Ben Johns lost to a 16-year-old

The volley drill you didn't know you needed. Pickleball vs. wildlife.

March 07, 2025

Saying this again for the people in the back: Ben Johns lost to a 16-year-old.

Yesterday’s PPA action from Cape Coral, FL, was filled with upsets and surprising moments. The hurricane-force winds probably had something to do with it.

It will be a first-time singles win for whoever takes the trophy home in men’s — either Christian Alshon or Jaume Martinez Vich — while the women’s final is giving serious 2023 vibes …

More storylines below.

In This Issue:

🌪️ Upsets galore in PPA singles matches
🦆 Pickleball vs. preservation in Seattle
🎥 How to master ‘slinky volleys’

Let’s have a day.

Our Picks ☝️

🌭 Pickle Pros: They’re Just Like Us

☀ Wanna Get Away? Bring Your Paddle

A luxury Caribbean resort is giving away a vacation retreat fit for royalty, including unlimited pickleball for you and three guests. Choose wisely.

🧑‍⚖️ Lawsuits: Can You Imagine Being Sued for Poor Play?

Last year pickleball entered its litigious era with lawsuits between paddle companies, governing bodies, players and cities. In this courtroom dramedy, the plaintiff is suing the defendant for being a bad partner. Pass this along to your partner next time they send an overhead into the net.

New Drill: ‘Slinky Volleys’

You should drill more. You know this. And yet? Every play sesh begins with a few meandering dinks and then it’s straight into game play.

The next time you hit the court, try working on some “Slinky Volleys” with a partner.

The concept is simple: Rather than hitting dinks back and forth straight across the net, start on opposite corners of the kitchen and work your way across, taking a step with each volley you hit. (You know, like a slinky.)

Try to keep the ball in the air, if you can. This, says pickleball coach DJ Howard, really works your directional control and helps you get more comfortable with dinking on the move.

Spring Clean Your Game

Spring is in the air, and so are some sweet deals from Selkirk. Their Spring Cleaning Sale is ON, with up to 40% OFF select apparel and gear.

They’ve got discounted shorts, skirts, joggers, stylish tops, hoodies – everything you need to look good and play good. And it's not just clothes – select Selkirk paddles are also marked down.

Shop the Selkirk Spring Cleaning Sale and save big.

🤔 Newsletter getting clipped? Click ‘view entire message’ or click here to read online

Ben Johns’ Teenage Nightmare

Gusty winds wreaked havoc on the top seeds of yesterday’s singles action at the Veolia Cape Coral Open, causing a flurry of upsets.

Women’s Singles Upsets

  • Rd of 16 - (15) Helena Jansen beat (3) Brooke Buckner, 11-3, 0-11, 11-9

  • Quarterfinals - (6) Lea Jansen beat (2) Kaitlyn Christian, 11-5, 5-11, 11-1

Men’s Singles Upsets

  • Quarterfinals – (40) Qualifier (and 16-year-old!) John Lucian Goins, pictured above, beat (1) Ben Johns, 8-11, 11-1, 11-7

  • (38) Newly signed Max Freeman beat both (2) Connor Garnett, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10 AND (9) Jack Sock, 11-6, 11-7, on his way to a quarter-final run

  • In addition to Goins, (47) George Rangelov, (46) John Cangelosi, and (40) Ammar Wazir were the four men who made the Round of 16 all the way from the qualifying round.

A 2003-esque women’s final is set for Sunday between (1) Anna Leigh Waters vs. (6) Lea Jansen. Who ya got?

For complete event results, head here.

Want to Remember Why You Love Pickleball?

Okay, quick recommendation from The Dink team: "The Heart of Pickleball" book is a genuinely feel-good read for any pickleball lover.

It's not a strategy guide – it's a collection of personal stories that show just how much pickleball has impacted people's lives. Prepare for some heartwarming moments.

But it's not all mushy stuff – the authors also throw in fun pickleball facts, handy tips, and even a guide to throwing a killer pickleball party.

If you're looking for a book that celebrates the joy of pickleball and reminds you why you love this game (besides the dinking, of course), we think you'll love "The Heart of Pickleball."

Pickleball vs. Wildlife: The Magnuson Park Showdown

Seattle’s got itself a full-blown showdown: pickleball players itching for more courts vs. bird lovers clutching their binoculars in protest. Plans to build 24 brand-new pickleball courts in Magnuson Park got absolutely stuffed after locals cried foul—literally—over concerns about noise, wildlife, and keeping the park a peaceful green oasis.

Let’s be real—this isn’t just a Seattle problem. Court proposals were recently challenged in Florida, Arizona, and NYC.

As pickleball explodes, cities everywhere need to figure out how to build more courts without turning every planning meeting into a heavyweight fight between paddles and preservationists.

Paddle Testing Positive Rate at 99.6%

Problem paddles catch all the attention, but the truth is the vast majority of paddles tested onsite at a pro event pass with flying colors.

That’s a 99.6% success rate for anyone counting.

A round of 64 matchup in Mesa, however, did lead to the year’s first official paddle challenge by a player. The challenged paddle was sent to Pickle Pro Labs and was determined to ‘exceed legal limits’ resulting in a $2,500 fine and a forfeit of the match points.

The process put the new challenge system under fire and a change could be coming soon. Read more here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

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