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This is an automatic fault in 2024

This is an automatic fault in 2024

Pickleball's luckiest city. Start 'em young.

December 15, 2023

The eagle has landed.

Premium pickleball gear, apparel, equipment and accessories, at your doorstep. Today is the last day you can order The Pickleball Box for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.

Purchase as a one time gift for the holiday, or order yourself a quarterly or annual subscription: $250+ of value in each box, for only $99.

In This Issue:

🪝 Hook ‘em
📜 Rule changes incoming
🧸 The children of pickleball’s future

Send it.

Get Them Hooked

Have you ever met a person who says pickleball isn’t for them? I know it’s rare, but it happens.

When someone is playing for the first time, it’s important to show them a good time.

They won’t be able to hit picture-perfect drops and dinks off the bat. Chances are, most of their shots will be popups you will have to resist the urge to smash.

To show a new player the best time, I have found it most effective to challenge them with slow attacks.

Send over a half-baked attack at 40% speed
Let them experience the thrill of a firefight
Give them a chance to win the point

The quick exchange of blows 14 feet apart is one of the most addicting parts of the game. Even if they lose a firefight, they’re left craving the next one.

If they lose with a dink error into the net for the tenth time, they’ll want to launch your paddle into the sky and take up bowling.

Obviously, they’ll have to learn the nuances of the game before releasing them into the wild. But a good first day on the courts creates a lifetime player.

If things are getting dull on day one, try artificially inserting a few extra firefights. Read more tips for playing with beginners here.

You Can’t Beat These Shorts

Good Get Apparel is making waves in the pickleball community with its exceptional collection of men's bottoms.

Featured in their lineup are the highly acclaimed "PickleDome Shorts," offering the perfect blend of agility and style on the court. The "Court Clash Shorts" are designed for peak performance during intense matches. And for those who want to make a statement, don't miss the exclusive "GG Edition Shorts."

Ready to elevate your pickleball game? Visit their website now and make sure to use code DINK15 for an exclusive 15% discount!

New Year, New Rules

New year, new rule changes. The 2024 USA Pickleball rule book is now available, and it brings a few notable changes to the sport's dynamic:

Correcting Server, Receiver and Player Position Errors (4.B.9)

In last year's rule changes, players were told to ask "Am I good?" to clarify their position or server status to avoid incorrect server/returner error faults.

Now, faults for incorrect servers, receivers, or wrongful player positions are eliminated.

If a rally in progress is stopped to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed. If a player/position error is identified after the rally has played out, the rally shall stand.

The ref is now responsible to correct any player errors before calling the score.

Catch or Carry Ball on the Paddle (7.L)

This change essentially removes the responsibility from a ref to determine if a player intended to carry the ball on a paddle. If a carry occurs, it's an automatic fault.

Wait, what's the difference between a carry and a double-hit, you ask? Good question:

A "carry" means hitting the ball in such a way that it does not bounce away from the paddle but is carried along on the face of the paddle.
A "double hit" is legally fine if the player hits the ball twice in a continuous, single-direction stroke. If they hit it twice with more intention, it's a fault.

Paddle Specifications (2.E.2/2.E.5.a/2.E.5.c)

Responding to the many paddle controversies over the last year, USAP has added language that condemns “any objects or features that allow a player to impart excessive spin on the ball."

Of course, there’s no immediate guideline as to what counts as “excessive spin.” But there are guidelines regarding prohibited surface & mechanical features that do often impact spin.

Those prohibited features include:

Anti-skid paint or any paint textured with sand, rubber particles, or any material that causes additional spin
Rubber and synthetic rubber
Sandpaper characteristics
Moving parts that can increase head momentum

We cover some more important rule changes you won’t want to miss in our full article.

PPA Announces Junior League

Fast on the heels of APP’s recently-announced high school league, the PPA Tour reveals a league for even younger players.

Junior PPA is dedicated to fostering youth pickleballers through competitive and development events.

This 2024 initiative will feature events scheduled alongside other PPA Tour stops and welcome players 16 and under to take part.

More details:

Registration Fee: $25; Event Fee: $5
Divisions will be split into gender and co-ed doubles and singles, further split by age range (8-12, 13-14, 15-16)
All registered Junior PPA players receive a grounds pass for the week of the event
Registration is available here

While the current pro scene is hyped over former tennis stars stepping into the ring, we can’t help but feel excited to see what pickleball-native stars programs like this will help cultivate.

Cutting Edge Aerodynamics

Step up your pickleball game with the new LUXE LX Paddle - a perfect blend of style and power!

Weighing in at a sleek 7.8 oz and sporting a honeycomb polypropylene core with a carbon fiber face, the LX is designed for precision and control. Its foam-filled edges enlarge the sweet spot, while the textured surface ensures top-notch shot placement. Its open throat design and additional holes cut down wind resistance, making your swings faster and more responsive.

Grab yours now and don’t forget to use code TheDink for a 15% discount at checkout. It's time to show the court what you're made of!

Omaha: You Did It

Christmas came early to Omaha, Nebraska this year, courtesy of the pickleball community.

Earlier this year, The Dink teamed up with the Firework Foundation and The Picklr for the biggest giveaway in pickleball history. We gave away an entire first-class pickleball facility to a city voted on by fans.

The giveaway was so huge that we even got Katy Perry involved in announcing it (big pickleball fan, by the way).

With state-of-the-art pickleball courts, top-notch coaching, and a vibrant pickleball community built into each Picklr location, this is a major value-add to a region that demanded more pickle.

Huge congrats to players in Omaha - we'll make some plans to come visit you once the facility is up and running. Learn more here.

Ben is the Luckiest Player in Pickleball

Thomas is away and Zane is hosting a party in his absence. Jason Bock and Carlos Di Laura join Zane in-studio to cover a disappointing loss at MLP San Clemente, action from the PPA Finals and all things Austin pickleball.

Watch here or listen here.