Top 5 PPA Tour Pro Players | An Authorized Distributor Explains Their Paddle Choices and Playing Styles
"What kind of professional pickleball players are there?"—This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive from customers. In the US, there's a huge professional tour called the PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association), which hosts over 20 tournaments annually with total prize money reaching millions of dollars.
While a professional tour culture hasn't yet taken root in Japan, there are many elements we amateurs can learn from the paddles and strategies used by pros. This time, I (Coach Yoshi), who lived in LA for 15 years, will introduce five notable professional players who are active on the PPA Tour, along with the paddles they use, their playing styles, and their careers.
What is the PPA Tour?
The PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association Tour) is the world's largest professional pickleball tour, based in Salt Lake City, USA. It's positioned similarly to the ATP/WTA Tour in tennis.
Basic Data
- Established: 2018 (based in Salt Lake City, USA)
- Annual Tournaments: 20-25 tournaments (primarily in the US, some international)
- Total Prize Money: Approximately $5 million annually (based on 2023 performance)
- Top Player Annual Earnings: Hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, including contracts and sponsorships
- TV Coverage: Broadcast on major sports media such as ESPN and Tennis Channel
Features of the PPA Tour
While there are multiple professional pickleball tours (such as the APP Tour and MLP), the PPA Tour offers the highest prize money, and most top players participate in it. The match formats include singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
In 2024, a merger with Major League Pickleball (MLP) was announced, with the official merger completed in April 2026. Under the holding company United Pickleball Association (UPA), the PPA Tour and MLP operate while maintaining their independent brands and formats. Approximately 80% of the world's top 100 players are active under the UPA umbrella.
💡 Coach Yoshi's Insight
I first encountered pickleball in 2026. Since then, I've watched countless videos of top PPA Tour players' matches. There's a unique tension that's completely different from watching tennis, and the delicacy of dink rallies and the power of smashes—I'm drawn in by its depth every time I watch.
Featured Pro Player 1: Ben Johns (Men's No. 1)
Ben Johns is an iconic figure in the pickleball world, having maintained his position as the men's No. 1 on the PPA Tour for a long time. He has achieved world No. 1 rankings in all categories: singles, doubles, and mixed.
Profile
- Nationality: American
- Strengths: High-level all-around play, spin, and control
- Paddle Used: Joola Perseus (Ben Johns Signature). Signed with Joola in 2021, and in 2023, signed the first-ever "lifetime contract."
Playing Style
Ben Johns' characteristic is "not making mistakes." His tenacity in dink rallies, precision in third-shot drops, and the grace of his ATP (Around The Post) shots are all world-class. He is often described as having a "textbook playing style."
Key Learning Points
- Dink Stability: The persistence to keep the ball in play until the opponent makes a mistake
- Footwork: Always maintaining a balanced posture
- Tactical Versatility: Switching between power, control, and spin depending on the situation
Featured Pro Player 2: Anna Leigh Waters (Women's No. 1)
Anna Leigh Waters is a prodigy in the pickleball world, rising to the top of the PPA Tour in her teens. She is ranked world No. 1 in all categories—singles, doubles, and mixed—and holds the record for most wins in PPA Tour history.
Profile
- Nationality: American
- Strengths: Reaction speed from youth, aggressive offense
- Paddle Used: Franklin Sports (Signed a long-term contract with Franklin in January 2026. Signature paddle under development.) Her 7-year contract with Paddletek ended at the end of 2025. She also signed an apparel contract with Nike around the same time, making her a player who has made significant brand moves.
Playing Style
Anna Leigh Waters has dominated other female players with her "youth and aggression." Her hand speed (quick reactions at the net) and aggressive offensive posture have kept her reigning as the top female player.
Key Learning Points
- Reaction Speed: Instant judgment in response to an opponent's attack
- Mental Strength: A fearless attitude that doesn't falter under pressure
- Leveraging Youth: Tactics that maximize physical fitness and reaction speed
Featured Pro Player 3: Catherine Parenteau (Top Female Player)
Born in Montreal, Canada, Catherine Parenteau is a technically skilled top female player who excelled as an NCAA Division I tennis player at American universities (Arkansas → Michigan State).
