Ben Johns teaches the shuffle drop

Psychology Today backs pickleball benefits. PPA Finals preview.

December 02, 2024

It’s Cyber Monday, you know what that means … the front porch is going to be flooded with deliveries for the rest of the week.

If you’re wondering what deals you should be shopping for this holiday season we’ve got you covered. Find The Dink Holiday Gift Guide here.

In This Issue:

🃏 Shuffle up and drop
🏆 PPA Tour Finals preview
🎙️ Part 2 of the Worlds Gauntlet out now

Don’t look now but it’s December.

Our Picks ☝️

🏀 NBA Pickleball: The Cavs pickle at practice

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the #1 team in the NBA standings this season. The secret to their newfound success is obvious after getting an all-access look at their practice session. Someone tell these guys to keep the ball low.

🏫 College: Tiffin University adds pickleball to offerings

Pickleball is the newest addition to the club sports listings at Tiffin University in Ohio. Starting in 2025 pickleball will be the sixth official club sport recognized by the school.

🎥 Video: Zane Navratil reacts to Major League Pickleball loss

The New Jersey 5s were upset by a surging Dallas Flash team in last week’s MLP finals. Zane breaks down the playoff weekend including the ‘accidental’ ball flick from teammate Will Howells.

🛩️ Travel: The best way to pass time on a flight

Don’t let travel plans cut into your practice time this holiday season. Check out these two die-hards that are dinking at 32,000 ft.

Add the Shuffle Drop to Your Arsenal

Ben Johns makes pickleball look easy at any level. But would you believe some of his shots that appear lackadaisical are actually calculated body movements that help with consistency?

One of the least talked about shots in the Johns arsenal is the shuffle drop. Pro player and instructor Josh J gets a lesson on hitting the shuffle drop in a new video.

The shuffle drop is used as a follow-up to a third shot drive.

  • You will see Johns drive the ball and then advance towards the kitchen line. The positioning of this shot allows him to safely pursue an aggressive fifth but not get burned if their response is at his feet.

  • With the shuffle drop, the ball is actually played from behind Johns’s body. The key when the ball is back there, is to max the flex on his wrist and lock it in position. He recommends raising the head of the paddle above the wrist and hitting around the side of the ball.

You can see that after the touch is developed, it allows you to easily land a ball softly in the kitchen and sets you up to reach the non-volley zone with consistency.

Can Red Light Therapy Keep You on the Court Longer?

Feeling the toll of those pickleball matches? It’s time for a recovery game-changer: red light therapy.

Red light therapy, supported by over 6,000 clinical studies, speeds recovery, eases pain, and enhances performance by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation, quickly getting you back on the court stronger.

Introducing the Kineon MOVE+ Pro, tailored for active individuals like pickleball players who need fast, effective recovery. Portable and hands-free, the MOVE+ Pro lets you recover anywhere—no outlets needed. Just strap it on, set the timer, and let it do its magic, whether you're at home or between games.

Don’t miss out: This Cyber Monday, Kineon offers the MOVE+ Pro at 50% off with a free extender strap for even more versatility.

Justify Your Time on Court with Science

Pickleball isn’t just a game—it’s a movement fostering connection, community, and joy. Psychology Today explores how the sport’s inclusive nature and casual vibe make it a perfect antidote to social isolation and stress, bringing people of all ages together for fun and fitness.

  • Building Social Bonds: Research highlights pickleball's unique ability to create connections by fostering collaboration and camaraderie on the court, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.

  • Boosting Mental and Physical Health: Studies show engaging in the sport improves mood, reduces stress, and provides light-to-moderate exercise that benefits players of all ages.

So if you ever need justification for the countless hours on court you can point back to the research. There are multiple studies from the past two years cited in the article explaining the pickleball phenomenon and the benefits received by players.

Partner Swap at the PPA Tour Finals

All year long players compete for more than just prize money. Each stop on tour and every win in a draw contributes to a player’s point total at the end of the season.

The top players in each discipline earn a spot in the PPA Tour Finals which starts on Wednesday. The payers at the top of the draw get to select their partners first so we will see Anna Leigh Waters paired with Ben Johns and Catherine Parenteau as usual. That also means Ben and Collin Johns will partner in men’s.

Let’s take a look at some of the more intriguing partnerships created by the format.

  • Anna Bright chose Gabe Tardio

  • Dekel Bar chose Christian Alshon

  • Riley Newman chose Jaume Martinez Vich

  • Mari Humberg chose Jessie Irvine

And possibly the biggest mix-up of the bunch was Dylan Frazier choosing the play with Pablo Tellez. This left JW Johnson with the next selection and he chose to partner with Gabe Tardio.

A changeup like this allows some players who might not always land in the semis or finals a chance to prove themselves while playing with other top players. The action starts on Wednesday and is a pool play format where the top two players/teams advance out of their pools and into the knockout stage.

Pool play will take place Wednesday through Friday, the semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, leaving the finalists to compete on Championship Sunday.

Selkirk’s Cyber Week Deals

Hey Dink fam, gear up because Selkirk's rolling out some serious savings for Cyber Week that'll make your pickleball heart skip a beat.

Starting strong on Monday with a whopping 30% off their stylish Spring Owen & Champion Apparel Collections—perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their court attire without breaking the bank. Tuesday brings you 20% off their top-of-the-line nets.

Curious about the rest of the week? They’ve got hats, chairs, and the Pro S1 Pickleball on the roster with deals you'll have to see to believe.

The Podcast Gauntlet Continues from Worlds

The podcast gauntlet at the World Championships in Dallas gave us more guests than we could squeeze into one episode. Part two is out now and features:

  • Connor Pardoe sharing battle stories from inside of the Tour Wars

  • Grayson Godin and Hannah Blatt talk about breaking through in pro pickleball in 2024 and playing mixed doubles with a significant other

  • Travis Rettenmaier explaining his journey to becoming MLP’s Jackie Moon and new investors joining the Florida Smash team

Headlines & Quick Hits

Highlights

Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered

Did your Newsletter get clipped? Look for the ‘View entire message’ option below.

A review from the Dink Fam...

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Share The Dink Newsletter, Get Rewards

Share the best newsletter in pickleball with your friends and we’ll give you free stuff. What’s not to like?

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving 20% Off The Pickleball Box.

Copy & Paste this link: https://newsletter.thedinkpickleball.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Want to advertise with us?

If your company is interested in reaching an audience of active pickleballers, you may want to give us a shout.

Reply

or to participate.