The Playbook for Fourth Shot Success

MLP redemption. Put your decision making on easy mode.

Author

Empower Pickleball
June 02, 2026

The NFL made headlines yesterday with a flurry of blockbuster trades. But the wheeling and dealing didn't stop there. Turns out football wasn't the only sport making moves.

MLP executives have been busy behind the scenes—and the drama is just getting started:

  • Genie Bouchard is reportedly refusing to play in MLP. She's been busy covering the French Open while teams were competing in the first two MLP events. Now she’s been traded twice in two days and is expected to be waived by the Texas Ranchers

  • The Ranchers also dealt Dylan Frazier to the Miami Pickleball Club for breakout player Nico Acevedo

The league isn't even three events deep and it's already must-watch TV.

Inside:

  • The NJ 5s go undefeated in Columbus—and it wasn't a one-woman show

  • Why are you still spending $300 on a paddle?

  • One Kansas City firefighter is building something bigger than pickleball

🏆 The 5s Are Back—And They Mean Business

Photo credit: Major League Pickleball

After a brutal 4th place finish in Dallas, the New Jersey 5s bounced back in a big way—going undefeated in Columbus and dismantling the St. Louis Shock in the finals.

It wasn't a one-woman show. Noe Khlif and Will Howells were massive underdogs against Gabe Tardio and Hayden Patriquin but pulled off a huge upset win to power The 5s to a 3-0 sweep in the finals.

Some other moments you need to know about:

  • Grayson Goldin made an emotional return to the court after suffering two strokes just months ago

  • Sofia Sewing was unstoppable in mixed doubles alongside Tyson McGuffin in her MLP debut

  • Parris Todd returned from suspension and fired up the home crowd in Columbus

MLP St. Louis is next. The Shock will look to get revenge on their home court—with the Chaifetz Arena crowd behind them.

👉 See the full league standings here.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

🎧 Your pickleball besties just launched a podcast
👂 What does hearing health have to do with pickleball?
🪜 Take your serve returns to a new level
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Be a part of the Empower Pickleball Fam and save 30% with code EMPOWER30

🎯 The Playbook for Fourth Shot Success

Photo credit: The APP

Everyone talks about the third shot drop—but the fourth shot is where rallies are actually decided. As the returning team, you're already at the kitchen with a built-in advantage, and your fourth shot either protects it or throws it away. Know what's coming and have a plan:

  • Against a drop: reset if it's low, attack if it pops up—don't guess

  • Against a drive: block and redirect to their feet, don't swing back

  • Against a lob: communicate early, get behind it, and put it away

The biggest mistake players make is treating the fourth shot as passive. You're not just reacting—you're controlling the rally. 

👉 Get the full breakdown—including drills to improve your fourths here.

🏡 Play More Without Leaving Your Home

If you’ve ever tried to coordinate court time, you already know how it goes—waitlists, crowded parks, and hoping a court opens up.

Having your own setup changes that.

VersaCourt’s Pickleball Performance Tiles are built for consistent play—comfortable underfoot, durable over time, and designed to handle real games without the upkeep of traditional surfaces.

And it’s not limited to pickleball. You can configure the space for basketball, shuffleboard, and more, so it doesn’t just sit there when you’re not playing.

👉 Use code EMPOWER for 10% off Pickleball Performance Tiles.

🥒 Brandan Jackson Is Building More Than Pickleball in Kansas City

Brandan Jackson is a Kansas City firefighter who noticed something at local courts and tournaments—he was often one of the only Black players there. Rather than walk away, he built something.

The Black Pickleball Club of Kansas City (BPCKC) now draws over 100 players to meetups. It creates space for beginners alongside experienced players, and has become a genuine community hub where people stay long after the games end. What makes BPCKC different isn't just who shows up—it's how it feels when you get there:

  • Music on the courts

  • Experienced players actively teaching newcomers

  • Connections that go way beyond pickleball

At just 25 years old, Brandan also coaches high school basketball and continues serving as a firefighter—and he brings that same care for community into everything he does.

👉 Read his full story.

🧠 Is the $300 Era Over? Best Budget Gen 4 Pickleball Paddles

Paddle prices have crept toward $300, but Gen 4 technology is changing that math fast. Full foam core paddles—once reserved for premium price points—are now available at $100–$170 and delivering comparable power, spin, and sweet spot feel to the expensive stuff. Some standouts worth knowing:

  • Vatic Pro V7 / V-SOL Pro ($100–$140) — best overall value, excellent spin

  • Ronbus Quanta (~$120) — built for power and aggressive play

  • Friday Aura / Aura Pro ($150–$170) — best touch and feel of the budget bunch

The honest truth? For 3.0–4.5 players, a $100–$150 Gen 4 paddle is more than enough to compete. Premium paddles still have an edge in kitchen finesse and consistency under pressure—but for most players, that gap isn't worth $150.

👉 Read the full breakdown.

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