Culture and News - Pickleball Rookie

Anna Leigh Waters Gets Quick Approval of Franklin Aurelius Paddle

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 by Drew Pierce

Anna Leigh Waters’ signature Franklin Aurelius paddle officially received UPA-A certification on February 6, 2026, fast-tracking its debut for the PPA Cape Coral Open. While Waters will compete with the highly aggressive 12.7mm model, the paddle is available for pre-order in three core thicknesses (12.7mm, 14mm, 16mm) and ships starting March 1, 2026. This certification marks a major shift in the paddle market, as Franklin cements its new flagship partnership following the departure of JW and Jorja Johnson.

In case you missed it while scrolling through your feed yesterday, there was a small but significant announcement in the professional pickleball world: Anna Leigh Waters’ signature Franklin paddle, the Aurelius, received UPA-A certification on Friday, February 6th. For most recreational players, this might seem like inside baseball. But if you care about where professional pickleball is heading—or if you’re one of the thousands already eyeing this paddle for yourself—this approval is a bigger deal than it first appears.

Let’s break down what just happened, why it matters, and what it tells us about the current state of paddle technology and player equipment deals.

Update on the Major MLP Shakeup

February 6, 2026 by Ace Rivera

It’s been a whirlwind week in the professional pickleball world, and if you blinked, you might have missed some major league restructuring announcements. Major League Pickleball just dropped a bombshell about their 2026 format, Brooklyn is launching what could be a game-changing youth initiative, and we’re less than two weeks away from the PPA Cape Coral Open. Let’s break it all down.

Pickleball Young Guns Rising, Parris Todd’s Return, and Why Illness Wreaked Havoc on the Indoor Nationals

January 29, 2026 by Ace Rivera

It was one of the most eventful—and frankly, brutal—weeks on the PPA Tour so far this year. The Indoor National Championships at Life Time Lakeville, Minnesota just wrapped up, and while the action inside was blazing, the conditions outside were absolutely arctic. We’re talking temperatures hitting -20°F, with daily highs struggling to break single digits all week.

But here’s the thing about professional pickleball in 2026: the show goes on, the young players keep getting better, and sometimes the storylines off the court matter just as much as what happens during matches. Let’s break down what just happened in Minnesota.

Pickleball and Tennis Hybrid Typti Arrives With Big Names, Bigger Claims, and Some Eyebrow-Raising Rules

February 8, 2026January 21, 2026 by Ace Rivera

Let’s talk about something that just launched this week and has the entire racket sports community buzzing—a new sport called Typti.

Yes, you read that right. In a world where we already have tennis, pickleball, padel, platform tennis, racquetball, squash, and badminton, someone decided we needed one more racket sport. And that someone is Tennis Channel founder Steve Bellamy, backed by an 80-person investor group including Drew Brees, Nick Kyrgios, Tony Robbins, Chris Pine, JJ Abrams, Tiffany Haddish, and comedian Bert Kreischer.

The pitch? Typti is a cross between tennis and pickleball, played on a pickleball court with foam balls and small tennis-like rackets. Think mini-tennis meets trick-shot YouTube video. Let me break down what we know, why I’m skeptical, and why I’m also kind of excited about it.

USA Pickleball Gets Serious About Equipment Testing, MLP’s Rule Overhaul, and the US Open Lottery Is Open

January 19, 2026 by Ace Rivera

Hey pickleballers, Ace here, coming at you fresh off Championship Sunday at the PPA Masters in Palm Springs. What a way to kick off the 2026 professional season—we got breakthrough wins, dominant performances, historic milestones, and some serious storylines that’ll shape the rest of the year. Plus, USA Pickleball just dropped a game-changing equipment testing program, MLP unveiled their 2026 rule changes, and the US Open lottery is officially underway. Let’s get into it.

The Biggest Paddle Deal in Pickleball History, Contract Drama Rocks the Pro Tour, and MLP Heads to Disney World

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 by Ace Rivera

What’s happening, pickleball fans? Ace here, coming to you in the second full week of January with some absolutely massive news from the past several days. If you’ve been paying attention to the pro scene, you know that this week brought us what might be the biggest equipment sponsorship deal in pickleball history, some serious contract enforcement drama that has the entire community talking, a major announcement from Major League Pickleball about their season finale, and the annual rule changes that just went into effect. Let’s break it all down.

2026 Kicks Off With Palm Springs, The Sport’s Counterfeit Problem Goes Mainstream, and What to Expect From Paddles This Year

January 5, 2026 by Ace Rivera

Happy New Year, pickleball fam! Ace here, writing to you from a gorgeous January week in Austin where the courts have been absolutely packed with people working off their holiday cookie guilt. There’s something special about the first week of a new year in pickleball—fresh goals, new gear under the tree, and that optimistic feeling that this will be the year you finally master the two-handed backhand. For the pros, 2026 officially kicked off this week with the PPA Masters in Palm Springs, and for the entire pickleball community, we’re confronting a serious problem that’s been growing in the shadows: counterfeit paddles. Let’s dive in.

The Business of Pro Pickleball Just Changed Forever, New Rules Drop January 1st, and Reflecting on an Epic Year

December 29, 2025 by Ace Rivera

Happy holidays, pickleballers! Ace here, coming at you between Christmas and New Year’s with some major developments that are shaping what 2026 is going to look like for professional pickleball. While most of us are enjoying time off, eating too many cookies, and getting court time in when we can, the business side of pro pickleball just went through a seismic shift that’s going to impact how the sport operates for years to come. Let’s break it down.

2026 USA Pickleball Rule Changes Explained: A Guide for Recreational Players

December 26, 2025December 19, 2025 by Drew Pierce

The 2026 USA Pickleball Rulebook is a structural reorganization, not a gameplay overhaul. For recreational players, the game remains unchanged. The major updates involve separating tournament rules from general play, consolidating inclusive/adaptive rules into a dedicated section, and requiring a “USA Pickleball Approved” seal on new paddles manufactured starting in 2026.

Let me guess – you saw “new pickleball rules for 2026” and immediately started wondering what part of your game just became illegal.

Relax. You can still hit that third shot drop. Your serve is fine. And no, they didn’t change the kitchen rules (again).

The 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook (effective 1/1/26) is less of a game-changer and more of a spring cleaning. Think of it like reorganizing your garage – everything’s still there, it’s just way easier to find what you actually need.

Weekly Pickleball News: Mumbai Reigns Supreme, Agassi Hits the Court, and The “Mom” Duo Returns

December 15, 2025 by Ace Rivera

If you thought the holiday season was going to slow down the pickleball news cycle, you thought wrong. We just witnessed history in New Delhi, saw tennis royalty pick up a paddle in Mumbai, and now we’re staring down the barrel of the final PPA event of the year where a certain mother-daughter duo is making a comeback.

The garlands have been handed out, the draws are out, and the jet lag is real. Let’s dive in.