Fractured family reunited through pickleball

Even tennis pros struggle with this shot. Playoff birth clinched.

October 18, 2024

What do NBA star Jalen Brunson, comedian Anthony Anderson, and actor Mario Lopez have in common? A love for pickleball.

These three are part of a celebrity investor group behind ‘Celebrity Pickleball Bash,’ a new series of pickleball exhibitions. The group has partnered with the PPA, and events could feature familiar pros like Christian Alshon, Hayden Patriquin, Parris Todd, and Jessie Irvine.

The first ‘Bash’ is scheduled for February 15-16, 2025, in San Francisco.

In This Issue:

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Pickleball strengthening family ties
🎾 The last shot tennis players learn
🏆 Results from MLP Las Vegas

You hear that? The weekend is calling.

Our Picks ☝️

🎫 Golden Ticket: USA Pickleball Announces 2025 Schedule

USA Pickleball released its Golden Ticket Schedule for 2025. The Golden Ticket gives players an automatic bid to compete at Nationals. There are 16 chances to earn one between now and July of next year. Find the closest one to you.

🇨🇦 Expansion: The Picklr Expands Into Canada

The Picklr has partnered with TPC Development Corporation to bring 65 facilities to Canada. The first Canadian Picklr location will open in Toronto in 2025.

📸 Video: Zane Navratil Let Loose in the Streets of New York

Zane documents his recent pickleball travels in a new vlog. Go behind the scenes with Zane from Wrigley Field in Chicago to Vayner HQ in Hudson Yards, and MLP NYC in Central Park.

The Last Shot Tennis Players Learn

The backhand flick volley is a unique shot that is only seen in pickleball. It’s not used in tennis, and the closest similarity would be a table tennis backhand, which is off the bounce.

On the PicklePod, Donald Young explains that players slice all of their backhand volleys in tennis. He is comfortable slicing volleys crosscourt back to his opponent, but when using the flick, he is still “Working up the gumption” to use it in matches.

Young mentions that he is picking up tips for his backhand flick from a table tennis champion friend. Keys to the shot include:

  • Dropping the paddle head down while preparing for the shot

  • Leading with the knuckles to create lag in the paddle

  • Brushing over the top of the ball to provide topspin and give the ball a better trajectory

For people struggling to learn the backhand flick, Zane offered this advice: Start by hitting down the line as it's easier and requires less wrist movement than going crosscourt. This will reduce your error count while you're learning the shot.

At the amateur level, it’s important to evaluate the effectiveness of your opponent’s flick.

If it’s not up to par, then you can bait them into hands battles where you and your partner are ready to counter. It also gives you leeway to dink aggressively because a weak backhand flick won’t punish an errant dink.

Best $18 You’ll Ever Spend?

Over 100 hours a week. That’s the collective amount of hours The Dink team spends playing pickleball per week (no surprise we’re obsessed). With that amount of time spent on the courts, we’re all conscious that we’re pretty high risk for sprains, strains, and the occasional dive-gone-wrong.

One thing we’re not risking, though - is a strain on our pockets. Emerge Insurance Services closes the gap on your deductibles for as little as $18 a month. So if you’re injured on the courts, that deductible money goes right back in your pocket.

Get a free quote in seconds based on your pickleball habits and put your mind at rest while you go beast mode on the courts.

Bringing Families Together

Pickleball is more than just a game. We all know its power to build new relationships, but how about its ability to rekindle lost ones?

Nicole Aquillo from the Fail First Podcast explains how a shared passion for the game brought her fractured family back together. Her parents divorced when she was young and it led to her living two separate lives.

“As I navigated my childhood and adolescence, the divide between my mom’s side and my dad’s side grew more pronounced. Each family operated as if the other didn’t exist, creating a void that was palpable.”

Her passion for pickleball spread to her parents, and before long, she had them both on the court together, laughing, playing, and enjoying each other’s company.

The game has given the family common ground and a sense of connection. Nicole explains how pickleball has transformed her and her family’s lives and that she will be forever grateful for picking up that first paddle. Read more of her story here.

Gold can be a solid bet in uncertain times

Investors have historically turned to gold because of its stability. Gold can act like a safety net in your portfolio because its value tends to stay afloat – even when the stock market dives. It’s also considered a hedge against inflation, meaning its value can rise as the buying power of cash goes down.

Check out our list of top-rated Gold IRA providers, including some that offer educational materials for gold-investing beginners.

MLP Las Vegas: Who Clinched and Who’s Out

Major League Pickleball’s Las Vegas event wrapped up this past Wednesday. The event was hosted at the Darling Tennis Center on the heels of the PPA Las Vegas Championships.

Early Week Woes
The event was hosted Monday through Wednesday, so in-person attendance was understandably low, and MLP Las Vegas flew a little under the radar.

Who Clinched
At the Premier Level, the St. Louis Shock snagged 14 of the 15 available points, going 4-0 on the week. They’ve secured a playoff birth and first-round bye.

The Dallas Flash and New Jersey 5s have also locked in a playoff birth and are vying for the second playoff bye.

Who’s Eliminated
Strong performances from the bubble teams kept ten teams statistically in the hunt for the playoffs. The only two teams eliminated at this point are the Utah Black Diamonds and Columbus Sliders.

AZ Drive Resurgence
The AZ Drive unexpectedly leapt from 10th to 7th place in the standings. They have five critical matches at the upcoming MLP Miami event, including one against the NY Hustlers, which could push them into the sixth spot.

The final regular season event of 2024 starts next week in Miami.

Rick Barry Still Dominating on the Court at 80

The Athletic recently covered the story of NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, known for his fierce competitive edge, who has taken his competitive spirit to the pickleball court. After dominating the basketball world, Barry competes at the highest level in pickleball, winning a triple crown at this year’s U.S. Open Pickleball Championships.

Here’s how the basketball legend is thriving:

  • Competitive Spirit: Barry brings the same intensity to pickleball as he did to the NBA, saying, "I’m out there to win." His relentless drive has made him one of the top players in the 80+ age group.

  • Physical Edge: With his 6-foot-7 frame, sharp reflexes, and hand-eye coordination, Barry is tough to beat. His serve is a major weapon, giving him the upper hand to start the point.

  • Pickleball Advocacy: Barry promotes the sport heavily, and has encouraged fellow NBA stars like Chris Mullin and Hakeem Olajuwon to take it up. He sees pickleball as a phenomenon that "is not going away anytime soon.”

For Barry, pickleball is more than a retirement hobby—it's the perfect arena for him to keep winning.

Headlines & Quick Hits

Highlights

Miss a recent issue? We've got you covered

Did your Newsletter get clipped? Look for the ‘View entire message’ option below.

A review from the Dink Fam...

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Share The Dink Newsletter, Get Rewards

Share the best newsletter in pickleball with your friends and we’ll give you free stuff. What’s not to like?

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving 20% Off The Pickleball Box.

Copy & Paste this link: https://newsletter.thedinkpickleball.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Want to advertise with us?

If your company is interested in reaching an audience of active pickleballers, you may want to give us a shout.

Reply

or to participate.