Pickleball is an amazing sport that brings tons of fun and joy to millions around the world. But let's face it, not every moment on a pickleball court is perfect. There are those rare times when something happens on the court that's downright embarrassing. Let's take a look at a few of them. 👇

Nasty Nelson: Hitting your opponent with a serve is really funny. But have you been on the receiving end of a Nasty Nelson? It's not fun at all. You'll probably be flailing in a super uncoordinated manner, you might drop your paddle or you may even fall down. And no matter what happens, people will definitely be laughing at you. 😢

Swing and Miss: Overheads feel nice. You can hit them with a lot of power, you can angle them off the court, and you’ll usually win the point. But overheads don't always go smoothly. Sometimes you whiff — and we don't mean mishit or hit the ball out — we mean totally miss the ball. (Or even better, after you've swung and missed, the ball hits you on top of the head. 😆)

What's Your Name?: Picture this: you play in a weekly league with the same group of 8-10 people. A ball from another court rolls behind your partner, but he or she doesn't see it. You gesture to them, but they don't know what you're talking about, so you say "Uhh, ball." They say, "Do you know my name?" You say "Of course" even though you don't. They say, "So what is it?" (This is just too uncomfortable to even keep going. 😮)

Falling Over the Net: The net is a pretty important thing in pickleball. In fact, it's the only thing on a pickleball court. Because we can't hit volleys inside the kitchen, we usually stop our momentum way before getting close to the net. But the key word there is usually. Sometimes, a person runs right through the kitchen and crashes into the net. (Bonus points for knocking the net down and rolling onto your opponent's side of the court. 😂)

Yes, the above moments are pretty embarrassing. But hey, if you've played long enough, at least two of these things will probably happen to you. You’ve just got to laugh ‘em off and keep playing. 

Sometimes a paddle comes around that is so good, it's a total game-changer. Today is that day. Not only is this paddle new, but it's the very first paddle made by RPM, an all-new paddle company created by PPA champion, James Ignatowich. It's called the "RPM Friction Pro," and it is absolutely insane.

What stands out most about it is the spin it provides. It has been tested at a record-breaking 2300+ RPMs, which means that it's been engineered to generate a level of spin and control that will grant you the ability to hit shots that you never thought were possible. It has so much spin and power that it feels like it shouldn't be legal…but it is!

James Ignatowich is the first PPA gold medalist to create his own pickleball paddle, and he carefully designed it with his team to be used by pros, including himself. The RPM Friction Pro is a top 5 paddle in the world right now, but it's being sold at a much lower price! Plus, we're giving you an additional 15% discount right here, or just use code clinic15.

The RPM Friction Pro comes in two types — the Elongated and the Widebody, and according to The Pickleball Clinic's Co-Founder, Aaron Reznik, “It is honestly one of the best paddles I’ve ever used.” And that makes sense because James Ignatowich worked directly with engineers and testers to ensure that every RPM Friction Pro paddle reflects the demands of modern pickleball at the highest level.

When we say the “highest level,” that’s not hyperbole. Not only has Ignatowich won 30 PPA medals, but he has wins over every player in the top 20 — so like everyone, including Ben Johns (3 times) and Anna Leigh Waters. He was frustrated by gear that couldn’t keep up, which is why he decided to build pro-level paddles with cutting-edge materials, shaped by science, and tested by the best.

Speaking of being tested by the best, The Pickleball Clinic’s other Co-Founder (and one of the most recognized pickleball coaches in the world), Matt Slowinski, just reviewed the RPM Friction Pro. Matt analyzed the spin, power and overall playability for both the elongated and widebody versions, and he is a huge fan. So be a part of this historic launch, and trust us, your game won't be the same.