I have some BIG news...

Hey y’all, Jack here.

This one has been a long time coming.

First off, I know it’s been a minute since the last newsletter. I’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes lately. Building, adjusting, having some bigger conversations, and honestly just trying to make sure the next steps I take are the right ones. So thank you for being patient while things were quiet over here. There’s a lot to catch you up on.

Let’s start with the biggest one.

The Owl Move

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve already seen it. I’m officially with Owl. This is a move I’m genuinely excited about. The paddle I’m using is the CXE, and from the first few sessions with it, I knew it fit my game. If you’ve watched me play, you know I try to make things uncomfortable. I love disguising shots. I love spin. I love making the ball do things that feel slightly annoying to deal with. That’s the identity of my game.

The CXE allows me to lean into that even more. The spin is honestly ridiculous, but what matters more to me is that it’s consistent. I can trust it. I can shape the ball, hold it a little longer, create weird angles, and know it’s going to respond the way I expect. One thing I’ve really loved is how quiet it plays. There’s not a lot of audio feedback off the face, which might sound like a small detail, but it helps disguise shots. When opponents cannot read the sound, that gives me another layer to work with.

On top of all that, the team behind Owl is sharp. They care about the product, they care about the sport, and they care about building something long term. That matters to me.

I’m pumped for what’s coming with them!

If you want to check out the CXE and see what I’m talking about, I’ll leave the link below.

Starting The Year In Malaysia

My first tournament of the year was APP Malaysia, and I honestly could not have asked for a better way to start.

If every international stop feels like that one did, I’m going to be a very happy guy. The energy in Asia is different. The fans show up. They care. Pickleball over there is growing fast and you can feel it in the atmosphere. It’s not just a sport people are casually trying. It feels like something they are actively building. Before the tournament even started, I did something new for myself. I flew in early and spent time exploring Kuala Lumpur on my own. First time I have ever solo traveled internationally and just wandered through a city by myself!

I Ubered downtown, walked around, talked to random people, tried new food, and just existed in a place completely outside my normal routine. It took more confidence than I expected, but I was proud of myself for doing it! Those are the kinds of experiences that stick with you.

On the court, I walked away with a bronze medal in mixed with Roos Van Reek, who is an absolute beast and someone I am really looking forward to competing with more! In men’s, I teamed up with Ryan Fu for the first time and we were able to take gold!! He was a great partner, steady and supportive, and it felt good to start the season strong. Gold and bronze to open the year is something I’m proud of!

If you want the full breakdown of matches and key moments, I posted a recap on Instagram that goes deeper into it.

Locking In Partnerships And Heading To Japan

Moving forward this season, I’ll be playing every men’s doubles event with Richard Livornese. I’m really excited about that. Richard is one of those guys who studies the game constantly. We usually see each other deep in draws on opposite sides of the net, and both of us are pretty tired of battling each other in semifinals. It feels right to finally be on the same side and build something together. In mixed, I’ll be playing most events with Sofia Sewing, which I’m also excited about. Having consistent partners allows you to actually grow instead of constantly adjusting.

After Malaysia, I flew home for a few days to see my parents, and then three days later I was back on a red eye to Japan for APP Japan.

I try to fly in early whenever I can for these Asia stops because I want to experience the cities, not just the courts. Tokyo has been unreal. The culture, the food, the pace of the city, it’s all different and it’s all inspiring. There’s definitely more of a language barrier here compared to Malaysia or Vietnam, so I’ve been using Google Translate quite a bit, which has led to some interesting interactions. But honestly, I love it. These experiences are shaping me just as much as the matches are. The life stories I’m stacking right now are going to be elite when I’m older.

Croatia And Sandals Getaway

I also want to let you know about something I’m really excited for off the tour schedule. I’m hosting a Croatia getaway at the end of May into early June. This is going to be a small group experience, very limited spots, and a mix of high level pickleball and unreal scenery. Real time reps with me, time off the court, and a chance to immerse yourself in the sport for a full week.

Later in the year, I’ll be doing a Sandals getaway as well in St. Lucia. Same idea. You’ll get a ton of time with me on and off the court, and I genuinely believe you will learn more pickleball in that one week than most people do in an entire year. Spots for both are limited, so if you’re serious about it, grab yours early. I’ll leave the links below.

That’s a Wrap

That’s the big update. A new paddle. A strong start to the season. Partnerships locked in. Asia tour life in full swing. And some really cool experiences coming up off the court.

If you want to stay up to date between newsletters, you can check out my full tour schedule on my website. That’s where everything is listed. And of course, Instagram and YouTube are where I share the real time updates, behind the scenes moments, and match recaps.

I appreciate all of you more than you know.

Onward and upward.
See y’all soon.
Jack Munro