Ben Johns and Jack Sock are already packing their bags. The new duo just got bounced by a pair of No. 27 seeds in Chicago. Ouch.
Meanwhile, Anna Leigh Waters goes undercover at a public park in NYC, Anna Bright goes backpacking solo through Vietnam, and one industry expert predicts a major shakeup in the paddle market.
In This Issue:
— 3 fixes for a more dangerous drive
— Selkirk's new noise-killing pickleball
— Paddles are great… now what?
No newsletter Monday. Try not to miss us too much.
Our Picks 👆
🚨 Upset Alert: Johns and Sock Stunned in Chicago
Well, that didn't take long. No. 27 seeds Anouar Braham and Bruno Faletto pulled off a massive upset at the PPA Chicago Cup, taking down No. 2 seeds Ben Johns and Jack Sock in three. The new partnership is out early, and the men's doubles draw just got a whole lot more interesting. Get our full Chicago Cup preview and predictions.
🔇 Neighbor Approved: Selkirk’s New Quiet Ball
Selkirk's new Q1 Quiet Ball promises 34% less noise than a standard pickleball, without sacrificing that familiar feel… perfect, perhaps, for any noise-sensitive courts. Know what would go perfectly with it? Selkirk's newly redesigned line of pickleball bags.
💰 APP 2027: Double the Money, Double the Ambition
The APP Tour just unveiled its 2027 schedule, and it's not messing around. We're talking twice the total prize money, 12 U.S. stops, more than 60 global events and expanded livestream coverage. Check out the APP Tour's upcoming events.
🎓 Jay Devilliers: Back to School (Sort Of)
Longtime pro Jay Devilliers is heading to Naples, Florida, to help build what organizers hope will become the world's best pickleball academy. Based at the 65-court National Pickleball Center, the program will offer personalized coaching, video analysis, fitness training and more. Classes begin Nov. 16. Here's what Jay and his new team have planned.
How to Hit Drives That Actually Do Some Damage
Ever hit what feels like a rocket of a drive, only to watch your opponent send it screaming right back? Turns out, swinging harder probably isn't the answer.
Canadian national champion Mackonner Dy breaks down why most rec players struggle with their drives, and the fixes are surprisingly simple.
Get your feet right: Use a closed stance when you have time, bend your knees, and load your weight onto your back leg. Power starts from the ground up.
Stop swinging in pieces: Your arm and torso should move together. Let your core follow the ball instead of rotating before contact.
Use your legs: Push off your back foot as you swing, transferring your weight forward through the ball.
Dial it back to 80%: The goal isn't to blast winners. It's to force weak blocks you can attack on the next shot.
Pick your moments: Low balls aren't invitations to swing for the fences. Save the big drives for higher contact points.
The takeaway: A great drive isn't necessarily the hardest one. It's the one your opponent can't do much with.
Grit Matters More Than You Think
Most paddle shopping starts with power and weight. But why not grit? It’s the part that touches the ball.
Grit is friction. More of it means more grip on the ball, which shows up in the shots that decide points: dinks, drops, resets, and spin on drives.
That’s where players are noticing the Ultré Power 2 by 11SIX24.
The feedback keeps coming back to the same things: the grit is noticeable, balls seem to drop faster at the kitchen, and drives and resets feel more confident.
If you’ve been curious about the Ultré, they’re back in stock now.
Get your hands on the Ultré Power 2 (and don’t forget to use code THEDINK at checkout for $10 off.)
When Every Pickleball Paddle Is Good, What Actually Matters?
Here's a question the paddle industry probably doesn't want to answer: What happens when everyone figures out how to make a great paddle?
We're getting dangerously close.
Carbon fiber. Thermoforming. Polymer cores. Technologies that once made a paddle special are rapidly becoming table stakes. So what's left to differentiate the hundreds of brands fighting for your money?
Industry expert, material engineer and paddle reviewer Justin Barton has a fascinating theory. And to explain it, he looks to an unlikely place: skateboarding.
Turns out, an industry built around seven layers of maple plywood might hold the blueprint for pickleball's future.
His argument? The next big advantage won't necessarily come from some revolutionary new material. It'll come from better engineering, smarter testing, longer-lasting performance and brands that actually stand for something.
The paddle arms race isn't ending. The rules are just changing.
And not every brand is going to survive.
➡️ Read Justin's full take on where the paddle industry goes from here.
The GOAT Walks Onto a Public Pickleball Court...
You know that feeling when a suspiciously good player shows up at your local courts and starts casually dismantling everyone?
Well, imagine that player is Anna Leigh Waters.
The world's top-ranked pickleball star recently dropped into a public park in New York City to play with some unsuspecting rec players. Her disguise? Sunglasses, a fake name, and playing left-handed.
Not exactly witness protection, but points for creativity.
At first, nobody seemed quite sure what to make of her. Then came the suspicious glances, the phone searches, the recognizable paddle and, eventually, the realization that they were sharing a court with pickleball royalty.
And when ALW finally stopped holding back? Yeah, the disguise didn't stand a chance.
Pretty wild reminder that you never know who's showing up to open play.
39 Dogs, 1 Clear Winner
In an independent taste test, dogs chose Sundays’ chicken recipe over a leading kibble brand 100% of the time.
That’s not a fluke — it’s what happens when food is actually made from real ingredients. Sundays was founded by Dr. Tory, a veterinarian who wanted something better than heavily processed kibble for her own dog, Mabel.
Every recipe is human-grade, vet-formulated, and made with over 80% real meat plus nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, seeds, and grains — no fillers, artificial preservatives, or synthetic additives.
Now, The Dink fam can see why dogs keep choosing Sundays — and get 30% off their first order.
Backpacking Alone for 2 Weeks in Vietnam
What does one of the world's best pickleball players do between tournaments? Apparently, spend two weeks exploring Vietnam solo.
Fresh off her gold-medal run in Las Vegas, Anna Bright joins Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty on the latest PicklePod to talk about her solo adventure, life on tour and the increasingly complicated business of being one of pickleball's biggest stars.
Naturally, the conversation takes a turn: Which pickleball pro would have the hardest time surviving a solo trip through Vietnam?
There's also some fascinating talk about whether a right-side player can truly be the world's best, dream doubles partnerships and which opponents Anna most enjoys beating.
It's candid, funny and delightfully all over the place.
Headlines & Quick Hits
ICYMI: Operating a Club Is Crazy Expensive
Handling Pressure at 10-10: 3 Ways to Win the Big Point
What To Do When Your Gameplan Just Isn’t Working
3 Power Paddles for $100 or Less
Watch the Paddle, Not the Ball
Highlights
Celebs playing pickleball
Friendly rec play? Trust no one
AB + ALW: out for blood
Big H turns 21 in Vegas
Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered
A review from the Dink Fam...
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