Anna Bright: A+ Instruction

 Anna Bright shares her journey of developing a lethal one-handed backhand aerial attack—a shot she previously thought was impossible for her to master. She breaks down the technical nuances of the three main types of aerial backhand shots:

• The Poke (0:54 - 1:40): A simpler, defensive-minded pop of the ball at an opponent, often used as a misdirect. It is generally less effective for putting pressure on opponents compared to other shots.
• The Roll (1:46 - 4:51): A shot primarily powered by the shoulder joint, which is essential for handling lower balls (at the knees or below). Anna emphasizes keeping the paddle face relatively closed and lifting through the shoulder to generate topspin.
• The Flick (2:01 - 5:44): A more advanced, wrist-heavy motion that provides snappy, fast-twitch topspin. Anna notes that players like JW Johnson are masters of this mechanic, relying on quick wrist action rather than large shoulder movements.

Key Takeaways for Improvement:

1. Body Mechanics: Regardless of the shot type, Anna stresses the importance of hinging at the hips (5:01) rather than rounding the back, which ensures better reach and stability.
2. Contact Point: For crosscourt speed-ups, you must make contact significantly earlier (6:50) to effectively direct the ball outside and across the court.
3. Strength Training (8:19 - 8:51): Anna provides a "hack" for those struggling with the shot: strengthen your forearm. Using a light dumbbell for rotation exercises can significantly increase stability at the point of extension, which is crucial for a consistent aerial attack.

Anna concludes by noting that if you can master these mechanics on the left side, you will become significantly more dangerous on the right side as well, as the backhand naturally provides more reach.

10-question quiz to test your knowledge of Anna Bright's backhand aerial attack techniques: 1. According to the video, what is a "poke" primarily used for? (0:54) A) Generating heavy topspin. B) A defensive misdirect or popping the ball at an opponent. C) A long-range power drive. D) A full-extension roll. 2. Which body part is the primary driver for a "backhand roll"? (1:47) A) The elbow. B) The wrist. C) The shoulder. D) The hip. 3. Which player does Anna identify as the "flick wizard"? (2:09) A) Ben Johns. B) Federico Staksrud. C) Andrea Koop. D) JW Johnson. 4. What does Anna recommend regarding the paddle face when performing a roll? (3:40) A) It should be completely open. B) It should be kept relatively closed. C) It should be flat at all times. D) It should be angled upward at 45 degrees. 5. Why is it important to hinge at the hips rather than rounding the back? (5:01) A) It helps maintain balance. B) It ensures better reach and prevents an "ugly" posture. C) It increases the speed of the serve. D) It makes the ball bounce higher. 6. What is the key mechanical difference between a roll and a flick? (2:01) A) A roll is shoulder-reliant, while a flick is wrist-reliant. B) A roll is wrist-reliant, while a flick is shoulder-reliant. C) A roll is only for the left side, while a flick is only for the right. D) There is no difference. 7. When hitting a crosscourt speed-up, what adjustment does Anna suggest? (6:50) A) Hit the ball later in your swing path. B) Keep the paddle face wide open. C) Make contact significantly earlier in front of your body. D) Focus exclusively on the elbow motion. 8. According to Anna, why is the backhand often better on the right side of the court? (7:42) A) You have more natural reach. B) The ball travels slower. C) It is easier to hit a forehand from there. D) The court is smaller on that side. 9. What is Anna's "hack" for those struggling to gain power or stability on the backhand? (8:20) A) Increase your cardio. B) Strengthen your forearm with rotation exercises. C) Switch to a heavier paddle. D) Use two hands for every shot. 10. At what point in the dink rally does Anna suggest the shoulder lift is most important? (3:08) A) When the ball is high above the net. B) When the ball is at the shoulder height. C) When the ball is low, at the knees or below. D) When the ball is being served. Answer Key: 1: B, 2: C, 3: D, 4: B, 5: B, 6: A, 7: C, 8: A, 9: B, 10: C

2026 US Open

 

17:22 Women's Doubles: Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters vs Valdes/Huyhn

Mixed Doubles

10:18 Waters/Devilliers vs Butler/Lanier
3:00:32 Waters/Devilliers vs Carvajal/Emry

Anna Bright's Vietnam Vlog

 

Throughout the week, Anna Bright navigates the challenges of international travel, intense competition, and local cultural experiences. She announces that she is the number one pickleball Vlogger in the World (12K+ subscribers).

