Blog 2: Launch at Pickleball Tournament of the Pros

June 15, 2023

Tom Filippini

The Launch of Pepper Pong

We unveiled our homegrown-game-turned-mini-pickleball-revolution at The Pickleball Tournament of the Pro's in Albuquerque, NM...the land of the PEPPER!

We proudly launched Pepper Pong on June 1st at the “Tournament of the Pros” headlined by the world-renowned pro pickleballers Zane Navratil, Parris Todd, Simone Jarim & Kamryn Blackwood! Fittingly, it all went down in the pepper motherland - Albuquerque, NM 🌶️😊!

The journey to this milestone is as fascinating as the game itself. Over decades, our founder & his paddle-wielding pals tinkered with a mishmash of gear to invent a pongesque concoction as playable & portable as a deck of cards.

"The Game" was intentionally crafted to ensure long rallies & close matches regardless of skill, with novel rules designed to prevent lopsided matches & blowouts.

But what WASN’T intended was for Pepper Pong to be dubbed the “pickleball version of ping pong.” After all, its journey began long before pickleball caught fire.

But during early field-testing, pickleball players couldn't help but view our new game as a scaled-down version of their beloved pickleball, with one infamously exclaiming, “it's mini f%#king pickleball in my ACTUAL KITCHEN!"

The accidental pepper-pickle bond was *officially* sealed by the pro pickleball players in Albuquerque playing Pepper Pong for the first time.

We’ll never forget Zane Navratil, ranked as high as #1 in the world, strolling by our booth unable to resist the temptation to grab a pepper paddle.

No surprise, Zane was an instant phenom and marveled at how closely the timing of shots & rules aligned with pickleball.

Zane’s enthusiasm soared when he discovered that volleying the ball, while forbidden in ping pong, is encouraged in Pepper Pong leading him to flawlessly execute a pickleball “Erne-like” shot which he advocated to be named "The Zane" (we obliged!).

Zane's fast mastery of the game and invention of “The Zane” solidified his mark on Pepper Pong's legacy and his contagious enthusiasm led fellow pros Simone Jardim, Parris Todd, and Kamryn Blackwood to play next.

Simone and Parris, undefeated doubles partners in the world of pickleball in 2023, faced off against Kamryn and Pepper Pong's inventor, Tom Filippini.

The match was intense, with long rallies and strategic shots that showcased the game's unique qualities. In the end, Simone and Parris emerged victorious, solidifying their unbeaten streak in both pickleball and Pepper Pong in the year 2023!

All four pros were astonished by the resemblance between Pepper Pong and pickleball and immediately recognized the immense value of Pepper Pong as a training tool to improve their skills no matter where they are.

They declared that Pepper Pong would become an integral part of their pre-match routine before important professional pickleball matches.

So, while Pepper Pong was never intentionally designed as a miniature version of pickleball, the endorsement from both amateur and professional players has sealed its fate.

We are thrilled to see Pepper Pong being hailed as an invaluable training tool and a fun, engaging game in its own right by anyone & everyone who picks up a paddle.

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Instant fun for all ages

It's such fun! The barrier to play is low. No big table or space required, but the fun is full sized. My wife and I play on the dining table after supper. We played with elementary nieces on a coffee table at Christmas. Even my 80 year old parents played it on their table hard enough to breathe hard. It was fun to see them having so much fun being active and competitive. They ordered their own set after playing once.

This action shot rules, Thomas! Sounds like you have a very wide range of ages and abilities taking advantage of Pepper Pong! Love to hear it. Enjoy and keep us posted on family battles!

Such a blast!

Nothing but smiles when you pull the pepper pong set out. Fun for all ages.

Your message has us grinning from ear to ear, Ian! We're thrilled to hear that our pepper pong set brings a smile to your face and fun for all ages. That's exactly what we aim for! So, keep pulling out that set and spreading those smiles. Remember, the world is your playground, and it's always game time with Pepper Pong!

Pepper Pong Lovin

3 things I always have with me at all times: Pepper Pong, my fly rod and my family. I never leave home without them because you never know when the time is right for some fun competition. The best thing about playing in the rockies is that there are picnic tables at every turn. We've played PP in places this summer I am sure have never seen a ping pong ball. Total and complete blast every time we break it out. Thanks to the PP crew for dreaming up this game!! Parent side note - PP is a great distraction for the kiddos when they start to get a little punchy - day saver for them and us.

