The Atlanta Slam happened this past weekend with Anna Leigh Waters getting her 34th triple crown and some big upsets in the early round’s in Men’s singles. The Kitchen writes an article that we diasgree with (to keep it light), and how to put more power in your drives with the exercise of the week to have your rec friends Brad and Linda screaming.

This week, we’ll be going over:

• Master the Forehand Drive: Unleash Your Inner Pickleball Power!

• PPA Atlanta Recap - Anna Leigh gets her 34 career Triple Crown and new players rise from Atlanta

• @ The Kitchen, singles is boring? Or scared to play?

• Exercise of the week: Rotational Medicine Ball Tosses

Let’s get into it.

Master the Forehand Drive: Unleash Your Inner Pickleball Power!

If you're still babying the ball over the net like it's made of glass—stop right there. It’s time to crank up the heat with one of the most aggressive and satisfying shots in the game: the forehand drive. This isn't just a slap-and-hope swing—it's your secret weapon for winning baseline exchanges, punishing high returns, and setting up easy putaways. Ready to send that pickleball screaming past your opponents? Let’s break it down.

🎯 Step 1: Set the Stage

Start in a balanced stance with your knees slightly bent, paddle up, and eyes locked on the ball. As it approaches, turn your shoulders and load your weight onto your back foot—think “coil before the strike.” Your paddle should drop slightly below the ball to create top spin, creating a nice, natural swing path. Keep your non-dominant hand pointing toward the ball for balance and tracking.

💥 Step 2: Drive Time!

Now it’s go time. Shift your weight forward, rotate your hips, and swing through the ball with smooth but aggressive energy. Imagine you're driving through the ball, not just tapping it. Aim for a low-to-high motion to generate topspin, which helps the ball dip quickly over the net and stay in play. Snap your wrist at the end for that extra zing. And don’t forget: follow through! Your paddle should finish high, pointing where you want the ball to go (bonus points for the confident pose afterward).

🧠 Pro Tips to Dial It In:

• Use it wisely: The drive works best on low, attackable balls. If the ball's floating like a beach balloon—rip it.

• Mix it up: Don’t become predictable. Alternate between drives, drops, and dinks to keep your opponents guessing.

• Practice with purpose: Grab a bucket of balls and a buddy (or wall), and rep out 50 forehand drives focusing on technique before worrying about speed.

With a reliable forehand drive in your arsenal, you’ll add serious pressure to your game—and a whole lot of style points. So next time that ball sits up, don’t just return it. Drive it.

PPA Atlanta Recap - Anna Leigh gets her 34 career Triple Crown and new players rise from Atlanta

The Veolia PPA Atlanta Open brought the heat both on and off the court, with Anna Leigh Waters once again proving she's the queen of the kitchen. She swept her way to her 34th career Triple Crown, winning gold in women’s singles, women’s doubles (with Anna Bright) against her former partner Catherine Pareanteau and Rachel Rohrabacher.

In one of the biggest upsets of the season, Alexander Crum, ranked No. 65, stunned No. 1 seed Federico Staksrud in men's singles—proving that anyone can shake up the draw on the right day. Many pickleball media outlets were calling Alexander Crum a “no-name,” but he isn’t no crum and the #6 APP singles player. JW Johnson and CJ Klinger storm past top teams, including Ben Johns & Gabe Tardio, to capture gold. Their chemistry, fast hands, and Klinger’s great resets helped them secure the gold, and could signal a new era of doubles dominance.

@ The Kitchen, singles is boring? Or scared to play?

Let’s get one thing straight: calling for the death of singles pickleball because you don’t see it at your local courts is like saying sprinting should be banned from track meets because everyone at your gym prefers the elliptical. Singles isn’t meant to replicate your casual doubles game with friends named Barry and Linda. It’s fast, brutal, and built for the athletes who don’t just want to dink their way through life. Just because the strategy looks “simple” to you doesn’t mean it is — it just means the best players are executing it at a level you can’t appreciate from behind your third iced coffee at the park.

This whole “singles is just mini tennis” argument? That’s a feature, not a bug. Yes, it skews younger and more athletic. Yes, it’s more physical. But in a sport where every other aspect screams “inclusivity and access,” isn’t it nice to have oneformat that rewards raw grind and explosive talent? Singles is where we find out who’s got the gas tank, the guts, and the foot speed. If doubles is chess, singles is MMA. It’s not better or worse — it’s a different beast. And pretending the sport would be better without it is like saying basketball should get rid of dunking because it’s not relatable enough.

And let’s be honest, this isn’t really about format — it’s about fear. Alex Lantz doesn’t want singles to go away; he just doesn’t want to play it. So here’s an idea: instead of trying to write singles out of existence, how about you pick up a paddle and play a match? I’d be happy to give you the full singles experience myself. You might not win, but at least you’ll stop pretending like it's not real pickleball.

This is in response to the Kitchen’s opinion article here.

Exercise of the Week: Rotational Medicine Ball Tosses

If you want to add some serious pop to your passing shots and get more torque on your drives, it's time to train like a pickleball powerhouse. This week’s exercise is the rotational medicine ball toss — a dynamic, full-body movement that mimics the twisting motion you use in groundstrokes and returns. Grab a medicine ball, face sideways to a wall (or a sturdy partner), and explosively rotate your torso as you hurl the ball across your body. Think of it as your forehand in beast mode. Do 5 sets of 5 reps per side, and prepare to feel that core wake up.

Why does this matter? Because pickleball isn’t just about dinks and drops — it’s about generating power from the ground up. Rotational medicine ball tosses help you build the functional strength and explosive power needed to hit harder without working harder. Plus, they’re just plain fun. Bonus: you’ll look and feel like an athlete, which is always a win, whether you're battling at the kitchen line or flexing during warmups. Get tossing!