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Both #1s go down, tensions high

Both #1s go down, tensions high

Let's be fair to ALW. The smart 4th shot.

August 04, 2023

Good morning. We love a good clapback:

And PCKL didn’t even scratch the surface. Don’t forget Kevin Durant.

Weird question: do you know anybody who earnestly believes pickleball should not qualify as a sport? Put them in touch with us by sending an email here.

In This Issue:

🧠 The smart fourth shot
💪 Hurricane dominates
🎾 Let’s be fair to the young GOAT

Annnnnnd go.

The Fourth Decision

The fourth shot is vital in pickleball. You'll hit hundreds this month alone. But do you know where you're going to hit them?

You better have some idea, because if you're hitting the fourth, then it's a point you're expected to win (statistically speaking). Susannah Barr helps break down the decision-making process in this video.

Your response is dependent on the quality of their third.

If it reaches you in the air, block the ball deep into the court. Keep them back and make them hit the fifth shot from behind the baseline.
If they're skilled enough to drop it in the kitchen, your options change. They're likely advancing toward the kitchen and there's no option to keep them back.
Your best bet instead is to dink the ball into an unattackable spot near the sideline.

The best way to master these concepts and ingrain the decision-making process is to drill baby, drill.

Feed the ball to your partner who is positioned at the baseline. Get reps evaluating third after third as they come in. Make the smart play and keep the odds in your favor.

The Go-To Backpack for Pickleball Players

The Core Bag Line by Selkirk is the go-to backpack line for pickleball players looking for a well designed, well constructed, and functional backpack.

This line features three of the most well known and loved silhouettes in pickleball: the Selkirk Day, Team, and Tour bags in five vibrant colors; Black, Red, Purple, Green & Blue.

Elevate your game on and off the court with Selkirk's Core Bag Line. Get yours today and experience the difference!

Hurricane Warning

You want parity? You get parity. Both Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters were upset early in the draw yesterday, eliminating them from medal contention.

And though we’re only 1 day into the tournament, we’ve already seen 4 paddle tosses. Safe to say, tensions are high and the competition is as strong as ever.

Yates Johnson of APP Tour fame caught Johns early in the day and beat him in straight games 11-7, 11-6. Johnson then fell to Gabriel Joseph in the quarterfinal round.

The electric Joseph looked better than he has in months and rattled off a series of impressive victories (P. Tellez, C. Garnett, T. McGuffin) on his way to a Championship Sunday appearance.

Joseph will meet Federico Staksrud for what will likely be a thriller for gold. JW Johnson fell to Staks in semis, then bested McGuffin to finish in third.

Hurricane Tyra Black reached Category 5 status with a landmark win against ALW yesterday. The match ended in a bizarre fashion as no one is used to seeing the champ go down. Her dominant six straight triple crowns have been nothing short of spectacular.

Black parlayed her upset with a win in the semis over Lauren Stratman to push her into Championship Sunday. She will face Yana Newell who has been on the warpath in the second half of 2023.

We're one day in and the Takeya Showcase is already one of the most memorable events of the year. Don't miss the special Championship Sunday broadcast from 1 - 3 pm ET on CBS.

Opinion: Let’s Give ALW Some Space

If you didn’t click on the “bizarre fashion” link above…ALW appeared to celebrate before running off the court after losing that match yesterday, to the confusion of many watching.

Now, some armchair psychologists have taken it upon themselves to diagnose her:

“She obviously can’t process losing.”

“This demonstrates a lack of maturity.”

“Tell me you’re 16 without telling me you’re 16.”

“Mental breakdown alert.”

After only being with The Dink for less than a year, I’ve seen the pickleball community come out with some judgmental and, unfortunately, inappropriate statements about Anna Leigh (most of them haven’t come from our followers, thankfully).

Forget the fact that she’s a teenager, which I would hope brings a certain patience and discretion which is often lacking in the sports world…The most important thing is that there is a human on the other side of the keyboard.

Some buzz is understandable when any player’s streak is broken, especially one who’s gained national notoriety like ALW. And I know we live in a world of constant analysis and hot takes.

But in my opinion, anyone who describes a lack of maturity here demonstrates a lack of it themselves. — Adam @ The Dink

Pickleball’s Unsung Author

In 1978's The Other Racquet Sports, Richard "Dick" Squires (1931-2003) predicted pickleball's growth – or, at least, the possibility for it.

He started to work on the book, which chronicles under-appreciated racquet sports, only about 10-12 years after pickleball was invented in 1965.

"Little-known Pickle-Ball has all the appeals to become a national rage," he says at the close of the book.

"If it is promoted, merchandized, and distributed properly here in the United States, its success will be assured. Now if I only had more time..."

Flash forward 45 years later:

Three US-based major professional pickleball leagues and 63 national associations are doing their part to spread the sport not only in North America, but throughout the world (**cough** not to mention the work of media sites **cough cough**).
Pro teams in Major League Pickleball have their own names, shirts, hats, etc. for sale; there's even the pickleball equivalent of baseball cards.
Major TV networks, the largest media companies, and online streaming channels are giving more and more attention to the sport, with new headlines and segments popping up every week.

The pickleball-loving world has only just begun promoting, merchandizing, and distributing the sport. But much of its early spread is owed to Dick's work.

Keep an eye out next week when we dive into how he “rated” each of the sports covered in his book.

Easy, Safe, Fun: Lectric

Forget the hassle of finding parking at pickleball courts.

The XP Lite is a unique eBike with easy maneuverability, a twist grip throttle option, a basket to hold your things, and five levels of pedal assist.

Learn more about this fun transportation option here.

You might be playing with an illegal paddle

The Seattle Open was full of headlines. The guys cover Lea’s retirement, Pablo’s costly paddle throw, and the upset over the Johns bros. MLP announced new paddle color guidelines that eliminate a possibly unfair advantage. Zane discusses how he pushes the rules to their limit.

Watch here or listen here.