There's nothing we love more than hearing about Pepper Pong adventures, especially when they're as epic as yours. Playing in the deep in the rocky mountains!? That's another level of spice! We're stoked that our game has become a trusty sidekick for your family, and we're even more thrilled to hear it doubles as a kiddo distractor. Thanks for taking us along on your journeys - here's to many more Pepper Pong matches in unexpected places, Andy!

We love Pepper Pong! Love how easy it is to pack up and travel with. We've played it outside in our back yard, in the mountains, at the park, and at the beach. The idea to have different levels of spicy in the weight of the balls was genius! Makes it entertaining for all ages including my nephew who won't take off the wrist sweatbands.

We're stoked to hear that you love Pepper Pong as much as we do, Amy! It's awesome to know that you've taken it on so many fun-filled adventures, whether it's in your backyard, mountains, park, or even the beach. And we totally agree, the different levels of spiciness in the weight of the balls definitely adds an extra layer of excitement for players of all ages. We love hearing how it has brought joy to your nephew, especially with those cool wrist sweatbands. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Dining room competition

Mom never, ever, lets us use the dining room table, even for dining. When she left town for the weekend, we knew we had the perfect spot to play Pepper Pong! The table finally served a purpose and nothing got scratched from the perfect racquets and balls! What a great set up; easy to set up and even faster to pack away. Finally, some fun in the formal dining room, thanks Pepper Pong!

We're absolutely thrilled to hear about your dining room Pepper Pong adventures, Will! It's fantastic that you found our game easy to set up and pack away, and we're especially glad to know that it brought some fun to your formal dining room without leaving a scratch. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

My kids think pepper pong is genius

We got pepper pong a few weeks ago and have been playing ever since. The kids love experimenting with different playing surfaces and sizes. It's a great game for small spaces and the pepper balls make a big difference.

It's wonderful to hear that your kids are enjoying Pepper Pong and finding it innovative, Jamie! We're delighted to know that they love experimenting with different playing surfaces and sizes, and that the game fits perfectly in small spaces. Your positive feedback truly makes our day!

Fun Anywhere!

We love our set. We've already bought 2 additional sets for friends. Makes a great gift. Totally safe for any surface including glass tables.

Thank you so much for your glowing review, Danny! We're delighted to hear that you're enjoying your set and have even gifted some to your friends. Your support means the world to us!

p.s. thanks for posting an awesome photo. To see pics from fellow players, check out our Insta – www.instagram.com/playpepperpong

Backyard BLAST!

Thank you Pepper Pong! Spicing up our backyard bbq season!! So. Much. FUN.

We're thrilled to hear that Pepper Pong has added some extra spice to your backyard BBQ season, Wendy! It's great to know you're having so much fun.

Coloradical Pepper Pong

We played Pepper Pong in the mountains of Colorado. Everyone enjoyed the game, and the competition was quite spicy. The obstacles of the chandelier and chairs made the game even more challenging to navigate. It was truly Coloradical!!!

We're delighted to hear that you had a 'Coloradical' time playing Pepper Pong in the mountains of Colorado, Rob! It sounds like the chandelier and chairs added an extra layer of fun and challenge to your game. We LOVE the pics!

ps To see pics from fellow players, check out our Insta – www.instagram.com/playpepperpong

Fun anywhere, any time!

Our family of four just took our first trip to SE Asia and loved having Pepper Pong with us! It made even airport waits fly by and will always be part of our memories from the trip. It’s so easy to pack and unpack, and it’s an easy sport for anyone to pick up - highly recommend for trips or grad gifts for the dorm room!

We're thrilled to hear that Pepper Pong added fun and excitement to your family trip to SE Asia, Randall! It's wonderful to know that our game was easy to pack and helped make your airport waits enjoyable. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope Pepper Pong continues to be a part of your memorable moments!

The Launch of Pepper Pong

We unveiled our homegrown-game-turned-mini-pickleball-revolution at The Pickleball Tournament of the Pro's in Albuquerque, NM...the land of the PEPPER!

Let customers speak for us