Profile
- Nationality: Canadian
- Tennis Background: Started tennis at age 4, ranked Top 5 in Canada at age 15, played NCAA Division I tennis in the US (Arkansas → Michigan State)
- Paddle Used: Selkirk Sport (Signature model "Vanguard Power Air Invikta")
Playing Style
Catherine Parenteau is a rare individual who is at a professional level in both tennis and pickleball. Her playing style is characterized by the powerful forehand she developed during her NCAA tennis career, combined with pickleball's unique dink strategies.
Key Learning Points
- Utilizing Tennis Experience: Directly transferring stroke techniques to pickleball
- Mental Fortitude: The concentration to succeed at the top level of multiple sports
- Hope for Tennis Players: An example of how "NCAA-level tennis players can reach the top in pickleball"
Featured Pro Player 4: Jessie Irvine (Engage Contract Pro)
Jessie Irvine is a former top-ranked junior tennis player in the US, now a successful Engage-contracted pickleball pro. She is a talented player, having been ranked in the Top 5 in all pickleball categories (singles, doubles, and mixed).
Profile
- Nationality: American (from Cary, North Carolina)
- Tennis Background: Top 10 nationally ranked in junior tennis, competed on the WTA Tour. Played tennis at UCLA, then coached tennis for nearly 10 years after retirement.
- Paddle Used: Engage Pickleball (Elite Pro Maverick)
Playing Style
Jessie Irvine's appeal lies in her playing style, which elevates her precise strokes from her tennis days into pickleball. Her backhand shots and court dominance, utilizing her long reach, are particularly noteworthy.
Contract with Engage
Engage Pickleball is known as a brand that contracts with many professional players who transitioned from tennis. In addition to Jessie Irvine, Team Engage includes Jaime Oncins (former ATP player, 15-year tennis career), Purav Raja (Indian Davis Cup, ATP doubles highest rank 52, 20 Grand Slam appearances, victories over Tsitsipas, Wawrinka, Fritz, etc., 2013 ATP Bogotá tournament winner), Eric Oncins (Brazilian, NCAA D1 tennis at FGCU, turned pro in 2022), Kara Williams (US Open / PPA Arizona Grand Slam medalist), and also Youssef Bouzidi (ATP tennis and racquetball experience), Richard Livornese Jr. (college lacrosse/football background), among others.
Key Learning Points
- Complete Transition Model from Tennis: Pro-level transition is possible
- Choosing a Control-Oriented Paddle: Engage is a renowned brand for control-oriented paddles
- Selecting Equipment for Long-Term Use: Engage's US-based assembly and quality control system are suited for "long-term use"
Featured Pro Player 5: Tyson McGuffin (Veteran Popular Player)
Tyson McGuffin is a veteran male player who has been at the forefront of the PPA Tour since its early days. He possesses both entertainment value and world-class skill.
Profile
- Nationality: American
- Strengths: Hand speed, mental strength in big matches
- Paddle Used: JOOLA (Signature model "Magnus" / "Magnus Pro IV 14mm"). Transferred from Selkirk Sport, with whom he had a contract for about 8 years, to JOOLA in January 2024. Joined the JOOLA team alongside Ben Johns and Collin Johns.
Playing Style
Tyson McGuffin's entertaining playing style has made him popular. He has many exciting shots to watch, such as ATP, Erne, and angle dinks. He is a player who embodies the PPA Tour, combining skill and popularity.
