How to find ‘Moments of Advantage’

The APP set to double down in 2025. Rain moves play indoors in Atlanta.

September 13, 2024

And just like that, pickleball betting is gone again. Fanatics Sportsbook offered betting lines on the PPA Tour Atlanta Slam on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, but then it just disappeared. 😢 

They failed to post any lines for men’s doubles to end the day on Wednesday, then offered no action on Thursday. It appears that another brief foray into pickleball betting has come and gone. 💸

In This Issue:

🔎 How to Find ‘Moments of Advantage’
✌️ The APP Tour doubles event list in 2025
🏆 Rain moves play indoors in Atlanta

Stay safe out there, it’s Friday the 13th.

Our Picks ☝️

 📰 News: Minor League Pickleball Wins!

The Dink Minor League Pickleball is sweeping the nation with its innovative, fun, and social amateur team events. The Dink MiLP has:

📈 Surpassed over 8,500 registered players YTD
💥 Completed over 100 events on the year last weekend (107)
🗓️ BOOKED over 200 events for 2024 (208 and counting)
✅ Its first event for MiLP + Fansplay this weekend at Oklahoma City

✍️ Signing: Parris Todd joins Team Franklin

Parris Todd made things official with Franklin on Instagram yesterday. She capped off the signing with a big win over Kate Fahey in singles in the Atlanta Slam’s Round of 16.

📹️ Video: Pickleball in the 1980’s

Most newcomers to the game are shocked to hear pickleball has been around since 1965. That’s right, it’s nearly 60 years old. Of course, it was never nearly as popular as it is today. We dug up some footage of a game way back in the 80’s and incorporated it into the Guess My DUPR game on last week’s PicklePod.

🗳️ Poll: What Would You Choose?

In a doubles match, if both sides of the court are equal, which would you choose?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

How to Find ‘Moments of Advantage’

Amateurs often focus on winning points during a match. But pickleball isn't always that simple. According to Kyle "ThatPickleballGuy" Koszuta, high-level players should instead focus on moments of advantage and opportunities that eventually lead to points.

Here’s how to find moments of advantage during your games.

#1 - Finding a moment of advantage on a serve

When you're serving, and a player puts their hand behind their back, signaling to their partner, you can assume they will switch positions.

This means the person returning the serve has to run all the way to the other half of the court to take their place at the kitchen line.

A pro sees this as an opportunity to create a moment of advantage.

Your goal for this serve should be to make the returner run out wide, creating more distance between himself and his destination. Look at the picture below.

In this situation, you should aim your serve toward the right sideline. That alone will create a moment of advantage on your third shot.

On the third, drive the ball toward the running opponent. Sometimes, you'll get an quick point like this:

But even if they get it back, it will likely be an easier ball for you to handle, and your path to the kitchen is so much quicker thanks to that moment you created.

In pickleball, winning a point on a serve is hard, but you can always use your serve to try to set up an advantage later in the point.

#2 - Watch for opportunities

If you see your opponent in this position, how should you respond?

If you're a 4.0 or below, you might not think much of it. In fact, you may not even notice it when it happens.

A high-level player recognizes this as an opportunity to either rush to the kitchen (if they are back) or put their paddle in a high attacking position (if they're already at the kitchen line).

They don't need to sit and watch where this ball goes. They already know it will result in a rising and very attackable next ball. By getting into a better position, they’ve taken advantage of this opportunity and can now focus on hitting a winner on their next shot.

If you'd like to learn more about ThatPickleballGuy and what he teaches, tune into the PicklePod on Monday (subscribe here). Also, check out this full video on Kyle's YouTube channel.

More Bells, More Whistles

Have you ever wondered what makes a great game even better? The answer might just be floating over the net. We're talking about Selkirk's Pro S1 Pickleball.

What’s special about the Pro S1? Its patented 38-hole design ensures consistent flight and bounce, enhancing your shot precision. But it doesn’t stop there; these balls are seriously tough. Each one comes with a 1-Year No-Crack Warranty, letting you play hard and worry-free.

Due to popular demand, the 4 and 100 packs flew off the shelves, but the good news is they're now back in stock—along with the 12 packs!

Swing by Selkirk’s website to snag your pack of Pro S1 balls and experience why top players trust them in every match.

The APP Tour Fills the 2025 Calendar

Yesterday, the APP Tour announced they will double their tournament offerings to 50 events in 2025. This includes increased prize purses and more linear broadcast hours. The 2025 tour is headlined by:

  • 14 nationally televised APP Tour events

  • 4 APP Tour Majors

  • 8 USA Pickleball “Golden Ticket” tournaments

  • The APP U.S. Collegiate Championships

New Headquarters
The APP will also debut their new headquarters, “The Fort” a 43-court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Fort will be home to the APP Academy, the first-ever US and international boarding pickleball training and development program.

Rain Moves Play Indoors in Atlanta

The PPA Tour is battling weather conditions through the remainder of the weekend. Rain moved played indoors yesterday, and we could see the same on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Parris Todd Gets the Win
One of the most exciting matches yesterday was a thriller between Parris Todd and Kate Fahey. Todd lost the first game but rallied to win games two and three.

Ben Johns Withdraws from Singles
Ben Johns suffered an ankle injury on Wednesday that limited his movement. Yesterday, he dropped game one to Grayson Goldin before deciding he could not continue due to the injury.

Revenge Match
Salome Devidze has the only singles win over Anna Leigh Waters this year. As fate would have it, these two will face off again today in the women's singles quarterfinals. Look for ALW to exact a little revenge as she competes for another triple crown this weekend.

Breaking Out of a Slump
JW Johnson appears to be breaking out of a slump in ATL. He's made it to the qualifiers in all three draws. Look for JW and Dylan Frazier to return to their winning ways in this one.

Fans watching along at home can fill out their Dave Fleming bingo card as we get ready for a weekend full of classic one-liners like "The floor is lava" and "The dreaded HTP."

Find everything you need to know about the event, including predictions from Erik Tice. Keep an eye out for more national broadcast windows from 4-7 pm ET today on CBS Sports, 1-3 pm ET on CBS on Saturday, and 12-3 pm ET on CBS Sports on Sunday.

Control the Court

Dink fam, have you tried the Energy Series paddles from Pickleball Apes yet?

These aren't just any paddles; they introduced raw aramid fiber to the pickleball world, offering a sturdy alternative to traditional carbon fiber.

What's to love about the Energy Series? It's all about finding that sweet spot between control and power. The unique aramid fiber surface boosts your ball's spin and speed.

What makes the Energy Series truly special is not just its performance, but the confidence it instills in players. With accolades from numerous paddle reviewers and a hassle-free 30-day return policy, choosing an Energy Series paddle means you're gearing up for success.

Cincinnati Reds Host Community Event

The Cincinnati Reds may fall short of the playoffs this season, but that’s not stopping them from throwing a party.

The Reds are hosting a Pickleball Party and Pro-Am in downtown Cincinnati, set against the backdrop of the iconic Sawyer Point Pickleball Courts. The event promises a day of fun for a great cause.

Fans can sign up for open play, join the Pro-Am, or attend an instructional clinic.

All proceeds will benefit the Reds Community Fund, an organization dedicated to enhancing underserved children's lives through baseball, softball, education, and community-building initiatives.

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