What an incredible and genuinely touching gift. It brought back a flood of memories from years ago, when I was a sponsored racquetball player—first with Marty Hogan Racquetball, which later became ProKennex. Back then, getting free equipment every year wasn’t just a perk; it made me feel seen, supported, and connected to something bigger. It gave me the chance to play with the newest gear and to share that excitement with others by letting them try it out. I loved being that bridge between people and the sport.
I share that because before I fell in love with my BluCore Hybrid 14, I really tried to give the ProKennex pickleball paddles a chance, and they just didn’t resonate with me. My BluCore did—it felt right in a way that reminded me of why I loved being an ambassador in the first place.
And now, thanks to this incredibly thoughtful gift, I get to feel that again. I have another paddle I can put in someone’s hands, another chance to spark that same excitement I used to share. Maybe I’ll even help a few people discover Diadem the way I did. It means more than just having another paddle—it feels like a piece of that old joy coming back around.