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Anna Leigh Waters. Hayden Patriquin. JW and Jorja Johnson. The best players at the pro level all have one thing in common: they regularly work with coaches to improve their skills.

You might not have access to ALW’s mom, but you almost certainly could benefit from a solid lesson or two. On the fence? We break down some surefire signs it could be time below.

In This Issue:
— MLP is seeking a new commissioner
— Decoding pickleball elbow
— How to hit the sweep volley

Let’s have a day.

Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud were the marquee men’s doubles team heading into PPA Arizona, the heavy favorite to win it all. Until they encountered Yuta Funemizu and Nico Acevedo in the Round of 16. Down go the No. 1 seed: 11-4, 11-5. Yuta’s post-match reaction: “I love pickleball!”

Sydney Sweeney has lit up the internet once again, this time in a provocative ad for a gambling site that has many female athletes feeling some kind of way. Pickleball pro Ava Ignatowich took to IG to push back — and voice her appreciation for the gender equality so prevalent in our sport.

Friday Pickleball just became the latest brand to settle as part of JOOLA’s sweeping patent infringement lawsuit. Come this fall, they must stop making the Aura, Fever 101 and Fever 102. The IP wars continue.

We see a lot of outdated or confusing information thrown around when it comes to pickleball elbow. So we asked Connor Derrickson, aka That Pickleball Trainer, to correct the record. Here’s what you need to know.

The sweep volley is a flat, controlled volley where the paddle moves laterally through the contact zone without any excessive torque, flick, or follow-through.

It’s the ideal shot when you’re at the kitchen line, poised to put a ball away around shoulder height, but moving across your body. The fourth shot often presents such a prime opportunity.

Think of it as moving the paddle from one flat position to another flat position. There is no big loop. There is no wrist snap. The paddle face stays consistent before, during, and after contact.

Here’s how to pull it off:

Better yet? The mechanics stay exactly the same whether you’re hitting a forehand or a one-handed backhand.

➡️ Watch a pro in action.

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Major League Pickleball is officially on the hunt for a new commissioner.

Last night, we broke the news that Samin Odhwani, MLP’s active commissioner and chief strategy officer, is leaving the league to join Apollo Sports Capital and SC Holdings, where he’ll oversee the $225 million investment into Pickleball Inc. that Apollo led back in May.

The transition includes a seat on Pickleball Inc.’s board and a focus on major growth opportunities across the business, including a long-term media rights agreement.

“The past two years have been the best in MLP history and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish," Odhwani told The Dink. "The product will only continue to grow with the incredible team that we have in place.”

The changing of the guard is not yet complete. Odhwani remains MLP commissioner while the search for his successor proceeds, and the move is contingent on an agreed-upon replacement.

The search is focused on a leader who can build MLP’s business: expanding into larger venues, growing sponsorships and managing the league’s day-to-day operations.

It’s a big hire for a league that feels poised and ready to hop a rocket ship to the moon. Who will be next? And what does that mean for the future of team pickleball?

➡️ Get the full story.

Scorching heat. +15 mph wind. Pouring rain.

Outdoor pickleball throws variables at you that indoor never will. On the PicklePod, Nico the Lefty and Zane Navratil debate which camp they're really in: team indoor or team outdoor.

They get into:

Listen to their full take here.

Reps are great, but if you’ve plateaued, keep making the same errors, or find yourself avoiding a certain shot or skill repeatedly, it might be time to seek professional help. And trust us here, there’s absolutely no shame in that game.

Taking a lesson is a great way to home in on the areas of your game holding you back from improving. It can also help reveal bad habits or easily fixable mistakes you don’t even know you’re committing.

A good lesson will show you what to work on. Drillings helps dial it in.

Our advice. Ask around for some recommendations from players you know and trust. There are some not-so-great coaches floating around out there. But a good one can help transform your game entirely.

➡️ 5 signs it’s time.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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