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More than 1,600 players and fans have signed a petition urging collegiate tournament organizers to stop scheduling finals on Sundays, saying it forces faith-based athletes to choose between religion and competition.

It’s gained enough momentum to prompt consideration from the UPA. Another tour, however, is holding firm.

In This Issue:
— Is Nike courting Anna Leigh Waters?
— If you’re being targeted, do this
— Fed gets nostalgic on the PicklePod

Faith before finals?

We're hearing some chatter that could be a signal of pro pickleball's mainstream breakthrough. Rumor has it Nike CEO Elliott Hill was onsite at PPA Worlds, specifically to visit with a certain 18-year-old who is actively in contract renewal talks with at least one current sponsor.

Is Nike, 2024’s Title Sponsor of The Dink Awards, on the verge of planting its flag in pro pickle? We circled the wagons, but nothing is confirmed…yet. Stay tuned, we’re on it.

We’ve come to expect some style heat from Parris, Jaume and Federico. And they brought it at Worlds. But a few fresh faces joined the fashion fray this event, too, including junior Ella Oh and Senior Pro Jennifer Gallwas. Look good, play good.

Sam Querrey didn’t have a particularly long or illustrious pro pickleball career. But the six-foot-six former tennis pro did break new ground as one of the first mainstream figures from the sport to come over to pro pickleball. It’s been a fun ride, but the #1 MLP draft pick is officially hanging up the paddle. So long, Sam.

A drop-loving rec player thinks she’s playing the game the right way, but the bangers across the net are calling foul. Who’s in the right? Reddit commenters are quick to rush to her defense, with one caveat: Are your drops actually dropping, or sitting high enough to pulverize?

Picture this: you're in a doubles match and suddenly you realize the other team has a strategy: You.

We’ve all been there. The kitchen is packed but your opponents are the only ones eating.

Now, know this: being targeted isn't a death sentence. It's actually an opportunity to show your opponents you've got more tricks up your sleeve than they bargained for.

🚫 Resist the urge to recklessly speed up balls or just repeatedly reset back to the middle. Both of these tactics are flawed when you’re pinned down on defense — attacking low, aggressive dinks ain’t it, and bunting the ball back to center only provides another sitter your opponent can pounce on.

✅ Instead, push the ball down the line. This might seem counterintuitive because down-the-line dinking is generally considered trickier than crosscourt dinking. The distance is shorter, and there's less margin for error.

But here's why it works: when you hit it down the line, your opponent's natural instinct is to hit it back crosscourt.

Now you’ve reset the offensive rhythm and forced your opponents to change strategy. Your partner is back in the mix and balance has been restored. If they pick on you again, pick on them right back. Who’s the bully now?

Your partner isn’t the only thing worth matching on court.

Quince’s women’s activewear gives you mix-and-match sets that pair perfectly with their paddles and your style.

Their pieces are soft, made with sustainable fabrics, and the colors hit just right. They’re functional without trying too hard, which is exactly why it works.

Don’t overthink it, just click and match your paddle.

On this week’s PicklePod, world #1 Federico Staksrud joins host Zane Navratil to discuss a range of topics, from the spectacle of Worlds to the best golfers on the PPA Tour to Fed’s return to the top of the podium after a difficult first half to 2025.

One topic that came up was the speed of the new Life Time ball and how easy it is to bodybag opponents at the pro level.

Fed’s doubles partner, Hayden Patriquin, could probably win a game just by speeding up balls directly at his opponents’ bodies every point.

“He has the ability to do it,” Fed said. “He chooses not to.”

Better athletes, a faster ball, and more powerful paddles all beg the question: When, if ever, will PPA and MLP events require protective eyewear?

Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright are already well-protected, as we know, and other pros like Rachel Rohrabacher, Augie Ge, Zane Ford and Parris Todd don’t take any chances, either.

“I’d be surprised if pickleball doesn’t end up requiring eyewear somewhere in the future,” said Zane. “As soon as one player has a serious injury at the pro level, that’s when it’s going to happen.”

➡️ Watch the full episode.

We got the early scoop on some deals from our friends at Midwest Racquet Sports. Their Black November shoe deals are out (and some of these prices are solid).

Our recs for this week:

Men’s lineup: The K-Swiss Hypercourt Supreme 2 is down to $89.96 (save 38%), and the Wilson Pickle Pro is just $67.70 (save 33%).

Women’s lineup looks just as good — ASICS Gel Resolution X for $116.96 (save 27%) and the Hypercourt Supreme 2 for $89.96.

Full breakdown of our favorite deals (plus paddles and accessories) is coming next week, but consider this your sneak peek before the stampede.

If there’s one thing that’s going to catapult us into financial ruin, it’s pickleball paddles.

The topic came up on Reddit recently, and despite spending more than we’d ever admit to our accountants, even we were a little stunned by some of the responses.

Leave a comment and tell us your number. And just remember, whatever it is, it’s probably less than a new set of golf clubs.

College pickleball’s rapid rise is colliding with a long-standing tradition — Championship Sunday.

More than 1,600 players and fans have reportedly signed a petition asking tournament organizers to stop scheduling collegiate finals on Sundays, saying the current setup forces religious athletes — especially members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to choose between faith and competition.

The NCAA does accommodate players or teams from a couple-dozen schools "with written policies barring competition on Sundays or other days for religious reasons."

But pickleball is not an NCAA-recognized sport.

Responses from the organizational level have been mixed:

The petition was created by Livvy Phillips, a 20-year-old Utah State University player.

“Players have to make that decision between our values and beliefs or letting my team down,” she said. “It puts us in a position I think athletes shouldn’t have to be in.”

A review from the Dink Fam...

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