^{Advertise | The Dink Home | Shop Gear | Subscribe}

Ever wonder how much pickleball pros actually make? Us too. So we helped current pro (and former certified CPA) Zane Navratil take a deep dive into the wild world of guaranteed contracts, prize money structures, sponsorship deals, and more.

Ben and Anna Leigh are in a class of their own. A small group of top pros sit comfortably below them. Then it’s an absolute grind out there, with many incredibly talented players actually losing money just to compete.

In This Issue:
— Proton is off the naughty list
— The $126 ‘rocket launcher’
— This trick changes everything

All pickle, all the time.

For the most part, we all want to make the right line call. But we’re human. And sometimes mistakes happen. In that event, you should feel empowered to overrule a partner’s poor line call. If they get mad about it, they’re probably a hook.

It’s been 100 days since our sport’s biggest star signed her landmark apparel deal with Nike. What’s she been up to ever since? Well, winning, of course. And looking absolutely fire while doing it. Congrats on being you, ALW.

We’ve all been there. A rec game is about to pop off before that one guy throws a fit about the “wrong ball.” As if playing anything but a Life Time will actually improve his dink consistency. New rule: he provides the ball, and loses the attitude.

It’s been a few short weeks since news broke that Proton paddles would be banned from pro play due to unpaid debts to the league. Now, rather unexpectedly, the brand is back in good standing like nothing ever happened. We’ve got the full story.

Any time you’re at the kitchen line, engaged in a doubles dink rally, there are certain shots and patterns more seasoned players come to expect.

Predictable behavior. Expected norms. The status quo.

As you get better, the best players are the ones who find a way to bend these standards in their favor.

Here’s a prime example:

But what if — and stay with us here — you anticipated a slightly high dink sent your way and ran around to find your forehand instead?

Instantly everything shifts.

From this position, with your hips facing the opposite sideline and the ball now sitting up on your forehand, you can wreak havoc from any angle. (Go watch some clips of pro Pablo Tellez for proof.)

🔥 Rip it through the middle.
🔥 Go for a bag.
🔥 Feather one down the near line.
🔥 Or carve it cross-court instead.

All it takes is recognition and footwork. Then it’s up to you to get creative.

➡️ One pro shows you how.

There’s a sound that cuts through everything.

Not the soft dink. Not the reset.

The other one.

Clean. Loud. Immediate.

That’s the Selkirk Boomstik.

It’s one of those paddles where the feedback is instant — crisp off the face, no guessing where you hit it. And when you catch one clean… they’re not resetting that ball.

Big drives. Heavy serves. Putaways that don’t hang around.

Shop the Selkirk Boomstik and use code ADV-THEDINK for $30 in Selkirk Bonus Bucks.

There’s a good chance you haven’t heard much about FLiK Pickleball.

While bigger brands have dominated the spotlight lately, FLiK has spent its time quietly building high-performance paddles that quite literally define the upper echelons of how a legal power paddle can perform.

The F1, their flagship power paddle, debuted a few months back with one very specific aim.

“This paddle was designed to be a power paddle, a full-blown rocket launcher, period," says FLiK Founder Fred Robinson.

It’s the result of years of experimentation from a brand with a deep well of experience; FLiK began as Body Helix, making performance compression apparel for physically demanding sports like powerlifting, baseball, volleyball, gymnastics, and more.

That same athlete-first mindset carried into pickleball.

Robinson and his team tested different densities, constructions, and even structural tweaks like perforation before arriving at the secret sauce that brought the F1 to the very limit of allowable pop and power.

The result? A paddle with 95 precision-drilled holes in the core, designed to introduce subtle but noticeable face flex and improve feel without sacrificing power.

In other words: the F1 doesn't heat up over time. It starts hot and stays there.

Admittedly, the brand has put all its attention into product development and largely skimped on marketing. Until now. The F1 is ready for the spotlight.

At just $126, we're willing to bet it’s just about the best deal in pickleball.

➡️ Feel the power.

When you think about professional athletes, you probably imagine guaranteed contracts, team salaries, and predictable paychecks.

Professional pickleball doesn't work that way.

Not for everyone, at least. Pro pickleball salaries are a wild mix of league contracts, sponsorship deals, prize money, and teaching income that looks completely different depending on which tier you're in.

And then there’s the D-Tier, which consists of non-contracted players trying to make it through qualifiers. These are amazing up-and-coming players, but they're either not signed with the tour yet or don't have stellar results.

D-Tier players earn an average of just $11,000 in gross income, mostly from prize money. After expenses — entry fees, travel costs, paddles and other gear — they're actually losing money.

Before Zane Navratil was a pro pickleball player and content creator, he was a certified CPA. He put together a full video breaking all of this down (we even helped with the research).

➡️ Give it a watch.

Yeah. That actually happened.

This week’s PicklePod gets into:

Zane and Nico also debate how far ALW can really carry a partner — and the answer might be lower than you think.

This one’s got some heat.

➡️ Watch the episode here.

Power is all the rage these days in rec-play, but the truth is most of us need help keeping the ball in bounds, not launching it through the back fence.

Power is fun, but control is where points (and games) are won or lost. To hit that sweet spot of firepower and finesse, we've put together a list of seven standout hybrid pickleball paddles.

None of these are lacking in the oomph department. But their foam cores and hybrid shapes combine to offer more stability, control, and feel when it matters most.

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any one of these.

➡️ Take a closer look.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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

{{rp_personalized_text}}

Copy & Paste this link: {{rp_refer_url_no_params}}

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