7 signs you're a pickleball elitist

Taco Bell's retirement simulator. 4 attacking zones above the net.

July 29, 2024

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American tennis star Coco Gauff is not quite ready to buy into the pickleball trend. At just 20 years old and in the prime of her tennis career, it’s understandable why she’s not ready to make the leap to the short court.

Gauff had an awkward run-in with Team USA rugby star Ilona Maher over the weekend in Paris at the Olympics. Maher brought up pickleball to find some common ground with the reigning U.S. Open Champion. Gauff’s response, “Pickleball … wait, nooooo."

Give it time Ilona, she will come around.

In This Issue:

🌮 Taco Bell’s retirement village complete with pickleball
4️⃣ A different attack for each zone
🏆 Results from MLP Salt Lake City

Yo quiero pickleball.

4 Attacking Zones Above the Net

If a ball comes to you above net height it calls for an attack. However, not all attacks are built the same.

As Coach Mark Price says: “Often beginners and intermediate players go for TOO MUCH - TOO SOON. Misreading the ball trajectory or attacking a ball while still out of reach are common errors at lower levels.”

He breaks down his four different attacking zones based on the height of the ball.

1. Waist Height
Topspin is crucial on a ball in the lowest attack zone. You don’t have the advantage of hitting down on the ball at this point. A roll volley is a great way to be offensive but make sure the ball doesn’t sail long.

2.. Chest Height
More options open up when the ball is at chest height. Price suggests a topspin drive, block volley, punch volley, or swing volley. The speed of the incoming ball will decide which attack is best.

3. Shoulder Height
At shoulder height, you need to be hitting down on the ball. Price recommends a side-spin volley or dropping into a scorpion to create an even more offensive angle.

4. Head Height
This should almost always be a smash. Price notes that depending on the position of your opponents — maybe they’re way behind the baseline — a drop shot might also be an option.

“A strong attacking player is looking at the height, speed and depth of the ball to decide which stroke to use.” Practice attacking balls from each of the four zones to have all your bases covered.

Your One-Stop Shop for Court Supplies

We've stumbled upon a gem that's about to make your pickleball life a whole lot easier—say hello to Dinkshot! They've got everything you could need for the game, all in one place.

Whether you’re shopping for the latest paddles, a batch of balls, or even full court setups, Dinkshot has it all. Placing an order couldn’t be more straightforward. Just a quick call or a few clicks online at dinkshot.com, and you’re all set.

So, next time you're gearing up, remember Dinkshot is ready to serve everything you need with ease.

Seven Signs You Might Be a Pickleball Elitist

Most pickleballers follow a similar journey as they spend more time with the game. The journey includes steps like initial discovery, thinking they can make a run at a pro career, then realizing going pro is a lot harder than they originally expected.

Along the way, it is easy to fall into the trap of becoming a pickleball snob. If you say yes to 5 of these statements, then you're a pickleball elitist:

  1. You only play with "good" players

  2. You own AT LEAST three paddles

  3. You ask for full names so you can look up DUPRs

  4. You say, "That's how the pros play"

  5. You scout ahead

  6. You judge players by their paddle

  7. You have a "Pickleball Coach"

Admit it, you are probably guilty of at least a couple of these. That is not a bad thing. The competitive aspect of pickleball is part of the fun and has gotten thousands of people off of the couch and into better shape.

Just remember that we all started somewhere and helping someone along their journey can be just as rewarding as a day packed with good matches.

Forward this email to someone who is starting to show the signs.

Turning the Retirement Home into the SoHo House

Pickleball has always been slated as a sport for retirees, but Taco Bell is leaning hard into that stereotype by asking us to embrace our “inner old” for their latest marketing campaign.

As more people set a goal of calling it quits early, the retired life is becoming more mainstream. So much so that Taco Bell has set up a pop-up retirement community, featuring arts & crafts, low-impact sports, and senior-inspired shenanigans. That’s right Margaritaville, it’s no longer just a Cheeseburger in Paradise (RIP Jimmy).

The Cantinas by Taco Bell is a one-weekend event in San Diego where attendees can get a taste of the early retirement lifestyle, including pickleball.

So if you’ve ever wanted to yell “You got baja blasted!” at your opponent, this would be the time to do it. Unfortunately for us, memberships to The Cantinas are already sold out.

We’ve already seen pickleball on the menu this month courtesy of Chick-fil-A. Could this be the beginning of a trend of fast-food chains creating pickleball experiences in the future? Let us know which chain you’d like to see next.

Winning Summer Starts Here

Got plans to hit the courts this summer? Let’s make sure you’re all set with the Pickleball Box. It’s your summer survival pack for the game.

Inside, you’ll find Tifosi's SWANK sports glasses to keep those harmful rays out of your eyes and help you spot the ball better under the glaring sun. You’ll also get a Dink-branded hat and T-shirt that aren’t only stylish but also save your skin from UV rays.

And because we know how games can get intense, there’s Jelly Belly Sports Beans to keep your energy up, and Jigsaw Health's Pickleball Cocktail to keep you hydrated — sip it chilled from the cool Ice Shaker we’ve thrown in. Oh, and for those scorcher days? There’s a MISSION cooling towel in there to bring the temp down a notch after a hot match.

Really, the Pickleball Box has got you covered for a perfect summer on the courts. Grab one today and keep the focus on your game, not on gathering gear.

Salt Lake City Shows Out for MLP

Major League Pickleball completed their first Utah-based event yesterday just outside of Salt Lake City. The hometown fans provided some much-needed support to push the Utah Black Diamonds to their first win of the year.

Breaking the Streak
The Utah Black Diamonds were a part of the trade action prior to the SLC event. They moved Jay Devilliers to the Columbus Sliders in exchange for Connor Garnett. Garnett and the Diamonds upset the AZ Drive with a 3-1 win on Friday.

The momentum didn’t last long for the Black Diamonds. They lost the remainder of their matches, including a loss to a hobbled Orlando Squeeze team. The Squeeze were down to Parris Todd and three alternate players, Milan Rane, Spencer Smith, and Roscoe Bellamy, who stepped out of the commentator’s booth to fill in.

Dallas Pulls Ahead
The Dallas Flash bought in on the Augie Ge hype during the draft and it is paying off. The team went 5-1 over the weekend and have been racking up their wins in regulation, which has boosted their points per match to a league-leading 2.21.

Ranchers Ride High
The Texas Ranchers also rode through the weekend with an impeccable record. Both Etta Wright and Tina Pisnik finished in the top 10 in player standings as the Ranchers collected five wins in regulation while suffering only one Dreambreaker loss.

Getting Nasty
Anna Leigh Waters’ bodybag on Jay Devilliers took over the picklesphere last week. Her 5s teammate Zane Navratil followed that up with a Nasty Nelson on Hayden Patriquin on Saturday. Patriquin received an Orange Card point penalty for some colorful language on the next point but had the last laugh as his team won that game and the overall match, 3-1.

MLP fans get to run it back this week as the league makes the trip to Kansas City. Ten Premier Level teams will again be in action when MLP KC kicks off on Thursday.

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