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What is the meaning of life? What is the root of true happiness? Does pineapple belong on pizza?

These are some of life’s most enduring questions. And we’ve got one more to add to the list: How much should you drill vs. play to get progressively better at pickleball? The people need to know. Luckily, a pro did the math. We break it down below.

In This Issue:
— We lost our Tesla x Selkirk paddle
— Fun new partnerships at PPA Daytona
— Nominations open: The 120/Life Dink Awards

You talking ‘bout practice?

Just when we thought we were out, Lifetime pulls us back in with another teaser to “A Pickleball Christmas,” the holiday event of the season. In the new clip, we get a look at the off-court chemistry between the two main characters. Let’s just say, the tension is building here, people. We know what we’re doing Saturday night.

In 2024, USA Pickleball, the governing body of amateur play in the U.S., reportedly tested 1,713 new paddle and ball models — a number that certainly increased significantly during the course of 2025.

A growing number of players are paying more attention to what’s under their feet, not just what’s in their hands. VKTRY’s carbon fiber insoles have been popping up more and more, built to reduce foot fatigue and return energy with every push off the court. You’ll appreciate them after a few hours on court.

We’ve been seeing this debate pop up a bunch lately: Is a DUPR rating equivalent regardless of a player’s age? Put another way, is the skill level of a 4.5 DUPR the same for a 20-year-old as it is for a 50-year-old? The knee-jerk answer is yes, duh, but when you really think about it…

It’s one of life’s great mysteries: How much time should you actually spend drilling versus playing to get progressively better at pickleball?

Drilling teaches your body how. Games teach your brain when. You need both. That's because drilling is easier than playing in real games. You drill to build the wiring in your brain, then you play to test whether that wiring holds up under pressure.

But the ratio varies depending on your skill level.

APP pro Kyle Koszuta crunched the numbers based on how long you’ve been playing.

And if you truly just hate drilling? That's fine. But Kyle recommends investing in a personalized match breakdown from a coach — or at the very least filming yourself playing and watching it back. It's one of the fastest ways to improve, especially when you're not putting in the work on the practice court.

In the end, the ratio doesn't matter as much as the intention behind it. Drilling isn’t just about going through the motions; it requires dedicated, repeated attention to making one specific shot or skill feel like second nature.

If you’re serious about improving but spend exactly no time drilling, how serious are you really?

➡️ Watch the video.

Let’s clear something up real quick. Maui Nui’s Always Summer Sausage is not the greasy, mystery-meat log you’re picturing.

It’s zero sugar, 98% lean, and packed with 20 grams of protein per serving, made from wild-harvested Axis deer on Maui. Clean flavor. Not heavy. Not oily. Just something you can actually snack on without feeling wrecked.

If you’re curious what “high-protein sausage” is supposed to taste like when it’s done right, now’s a good a time to try it.

Buy any four holiday gifts and get a fifth free while supplies last at mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK

This week’s PicklePod has a little something for everyone. Most notably, The Dink’s founder, Thomas Shields, is back in the hot seat with pro Zane Navratil and pro writer Erik Tice.

The guys dish on an array of topics, including:

🔥 The termination of pros James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman. Their consensus? A nuanced situation, but ultimately justified by the letter of the law.
🔥 Tech company Owl AI bringing automated line calling to MLP and PPA events in 2026. Zane’s take: “Disaster… I think this is going to be scrapped within a tournament or two."
🔥 The 120/Life Dink Awards are here, this year opening up the nominations to the fans. One category Thomas is jazzed about: Pickleball’s Most Influential Voice.

Oh, and Thomas had the Tesla and Selkirk paddle collab for a glorious couple of days before forgetting it in a restaurant in Key Largo. Was it ever recovered? We honestly don’t know.

➡️ Check out the full episode. And don’t forget to get your nominations in for The 120/Life Dink Awards.

The PPA makes its final stop for the 2025 calendar year this week in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida.

Many players are choosing to take this event off, either to rest or because they’ve already fulfilled their contractually obligated events for the year. The result is a field full of new partnerships and wide-open podium spots.

A few new partnerships to watch out for:
— Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson
— Catherine Parenteau and Dekel Bar
— Tyra Black and Catherine Parenteau
— Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio
— Federico Staksrud and Christian Alshon

A few other notes:

You can catch all the action on Pickleballtv.

➡️ Read Erik Tice’s full event preview.

Midwest Racquet Sports is hooking you up with a Nike seasonal sale that hits up to 50% off.

Fresh fits. Fresh footwear. Fresh chance to convince your friends you leveled up over the holidays.

Men’s and women’s styles are all in the mix. Go get yourself right.

It’s the most magical time of year.

The 120/Life Dink Awards are back for their fourth year, this time allowing you, the fans, to nominate your favorite picks across a wide array of categories.

The 120/Life Dink Awards feature 24 total categories, spanning every corner of the pickleball world — from the best players on tour, to the creators, facilities, gear, and moments that defined the year.

Of those 24 categories, 17 are fully fan-nominated, meaning the finalists won’t be decided behind closed doors or by a single panel. They’ll be built directly from the community — that’s where YOU come in.

The remaining categories use objective criteria, such as top player rankings, league rosters, or standout results, to ensure the best performances of the year are properly represented on the final ballot.

➡️ Have your voice heard. Submit your nominations now.

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