Five Brands Coming for the Crown

Narrow court experiment initial results. Be the voice of reason at the kitchen line.

Author

Empower Pickleball
February 24, 2026

Gold on both sides. USA Hockey just pulled off the ultimate flex—men’s and women’s teams standing on top of the podium at the same Games. That’s not a win. That’s a statement.

Now ESPN is leaning in, launching Women’s Sports Sundays, a primetime bet that women’s sports aren’t a niche—they’re the main event. Smart. The audience is here, the stars are here, and the momentum is undeniable.

Sundays are already the day when pickleball gold is captured. It won’t be long until women’s doubles is the headline event on ESPN’s Sunday initiative.

Inside:

  • Legacy paddles facing stronger competition

  • Dispelling kitchen myths to help you play more aggressively

  • The narrow singles experiment is underway

🖐 5 New Paddle Brands Coming for the Throne

For years, “buying a good paddle” meant paying the legacy tax. Not anymore.

A new wave of brands is pushing premium tech, faster launches, and (sometimes) better pricing. But in 2026, hype isn’t enough. Approval status, compliance, retail footprint, and real reviews matter more than ever.

Here’s the short list:

  • Six Zero—performance-first darling… but now under heavier compliance scrutiny.

  • Proton—big-box retail, pro ties, premium pricing. Not playing small.

  • 11SIX24—foam-core power + aggressive pricing + Dekel Bar.

  • Facolos—signed Gabe Tardio. Big claims. Still proving depth.

  • Ramsports—certified, mid-tier pricing, iterating fast.

Some are legitimate contenders. Some are high-upside challengers. Some still need to earn trust.

And a few legacy brands should probably be nervous.

👉 Read the full story before you impulse-buy your next paddle

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

4️⃣ Four drills for Non-Volley Zone mastery
🤝 Covered courts at the community college is the definition of a win-win
⏳ Consistency tips from a medal-winning senior pro
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Be a part of the Empower Pickleball Fam. Sport the gear!

🤨 The Kitchen Myth Holding New Players Back

One of the first upgrades in pickleball isn’t a new paddle.

It’s getting comfortable at the kitchen line.

Most beginners hang back. They treat the NVZ like lava. They assume stepping close to it is risky. That hesitation is costing them points.

In 2026, with faster hands and heavier counters, comfort at the line isn’t optional. It’s the separator.

However, kitchen rules spawn more arguments and create more myths than any other part of the game, well, except maybe serve legality.

  • Like, what happens if your partner bumps you into the kitchen while they’re volleying the ball?

  • Or, your paddle snaps during a volley and part of it falls into the kitchen?

👉 Find out which myths get busted and which rules to keep in your back pocket here.

📱 You run the group. You deserve real tools.

Every pickleball community has that one person. 

The one who sets up the games, manages the texts, and makes sure matchups are fair. 

If that's you, meet Pickleheads Pro.

Pickleheads is trusted by 600,000+ players and organizers and endorsed by USA Pickleball, PPR, and DUPR. 

Pro offers automated formats, built-in payments, waitlist management, and one-tap DUPR scoring. All in one app.

Less admin. Better games. Happier players.

Our friends at Pickleheads are giving Empower Pickleball members a free 30-day trial.

 🎁 Code: EMPOWER30 👉 Start your free trial →

🔬 A Singles Experiment Gone Right?

PPA Streamed Courts YouTube

The PPA Challenger Tour rolled out its experimental singles court last weekend, trimming the width by three feet and instantly changing the geometry of the game. Fewer bailout angles. Fewer sideline lasers. A lot more forced engagement.

The result? Longer rallies, more hands battles, and players having to construct points instead of simply ripping winners into open space. Some loved the added pressure and chess match feel. Others missed the freedom to stretch the court and showcase speed.

This wasn’t a one-off. The narrowed court experiment is set to continue at three more Challenger Tour stops, giving players and organizers more data before any long-term decisions are made. The remaining stops include:

  • Harbour Island, FL - Mar 6-8

  • Newport Beach, CA - April 3-5

  • Opelika, AL - April 17-19

If the goal was to spark conversation and test what singles could look like at its highest level, mission accomplished.

👉 Watch some points for yourself here and let us know if they got it right or need to lose the extra stripes.

🫨 The 2026 Pro Shake-Up Has Reached New Heights

Photo courtesy of APP Malaysia

Think the pro scene is settled? It’s not.

Partnerships are dissolving. Brands are stacking talent. Rising juniors are beating world #1s.

Megan Fudge has a new partner. Christian Alshon and Tyra Hurricane Black won gold… then split the next day. A 14-year-old just took down Federico Staksrud.

This isn’t chemistry anymore—it’s leverage, media value, and long-term positioning. Mixed doubles just became chess.

👉 Read the full breakdown on who’s moving, who’s splitting, and what it means for the season.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!

Have a pickleball story you would like to share?

Tell us what’s happening at your local courts — the wins, the debates, and the moments everyone’s talking about.

We might feature your story in an upcoming newsletter.

Partner With Us?

Every week, our newsletter lands in inboxes of players who live and breathe pickleball. They come to us for the latest news, gear, drills, and stories that celebrate the people behind the sport.

Does your brand believe in growing the game and supporting the people who play it? Let’s make something happen.