Digging into Big Pickle's bottom line

Ben Johns announces new partner. Vote in The Nike Dink Awards.

January 06, 2025

The pickleball world earned a little college credit toward their MBA last week. The topic of discussion was an 8-figure bridge loan for one of the biggest organizations in pickleball.

While the loan terms include a certain level of sophistication, the mudslinging on social media reverted the conversation right back to high school. More details below.

Welcome to all of the new subscribers in the new year. Check out our referral program at the end of this email to start earning free, paddles, gear, and more simply by sharing this newsletter with your pickleball crew.

In This Issue:

🤝 When to choose: one or two-handed backhands
🗳️ Vote in The Nike Dink Awards by 1/14
☝️ Ben Johns lands top choice for new doubles partner

New year, new drama.

Our Picks ☝️

🏋️‍♀️ Apple Fitness: Strength, Endurance, and Agility for Pickleball

Apple Fitness added a pickleball training course in the new year. And, if you look closely, you’ll recognize pro player Catherine Parenteau leading the class that is inspired by her own workouts.

📓 Reminder: New Rules in Effect for 2025

USA Pickleball updates its rulebook every new year. See our simple breakdown of important rule changes that go into effect in 2025. If you have a suggestion to make the game better, submit it for consideration in next year’s rulebook.

🗓️ Calendar: Pro Pickleball Returns this Week

The 2025 PPA Tour season kicks off in a big way this week in Palm Springs, CA. Break out your fresh whites for the PPA Masters, one of the tour’s four Slams of the year.

📺 Watch: Pickleballtv App Available in Apple's App Store

If you’re wondering where to watch the PPA Masters, you can download the new Pickleballtv app from the Apple App Store. Subscription options include a monthly subscription for $5.99/mo or an annual subscription for $59.99 per year.

UYG

A New Rule for Backhand Decision-Making

If you’re not using two hands on your backhand, then the game might be passing you by. Many pros and high-level players use two hands to add power and stability to their backhand shots.

But how do you decide when to add that second hand?

Eddie Gonzalez provided a quick guide to help make the decision easy. If you’re established at the kitchen line and your opponent is trying to approach:

Use one hand:

  • To extend your reach into the kitchen and prevent their drop from hitting the ground

  • Use a roll to pick the ball out of the air and keep your opponent back in the court

Use two hands:

  • When the drop bounces to hit an aggressive fourth shot

  • To counter a hard-hit drive with power and stability

Rest your paddle on your non-dominant hand in your ready position so you’re ready to react at a moment’s notice. Use the length of the one-handed backhand and the power of the two-handed backhand to keep the pressure on your opponent whether they drop or drive. See it in action here.

Nike Hits the Pickleball Court

Ever wonder what would happen if Nike took a swing at pickleball? Wonder no more. As the proud title sponsor of the Dink Awards, Nike is sprinting into the pickleball scene with style and innovation that’s shaking up the game.

Check out their Zoom Challenge pickleball shoes—bright enough to light up any game, and engineered for that perfect blend of speed and comfort. Match them with sharp-looking shorts, polos, or skirts, and top it off with a Nike pickleball bucket hat to shield those victory smiles from the sun.

Wearing Nike’s not just about looking good (though you totally will); it's about feeling unbeatable, too. Because when you step onto the court decked out in Nike from head to toe, you're not just playing—you’re making a statement.

UPA Financials Called Into Question

If you unplugged from the internet over the holiday break, then you missed a heated back and forth between pro player Jill Braverman and C-suite members of the United Pickleball Association.

On the most recent episode of Braverman’s podcast, This Pickleball Life, she shares that the UPA is seeking an “emergency bridge loan of $10mm by January 15.”

Braverman followed up on X recapping some of the headlines involved in finalizing last year’s merger between the PPA and MLP and suggesting that UPA financials might not be as healthy as we once thought. Her post racked up half a million impressions and led to a response from the UPA.

  • Newly appointed UPA Chief Strategy Officer, Samin Odhwani, did not respond kindly to the accusations stating “You have absolutely no credibility” and “It’s unfortunate you’re not good enough to play with the best on the top tour” while refuting Braverman’s claims.

  • Odhwani downplayed the 'emergency' status of the financing, offering further rationale for the requested funds: 1) buying back two teams and 2) buying players out of contracts we inherited from the bidding wars. These investments were made after board deliberation and with intentionality.

  • PPA Tour CEO, Connor Pardoe, also responded on X breaking down more of the financials and explaining that the bridge loan is simply one of the many steps needed to grow to a $1B organization.

Last week the UPA also announced the high-ticket signing of Gabe Tardio to a $800K deal over the next three years.

Ultimately none of us know what the bottom line looks like for the UPA. The tectonic plates of the pickleball landscape shift faster every year and building pickleball at this scale has never been done before. Read more on the story here and buckle up for another exciting year in 2025.

🤔 Newsletter getting clipped? Click ‘view entire message’ or click here to read online

Get a Grip on Proton’s Best

Ever wondered what gives the pros their edge? It's not just skill—it's also about having the right gear. Proton’s series offers a paddle for every player.

Whether you’re a fan of the super soft touch of the Series 2 paddle, known for its gentle play and control, or the gritty, spin-friendly texture of the Series 3, designed to extend your dwell time and sharpen your game—Proton has your back. And let’s not forget the latest buzz, the Series 4 'Project Roadrunner,' which has been flying off the shelves for a reason.

So, head over to Pickleball Central, the only spot to snag these Proton exclusives. Use the code THEDINK to chop $25 off your purchase and score free shipping.

We Hear You Dink Fam

Pickleball fans from around the world are casting their ballot in The Nike Dink Awards. We already have a record-breaking number of ballots cast for this year’s awards and we can’t wait to find out who the winners will be.

Submit your vote for The Nike Dink Awards here and be automatically entered to win a Selkirk 007 paddle and performance outfit. New categories for this year include:

  • Upset of the Year powered by DUPR

  • Best Beef

  • Fan Favorite International Player of the Year powered by Six Zero

  • Best New International Tournament

  • College Team of the Year powered by DUPR

Help your favorite players, content creators, and college teams celebrate a groundbreaking 2024 season and win a $1,000 grant to sustain their growth.

Find a full list of this year’s categories and submit your vote here.

We Have a Winner in the Ben Johns Sweepstakes

No one is having a better start to 2025 than Gabe Tardio. As mentioned above, the 19-year-old just inked a new $800K deal to play pro pickleball. If that wasn’t enough, he is also being clamored over by the top players in the game.

Tardio was believed to be filling in as JW Johnson’s new partner in 2025, but breaking news of the Johns brothers’ split turned the men’s doubles world upside down.

  • Ben Johns announced the new partnership on The Hannah Johns Podcast on Friday.

  • This leaves JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier as free agents heading into 2025. Each could land a player from the top 10 and be a credible threat for gold.

  • It is also unclear who Collin Johns will partner with in the upcoming year.

Tardio’s unique style of play and ability to create offense from the right side led to him winning multiple men’s titles in 2024. Will the influx of youthful energy be the missing piece needed to return Ben Johns to a dominant position in the men’s game?

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