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The circumstances may be a bit shady, but the ramifications are clear as day: Ben Johns was traded over the weekend from the Carolina Hogs to the LA Mad Drops. Just like that, he’s in the playoff hunt. And the rest of the league is on notice.

Not everyone is thrilled about it. From other pro players to league officials, owners and coaches, there’s an undercurrent of skepticism about why this was allowed to happen at all. One prominent team owner even called it “orchestrated collusion.” Yikes. More on all this, below.

In This Issue:
— The Pakistani uncles are balling with the buffaloes
— To add deception, pause before you dink
— The MLP trade that changes everything

Never a dull moment.

What started as a skeptical joke: “Black people don’t play pickleball,” said organizer Kayla Brooks, has grown into a movement that's introduced hundreds to the sport in a space built on belonging, not perfection.

A first-of-its-kind clinical study compared the balance and stability of pickleball shoes from major brands like ASICS and Nike. But it was SQAIRZ, the shoe of choice of MLP’s Chicago Slice, that came out on top, scoring 33% better balance than ASICS.

Indoor pickleball in NYC? It’s thriving. We scoped out the top spots to play, rain or shine, tourist or local. From luxury clubs to pop-up courts, here’s where to go. And yes, one of them’s hosting our first Courted event in two weeks, grab a spot while you can.

Instead of wiggling it with her tongue like we used to, one young girl (with some coaxing from dad) opted for a more modern approach to pulling her loose tooth: It involved a string, a pickleball, and a ball-machine. You can imagine what came next.

If you’re looking to break through that 5.0 plateau, the little things begin to matter more. Every shot needs to be sharper and hit with intention. To hack it at this level, simply “getting the ball back over” doesn’t cut it anymore.

This is why we like this tip from pro Tanner Tomassi so much. From the mid-court to the kitchen line, adding a slight pause before making contact can make a world of difference.

✅ Adding a quick but intentional pause before your shot is surprisingly deceptive. It breaks the rhythm and flow of a point and forces your opponent to guess what’s coming next.

✅ At the kitchen line, you’ve got options off a dink. You can dink it back, lob, speed-up, or even go for a bodybag. When you add a pause, you freeze your opponent, too, making it that much harder to react to your shot.

✅ A pause also gives you a touch more time to attack an opening or a weakness. Make it a habit, and you’ll start to make better decisions based on what your opponent is giving you rather than what you want to do.

Holding your dinks like this is an easy but super effective way to dictate more points at the kitchen line. The next time you watch a 5.0 player, take note of their pause game. We guarantee it’s on point.

👉 Watch Tanner put this tip into action.

Last week we dropped our review of Franklin’s new C45 paddle line. If you caught it, you already know the Dynasty made an impression. If you didn’t, no worries. We’ll give you the short version.

The 16mm is the one we’ve kept reaching for. It’s got pop at the kitchen, torque on the forehand, and just enough dwell time to really shape shots. The red chrome finish? Flashy in the best way. People will ask about it.

Only the 16mm is left in stock. The 14mm already sold out.

Might be worth grabbing it before your buddy does.

In what’s being called the biggest player move in Major League Pickleball history, Ben Johns was traded Saturday from the Carolina Hogs to the LA Mad Drops.

This one deal, following the recent league ban of former LA Mad Drop player Quang Duong, upends the entire MLP season and paints the playoff picture in a whole new light. It’s also got some questioning whether it should have been allowed at all.

This one is a jaw-dropper any way you look at it.

New Jersey 5s captain Zane Navratil said it can be good for spectator interest to have what he calls “MLP’s first-ever super team,” but concedes “it’s a trade that probably never should have happened.”

Ross Chaifetz, owner/GM of the now #1 ranked St. Louis Shock, wasn’t quite so diplomatic: “Let’s call this trade what it is. Orchestrated collusion.”

👉 Let’s break it all down.

What do you do when you’re 30-something, obsessed with pickleball, and living in a country where no one’s even heard of it?

If you're this group of friends in Islamabad, Pakistan… you grab some house paint, hit Temu for paddles, and turn an abandoned cricket slab into a makeshift court. Masking tape lines. Cinder blocks for posts.

No club membership, no league, just vibes (and a few buffaloes grazing nearby).

They now play three times a week.

The story, coming from the Pickleball subreddit, is a beautiful reminder that when the pickleball bug bites, you will find a way to play. Even if it means painting your own court on farmland. Wherever you are, whoever you are, this game just has a way of getting under your skin.

→ See the full story with Reddit reactions

Some people cool down with a cold towel. Others prefer something a little more… sippable.

We’ve been digging these fruit-forward seltzers from Cycling Frog. They’re crisp, refreshing, and infused with a low dose of THC. It hits just right when you’re kicking back after a few games or hanging with the crew.

You can grab a can for free right now. Just cover $2 for shipping and it’s yours.

Get yours now and keep the good energy going.

Pro pickleball got the indoor arena treatment in St. Louis, as action popped off in the 10,000 seat Chaifetz Arena in front of a buzzing hometown crowd.

A lot of drama unfolded. Here are a few of the highlights:

All eyes now go to Dallas for this weekend’s MLP event, where Ben Johns’ and the LA Mad Drops will take center court against the hometown Flash.

👉 Read our full St. Louis event recap.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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