Tournament Highlights & Performance:

• Mixed Doubles: Anna and her partner Hayden faced tough competition, including a frustrating loss to Christian and Kaitlyn (24:30), but they gained valuable insights into the need for strategic adjustments (25:20-25:50).
• Women's Doubles: The highlight of the trip was winning the gold medal with partner Anna Leigh Waters (31:10), which Anna described as the "icing on the cake."
• Technical Adjustments: Anna discusses how the specific type of ball used and the humid, muggy conditions (13:42, 14:19) significantly altered the gameplay, requiring her to be more aggressive and adapt her dinking patterns (14:40-15:05).

Trip & Cultural Experiences:

• Local Culture: Anna embraces the local scene, including trying Vietnamese coffee (29:11), visiting Train Street (7:35), and meeting local fans. She expresses deep gratitude for her driver and security team who helped her navigate the city (19:28-19:52).
• Logistics & Daily Life: She shares funny anecdotes, such as accidentally "dining and dashing" (11:22) and participating in "credit card roulette" with the other players (27:06). She also discusses the physical toll of the tournament, including elevated creatine kinase levels (5:20) and the extreme humidity that left her shirt soaked with sweat (15:21).
• Behind-the-Scenes: The vlog offers a glimpse into the life of a traveling pro, showing the balance between intense training, social time with other pros, and managing personal health and recovery.

PPA Asia: MB Hanoi Cup

 

Gold Medal Matches 0:21:45 Women's Singles 1:51:44 Women's Doubles 2:59:46 Men's Doubles 4:13:56 Men's Singles 4:51:17 Mixed Doubles

MB Hanoi Cup 2026 PlayList

Round of 16 Highlights | PPA Tour: Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort

 

00:00 Women's Singles 09:40 Men's Singles 19:40 Mixed Doubles 29:14 Men's Doubles 39:18 Women's Doubles

Anna Bright;s Vlog: Conquering the Wind and Burnout at PPA Texas

 

Anna Bright takes us behind the scenes at the PPA tournament in McKinney, Texas. Facing intense wind conditions, mental burnout from previous tournaments, and a feeling of being underprepared, Anna documents her journey to bounce back through rigorous drilling, playful banter with partners Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters, and embracing the chaos of tournament life. Here is a breakdown of the key moments and topics covered.

Tournament Preparation and Mental Focus (0:00 - 3:19)

Anna kicks off the week aiming for a bounceback performance in both mixed and women's doubles. She emphasizes the importance of trusting the work put in and shares her routine, which includes visiting a local bakery, drilling for an hour with Juan Bonitez, and undergoing hypnotherapy to manage stress and anxiety from the previous week.

Court Logistics and Windy Conditions (2:33 - 3:56) Anna and her partner, Hayden, are surprised to find themselves playing on Court 15 instead of a stadium court. She jokes about texting the PPA to ask if they are in.

Tournament Logistics and Personal Mishaps (4:12 - 5:54) In a comedic turn of events, Anna realizes she forgot her women's doubles outfit at her Airbnb and has to rush back to get it. She also experiences a mishap with a drink on her white skirt, leading to a frantic effort to clean it before her match. Additionally, she shares a funny story about honking her horn at Anna Leigh Waters and her team when they walked in front of her car.

The 'Video Board' Incident (5:55 - 6:04) During a match, a video board falls down, requiring strong staff members to hold it up, showcasing the unexpected challenges faced during windy outdoor tournaments.

Cooking Show Challenge (7:06 - 8:52) Anna takes a break from the court to participate in a PPA cooking show called Pickleball Eats. She visits a local pizza restaurant to make a specialty pizza, despite admitting she knows little about cooking. She later clarifies a joke about flirting with the host, mentioning he has a girlfriend.

Morning Drills and Intensity (9:05 - 9:57) To maintain her goal of drilling more than anyone else, Anna hits with Ryder Brown at 8:30 a.m. She documents a competitive dink game against the young player, winning 14-12.

Tournament Reflection and Mental Check (10:00 - 11:00) Anna reflects on balancing workload and mental health, deciding to take a chiller approach to work to combat the burnout from the previous week. She coaches her friends Kate and Leia in singles while getting ready for her own matches, admitting she feels more confident in doubles strategy than singles.

