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PPA Worlds came to play. Another Triple Crown for ALW, a couple of wild comebacks, and enough drama to remind everyone why this is one of the biggest weekends in pickleball.

Some familiar faces added to their trophy collections. Others crashed the party. And one final took a turn nobody saw coming.

In This Issue:
— 7 drills to sharpen your dink game
— Best dressed pros at PPA Worlds
— Pickleball's tastiest sponsorship deal

Enjoy the show.

World-class pickleball deserves world-class style. From Sofia Sewing's polka dots to Dylan Frazier's flashy gold threads and the Johnson siblings' coordinated fits, Dallas delivered plenty of fashion winners. Even Mark Wahlberg got in on the action. Here's who made our best-dressed list.

Another Triple Crown. A whopping 300 career PPA Tour singles wins. And more than 900 days without a singles loss. Anna Leigh Waters is running out of records to break. Her latest victim? Kate Fahey, who managed just five points in the PPA Worlds singles final. The reign continues.

You don't need a bag full of fancy shots to start winning more pickleball games. You just need to master the fundamentals. From serves to dinks, these five essential shots will help beginners build confidence, cut down on mistakes, and start playing smarter. You could probably use a refresher, too.

Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters don't get tested like this very often. The top seeds needed all five games to fend off No. 3 seeds Jorja and JW Johnson in a thrilling mixed doubles final at PPA Worlds. Another world title, but this one was anything but a cakewalk.

Think you've got a pretty solid dink game? Great. Now what happens when your opponent starts mixing up the spin, depth and direction?

If your only answer is "just dink it back," we've got some work to do.

Most recreational players get comfortable with one type of dink. Maybe it's a reliable slice. Maybe it's a decent roll. But the best players have an entire arsenal of soft shots, and they know exactly when to use each one.

That's where these seven simple dinking drills come in.

Developed by APP standout Richard Livornese, this 35-minute routine covers everything from slice-to-slice exchanges to tricky short hops, topspin rolls and forehand patterns.

Grab a partner, spend five minutes on each drill, and focus on keeping the ball short, recovering after every shot and mixing up your looks.

Your mission: Become the player nobody wants to get stuck in a dink rally with.

➡️ Master all 7 dinking drills.

Selkirk’s Q1 Quiet Ball is a USAP-approved pickleball that plays 34% quieter than a standard ball. It dissipates sound on impact, so the signature pop gets turned down and the feel stays.

Same 40 holes. Injection-molded for durability and consistent flight.

Loud paddle like the Boomstik? Pair it with the Q1. Drilling in the basement? Same answer.

Easier on the neighbors, the HOA, and whoever’s sleeping upstairs.

Pick up the Q1 (use code ADV-THEDINK for money back on orders of $50+.)

Five finals. Three titles for Anna Leigh Waters. And a couple of absolute nail-biters.

The PPA World Championships wrapped Sunday in Dallas, delivering a mix of dominant performances, dramatic comebacks, and fresh faces atop the podium.

Here's who walked away with gold:

ALW completed the Triple Crown. Shimabukuro and Johnson delivered the comeback of the day… possibly the season. And Goins made his mark on the biggest stage.

➡️ Relive all the action from PPA Worlds.

The transition zone is a bad place to be caught.

You’re too far back to attack and too far forward to defend, so the ball tends to land at your feet.

There are two ways out, and neither involves hitting the ball harder. One starts on the third shot. The other keeps you moving through it.

Both come down to the same thing: get your feet set before the ball arrives.

Stop getting stuck mid-court.

Forget paddle deals or beauty products or hydration solutions. CJ Klinger just landed the sponsorship of his dreams: Chipotle.

The young phenom apparently eats there religiously (read: every single day), and his go-to order is as outrageous as his game.

Double chicken. Double guac. Black AND pinto beans. Rice. No cheese, salsa, or sour cream. Just a mountain of protein and avocado.

On the latest PicklePod, Zane and Nico debate whether this is one of the best sponsorships in pickleball history. More importantly, is CJ getting paid in cash or unlimited burrito bowls?

At roughly $20 a pop, the math gets interesting.

➡️ Watch the hilarious breakdown.

A review from The Dink Fam...

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