From the court to the courtroom

Refund offered on Gen 3 paddles. Steal Ben's form.

June 07, 2024

The internet is buzzing today about Roaring Kitty’s livestream. He found fame in 2020 after rallying the GameStop stock against hedge fund short sales.

This week we learned there is a group of pickleballers trying to rally a class action lawsuit against one of the biggest brands in the game.

But, do they have a case?

We’ve got a case for you, well, it’s actually more of a box. And now is the time to order to win Father’s Day this year.

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In This Issue:

💧 Drop it like Ben Johns
🧑‍⚖️ Pickleball class action suit
📋 MLP’s rule changes

Cheers, it’s the weekend.

Drop It Like Ben Johns

Recently, pickleball player and content creator Shea Underwood broke down “How to hit a third-shot drop exactly like Ben Johns” on his Instagram.

While we won’t cover all 10 steps like Shea does, we did want to highlight a few interesting tips in case you want to try the GOAT’s drop technique for yourself.

Step 1: Keep the ball outside of the right foot

It’s always important to maintain space between your body and your paddle. We do this by moving our bodies behind the ball before it arrives. For Ben’s drop shot, he not only moves his body so that it’s behind the ball, but he also makes sure that the ball stays outside of his right foot (if he were a lefty, it would be his left foot) and in front of his knee.

This is important for two reasons:

  • It creates consistency — If he knows the precise position to put his body in every time, he can duplicate the shot repeatedly.

  • It helps him treat his body like a series of levers, and lining up the ball with the outside of his foot allows the levers to operate efficiently.

Step 3: Keep weight on the right foot

Another important aspect of this drop shot is that he keeps his weight on his right foot. This allows Ben to push off with that foot (after his shot) and start approaching the net with his left foot. 

Being efficient with his footwork helps Ben get to the net quickly, which is paramount to winning in pickleball.

Step 5: Keep a small backswing

The drop is a controlled shot, so you do not need a backswing – like no backswing. This is why Ben simply drops the paddle down as the ball arrives and then pushes the paddle through the hitting zone. 

See PART ONE and PART TWO to get all 10 steps of Shea’s breakdown.

Swing for the Fences

Pickleball isn't just about keeping the ball in play; it's about dominating the court with some seriously slick gear. That's where Warstic steps in. Known for their killer instincts in sports aesthetics, they’re now serving up game-changing pickleball equipment.

From paddles engineered for precision to gloves that grip like a dream and bags that scream style — not just storage — Warstic is here to upgrade your game, no matter if you’re just starting out or you’re the king or queen of the court.

Dive into Warstic’s lineup of elite pickleball gear. Make sure to use code DINK at checkout for a cool 10% off all pickleball products.

For Some, a Refund Isn’t Enough

Earlier this week, USA Pickleball released the news that the JOOLA Gen3 paddles did not meet the approved equipment standards and would not be added to the approved equipment list.

As a result, JOOLA has agreed to make things right with customers by offering a refund on their paddles. “We are offering full refunds for customers who purchased any Gen3 paddles between April 16 and June 15, 2024.”

Classy move. But even though JOOLA wants to make things right with its customers, a refund is not enough, according to some:

What might have seemed like a resolution to the case is now just the beginning. JOOLA’s statement released yesterday indicates that they are building a case of their own. “We plan to dispute USAP’s decision to remove Gen3 paddles from the list, and the process employed to do so, in forthcoming legal proceedings.”

Hearing “pickleball paddle” amongst the legalese makes these cases still feel a little trivial. But if a trial about the air pressure of a football made it to federal court, then who knows what we are in store for next?

How Hot is Too Hot?

The PPA Tour is making its first-ever stop in Sacramento and the California capital is welcoming pickleball with triple-digit temps.

Too Hot to Handle
Temps will be in the 90s throughout the weekend, making fatigue a factor for long days on the court. Some players have already spoken out about the conditions.

Men’s Singles
Ben Johns elected to skip singles this weekend, making Federico Staksrud the No.1 seed. Staks can restart his finals appearance count this weekend. He will take on JW Johnson for gold on Sunday.

Back to Chalk
It has been a while since we’ve seen Catherine Parenteau in a women’s singles final. CP returned to form in Sacramento, topping the No. 12 seed Dominique Schaefer in the semis to earn a spot in the final against Anna Leigh Waters.

What We’re Watching
New partnerships are plentiful this weekend and should make for interesting pickle. Some partnerships we will be watching are:

  • Ben Johns & James Ignatowich

  • Jack Sock & Thomas Wilson

  • Etta Wright & Riley Newman

  • Riley Newman & Gabe Tardio

Dad’s Day Delivered

Is your dad the kind of guy who lives and breathes pickleball? This Father’s Day, skip the endless online hunting for that perfect gift and let us serve you a no-brainer solution: The Pickleball Box.

Choose between The Essentials Box or The Pro Box. Both are packed with top-notch gear that's bound to make your old man the envy of his pickleball buddies.

And because we're feeling particularly generous this Father’s Day, snag your first box at a sweet 25% off using the code DADDYDAY.

MLP Tinkers with Rules Ahead of MLP D.C.

Major League Pickleball is still innovating to find the perfect format for team pickleball. On the heels of MLP Atlanta, the league has decided to update their rules again before the Washington D.C. event next week.

The biggest change? Games must now be won on serve. A side out will be awarded instead of a point when the point would have caused the returning team to win the match.

Speaking of the serve, MLP instituted their own serve rule for the Atlanta event last month.

MLP clarified it in its update on Tuesday: “The MLP service rule allows the server to make contact with the ball at any height on their body, as long as their arm has an upward arc at the time of contact and the paddle head is not above the wrist joint at time of contact.”

According to the data from Real Clear Stats, the win-on-serve format created two-point games at a rate of 20 percent (the others were naturally that close). Trailing teams will get a slight advantage, but we benefit from more exciting finishes.

Worst “Cheating” Attempt Produces Largest Pickleball Fine in History

Kyle Selinko, co-owner of Boxcar Productions and Close Call Replay, joined the PicklePod this week to solve pickleball's line call epidemic. Selinko explains the technology he's employed to automate line calls and remove subjectivity.

Zane and Thomas also catch up after Zane's honeymoon to cover the Andrei Daescu suspension, JOOLA Gen 3 paddles getting de-listed, and the haters who watch Pros vs 5.0s and more.

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