Then, the PPA (which, as an aside, has been operating at a loss the past two years) required all top pro players to sign 3-year exclusive deals, meaning no PPA-contracted player could play in any other pickleball event. This led to negotiations between the PPA and Major League Pickleball (MLP) over players, which fell apart quickly. Then, the MLP aligned with PPA’s rival – the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). Not to be outdone, the PPA then responded by announcing that it will have its own team event (which would be designed to compete with the MLP). So, in summary, in the first 10 days of the year, the pro pickleball landscape is turned on its head and there is a major face-off between the PPA, on one hand, and the APP and MLP, on the other. Oh, and the PPA banned any spin serve in the pro division. Phew. That was a lot. There will certainly be more to come on this one (as both the APP and PPA promised major announcements later this month and next month)…