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The Boomstik is getting a sequel. And if you thought the original Selkirk paddle caused a stir, buckle up. Fourteen months after dropping one of the most hyped (and expensive) paddles in pickleball history, the brand is gearing up for round two.

Meet the Boomstik ST. It's officially launching November 10, but we've got an early look at the goods. Plenty of photos, plenty to speculate about, and one very big question: How do you follow up a smash hit?

In This Issue:
— MLP Nations Cup starts now
— The trouble with franchises
— FL court dispute gets weird

Here comes the boom.

Eight international teams. 48 pros. One championship. The inaugural MLP Nations Cup kicks off today in Dallas, with Ben Johns and Anna Bright leading a stacked Team USA. Let the international bragging rights begin. Full preview, rosters, and how to watch.

Borrow a stranger's shiny new pickleball. Play with it for five minutes. Accidentally step on it and crush it into oblivion. One Redditor lived this nightmare, then faced an awkward moral dilemma: Fess up or disappear forever? The comments are gold.

Your two-handed backhand volley might not be a technique problem. It could be your stiff upper back and weak shoulder stabilizers. Two simple, off-court exercises can help unlock smoother rotation and more confident counters. Steal these drills.

Chris Olson of Pickleball Studio has tested more than 500 paddles. His biggest buying tip? Know your dealbreakers before you fall in love with the latest shiny toy. He's sharing his five-step process for finding your perfect match. Here's the full guide.

You've heard it a thousand times: Get to the kitchen ASAP. But blindly sprinting after every third shot drop? That's a great way to eat a pickleball sandwich.

Coach (and newly signed PPA pro) Kyle Koszuta has a smarter approach, especially for players over 50: Stop trying to win the footrace. Start winning the point.

Here's the playbook:

The takeaway: Get to the kitchen as quickly as your shot allows. Not a second sooner.

➡️ Master the one-stop vs. two-stop approach.

Hands battles are decided before the ball arrives, by whoever’s feet got there first.

The CourtStrike Pro 3.0 is built light. The mesh upper breathes. The four-way grip outsole holds traction when you cut or change direction.

Pickleball wears out soles, so Selkirk backs the outsole with a six-month warranty.

Get the CourtStrike Pro 3.0 (use code ADV-THEDINK for $20 back at checkout).

Fourteen months ago, Selkirk dropped the Boomstik and promptly turned the power paddle market on its head.

Full-foam core. Insane pop. Grit that actually lasted. And a $333 price tag that somehow didn't stop people from buying the thing like it was going out of style.

It wasn't just a hit. It was a phenomenon.

And now? The sequel is almost here.

On November 10, Selkirk will officially unveil the Boomstik ST, the highly anticipated successor to one of the most popular paddles ever made.

We've gotten our hands on the first photos. And while we can't spill all the juicy details just yet, let's just say there's plenty to dissect.

The big questions:

In an industry where 14 months might as well be 14 years, the stakes are sky-high.

We've got an early first look, with plenty of photos to pore over. Go ahead, zoom in. We know you want to.

➡️ See the new Boomstik ST for yourself.

Pickleball is booming. Clubs are popping up everywhere. So why are some operators struggling to keep the lights on?

Mary Cannon, co-founder of CityPickle, has some thoughts. And she's not pulling punches.

In an exclusive guest column for The Dink, Cannon takes a hard look at the economics of pickleball clubs, including one particularly uncomfortable question: Does the franchise model actually make sense?

Consider this: What happens when a shiny new facility opens down the road and charges 30% less?

And what exactly does a national franchise brand offer to players that a great local operator can't?

As Cannon puts it:

"I bet they opt for the club in their geography that is the best managed."

Her argument? Location, community, and smart management matter far more than the logo on the door.

Coming from someone building one of pickleball's most recognizable club brands, that's worth paying attention to.

➡️ Read Cannon's full insider take on pickleball's franchise problem.

You can’t out-bang a banger. You can out-patience one, though.

Soft resets. Low dinks. Balls at their feet and on their backhand. Eventually, they push the pace too early, and the ball ends up in the net.

Most players lose to bangers by matching power with power. There’s a better way: 7 strategies that beat power hitters without hitting harder.

Read this banger breakdown.

File this one under: Things You Absolutely Cannot Make Up.

A 73-year-old Florida man was arrested after a pickleball tournament dispute allegedly turned physical. The beef? A proposed change to the tournament format.

The plot twist? A slow cooker somehow entered the chat.

Yes, a Crock-Pot.

According to reports, the man allegedly shoved a woman, then picked up a slow cooker during the confrontation. He denies the shove and insists the kitchen appliance was just a joke.

We're gonna need everyone to simmer down.

➡️ You really need to read this one.

A review from The Dink Fam...

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