CHICAGO — The Paddletek Group has made one of the most significant moves of the 2026 pickleball season, announcing both the acquisition of innovative paddle manufacturer PIKKL and the signing of professional stars JW Johnson, Jorja Johnson, Julie Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black to Team Paddletek.
The dual announcement substantially expands Paddletek’s product portfolio while strengthening one of the sport’s most recognizable professional rosters, underscoring the increasingly competitive landscape among premium paddle manufacturers.
PIKKL, founded by Mike Strommen and Dan Martinson, quickly established itself as one of pickleball’s emerging performance brands by focusing on paddle innovation and technology. Under the acquisition, PIKKL’s founders will remain with the company to continue leading product development, adding their expertise to a portfolio that already includes Paddletek, ProXR and Yobow. The acquisition also brings PIKKL’s technology platform alongside established paddle families such as Bantam, Tempest and Honeyfoam™.
Equally impactful is the addition of four high-profile professionals. JW and Jorja Johnson, widely regarded as the sport’s premier sibling competitors, had been evaluating equipment options after their longtime paddle sponsorship expired earlier this year. Their move reunites them with Hurricane Tyra Black, who previously competed under the PIKKL banner, while Julie Johnson rounds out one of the most accomplished family lineups in professional pickleball.
Paddletek Group leadership said the acquisition and athlete signings reflect a shared commitment to innovation and long-term growth. Rather than viewing product development and athlete partnerships as separate initiatives, the company believes that combining elite player feedback with expanded engineering resources will accelerate the development of the next generation of paddle technology.
The announcement continues a broader trend of consolidation within the pickleball equipment industry as manufacturers compete for market share through acquisitions, technology investments and marquee athlete endorsements. For retailers and consumers, the move signals intensifying competition among the sport’s leading performance brands as pickleball’s rapid growth continues to attract investment and reshape the equipment landscape.
