Are you avoiding games against stronger opponents? In this episode of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea dive into a hot community debate: is your unwillingness to seek out tougher competition what’s holding your game back? We also break down the latest drama and excitement from Major League Pickleball playoffs—including shocking upsets, dream breaker chaos, and betting entering the pickleball world. Plus, we share unfiltered first impressions of Selkirk’s newest power paddle, the Boomstick, and why it’s already changing the game. ⏱ What You’ll Learn:

• Why challenging yourself against higher-level players can accelerate improvement.
• How the Columbus Sliders shocked the pickleball world by knocking out the Dallas Flash.
• What betting on MLP could mean for the future of the sport.
• Honest player feedback on the Selkirk Boomstik (and whether it really lives up to the hype).

First, the new UPA Players Association:

• What it means for PPA and MLP pros
• Why Zane Navratil was voted in as player rep
• How it could shift rules, fines, contracts, and working conditions
• The long-term impact on trust, pay structure, and competitive balance

Then, we dive into the new official tour ball:

• The Lifetime ball’s performance
• How it compares to the Vulcan, Dura, and Selkirk Pro S1
• What pros are saying (and what it might mean for the amateur game)

Plus: thoughts on recent MLP event quality and why top-team matchups matter for fan excitement.

Major League Pickleball just had its most chaotic week ever—and we’re here to break it all down.

In this episode of The Pickleball Connection, Barrett and Danea dissect the blockbuster trade that sent Ben Johns to the LA Mad Drops and reshaped the MLP power structure. Which teams are legit title threats? Who's just cashing out? And what team chemistry questions remain?

We also dive into:

Our updated Top 5 MLP Teams 🏆

Whether Premier Division is too top-heavy

Surprising takes from the community on rule changes

Should the serve be regulated more strictly?

And yes… is it time to change the name “pickleball”?