The path of totality. It sounds like an ominous place to be for anyone standing in the way of Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.

Much like today’s total solar eclipse, most players in the path get their chance to bask in the warm rays of a gold medal eclipsed by Ben and Anna Leigh.

Take advantage of this once-in-every-20-years phenomenon and sneak out for some midday pickleball while the moon helps block out the blinding sun.

In This Issue:

🏆 ALW secures a milestone
🔁 Big names on the move in MLP
🗓️ Here’s how often you replace a paddle

Break out your eclipse glasses.

How to Drive Your Partner Nuts

Recreation play is always a wildcard in pickleball. It is one of the reasons people cite ‘community’ as one of the best parts of the game.

That being said, you never know who you’ll get paired with on the court.

A common mistake occurs with new partners as they try to figure out how to split the court. It’s when the opposing team returns the ball down the middle and the right-side partner runs around the ball to take it with their forehand.

Please don’t be that person.

It’s just recreational play, so we loosely adhere to the forehand takes the middle rule. Everyone wants to get their touches, so there’s no need to hog the middle.

But here’s where things go wrong. When the right-side player runs around a near-midline ball to hit a forehand, it’s a recipe for disaster.

• The shot is usually hit while backpedaling. That means it’ll probably be popped up.

• More importantly, it leaves too much court open. You both end up on the left side of the court. The other team can just tap their fourth into the open court and the point is over.

On thirds, you want to keep the ball in front of you and move forward after the shot. If you're moving backward, you're starting the point on the wrong foot.

If this is you, stop it. If it’s your partner, encourage them to use their backhand or start calling them off on balls down the middle.

Take Control of Your Game

Elevate your pickleball game with the Selkirk Luxx Control Air - Invikta, a game-changer that puts the power of precision in your hands.

Meticulously designed for the player who values control over chaos, this paddle boasts an expanded sweet spot, elevated spin, and unmatched control, all wrapped up in a sleek design.

Don't just play; control the game. Check out the Selkirk Luxx Control Air - Invikta today.

Anna Leigh Waters Notches Her 100th Gold

The 17-year-old pickleball sensation Anna Leigh Waters cracked a major milestone yesterday in North Carolina.

Breaking 100
Waters completed a historic 24th triple crown at the event and earned her 100th gold medal on the PPA Tour (most ever for a woman). Waters is close on the heels of Ben Johns, who accomplished the task last year. Johns was able to maintain his lead this weekend with a triple crown of his own.

New Mixed Doubles Foe
Waters and Johns met a new opponent in the finals yesterday. Tina Pisnik and Dekel Bar upset the No. 4 and No. 6 seeds to earn their way into the mixed doubles final. Vivienne David and Thomas Wilson lost to Waters/Johns in the semis and finished in third.

Augustus Ge is For Real
Ge is already being talked about as one of the steals of the MLP Draft. He added fuel to that fire with a finals appearance in men’s doubles alongside Jaume Martinez Vich. The underdogs even grabbed a game off the Johns’ in the finals.

Singles Stronghold
Singles saw another meeting of the top two seeds in both men’s and women’s. Federico Staksrud made it to another PPA final but lost again to Ben Johns in the head-to-head. Waters took care of Catherine Parenteau in two and added a tweener to her highlight reel in the process.

Back to No. 1
After losing their first match ever, Waters/Parenteau returned to dominance in North Carolina. They didn’t drop a single game on their way to another women’s doubles title.

April is an insane month on tour. The action continues at the Houston Open this week.

Dealing Players Right Out of the Gate

The MLP Draft results are not even a week old and there’s already been a trade. The Utah Black Diamonds raised eyebrows on draft night by waiting to bid on a draft position until the 19th pick.

• The absence from the early rounds allowed them to stay way under budget compared to other teams.

• They ended up spending roughly half of what all other teams did in the draft, saving roughly $500k.

• The frugal approach left many observers puzzled and has earned them some less than favorable draft grades.

To make things worse, they just traded away their first pick - Tyson McGuffin - to the Orlando Squeeze in exchange for the Squeeze’s last pick - Jay Devilliers - and $50k.

You have to wonder what would cause them to make this kind of move?

Of course, there is the feud between McGuffin and Utah teammate Tyler Loong, but that doesn’t seem like enough to give up one of the biggest names in the game.

McGuffin is a great fit in Orlando, where he can reunite with former teammate Federico Staksrud. McGuffin also brings with him the experience of building a brand within the sport.

It’s all speculation for now, but we will see who the winner is on this trade when MLP gets underway in May.

Stay Cool, Play Hard

Ever wonder why your game dips as the day heats up? It’s not just your backhand — it’s your hydration.

Takeya bottles are your court-side ally, designed for easy ice loading and spill-free sipping, ensuring you stay hydrated through every game.

Don't just take our word for it — check out Takeya water bottles now and hydrate your way!

The Results Are In: How Often Do You Purchase a New Paddle?

A surprising 64 percent of the Dink Fam said it’s at least a calendar year before you replace your pickleball paddle. This was shocking.

After we picked our jaws up off the floor and counted how many paddles we had in our bags, we decided to do some digging about how often we should replace our pickleball paddles.

Most pickleball paddles are built to last. There is rarely a need to replace them within 6-12 months outside of those players training at a high level daily.

But the temptation to do so is high. Rapid advancements in technology and the number of new products hitting the market make it tough not to pull the trigger on a new paddle.

Speaking of replacing pickleball equipment. The Pickleball Box delivers fresh gear (like balls and grips), apparel and accessories to your doorstep. It’s the #1 product in pickleball for a reason (use code BoxFumble for 25% off).

Eight Unique Champions Top the Podium at APP Delray Beach

It’s rare these days to have no repeat gold medalists on the podium (see above). At the APP Vlasic Classic in Delray Beach over the weekend, we saw unique champions in each division.

The world’s No. 2 team
JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier battled it out with Gabe Tardio and Andrei Daescu in a three-game final on CBS Sports Network Saturday night. Johnson/Frazier dropped the first game but rallied back to take home the title.

Down to the wire in women’s doubles
The women’s doubles final also went to three games on Saturday night. Jill Braverman and Megan Fudge edged out Jorja Johnson and Milan Rane 11-9 in the third to bring home the title.

Castillo’s hot streak
Judit Castillo is on fire in 2024. She snagged another gold medal yesterday with a win over Megan Fudge in women’s singles.

Haworth lands another big win
Chris Haworth is firmly in the discussion for top 10 singles players in the men’s game. He added to an already stellar resume with a win over JW Johnson in the final.

Another W for the ‘Johnson 5’
Rounding out the podium was another combo from the ‘Johnson 5.’ Jorja Johnson and Gabe Tardio had an impressive win over Jill Braverman and Andrei Dasecu to bring home the mixed doubles final.

Read more on the event here. The APP is off for the remainder of April. They pick back up in Cincinnati in mid-May.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• So Hot You Can't Touch It

• How to Make Pro Pickleball More Enjoyable to Watch

• Introducing a Handful of Major League Pickleball Draftees We'll Be Tracking in 2024

• ICYMI: DUPR's April Collegiate Power Rankings Released

• Quote: “Quality, value, outstanding in every way. Makes a great gift for any pickleball nut!”

Highlights

• Someday honey, someday ⏳

• The rivalry is growing 😤

• The best kind of points 👈

PPA North Carolina Cup Results

APP Vlasic Classic - Delray Beach Results

A review from the Dink Fam...

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