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The past two years have been a gold rush for pickleball facilities. Thousands of new clubs have rushed to open nationwide, all competing for their slice of the billion-dollar business.

But speed can come at a cost. And the market is maturing. It turns out, it’s easy when you’re the only game in town. But surviving, and thriving, looks a lot different when a competitor pops up across the street. Then another.

We look into pickleball’s facility boom — and possible bust — below.

In This Issue:
— Why grip size matters
— The outdoor vs. indoor debate
— The top pro plays of the week

Rise and grind.

Pickup basketball is fun at the local park. But the pros ball out indoors. Should pro pickleball be the same? Insanely windy conditions at PPA Texas have reignited the debate. It’s easier said than done, but it’s worth considering. Zane and Nico debate.

If you know pro Lea Jansen, you know she’s as outspoken as they come. Especially when it comes to rules, other pros on tour, and certain pickleball personalities, like the two hosts of the PicklePod. Well, we’re having her on next week to hash it out. And we want to hear from you about what we should ask her. Don’t be shy.

Few rec players favor a widebody paddle, but it’s actually the shape that’s quickest in the hand. That’s just physics. If you’re unclear how different paddle shapes impact performance, top reviewer Chris Olson takes a swing at explaining.

Here’s a tip straight from one of the best to ever do it, Anna Bright: Stop comparing your skills to teams way better than you. Instead, ask yourself this: What separates us from the teams that are just a bit better? Spoiler alert: it often comes back to the same thing. Consistency.

While players obsess over grip pressure and technique, grip size often flies under the radar, even though it's equally important to your performance and injury prevention.

Believe it or not, your grip size might be the silent saboteur of your pickleball game.

A thinner grip gives you more freedom with your wrist.

You get easier grip changes and more wrist action, which sounds appealing if you're chasing that snappy, dynamic feel.

But a smaller grip also forces you to squeeze harder to maintain control. That extra squeezing puts real stress on your forearm. Over time, this tension could lead to forearm fatigue or pain.

A thicker grip offers the opposite trade-off. You get more wrist stability and can maintain a looser, more relaxed grip. This reduces forearm strain significantly.

The downside is less wrist snap and a slightly more restricted feel when you're trying to generate quick movements.

For the vast majority of pickleball players, a more stable, technically sound approach built from solid mechanics beats flashy wrist action every time.

Agree or disagree?

➡️ Here’s one pro’s perspective.

You swing… and it launches.

Great for drives.
Not so great when you’re trying to reset at the kitchen.

The NEW Power 2 series from 11SIX24 was built differently.

Their new Gen 4 floating core delivers pop when you load up on drives and thirds — then dials back to a softer, predictable feel for dinks and resets.

Add in HexGrit surface technology for consistent spin, and you get something most power paddles struggle with: consistent control.

In other words: Power when you want it. Touch when you need it.

Want the full breakdown? We dove deeper into the tech behind the paddle.

See the full Power 2 lineup and get $10 off with code THEDINK.

This week on the PicklePod, we’re joined by pickleball pioneer Steve Kuhn for a deep dive into the future of pickleball, which is already playing out in parts of Asia like the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China.

For the uninitiated, Steve is one of the visionary founders behind Major League Pickleball and DUPR who, years ago, coined the "40 by 30" initiative to reach 40 million global players by 2030.

Lots of people laughed him off back then, but he’s not looking so crazy now. In fact, he’s got a new number in mind: 400 million.

Steve has since moved to Manila, Philippines, and gone all in on the explosive growth of the sport across Asia, founding the team-based Pickleball Champions League (PCL), among other related enterprises.

In this episode, Zane and Nico catch up with Steve, but not before dishing on the hottest topics in pro pickleball:

You’ve heard pickleball is going global. This conversation helps prove it.

➡️ Watch the episode.

Over the past two years, the indoor pickleball facility boom has gone from zero to full throttle.

More than 1,200 new facilities have opened across the U.S. in that time, according to David Johnson's latest edition of The Business of Pickleball Newsletter.

And the dollars are very real.

Indoor pickleball facilities now represent a market worth more than $3 billion when factoring in operating revenue and capital investment, says Johnson. That dwarfs the equipment side of the sport, which comes in under $1 billion.

First movers have rushed in to secure prime locations, sign leases, and build out clubs. It’s a land-grab environment. But speed can come at a cost.

It turns out, opening a club is difficult. But operating one when competitors keep popping up right down the street is proving to be the real test.

Some factors inhibiting growth include:

Right now, there simply may not be enough paying players in certain areas to support multiple premium-priced memberships. At $100+ per month, the margin for error is thin.

Plenty of facilities are thriving. The Picklr, for example, has nearly 600 courts across 60+ locations nationwide. And they're showing little sign of slowing down.

We know the sport isn’t going anywhere. It’s simply moving from hyper-growth into maturation — where execution matters more than speed.

For facilities, that means the gold rush phase is ending. The operators who win from here will be the ones who build sustainable businesses, not just fast ones.

➡️ For the long-term health of the sport, that’s a good thing.

Toe dragging.
Kitchen lunges.
Six straight games because “winner stays.”

Your pickleball shoes have been through it.

If the tread is disappearing or the support isn’t what it used to be, it might be time for a new pair.

Midwest Racquet Sports carries a huge lineup of pickleball shoes from brands like K-Swiss, Asics, Wilson, and New Balance — perfect if you’re replacing a worn pair or trying something new.

Find your next pair and get 15% off with code THEDINK.

The Veolia PPA Texas Open was a wild one, punctuated by gale-force winds from start to finish – including gusts that topped 40 mph on Championship Sunday.

It wasn't enough to stop Anna Leigh Waters from capturing her 42nd career Triple Crown. And it wasn’t enough to stop the sport’s best players from dropping some truly jaw-dropping highlights.

Here to rank his five favorite shots from Texas is Zane Navratil, who himself was involved in the first Triple Pickle in professional pickleball history, losing to Chris Haworth 11-0, 0-11, 11-0.

Check out his picks of the week, featuring shots from Gabe Tardio, Anna Leigh Waters, Chris Haworth, Ben Johns, and Daniel Miron.

➡️ Zane’s top 5 shots.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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