Rumors of sponsor changes among several pickleball pros: Oncins, Tardio and Bahr

For the past few weeks, several exchanges and publications on social networks and pickleball fan forums have revived persistent rumors about a possible change of sponsors for some rising stars of the professional circuit.

At the heart of the discussions: Eric Oncins , Gabe Tardio , and Dekel Bahr . Please note: these are currently unconfirmed speculations based on clues published by the players or observed during recent tournaments. Nothing has been officially announced by the companies involved or by the players themselves.

Eric Oncins: a possible departure from JOOLA?

One of the elements that has reignited the discussion surrounding Eric Oncins comes directly from his own Instagram account. In a post published at the end of December 2025, Oncins thanked the JOOLA brand for an "unforgettable" year, without explicitly mentioning whether he would continue with them in 2026. 

This type of message, quite typical at the end of a season, was nevertheless interpreted by some fans as a potential end to the collaboration between the player and JOOLA, especially in the absence of a clear announcement regarding a contract extension. However, in the absence of an official statement from JOOLA or Oncins, it is important to remain cautious : these words of thanks could simply mark the end of the sporting year and not a termination of the contract. 

Gabe Tardio: heading for a split with PIKKL?

For Gabe Tardio , the rumor of a sponsor change is less directly related to an official announcement than to observations made by fans during recent competitions.

On Reddit and several pickleball forums, some members have noticed that Tardio, traditionally associated with the PIKKL brand, has sometimes used other brands of pickleball paddles in tournaments, particularly in contexts where his PIKKL racket did not appear to be validated by the new equipment certification rules. 

This situation is linked to a wider problem with the certification of paddles for certain PIKKL models during PPA events, which has led some players to resort to other brands at the last minute. 

On Instagram, another post mentioning a "chapter" in his career influenced by PIKKL was also interpreted as a possible sign of a transition. However, no official announcement indicates that Tardio is leaving PIKKL . For now, the story seems more related to technical issues during tournaments than to a change of sponsor announced by the player or the brand. 

Dekel Bahr and JOOLA: true rumor or misunderstanding?

Regarding Dekel Bahr , the rumor comes from a mix of unverified sources — including confusion seen on third-party platforms that still list Bahr as a member of Team JOOLA, while other online discussions suggest he may be considering different options for the upcoming season. 

At this stage, there is a complete lack of official public statements : neither JOOLA nor Bahr has commented on a possible contract termination or a change of sponsor. Therefore, any information circulating on this subject should be considered unconfirmed and treated with caution .

Why are these rumors circulating?

In the world of professional pickleball, sponsorship deals are often the subject of speculation, especially around the end of the year or just after a successful season. Here are some reasons that can fuel rumors of sponsor changes :

• Ambiguous messages on social media , such as general thanks without any announcement of renewal. 
• Use of different equipment during tournaments (often related to certification issues or availability of paddles). 
• Lack of official confirmation from either side , leaving room for fan interpretation.

Rumors vs. reality: why remain cautious

It is crucial to emphasize that all the information mentioned here is based on clues, fan observations, and public social posts — but no official announcement from players or brands has confirmed these changes .

So :

• None of the three players mentioned ( Oncins, Tardio, Bahr ) have published an official statement announcing a termination of sponsorship contract.
• None of the brands involved ( JOOLA , PIKKL ) have issued a statement confirming or denying these rumors.

Until clearer announcements are made by the players or their agents, this information should be considered as speculation which may or may not turn into proven facts in the coming weeks. 

Conclusion

For now, these rumors surrounding Eric Oncins, Gabe Tardio, and Dekel Bahr should be treated with caution . In the world of professional pickleball, the transition periods between seasons are often rife with speculation. Only official confirmation from the players or their sponsors will establish the reality of a partnership change.