How to interpret the 75% rule

Gary Vee joins the PicklePod. Aggression becoming a right-side necessity.

September 23, 2024

Mookie Betts, confirmed pickleballer. “Pickleball, that’s my jam” said Betts, the 2-time World Series Champ and 2018 American League MVP, during an LA Dodgers outing last week.

Baseball fans watching the game were treated to some good old-fashioned pickleball propaganda courtesy of Betts.

“I have a crew. I don’t know any of them. I don’t know any of their names. But I just go hang out with them.”

The eclectic crew of people you play with regularly. You don’t know what they do for work, and you don’t know their families…you just know they like pickleball. And that you do, too. A bond unlike any other.

In This Issue:

😤 How right-side players can be more aggressive
🤡 The 5s go 5-0 in NYC
🎙️ Gary Vee joins the PicklePod

Let’s win.

Our Picks ☝️

🏜️ Vacation: Pros Hike Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon

The pro pickleball schedule can be grueling. It’s hard to find a weekend without some type of event. The St. Louis Shock happened to be off last weekend, and to celebrate, Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin hiked a casual 45 miles over 20 hours, going rim to rim in the Grand Canyon. 

👀 Sighting: Olympic Sprinter Picks Up Pickle

Gabby Thomas won the hearts of America by capturing three gold medals at the Paris Olympics. The 27-year-old holds a neurobiology degree from Harvard, a Master’s in public health from the University of Texas, and has a passion for pickleball.

💬 Quote: “Someday, I think Asian players will be the best in the world”

Steve Kuhn, the founder of MLP, was quoted in a recent article. Kuhn partnered with Bay Pickleball in Hong Kong to launch a new indoor facility. As the pickleball wave rises in Asian countries, it’s reasonable to assume that the world’s next best player might come from Asia.

🎥 Video: Major League Proposal

Need an iconic venue for your proposal? How about Central Park in NYC during a pro pickleball event? That’s where Texas Ranchers GM Ryan Dawidjan popped the question on Sunday. And, of course, she said YES.

Right Side Players Have More Space to Attack

There’s no doubt that the right-side player's role has changed. They can no longer sit back in a passive role. In order for the team to compete at the highest level, the right-side player needs to attack and be aggressive to create more offense.

James Ignatowich dives deep into the intricacies of the doubles game in a new podcast episode. He says, “If the left-side player doesn’t have a strong two-handed backhand counter, you can pretty liberally speed it up down the line.”

He believes it’s advantageous to attack in this scenario for a couple of reasons:

  • A one-handed backhand counter is likely to be too weak to end the point

  • The left-side player is covering 60-70 percent of the court, so it’s beneficial to make them cover the line to open more space in the middle

Thanks to the triangle rule, that ball will likely come back to the middle of the court. If your partner is adequately prepared, they should have an easy forehand putaway to end the point.

Give this shot a try next time you’re on the court. Bonus points if you can sneak the ball past them down the line for the winner.

Get a Grip & Don’t Slip

You know that moment when you’re about to make the shot of the game, the one that’ll make your partner think you’ve been secretly training with the pros? But then, the unthinkable happens — a slip, a slide, and your golden moment turns into a flubbed shot that you’ll be thinking about all night.

Enter the HEAD Motion Pro Pickleball shoes. These aren’t just shoes — they’re your new best friend on the court. Designed by picklers for picklers, they get the demands of the game. With a grip that holds like a pro and a reinforced toe cap built for those who drag and slide, these shoes are engineered to handle the most intense matches.

Plus, the pickleball-specific outsole extends your reach over the kitchen, making those tricky shots just a bit easier. And with a sock-like fit and a DynaFoam midsole, these shoes are not only super lightweight but also incredibly responsive.

The 75 Percent Rule

It’s the new term dominating the pickleball airwaves. The United Pickleball Association recently introduced its Close Call Replay system, and now it has released the 75 Percent Rule to go along with it.

With cameras pointed down every line, we now have consistent freeze frames to better assess whether a ball is out or in. But as we know, when a pickleball makes contact with the court, part of it may hover over the line without touching it. This is where the new rule comes in.

The 75 Percent Rule

  • The ball is divided into 4 equal sections of 25%

  • The middle 50% contacts the ground while the outer 25% portions hover above it

  • The Rule: if 75% of the ball is outside of the line, it can be assumed that the ball didn’t touch the line and is out

  • On the flip side, if 26% of the ball is over the line from this view, then it is considered in

As technology advances, this rule will be easier to illustrate in broadcasts. Since a pickleball doesn't compress as much as a tennis ball, the oval you’re used to seeing from Hawkeye isn’t as applicable. There is still room to grow, but we’re thankful for the progress.

1, 2, 3, 4, FIVES 🖐️

Major League Pickleball completed a milestone weekend in New York City. Twelve MLP teams competed in thirty matches in the shadows of Manahatten’s skyscrapers.

A Perfect Weekend
Anna Leigh Waters was the stand-out player last weekend as she is most weekends. ALW had a perfect 10-0 game record to lead the 5s to a 5-0 match record on the weekend.

Serve Faults
A new use of the replay technology was showcased in NYC. Replay was used to identify illegal serves by reviewing if the paddle face was above the wrist at contact.

In multiple cases, a point won by the serving team was replayed because of an “illegal serve.” The high-definition replay even caught Pablo Tellez with both feet off the ground on a serve, which is also a violation.

The Struggles Continue
The Utah Black Diamonds snagged a win against the NY Hustlers on Friday but went 0-4 for the remainder of the weekend. They are eliminated from playoff contention and the Columbus Sliders are dangerously close to that distinction as well.

MLP fans get another weekend of team pickleball this week. MLP Virginia Beach is a Challenger Level-only event and kicks off on Thursday.

Proton’s Project Roadrunner Paddle Is Here

Dink Fam…have you caught wind of Proton’s newest paddle? It’s their Series Four paddle, also known as 'Project Roadrunner,' and it's turning heads in the pickleball world. This isn't just any paddle—it’s crafted from aerospace-grade carbon fiber and Kevlar, built for players who are serious about taking their game to the next level.

The Series Four stands out with its unique hybrid core that perfectly balances power and soft touch, making every shot smooth and powerful. Plus, the edgeless design is not just about looks; it enhances your play by increasing dwell time for better accuracy and control.

And the best part? It's incredibly durable. The combination of carbon fiber reinforced with Kevlar fibers and finished with a ruggedized resin means this paddle can handle intense play while maintaining top-notch spin and performance.

Head over to Pickleball Central to grab this game-changing paddle, and don’t forget to use the code "THEDINK" to snag $25 off your purchase.

The Reason Gary Vee is All In on Pickleball

World-renowned entrepreneur and online personality Gary Vee is the very special guest on PicklePod this week. He explains the unique aspect of pickleball that made it a no-brainer investment.

Gary and New Jersey 5s GM Ryan Harwood disclose the ‘Big Bet’ draft strategy that won them Anna Leigh Waters. Gary also shares his perspective on controlling momentum in sports and how he plays the mental game. This is a can’t-miss episode.

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