Friday Morning Dynamics and Wind Management (11:05 - 13:08) Despite having to take allergy meds that make her tired, Anna maintains her high intensity. She notes that the wind is lower today but expects it to pick up over the weekend, acknowledging that wind tends to favor the underdog in matches.

Quarterfinal Success and Car Routine (13:10 - 15:07) After winning her matches and advancing to the semifinals, Anna takes time to relax in her car—a personal quirk she calls being a "big car sitter." She documents a side quest to Costco for a mango sago dessert, sharing a quote about how experiencing life makes every endeavor a win.

Semifinal Saturday and Rivalries (15:45 - 18:00) Anna prepares for a mixed doubles match against Paris and Andre, humorously questioning the logistics of them sharing a trainer with her partner, Hayden. She also participates in a grip strength test in the player's lounge, playfully bragging about beating Kate with her left hand.

Championship Sunday and Victory (20:05 - 22:30) On Championship Sunday, Anna highlights her ability to remain calm and Type B even when rushing to the venue without coffee. After intense matches in the wind, she and her partners come out on top. The vlog concludes with a celebratory margarita, thanking fans for their support following her emotional breakdown the previous week.

Summary

Anna Bright documents her experience at the PPA Texas Open in McKinney, focusing on her efforts to bounce back from a stressful previous tournament while battling intense wind conditions and mental burnout. She highlights her rigorous preparation routine, which included daily drilling sessions to regain her competitive edge and a visit to a hypnotherapist to manage anxiety.Bright shares behind-the-scenes moments, including navigating unexpected logistical challenges like playing on a non-stadium court, repairing a spilled drink on her uniform just before a match, and participating in a PPA cooking show. She also documents her playful rivalry and friendship with fellow players, specifically through humorous honking interactions with Anna Leigh Waters and competitive grip strength tests against Kate.Ultimately, Bright describes the tournament as a success, culminating in a victory and a celebratory margarita. She expresses gratitude to her fans for their support regarding her mental health, emphasizing the importance of experiencing life and enjoying the journey alongside professional competition.

 

Level Up Your Pickleball Game with Ava Ignatowich

 

3 Essential Fundamentals to Fast-Track Your Skills

Introduction Professional PPA Tour player Ava Ignatowich shares the three core fundamentals she would focus on first if she had to start her pickleball journey all over. Moving beyond just hitting winners, she explains that control, patterns, and patience are what actually win games and move players up in level. The video provides actionable advice and drills to help beginners and intermediate players alike improve their transition game, dinking strategy, and court positioning.

1. Transition Zone Confidence (0:11) Confidence in the transition zone is a major differentiator between lower and higher-level players, as points often end before everyone reaches the kitchen. Ava emphasizes that beginners often practice drops and resets while stationary, which isn't efficient for real game scenarios.

• Moving Drops & Resets (0:42): Instead of being stationary, practice hitting drop shots and resets while moving forward or backward to mirror real gameplay.
• The Slinky Drill (1:47): A cooperative drill starting at the kitchen, where players take a step back after each successful rally until reaching the baseline, then work their way back in.
• 7-Eleven Game (3:42): An uncooperative game designed to practice moving from the baseline to the net under pressure. The player starting back must reach 7 points, while the player at the net must reach 11.
  2. Dinking with Purpose & Kitchen Anticipation (4:38) To improve at the net, players must move away from random dinking and toward intentional placement and reading opponents.
• Targeted Dinking (4:45): Aim dinks specifically at corners, the opponent's inside foot, the middle, or crosscourt to dictate the rally.
• Body Position Anticipation (5:12): Watch your opponent's paddle and body positioning to guess where the ball is going, and lean in that direction during your split step (right before they make contact) to be in the best position to react.
  
  3. Knowing Your Role: Right vs. Left Side (6:27) Ava explains that roles differ significantly depending on which side of the court you are playing, particularly for right-handed players.
• The Left Side (6:57): Generally handles the middle of the court (about 55% of the court) to take advantage of forehands. This role is typically more aggressive.
• The Right Side (7:25): Focuses on being conservative, setting up the partner on the left for putaways, and focusing on consistent crosscourt dinks and resets.
• Bonus Topic: The Power of Boring Pickleball (8:40)  
  Ava concludes that boring pickleball wins games. While flashy shots like earnings are fun, they are low-percentage plays. High-percentage play—focusing on making more balls and playing smart patterns—is the fastest way to win and level up.