USA Pickleball Changed Its Paddle Rules

The most electric event in MLP history. Places to play when no court is available.

Author

Empower Pickleball
August 04, 2026

MLP Orlando might go down as the most electric event in league history. The GOATs went head to head. The league's juggernauts squared off for the No. 1 seed. And a 13-year-old kept one team's playoff dreams alive with a stunning tiebreaker performance.

The three-week playoffs start this week in Dallas, where eight teams will battle to keep their title hopes alive.

Inside:

  • New Jersey 5s survive a 15-13 thriller for the No. 1 seed at MLP Orlando

  • The five footwork habits capping you at 4.0

  • USA Pickleball's new spin rate test kicks in October 1

  • Places to play when a court isn’t available

🏆 New Jersey 5s Grab the No. 1 Seed at MLP Orlando

Photo credit: Major League Pickleball

The New Jersey 5s and St. Louis Shock came into Disney tied atop the standings, and it took a Sunday winner-take-all match to settle it. New Jersey took it 3-1 in front of 2,000+ fans, clinching their fourth event title and the top playoff seed.

  • The mixed game between Khlif/Waters and Patriquin/Bright was an instant classic, with New Jersey surviving 15-13 after St. Louis erased multiple game points

  • Federico Staksrud made his 5s debut after last month's trade and closed it out, going 5-1 in mixed on the week

  • Waters and Ben Johns squared off again Saturday in a rare GOAT vs GOAT matchup

  • Chicago Slice eliminated the California Black Bears in a 25-23 Dreambreaker, clinched by 13-year-old Elsie Hendershot

👉 Playoffs kick off Friday at 2 p.m. from Pickler Universe in Carrollton, Texas.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

🎧 Leigh Waters explains what it is like raising a champion
🧱 Defend against the drive—how to block hard shots
🧠 Train your decision-making skills
🦶 Give your feet the support they deserve

 👣 Your Feet Are Costing You More Points Than Your Hands

If you're stuck at 4.0, stop blaming your paddle. Most breakdowns trace back to the same footwork habits: hitting while drifting backward, standing too upright, reaching instead of moving, and split-stepping a beat too late.

  • Backward contact kills your balance before the swing even starts

  • Upright posture slows your first step and forces bad reaches

  • Late split-steps leave you flat-footed right when you need to explode

Fix the feet, and the hands problems (blown resets, popped-up dinks) mostly disappear on their own.

👉 Here's exactly which footwork habit is capping your game.

Recovery Isn’t Just Physical

After a long day on the pickleball court, most of us think about recovery in terms of hydration, stretching, and rest. But taking care of your mind matters, too.

Founded by former anesthesiologist Dr. Liz Lehman, Aluminate Life creates doctor-developed, crystal-infused aromatherapy designed to support moments of Focus, Calm, Sleep, Energy, Release, and more. It’s a simple way to slow down and reset after a busy day—on or off the court.

Each product is hand-poured in the USA, vegan, cruelty-free, and made without phthalates or parabens.

👉 Shop the Signature Collection and save 25% with code PICKLE25.

🔍 USA Pickleball Just Changed How Paddles Get Approved

Photo credit: USA Pickleball

Starting October 1, 2026, every new paddle submitted for certification has to pass a Spin Rate Test, capped at 2,100 RPM. The big shift: USA Pickleball is no longer measuring surface roughness and grit and is now measuring the actual spin a paddle puts on the ball.

  • Already own an approved paddle? You're fine. It stays legal under the old rules

  • Manufacturers can now buy the same testing rig USA Pickleball uses, so they can validate designs before submitting

  • Expect the paddle arms race to shift from "How rough can we make it?" to core construction, dwell time, and consistent performance over the paddle's lifespan

It's the same logic behind the 2024 PBCoR power test: regulate what the paddle does, not what it's made of.

👉 Here's what it means for the paddle sitting in your bag right now.

🏕️ No Court, No Problem: 7 Places to Play Pickleball

Don't have a dedicated court nearby? You don't need one. All it takes is a flat surface, a portable net, and a little creativity. Players are proving it in some pretty unexpected spots.

  • Tennis courts and basketball courts are the easiest swap—just bring tape or chalk to mark your lines

  • Driveways and cul-de-sacs are where most pickleball stories start, from family practice sessions to neighborhood showdowns

👉 See all 7 places to play, plus how to mark your own court in under 5 minutes.

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