The Kansas City Chiefs are champs, again. What’s more predictable? The NFL or pro pickleball?

But the big game wasn’t the only thing people were talking about. Pickleball seemed to be everywhere in Las Vegas:

• Etrade shelled out a cool $7mil for their pickleball commercial 

• The Dink hosted a celebrity pro-am and amateur tournament featuring NFL legends Larry Fitzgerald, Marcellus Wiley, Golden Tate, Cliff Avril and more

• Franklin, The Picklr and Smirnoff hosted pickleball events of their own

Pickleball x football. A (Taylor Swift) love story.

Speaking of winners, the votes are in. We announce the winners of the 2023 Dink Awards below.

In This Issue:

🎾 Sam Querrey joins an all-new Tennis Sucks
🏆 Dink Award winners
💪 Stand up to the power serve

Viva.

Neutralize a Big Serve

Dekel Bar has one of the biggest serves in pickleball. He earns free points on the serve in almost every match he plays. So who better to get advice from on combating an overpowering serve?

So we asked him directly: how do you combat powerful serves?

Dekel provided PicklePod listeners some useful tactics on last week’s episode.

Back off the baseline

Stand a few feet behind the baseline. They’re going to aim deep in the court. Provide enough space so the ball can bounce and rise back up to a playable height.

This raises a severely common issue observed in amateur pickleball: the tendency to stand on the baseline, or sometimes even inside of it, in an effort to reduce the distance to the net.

Players often have to retreat to field a deep serve, which causes bodyweight to shift backward upon contact. The result? A return into the net or a weak, shallow return that gives the serving team the advantage.

While advancing to the net as quickly as possible is crucial, it should not take priority over hitting a sound return. Don’t cheat in. Stand behind the baseline and give yourself room to hit the optimal shot.

Get in a good athletic stance

Don’t get caught standing straight up or leaning in one direction. Have your knees bent and be ready to react. It sounds obvious, we know. But simply keeping this top of mind can make all the difference. Knees bent + athletic stance.

Start moving forward

A strong strategy to counteract their power is to get your momentum moving forward. Move into the ball after it bounces. Push it deep into their court and keep moving forward toward the kitchen.

Priorities when dealing with a big server:

• Stand behind the baseline

• Athletic stance

• Momentum moving forward upon contact

• Return flat, with depth, and advance into the court

Catch more from Dekel on hitting big serve and Zane’s secret for consistent returns here.

There is Color

Brighten up your game with the vivid SLK by Selkirk Halo pickleball paddles, now in radiant pink and lime green!

Select between the 16mm Control Core for strategic placement and the 13mm Power Core for that extra oomph in your shots. And with the longer XL handle, you're in for enhanced reach and spin, making every shot count.

Don't blend in; visit Selkirk's website to explore these colorful wonders and elevate your game today!

Late Entry Takes Pickle Bowl 2024

The first annual Pickle Bowl took place last week at The Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas ahead of The Big Game and it delivered plenty of moments, memories and laughs.

The event helped raise funds for the Inspiring Children Foundation.

The three-day event featured clinics, amateur events and a celebrity tournament, won by former NFL great and MLP part owner Larry Fitzgerald and his partner, pro Patrick Kawka. Despite the future Hall of Famer and his partner being a last-minute entry for the event, the duo was able to secure the title.

The competition featured fellow NFL vets Golden Tate, Cliff Avril and Marcellus Wiley as well as some of the internet’s most engaging entertainers like AreYouKiddingTV, Logan Lisle, Jenna Bandy and more. You can check out the highlights from the event by visiting our YouTube channel.

• On Thursday, Pickle Bowl offered two 60-minute clinics with "pickleball coach to the stars" Matt Manasse and professional pickleball players followed by two hours of Open Play

• On Friday, the Invitation-Only Celebrity, Athlete, & Influencer Tournament was held, won by Fitzgerald and Kawka

• Finally, on Saturday, the Amateur Tournament was held with multiple divisions for all skill levels

Thanks to everyone who helped make the inaugural event a success. With the Big Game in New Orleans next season, a second annual Pickle Bowl sure could be a lot of fun.

Pickleball Pop-ups

Pop-up courts dominated the Las Vegas strip over the weekend. Pickleball was the number one pastime (outside of losing money) for Sin City visitors.

• Picklr Park set up shop outdoors on the Vegas strip and was joined by Super Bowl Champion Drew Brees

• The Franklin court inside the Super Bowl Experience had some of the NFL’s best talent on display including this backflip from Tyreek Hill

• Smirnoff had the most colorful court of the weekend and showcased hip-hop star Saweetie and NFL legend Vernon Davis

The 2023 Dink Awards Winners

The votes are in for the 2023 Dink Awards, the People’s Choice Awards for Pickleball. You voted for your favorite players, matches and moments from 2023, and here are the first round of results.

🏆 Men’s Player of the Year: Ben Johns
🏆 Women’s Player of the Year: Anna Leigh Waters
🏆 Senior Men’s Player of the Year: Altaf Merchant
🏆 Senior Women’s Player of the Year: Beth Bellamy

You can find more results from the 2023 Dink Awards here, stay tuned throughout the week to see more winners.

Timeless. Elegant. Lasting.

Step up your game with The Pick, where pickleball apparel meets sophistication and fun.

Featuring sweatshirts, t-shirts, and more, these pieces are designed for players who live and breathe pickleball, both on and off the court. With designs that balance subtlety and flair, The Pick's apparel is a favorite among pickleball enthusiasts.

Embrace the spirit of the game with style – explore The Pick's collections today and discover your new favorite pickleball wardrobe essentials.

The Perfect Pickle Partner

Last week we asked you a hypothetical. Let's say you're playing doubles in a tournament. Who are you picking up as your partner?

A. The one who speeds up every ball
B. The constant banger
C. The lobber
D. The perpetual poacher

The majority of you went with A. Not because of a love for the speedup but mostly because of a distaste for the other options. No one likes paying the price for their partner’s bad lob and when it comes to rec play some people need to chill out with the poaching.

In honor of Valentine’s Day this week, we need two things. First, reply to this email with your favorite pickleball love story for our Wednesday send. Second, take advantage of the Valentine’s Flash Sale on the Pickleball Box.

“I walk into an event and get punched in the face”

Tennis legend and current pickleball pro Sam Querrey joins the Tennis Sucks podcast this week. Querrey explains why creating offense from the backhand side has given him the most trouble in the pro game.

Travis and Sam negotiate a potential 2024 partnership but Travis’ price might be too high. Catch all of the banter and trash talk here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• As pickleball's popularity surges, injuries are also on the rise

• Pickleball Profiles: Pro Kaitlyn Christian, former Hollywood stunt double

• Time to become a more physically fit pickleballer

• ICYMI: Play pickleball in the French Riviera

• “I was thrilled with the selection in my Pickleball Box. From head to toe (hats to socks, actually), I feel pampered with new gear for playing”

Highlights

• An ATP winner looks better on a rooftop 🏢

• The pickleball Super Bowl commercial 📺

• Zane wasn’t holding back on this one ☝️

A review from the Dink Fam...