Federer's foray into pickleball

5 tips to drastically improve. Rumors on incoming price hikes.

June 19, 2024

How about some tips to kick off this issue? Pro Rob Nunnery offered some thoughts via Twitter/X about how to “drastically” improve your game quickly:

  1. Games with higher level players

  2. Drill the mid-court. A lot.

  3. Record and analyze own gameplay with a coach

  4. Study shot selection, follow the percentages

  5. Patience alone can win you lots of matches

Our personal favorites? 2 and 5. No Man’s Land isn’t No Man’s Land if you master it. Patience and, to take it a step further, simply minimizing unforced errors can make a massive impact on the quality of your game (regardless of your level).

More from Rob Nunnery below.

In This Issue:

⏰ Shake the dust off early
💰 A look at what’s coming in 2025
🐐 Roger’s first pickleball experience

Rise and shine.

Slow Starter? Try This Strategy

Many pickleball players start their matches slowly, whether it’s due to nerves, jitters, or a lack of a proper warmup. This slow start leads to them being out of position, making poor drops and allowing their opponents to start with a seemingly insurmountable lead.

If you’re one of these people and you’re tired of getting beat while you’re body and mind are asleep on the court, consider a new strategy. 

Let’s call it the Drive, Crash, and Break Sh*t strategy.

Here’s how it works:

Drives > drops early in the match

Drops require precision and touch or they can go very poorly. On the other hand, drives (even not-so-great ones) can still be effective. It’s easier to win a rally after a poor drive than after a really bad drop.

Instead of trying to drop the ball during the first couple of points of a match, make a point to drive the ball instead. 

Tanner Tomassi – known as Tanner Pickleball on YouTube – talks about this concept in a match breakdown he did. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. Lots of great stuff.

Crash to get your legs moving

A high third-shot drop leads to an aggressive fourth by your opponents, which means your team is forced to stay back and it makes you unable to get your legs loose. Who’s that good for?

No one.

If you really want to start strong and get your body moving, drive the ball, then crash the net. Sure, it might backfire and maybe your opponents hit a putaway or two at your feet – but, that’s not the point. The goal of doing this early on is to force yourself to be aggressive and show your opponents you’re coming out swinging.

That aggression, especially right at the start of a match, puts pressure on your opponents and forces them to make good shots. 

If they also happen to be slow starters or can’t handle pressure early on, you’ll likely take away a few points you otherwise might have lost.

Don’t be afraid to break stuff

The meek might inherit the earth, but pickleballers who go hard to start matches inherit free points. Move quickly, hit hard, but stay in control.

Put a little extra oomph on your drive. Add some zip to your serve. Start a hands battle within the first few points. Doing these things early can actually help you relax and play the game you actually want to play.

Also, hitting a ball really hard is sometimes necessary to just get it out of your system.

To make sure your drives and neurons are firing on all cylinders try a warm-up routine, like this one from resident pickleball pro and The Dink contributor, Eric Roddy.

Get to Know Your Shoes

Now that we’ve highlighted the need for true pickleball court shoes, let’s introduce a brand that really gets the game —K-Swiss.

Say hello to the Pickleball Supreme and Express Light Pickleball models. The Pickleball Supreme is perfect for competitive players who need stability and power for dynamic movements. Meanwhile, the Express Light Pickleball shoe is all about lightweight responsiveness and comfort, ideal for players who value speed and agility.

And style hasn’t been overlooked—K-Swiss ensures you’ll look as good as you play. The men’s versions are available in a striking electric blue and yellow, while the women’s models dazzle in vibrant turquoise and purple.

Lace up a pair of K-Swiss pickleball shoes and see how they can transform your game.

The GOAT Has Entered the Chat

Roger Federer retired from pro tennis in 2022. His illustrious career spanned 24 years and resulted in 103 career titles.

Federer is currently making the rounds promoting a new documentary titled ”Federer: Twelve Final Days” — covering his career and providing an inside look at his life.

In an interview with Extra, Federer shares that he’s finally found the pickleball court. He played for the first time while in Vietnam.

"It felt like a big version of ping-pong ... It felt strange and unreal ... It was like 110 degrees when I played, so I was more battling the circumstances than the game. It’s an easier game than tennis and it’s fun."

Although he has no plans to enter the pro game, we all know how fast the pickleball bug can sneak up on you.

Federer shares that he enjoys watching highlights of Jack Sock playing. Let’s see how many highlights he is willing to watch before he gets the itch to try it for himself. Catch the documentary on Prime Video starting tomorrow.

Pay to Play

Rumors have started to swirl about changes coming in 2025. Last month, the United Pickleball Association announced the formation of its own governing body, the UPA-A.

This new entity will set the rules for UPA events, including which paddles will be permitted. Rob Nunnery shared some details on X this morning that suggests manufacturers are going to have to pay up to be in play at PPA and MLP events in ‘25.

This is not confirmed, but we are expecting to hear more news on the topic as well as a few other announcements coming soon.

Some players have already begun to speculate what the effect will be if this is implemented. Obviously, small paddle brands will be forced to make a big decision with such high costs in play.

  • This is a big departure from the USA Pickleball model, which charges $1,500 per paddle approval

Another fear is that prices on approved paddles will continue to rise to compensate for the increased expense. As small brands are squeezed out, players could soon find themselves at the mercy of a few select brands. The Dink will of course keep you updated on the latest developments.

Surprise Dink Fam

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With The Essentials Box or The Pro Box, you'll score a bunch of pickleball gear without breaking the bank. We got a good deal for the Dink Fam. Go and use code DINK25 to receive 25% off your first box.

MLP Waiver Wire Opens Tomorrow

Major League Pickleball released the waiver order and format for their first Waiver Period of the season. One of the top performers at the Challenger Level last year took to Twitter to let teams know that she is ready for action.

The Waiver Period will begin with the Premier Level teams tomorrow at Noon ET. Teams will have 15 minutes to make a claim before the option moves to the next team on the list.

The waiver order is determined by these three factors:

  • Points per match

  • First tiebreaker: Match win percentage

  • Second tiebreaker: Games won percentage

The Utah Black Diamonds who went 0-4 in their debut will have the first pick, followed by the Carolina Pickleball Club.

On Friday, the Challenger Level will repeat the same process starting at Noon ET.

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