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If you’re into the Olympics, maybe take a break from all the U.S. domination for a few hours and tune into some pro pickleball action this weekend instead. It’s quarterfinal Friday at PPA Mesa, after all, which means big upsets and surprise storylines await.

Better yet, there’s a new way to watch live, thanks to a suggestion from a guy you’ve probably heard of before. We get into that, and much more, below.

In This Issue:
— Apple engineer debuts pickleball machine
— Pickle community rallies around its own
— How to communicate like a pro

What a time to be alive.

Two guys in Michigan just set the new Guinness World Record for longest singles pickleball marathon: 28 hours, which shatters the previous mark by more than four hours. It was all in fun, they said, but also in support of a very meaningful cause.

In early-round action at PPA Mesa, one match ended in a walk-off body bag… straight off the head of one player. He handled it pretty well. Right up until he grabbed the ball and blasted it out of the stadium. Honestly? Tough to blame him.

We hit the court with USAP head ref Ron Ponder to see exactly why it’s so hard to call an illegal serve. In sum: enforcing this shot comes down to two subjective moments: where is the player’s waist and where did they make ball contact? Not easy to call in a flash of a second.

The PPA Tour is experimenting with a new viewing experience at PPA Mesa (thanks in part to a suggestion by our very own Nico the Lefty), showing multiple courts at once on one YouTube live stream. They’ve even brought in MLP GM Jimmy Miller and pro pundit Chris Cali to call the play-by-plays. So far, fan reaction has been positive. Check it out.

The Dink team is boots on the ground at PPA Mesa, taking in all the sights and sounds of one of the season’s most exciting tournaments.

And speaking of sounds, one match in particular captured our attention. It was a round of 16 men’s doubles matchup between heavy favorites JW Johnson and CJ Klinger and the relatively unknown duo of Len Yang and Etienne Blaszkewycz.

The results went the way you’d expect, but not before Len and Etienne gave the No. 4 seed a tight game one, 11-8.

It was Etienne’s communication, though, that felt like the game-changer early. And he did one thing in particular we don’t hear on many courts:

It seemed to work. Len would move to the net more aggressively, confident that if Etienne’s drop wasn’t going to land where he wanted it to, he’d know with enough time to get back into position. And if he heard the magic word (“Good!”), he could hunt the ensuing counter with stronger court position.

It’s a subtle tactic, but one we think could work in your rec games as well. Go ahead and try it. You might be surprised at the results.

You know what they say about a little communication, right? It can go a long way. In a tight pickleball game, that could make all the difference.

Nobody says it out loud… but we all notice.

The coordinated sets.
The “I only wear black” players.
The bold prints that show up from three courts away.

Pickleball style has quietly become part of the culture.

Midwest Racquet Sports has one of the bigger apparel selections out there — so if you’ve been wanting something different than the usual basics, it’s worth scrolling.

New brands. Familiar names. Plenty of options.

Browse the apparel lineup at Midwest and use code THEDINK for 15% off at checkout.

Hydrogen Sports' founder and CEO, Jonah Harley, spent eight years at Apple, where he led several groups whose innovations are still featured in the iPhone and Apple Watch today.

Most notably, there's also this: Harley is credited as the primary inventor of the Apple Pencil.

Now, he’s brought that same innovative design philosophy to pickleball, recently launching the Electron Pickleball Machine.

At just 17 pounds, the Electron is less than half the weight of many traditional ball machines. It includes a carrying strap, fits easily in a small roller bag, and is powered by a compact 18V 5Ah quick-swap battery capable of delivering over 1,000 shots per charge.

What really differentiates the Electron is its app-driven intelligence.

Instead of turning knobs labeled “1–10” and running back and forth across the net to test finicky adjustments, users simply open the app and tap a location on a digital court.

✅ Want two balls wide to the forehand and one short to the backhand? Tap, tap, tap. Done.

We tested it out for ourselves and were blown away by its compact size and fast, intuitive setup. In no time, it was launching heavy dipping drives and aggressive cross-court dinks in our direction. And exposing more than a few weaknesses in our games in the process.

If you’ve been meaning to hit the court with more intentional training sessions, this might be just the push you need.

Low friction. Quick setup. Immediate payoff.

➡️ See the Electron in action.

Anna Bright joined Zane and Nico on the PicklePod — and it wasn’t just a tour recap.

Here’s what they got into:

• A real GOAT debate in men’s doubles (yes, they went there)
• Whether the right-side player might actually be the secret weapon
• Teams that could realistically shake up the top of the tour
• Anna’s reaction to the Dink Awards (including winning Fan Favorite)
• What it’s like balancing pro pickleball with building a creator presence

It’s opinionated. A little chaotic. And the takes are spicy, in a good way.

If you like hearing pros actually unpack the sport instead of giving safe answers, this one’s worth the listen.

➡️ Watch on YouTube or listen on audio.

The day following a recent training session, pro Grayson Goldin’s life changed in an instant.

“I suddenly lost my speech and couldn’t form sentences. I was rushed to the emergency room, where an intense series of tests, scans, and procedures followed. Doctors later confirmed that I had suffered two strokes.”

After a week in the hospital, Grayson received good news, all things considered: his condition is reversible; he’s expected to make a full recovery.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Grayson during this time. His hospital bill, he estimates, will cost in excess of $200,000, an expense he’ll have to cover himself. Pro pickleball players are independent contractors, so health insurance isn’t covered in their contracts.

If you feel compelled to help Grayson, or just want to learn more about him and his situation, check out the GoFundMe here.

“If you’re unable to give,” he says, “your prayers, messages, and encouragement mean just as much to me.”

A review from the Dink Fam...

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