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Today in pickleball news: The brains behind Paddletek say a significant paddle brand consolidation is imminent (and soon). Eleven MLP teams fight for critical standings points this week in San Diego. And we lay out a few ways you can play pickleball with your significant other without wanting to kill each other.

In This Issue:
— Put this on repeat: the 7-11 drill
— The ‘problem’ with USAP’s spin test
— Zane loses a $20,000 singles point

And we’re off.

You’re fighting for your life against a couple of all-out bangers. Everything they hit comes at you hard and fast, especially their third. So what do you do with your fourth — keep them deep or force them into the kitchen? The folks on Facebook are divided.

We caught up with Ron and Joe Saslow of Thirty-5 Capital, the brand and brains behind the new Paddletek and PIKKL merger, to talk about what the future of paddle brands looks like in their eyes. Within five years, says Ron, it could shrink down to “5-7” significant players.

We can’t tell you the best paddle for your game. Only you can do that. But we can offer this: Often, relying on extremes is a recipe for inconsistency. Instead of pure firepower or pillowy-soft control, something in the middle could be just what you need. We consulted the data. These five are top of the game.

Fresh off the Mid-Season Tournament, 11 MLP teams get it going again this week in San Diego. It’s LA and Columbus’ event to lose, but Orlando and Dallas are hungry for some standings points. We’ve got a full preview, right here.

Practice makes perfect, as they say. But when it comes to pickleball, even a little bit of consistent, targeted drilling time can seriously improve your game.

The key word there is “targeted” — it’s not enough to just swing through the motions and call it a day.

PPA pro Ashley Griffith walks you through five drills she never misses. The full video is worth a watch, but if you only do one, make it the 7-11 drill.

✅ One player starts at the net. One player starts at the baseline.

✅ The net player needs to reach 11 points.

✅ The baseline player needs to reach 7 points.

One player feeds the ball into play, then it’s game on. The asymmetry is the whole design. Here’s what each role demands:

Both roles teach something completely different. Switch roles after each game so both players get full reps at both challenges.

➡️ See Ashley demonstrate all 5 drills.

Ella Oh is 12 years old and ranked No. 1 in her division worldwide. And now, she has a signature paddle.

The Ella Oh Pink V2 is built on RPM's Friction Pro V2. Pink, elongated or widebody, 14mm or 16mm.

RPM made it for her game. Available in pink for yours.

Shop the Ella Oh Pink V2 and use code THEDINK for 15% off.

Last week, USA Pickleball announced its long-awaited Spin Rate Test. Starting October 1, paddles will be measured by actual ball rotation and the RPM they produce, with a cap of 2,100.

If that number sounds familiar, it should. It's the exact threshold UPA-A has enforced since it launched output-based spin testing.

I want to be clear about what just happened, because it matters for every player deciding what stamp to trust. For years, the split between the two bodies came down to philosophy.

Our Power 2 paddles were certified by UPA-A, and our HexGrit surface is the reason people assume that's a dodge: it reads rougher than USAP allows, while its measured spin sits under 2,100 RPM. Banned for what it's made of. Legal for what it does.

USAP has conceded the philosophical argument. Measuring output is the right way to regulate spin. Same number and everything.

So why aren't we sprinting back to the USAP list? Because… stewarding a sport and certifying its equipment are two different jobs, and right now they demand two different answers.

➡️ Read the full article.

We’ve all seen it: the couple who walks onto the pickleball court smiling and leaves barely speaking to each other. Don't let this be you.

Sadly, we’ve witnessed more than a few relationships hanging on by a thread after a mixed doubles match. Even pro players have strong opinions about whether they’d want to partner with their significant other.

Plenty of articles explain how pickleball can help you meet the love of your life. This is for after you’ve already found them.

Whether you’re playing recreationally or entering tournaments together, here are 5 ways to make playing pickleball with your partner more enjoyable and keep the competition from spilling into your relationship.

✅ Leave the coaching to the coaches. Positive vibes only, people.
✅ Have the memory of a goldfish. Sure, that shot was terrible. Now move on.
✅ Be your partner’s biggest supporter. Teamwork makes the dream work.
✅ Control your side of the court. Limit your own mistakes first.
✅ Remember why you’re playing. This is supposed to be fun, right?

➡️ In the end, it’s all love.

Some weeks, you're just off. Legs heavy in game three. Foggy at work. Sleep's fine but you wake up tired anyway. You chalk it up to busy season, bad sleep, getting older…and you never actually check.

Here's what most people never connect: low testosterone or low vitamin D can leave you dragging for months. It's fixable, but most just never find the cause.

As he’s told PicklePod listeners, Nico the Lefty checked. He got the bloodwork done, found out what was actually off, fixed it with Marek – and dropped a bunch of weight along the way.

Marek Diagnostics is the low-commitment way to find out with tests starting as low as $9. Order your own bloodwork, swing by a Quest, get results by email. No program, no membership, no doctor's appointment.

Head to MarekDiagnostics.com and use code THEDINK for 10% off.

Zane played an amateur in Grand Rapids in a single pickleball point as part of the Paddletek One Point Challenge. And Zane lost.

Incredibly, after surviving the gauntlet as a team to make it all the way to the finals, the two had to face off against each other for the final, all-deciding point. To the winner: $20,000. To the runner-up: $5,000.

We have Zane’s partner and ultimate conqueror, Nathan Furness, on the PicklePod this week to talk through what went down. Honestly, the dude is hilarious, and more than happy to shamelessly roast both hosts. We love him already.

Also on this week’s Pod:

Finally, the team behind the Paddletek acquisition of PIKKL joins us to discuss that deal and the future of paddle brand consolidation. Hint: It’s coming in hot. And sooner than you might think.

➡️ Watch the packed episode.

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