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The biggest, most consequential paddle brand acquisition in pickleball history just went down with the news that Selkirk bought indie darling Bread & Butter. What does this mean for the future of B&B? And is this the first domino to fall in an inevitable chain reaction of paddle brand consolidation?

We chatted with B&B founder Doug Sapusek from his Florida hot tub to find out.

In This Issue:
— Does pro pickleball need heckling?
— The one shot pros practice most
— 12 insane home pickleball courts

Vibes: high.

It’s an age-old debate: should fan culture in pro pickleball be more like tennis and golf (quiet, reserved) or the NBA (raucous, loud)? Right now, it’s being stifled. But OG pro Zane Navratil says it’s time to let the crowds go wild.

A woman was playing some friendly open play when all of a sudden, her partner started offering a slew of unsolicited tips and suggestions. She didn’t like it, but didn’t know how to react. We’ll start: tell that guy to mind his own business.

A few days ago, a tantalizing teaser post hit Instagram promising an MLP Asia league is “coming soon.” Today, the PPA Asia X account confirmed: “The little bro is coming…” If this is country vs. country Major League Pickleball, consider us onboard.

DUPR Reset has pushed its deadline out two weeks to May 31. Anyone anxiously awaiting the reveal of their new rating will have to wait. But it also gives those dragging their feet some valuable extra time to get those matches in the books.

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: even the best pros in the world don’t hit perfect drops 100% of the time.

It’s actually another shot entirely that separates the best players in the world from us 4.0 heroes: the reset.

Blast a ball anywhere near a high-level player and you better believe it’s coming right back over the net. That’s their superpower — a near superhuman knack for forcing you to hit one more shot. Then another. And another.

But it could be your superpower, too. To show you the way, we’ve enlisted the help of PPA Tour pro Eric “Dr. Reset” Roddy.

Unlike a block, where your paddle is static in front of your body, a reset takes place at ground level. Which makes sense: when you’re being attacked, the target is (or should be) down at your feet.

Here’s how to pull it off:

✅ When preparing to hit a reset, your paddle should almost be touching the ground, nestled just in front of you, with your arms slightly bent. Picture a shortstop’s glove right before fielding a sharp grounder.

✅ When possible, get two hands on the paddle — dominant hand fully on the handle, the other one up around the throat. This will give you the stability and leverage you need to absorb the ball’s pace and angle it back over the net.

✅ Don’t get too cute here. Resets are predominantly a defensive shot, meaning it’s even more important to aim for the spot that gives you the best chance to succeed and stay alive. Most of the time, that’s going to be the middle of the kitchen.

Here’s another Dr. Reset tip you can take to the bank: Before the ball is struck, get in a deep squat, legs shoulder-width apart, ready to adjust to the ball’s trajectory. Now think of hitting a reset like you’re catching the ball with the face of your paddle.

Your goal is to just get it back by any means necessary.

"It is much better to hit the world’s highest, worst reset that still makes it over the net and forces your opponent to put the ball away than it is to miss the ball in the net," says Roddy.

➡️ More reset rules, right here.

For years, paddle shopping came down to hype and opinions.

Then JustPaddles built the Paddle Lab.

Their in-house testing system compares paddles using measurable data like exit velocity, spin rate, twist weight, and consistency instead of vague claims about “feel” and “pop.”

That’s how they uncovered a growing category of paddles that can rip drives from the baseline while still feeling predictable during resets and dink exchanges.

Paddles like the Selkirk Boomstik, Friday Aura Pro, and CRBN TruFoam Barrage are proving you do not have to sacrifice touch for power anymore.

Dive into the Paddle Lab and get 10% off with code THEDINK.

In the wake of the news of Selkirk acquiring Bread & Butter Pickleball Company, we beamed B&B CEO and Founder Doug Sapusek in live from his Florida hot tub.

The crux of the conversation: What does the future of B&B look like under its new ownership?

In short: Doug will continue to helm product innovation and marketing, while Selkirk supports with logistics, distribution, and all the other non-sexy stuff he’s not very good at anyway.

“To be clear, I was making a lot of money when Selkirk and I were first talking… we were killing it, printing cash, it was great,” he told us. “So for me to make the move it had to make sense. At the end of the day… I can focus on fun stuff and what I’m good at. I feel very lucky.”

➡️ Catch the full conversation right here.

In case there was ever any doubt, none of us will ever be professional pickleball players.

Not unless we can hit a ball with the precision, consistency, and deadly force exhibited by Rachel Rohrabacher in a recent video from paddle reviewer John Kew.

Her 2,273 RPM serve was impressive. So was her 20 MPH, 900 RPM forehand speedup.

Even more so? She does it shot after shot, never striking the ball off her paddle’s sweet-spot or missing her target on the court.

It’s bonkers — and positively hypnotizing when seen in extreme slow-motion.

➡️ Watch her work.

Pickleball players love data.

DUPR. Paddle specs. Swing weights. Court time.

But when energy drops, recovery slows down, or you just don’t feel quite right… most people are still completely guessing.

That’s why Marek Health’s Guided Optimization program stands out.

Advanced lab work. A dedicated Health Coach. Licensed medical providers reviewing your actual biomarkers so you can understand what’s really going on instead of throwing random supplements at the problem.

Because “getting older” and “running low” are not always the same thing.

➡️ Start your Guided Optimization journey and get 10% off with code THEDINK

We've all entertained the thought: Could I build a pickleball court in my backyard? Should I? Am I being crazy or... financially responsible in the long-term?

To be fair, few of us can actually get away with this. But for the lucky few, a home pickleball court is a reality.

And judging from a post popping off in the Pickleball Forum group on Facebook, the results can be downright glorious.

Costing anywhere from a few hundred bucks to the the hundreds of thousands, perched in backyards or by the lake, these home courts are worth a look.

➡️ Here are 12 of our favorites.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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