A short story before we get into what you can expect from this newsletter this year!

Dim the lights…

The dorm room common area was a madhouse—kids everywhere, celebrating like it was the last night on Earth. But really, it was just the last night of basketball camp.

Ping-pong balls flying, pool cues clanging, and laughter echoing off the walls—it was chaos in the best way.

Right in the middle of it all, at this old, beat-up table, Brence sat with a deck of cards.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it. He was just another 14-year-old kid, wide-eyed and full of basketball dreams, like everybody else at camp.

But there was something about this kid. He was different.

And I didn’t realize it until that final night of camp.

With quiet confidence, he shuffled the cards like he’d done it a million times before. Then, he looked up at me and asked,

“Wanna see something?”

And that’s when it started.

The card tricks. The coin flips. The Sleight of hand was so smooth it didn’t even seem real. Every move this kid made left us shaking our heads, saying, “How in the world…?”

At first, it was just me and a couple of others watching.

But then, a few more wandered over.

Twenty minutes later, there were 50 kids crammed around that table, losing their minds over what Brence was doing.

By 1:00 AM, the entire camp—all 100 kids—surrounded that beat-up table, watching Brence pull off a full-on magic show.

It was an unforgettable night for every person in that room.

But it was just the beginning for Brence.

Since then, he’s been chasing magic with the same quiet confidence he had at 14.

Fast forward nine years, and now he’s on his most ambitious mission yet: performing magic in all 50 states in just 90 days. (Seriously, go follow his journey on Instagram @brenceplatner—you won’t regret it!)

Last weekend, he made a stop in Arizona, and I got to watch him in action. Let me tell you—it was incredible.

Now, what inspires me most about Brence isn’t just his talent—it’s his relentless dedication to the thing he loves.

People always ask him, “How do you do that?”

But we all know the answer.

He’s put in the work. Nine years of focused, intentional practice. And the truth is, most people never see that part. They don’t see the long hours, the mistakes, the countless times he’s tried and failed, only to try again. And that’s the unglamorous side of getting good at anything!

But isn’t that the same for all of us?

Whether it’s pickleball or something else, we all hit moments when the progress feels slow, the shots don’t land, and the doubt creeps in. But those moments are where the magic is built.

It’s forged in the struggle, earned through the setbacks, and created in the quiet hours when no one’s cheering you on.

(Unless you’re inside ThatPickleballSchool, where 635 people will have your back 🙂)

So this year, I want to challenge you (and this is a big reminder for me as well on my journey to become the #2 player in the world).

Chase the work. Not just the wins.

Because the magic doesn’t just happen. It’s made. And you’re the one who makes it.

Bring up the lights for a final word… :)

What’s Next With This Newsletter:

I’ve decided to give it a new name: THATpickleballnewsletter.

Hope you like it!

Between THATpickleballguy, THATpickleballschool, and maybe even THATpickleballpodcast (👀) later this year, I felt like it fit well. HA!

And here’s the main theme you can expect this year!

To learn strategies pros rely on to outthink their opponents.

The truth is, I’m a strategist at heart. A straight-up nerd obsessed with figuring out how to play this game better.

And if I’m being honest, my rise in the pro ranks hasn’t been because of my 3rd shot drive.

Trust me, it still needs work.

I believe it’s because I’ve gone all in on building my pickleball IQ.

And that’s what I plan to bring to you every single week. We’re upping our game this year and will be sending out two emails per week. :)

On Tuesdays, you’ll get a short video, less than 90 seconds — to provide you with some quick tips and videos you can implement into your game immediately. And probably a few other reminders along the way.

On Thursdays, you’ll get longer form post focused on strategies, new ways of thinking on court, and the tools you need to elevate your game—not just technically, but strategically.

And then, occasionally, you’ll receive a couple of other one-off emails from time to time.

So, reserve your Tuesdays and Thursdays in 2025 for THATpickleballnewsletter.

And soon (just like with Brence), every pickleball player around you will be asking, "How'd you do that?"

😊

Till next time,

Kyle

P.S. In case you missed it, I released a new video yesterday that already has 20k views and 679 comments! 😳 Watch now: 6 Overlooked Mistakes Destroying Your Game.

P.P.S. ThatPickleballSchool now offers a 7-Day Free Trial. So you can try it out for a week, and if it's not a fit, you don't pay :) 👇