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How’s this for a Friday four-pack. A pickleball war is brewing in a ritzy Florida enclave. An iconic Times Square theatre building will be home to seven pro courts. And the PPA Tour has an official new ball.

Oh, and The Dink is bringing a unique social pickleball experience to major cities across the U.S. Are we coming to a court near you? Find out below.

In This Issue:
— Never played tennis? This spacing drill is a must
— Anna Bright doesn’t care what you think
— Introducing The Dink’s Courted event series

Keep up.

Connor Garnett and Allyce Jones of the Utah Black Diamonds stopped by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Center of Excellence in Park City ahead of MLP Utah. Why, you wonder? To play pickleball in a massive halfpipe, of course.

Like it or not, screaming mid-match is a thing in pro pickleball. And no one yells louder than Anna Bright. On a recent podcast appearance, she addressed the haters: “I think it’s all pretty dumb, honestly.”

A frustrated Reddit user wonders how best to handle an open play doubles partner who’s clearly hitting above his skill level. He typically bites his tongue, but his team lost badly and it was all “Fred’s” fault. Should he speak up or stay silent?

A diamond-studded pickleball necklace, complete with paddle pendant, made the rounds at a recent MLP event, reportedly valued around $250,000. Turns out, it was a clever marketing ploy from a local jewelry store. Feast your eyes.

If you don’t come to pickleball from a different racket sport — say, tennis or badminton — the concept of spacing can be taken for granted. That is, the optimal distance from your body the ball should be to make contact for any given shot.

To perfect your spacing on forehand drives, try this drill from coach Ed Ju:

✅ Set up a step or two behind the baseline, like you would for a typical baseline forehand drive

✅ Have a partner or ball machine send a drive at you, as fast as you can handle

✅ With your non-paddle hand, catch the ball in front of you, with your arm fully extended

✅ Now, pause for a moment, then drop the ball and hit a drive back out of the air

✅ Repeat until you hit 10 quality drives in a row

Make a mental note of where you catch the ball. That’s the ideal distance from your body to be making contact on a forehand drive. By pausing before hitting the ball back, you’re training your brain to catalog that distance, your feet placement, and the timing of the motion.

Now do this over and over until it’s second nature. Isn’t drilling fun?

👉 See it in action.

You know that wired-but-tired feeling that hits later on in the night? Or how your muscles feel two days after “just a few games” turned into three hours at the courts?

Yeah. Magnesium plays a role in all of that.

Magnesium Breakthrough is a smart blend of 7 forms of magnesium, plus B6 and humic/fulvic acids to actually help your body absorb it. It supports everything from sleep and stress to muscle recovery and heart health.

Take it before bed to help you relax. Or in the morning to set the tone for the day. Up to you. Either way, you're giving your body one of the minerals it burns through the fastest. Especially if you’re sweating, stressing, or playing a whole lot of pickleball.

Learn more and try it here. Use code THEDINK for 15% off before your body stages a protest and your wallet joins in.

Break a sweat. Break the ice.

If you’re looking for a pickleball event that’s less competition, more connection, you’ve come to the right place.

The Dink’s Courted event series, presented by Buick, is built for work-hard play-hard millennials and Gen Z: no pressure, no brackets, no awkward icebreakers. Just an active social gathering of cool humans and good energy, with enough pickleball (and a few beverages) to keep things interesting.

The fun rolls on this summer in New York City, Chicago, Austin, and Miami. Each event will have its own local flare, but you can expect an array of casual but memorable entertainment:

It’s time to get Courted. Coming soon to a city near you.

👉 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW »

Residents in the gated Florida community of Riverwalk of the Palm Beaches are up in arms over a proposal to add new pickleball courts to the idyllic outcropping of 30 individual, private peninsulas.

Located about 70 miles south of Miami, the enclave consists of private homes and townhouses with an average price in the ballpark of $550,000. In addition to 13 miles of walking trails, three pools and a bustling town center, there’s a fitness hub featuring tennis courts and eight pickleball courts.

The rub: The existing pickleball courts are made of clay, which isn’t ideal for the resident enthusiasts looking to host tournaments and more competitive play close to home.

A proposal to install six new hard courts over an existing common green space has been met with considerable pushback.

Apparently, residents on each side of the debate have even formed an LLC to more effectively represent their interests should this fight find its way to court.

Real estate attorney Joshua Payne, who represents the crowd vehemently against the new courts, cites noise concerns and large crowds drawn by tournaments. Ultimately, though, he’s sure pickleball will go the way of racquetball.

"People built those big, concrete monsters, and now they're empty," he says.

👉 Get the full story.

If your gear’s feeling a little… uninspired, you’re going to want to see this.

Original Penguin has dropped a collection that brings their signature style to the court without sacrificing performance. Think lightweight fits, cooling fabrics, and just enough flair to turn heads between points.

And yep, it works off the court too. Especially the polos. You’ll see.

Use code OPDINK for 25% off. Some pieces are already marked down, so you’re stacking discounts whether you meant to or not.

The Paramount Theatre in Times Square has played host to famous acts from Dean Martin to Jerry Lewis to Frank Sinatra.

Today, it announced a more modern act: The new flagship location and corporate headquarters for CityPickle.

The new spot at 1501 Broadway will span over 37,000 square feet on the building’s 8th floor and feature seven professional courts.

A full bar and restaurant, lounge and event space, showers, and other amenities will round out the space.

"There’s no better place to plant our flag than Times Square, the epicenter of culture and entertainment," said Mary Cannon, Co-Founder of CityPickle.

CityPickle’s other NY locations include Long Island City, Hudson Yards, Brooklyn Bridge (coming Spring 2026), and Wollman Rink in Central Park, which will host the Major League Pickleball Finals this August 22-24.

👉 Learn more.

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