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There’s a feud of federations vying to bring pickleball to Olympic glory. On one side, the World Pickleball Federation and the International Pickleball Federation have merged. The new entity, we’re told, is submitting all the necessary paperwork to the IOC as we speak.

Then there’s the Global Pickleball Federation, which has the support of USA Pickleball and also contends it’s working with the IOC to position pickleball for Olympic recognition.

Who’s who and how soon can we expect this to happen? We sort it out below.

In This Issue:
— How to pull off a successful poach
— Is Pickleball primed for Olympics 2028?
— We preview MLP San Clemente

Los Angeles, here we come.

Sixty-four percent of all pro matches from the PPA Orange County Cup occurred on side courts, where there are no refs or challenge cameras. Shock and awe: suspect line calls ran rampant. Zane Navratil doesn’t like it, but oftentimes, it’s an eye-for-an-eye mentality out there.

PSA: Pickleball paddles shouldn’t be left in sweltering cars overnight. Or for any length of time, for that matter. Turns out, the glue, plastic, and tape that hold them together don’t play well in sauna-like conditions. Have a little more respect.

Malaysian musician Perry Kuan aka DJ Perry has dropped the sport’s latest attempt at an anthem. “Play Pickleball” just debuted, the result of months of effort, multiple video locations and 450 extras. Tyson McGuffin and Jessie Irvine even make an appearance. The production quality is top-notch — we’ll let you judge the lyrics for yourself.

Zane Ford was fined $500 by the UPA for his viral paddle-smashing escapades. Apparently, spiking a paddle “violently, dangerously or with anger” is frowned upon by the league.

The poach shot in pickleball is effective because it breaks patterns and disrupts the regular flow of a point. Timed properly, it can shake your opponent’s confidence, keep them guessing and more defensive, and shrink the game at the kitchen line. (No wonder Zane Navratil is a big fan.)

There’s no rulebook for when you can or can’t poach, but a common and effective moment is after a solid third shot drop by your partner. Here’s why, and how to execute it to perfection.

✅ It’s all about timing. Your team serves, the other team returns, now your teammate is sending back a third shot drop. This is when you plan your attack.

✅ Watch your partner’s shot. As your teammate drops, take two big steps in toward the kitchen. Watch the ball's path. If it’s a quality drop, follow it up to the net, hedging towards the middle but not overcommitting. Now comes the fun part.

✅ Don’t commit too soon. Split step in front of the ball so that you’re stable, balanced, and ready to decide whether to stay put or go hunting.

✅ Watch their paddle face. Now look at their hips, head, and paddle face to gauge where the next shot is going. Odds are if they open up towards your partner's side of the court, the poach will be in play.

✅ Attack on contact. As soon as the ball is hit towards your partner, it’s time to act. Take a few hard lateral steps in its direction and focus on making solid contact with your return, keeping it low, hard, and down the middle. Successful poach, executed.

Challenge yourself to poach a few times during your next play session and watch the points pile up.

If you’ve ever left a tournament feeling like your knees aged ten years, these might be worth checking out.

G-defy shoes use something called VersoShock tech that absorbs impact and gives some of that energy back. You’re not floating, but it’s noticeably easier on your joints.

Every pair also comes with two free orthotics. One for high arches and one for low. They usually cost over a hundred bucks on their own.

They just dropped 15 new summer styles. Sandals, sneakers, hiking shoes. A little something for everyone. Use code DINK for 30% off orders over $100.

Turns out your body knows when your shoes are actually doing their job.

If you ask us, pickleball is the best way to stay active. But it’s not the only way. When you’re not swinging a paddle, how else are you keeping the heart rate up?

We ran a poll last week asking how our readers like to stay active outside of pickleball. Walking or hiking took the top spot. Coming in second? More pickleball. (Respect.)

But what really caught our eye was how many of you said riding a bike or eBike.

If that’s already your go-to, we’re betting some of you use it to get to the courts. And if not, it might be time to start. It’s a sustainable, stress-free warmup that gets you there quickly, feeling loose and ready to play.

We looked into what makes a ride like the Velotric Discover 2 a great option — and why it might change the way you think about getting to your next tourney.

👉 Cruise on over to our article for details.

The pros are back in San Clemente, California, this weekend, this time for Major League Pickleball.

From yesterday through Sunday, a total of 29 matches will go down — 14 in Premier and 15 in Challenger.

Here are a few storylines to watch out for:

👉 Read our full event preview.

The Fourth is coming. And while crackles are great in the sky, no one wants to hear them coming from their pickleballs.

Hot courts do a number on most balls. Summer heat can leave them soft, squeaky, or worse.

Komodo’s BioBall is built to handle the heat. It keeps its shape, stays lively, and plays like it’s supposed to. And since it’s biodegradable, you’re helping out the planet while you play.

Use code THEDINK for 15% off your next pack. Because the only thing that should be popping this summer is the sky.

Whether pickleball deserves to be in the Olympics has been a fun debate for some time.

But a recent merger between two of the sport’s most established entities — the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and International Pickleball Federation (IPF) — is starting to make this idle water cooler chat feel like more of a legitimate conversation.

"The International Olympic Committee, I can tell you, loves pickleball," WPF Founder Seymour Rifkind said on the PicklePod. "It checks all the boxes of what they're looking for any new sport to be accepted.”

To be taken seriously by the IOC, pickleball needs a single international governing body.

The Global Pickleball Foundation (GPF), which has the support of USA Pickleball, might have something to say about that. As of a few days ago it announced itself as “the first international governing body to place the sport of pickleball in the funnel for future IOC compliance and Olympic recognition.”

Say what, now? We’re with you. It’s all a bit confusing.

Rifkind, for his part, is adamant that his newly formed federation will be the one to shepherd the sport to Olympic heights.

"There is still a possibility that we could get in 2028," he contends. "People say it's impossible. I've heard this directly from the IOC: 'If we want you in, you're in. Period.'"

👉 Get the lay of the land in our full article breakdown.

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