Key Learning Points
- Entertaining Quality: Not just winning, but having a mindset to put on a show
- Hand Speed: Reflexive reactions in net-front battles
- Tournament Experience: Court familiarity and mental strength derived from a long professional career
Insights on Paddle Selection from Pro Players
What can we glean from examining the paddles used by these five players? (Official information as of June 2026)
| Player | Brand Used | Model Used | Paddle Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Johns | JOOLA | Perseus (Signature) | More power-oriented |
| Anna Leigh Waters | Franklin Sports | Signature in development (Contract Jan 2026) | Hybrid |
| Catherine Parenteau | Selkirk | Vanguard Power Air Invikta (Signature) | More control-oriented |
| Jessie Irvine | Engage | Elite Pro Maverick | Control |
| Tyson McGuffin | JOOLA | Magnus / Magnus Pro IV (Moved from Selkirk in 2024) | Hybrid |
Insight 1: Brands are distributed even among pros
To the question, "Which is the strongest brand?" the PPA Tour's answer is "it varies by individual." Among the top 5 players alone, paddles from 4 different brands—Joola, Franklin, Selkirk, and Engage—are used. This is evidence that the optimal paddle varies depending on playing style, physique, and background.
Insight 2: Many tennis-to-pickleball pros use Engage
Among professional players who transitioned from tennis to pickleball, many, such as Jessie Irvine, Jaime Oncins, Purav Raja, Eric Oncins, and Youssef Bouzidi, choose Engage Pickleball. This is likely because Engage has a control-oriented design philosophy, making it easier to leverage the feel of tennis. On the other hand, some tennis transferees, like Catherine Parenteau, choose Selkirk, indicating that ultimately, personal feel is the deciding factor.
Insight 3: Paddle "personalization" is crucial
Pros are in a position to try all brands for free. Despite this, they choose the paddle that is best suited to their style—meaning that the "paddle everyone uses" is not the best; the "paddle that suits you" is the best.
💡 Coach Yoshi's Insight
Customers sometimes tell me, "I want a paddle that pros use." I understand the sentiment, but a pro's choice is "optimized for a pro's playing style." Copying it as an amateur doesn't necessarily yield the same results. The right approach is to start by assessing your own playing style.
How to Watch Pro Matches
For those who want to watch PPA Tour matches even from Japan, here's how:
PPA Tour Official YouTube
The official PPA Tour YouTube channel offers free highlights of major matches and full replays of past games. Search for "PPA Tour."
Match Analysis on YouTube
Although in English, there are many channels that analyze pro matches. Explanations of tactics for dink rallies, third shots, and attacks can directly help you improve your game.
Recommendation for Spectators
If you have the chance to visit a major pickleball hub like LA, I highly recommend attending a PPA Tour match in person. Seeing the pros' movement, speed, and finesse live will significantly change your perception of your own play.
Summary
- The PPA Tour is the world's largest professional pickleball tour. Matches of top players can be watched on YouTube.
- Five notable players: Ben Johns (Men's No. 1, JOOLA Perseus) / Anna Leigh Waters (Women's No. 1, Franklin Sports from January 2026) / Catherine Parenteau (NCAA D1 tennis background, Selkirk) / Jessie Irvine (Engage Elite Pro Maverick, top US junior tennis player) / Tyson McGuffin (popular veteran, moved from Selkirk to JOOLA in 2024).
- Professional paddle usage is distributed across brands—it's about "personal optimization," not "the best."
- Many players who transitioned from tennis tend to choose Engage Pickleball—the control-oriented design suits their feel (e.g., Jessie Irvine, Jaime Oncins, Purav Raja, etc.).
- It's better to choose the "paddle that suits you" than the "paddle everyone uses."
The techniques of top PPA Tour players offer many insights for us amateurs. By understanding "what pros choose and why they choose it," you can gain clarity on your paddle selection and path to improvement.
If you're thinking, "Which player's style is similar to mine?" or "I have tennis experience, which paddle would suit me?", feel free to send a message on LINE. I (Coach Yoshi) will give you direct advice based on your playing style and experience.
Related Articles
- Made in USA vs. China Paddles | How Manufacturing Country Impacts Paddle Quality — Why Engage contracted pros choose it
- Engage vs. Six Zero | A Thorough Comparison by an Authorized Distributor — Brand-axis comparison
- Control vs. Power Paddles | How to Find the Paddle Type That Suits You — The reasoning behind pro paddle choices
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