11-7. This was their 12th title together this year and their 56th as a partnership overall. The statistics tell the story—they had more clean winners (20-14), fewer dinks into the net (6-4), and fewer errors on serves, returns, and thirds (9-6). That’s not just talent; that’s precision execution under pressure.
Men’s Doubles Drama: Breaking Through
On the men’s side, we witnessed something equally compelling. Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin have been knocking on the door all year, consistently losing to the powerhouse team of Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio. But in Dallas, they finally broke through. In an epic semifinal, Staksrud and Patriquin defeated Johns and Tardio 11-8, 11-5. Staksrud was visibly emotional after the win—you could see what it meant to finally climb that mountain.
But they weren’t done. In the final against JW Johnson and CJ Klinger, they dropped the first game 11-8, then came storming back to sweep the next three games. It was their fourth title together and a statement that the men’s doubles landscape is wide open heading into 2026.
The Smart Paddle Revolution Is Here (And It’s Complicated)
Now, let’s shift gears to something that’s got my tech-geek brain absolutely buzzing: the emergence of smart paddle technology in 2025. And I mean really here—not just prototypes or concepts, but actual products hitting the market.
Companies like Potenza are launching smart paddles with embedded sensors that track power, speed, and spin in real-time. The Potenza Smartx Corex4, built with 100% 3K carbon fiber, syncs with a mobile app to give you detailed analytics on every shot. At $495.99, it’s definitely an investment, but for players who love data-driven improvement, this is game-changing stuff. Pre-orders are opening up later this year.
But here’s where it gets interesting—and controversial. These smart paddles are creating a legitimate debate in the pickleball community. In a 2024 survey, about 30% of players viewed sensor-equipped paddles as unfair. The concern is that they give some players an advantage that goes beyond skill and practice. USA Pickleball currently has no regulations on sensors, but many expect restrictions to come in 2025 to balance innovation with competitive equity.
I’ve got mixed feelings on this. As someone who spent 25 years in tech, I love the idea of using data to improve your game. Smart paddles democratize access to the kind of feedback that previously only pros with full-time coaches could get. On the other hand, I understand the purists who worry about technology overshadowing pure skill and feel. It’s similar to debates we’ve seen in other sports—think about golf’s distance-measuring devices or baseball’s pitch-tracking technology.
Foam Core Paddles: The Real MVP of 2025
Speaking of paddle technology, if you haven’t paid attention to the foam core revolution, you’re missing out on one of the most significant equipment advances in years. The shift from traditional polypropylene honeycomb cores to high-density foam is transforming how paddles perform.
Brands like Selkirk with their PureFoam and CRBN with TruFoam Genesis are leading the charge. These Gen 4 paddles offer superior durability, larger sweet spots, and more consistent performance over thousands of hits. Unlike honeycomb cores that can crush or deform over time, foam cores maintain their structural integrity much longer.
What does this mean for your game? More forgiveness on off-center hits, better vibration dampening for your joints, and paddles that last longer. For those of us north of 50 with creaky elbows and questionable knees, that vibration dampening is no joke. I’ve been testing a foam core paddle for the past month, and the difference in arm comfort after a two-hour session is noticeable.
The Youth Movement Continues
One final story caught my attention this week: 13-year-old Kelly Goodnow from Arizona just captured a world championship title at the Carvana PPA World Championships. She’s only been playing for a year—one year!—and she’s already dominant enough to win major titles. In her singles final, she was down 2-8 in the third game, rallied point after point, and came back to beat top seed Jing Robinson.
Stories like Kelly’s remind me why pickleball is special. It’s a sport where raw talent, combined with dedication and coaching, can propel someone to elite status incredibly quickly. She’s already signed with major sponsors like Proton Sports and SParms, and she’s looking to turn pro soon, which would make her one of the youngest professional pickleball athletes in the country.
Final Thoughts
Between Waters’ continued dominance, breakthrough victories in men’s doubles, revolutionary paddle technology, and young stars emerging, this has been one of the most exciting weeks in pickleball that I can remember. The sport is evolving rapidly—technologically, competitively, and culturally—and that’s what makes covering it so much fun.
Next week, the PPA Tour moves to the Veolia Lakeland Open in Florida, and I’ll be watching closely to see if Waters can maintain her incredible streak and whether any new challengers emerge in the other divisions.
Until then, get out there and play. Whether you’re using a $50 starter paddle or considering that $500 smart paddle, what matters most is that you’re on the court, improving your game, and enjoying this incredible community we’ve built.
Stay sharp, and remember: the kitchen is a place, not a state of mind.
—Ace