Johns bros calling it quits?

Kevin Hart vs Naomi Osaka. Run the bait and switch play.

December 20, 2024

It’s the end of an era, in more ways than one. The winningest men’s doubles team in history could be calling it quits in the new year.

Sources indicate that Ben Johns is on the search for a new right-side teammate to make a return to dominance. Find out whose phone is ringing and who is closing up shop in the new year below.

In This Issue:

💔 Johns bros to split up in 2025
🎣 The old bait-and-switch
🏉 Heisman House needs a pickleball court

Who’s next up?

Our Picks ☝️

💭 End of an Era: Dreamland Closing its Doors

Dreamland just outside of Austin, TX was the home of the inaugural MLP event in 2021. The iconic facility announced yesterday that they will be closing their doors at the end of the year and saying goodbye with an ‘End of an Era at Dreamland Bash’ on December 31st.

🏆 Matchup: Kevin Hart vs Naomi Osaka

Kevin Hart thought he was ready for a pro pickleball career until Naomi Osaka stopped by for a practice session. Hart says she “Whooped my a** like I stole something.”

🎁 Holidays: Five days until Christmas

Don’t run to the mall this weekend in search of a last-minute gift. Find what you need for the pickleballers on your list in The Dink Holiday Gift Guide.

🎙️ Podcast: From 48-seed to Champion in One Year

Hunter Johnson ended the year with three PPA singles titles but he started the year losing in the first round of qualifiers. Hear how he flipped the switch to start getting results on the game’s biggest stage.

UYG non

The Bait and Switch Play

Pickleball is a fairly predictable game. You usually know the ‘smart play’ and can assume players will choose high-percentage shots.

That assumption leaves the door open for high-level deception shots like this one.

Watch as Domi, in white, baits her opponent into thinking that she is going to hit the ball crosscourt.

  • She hits a crosscourt dink to establish the pattern

  • On the second ball, she lines up with the same positioning and angle indicating a repeat of the last shot is coming

  • Her opponent reads her body language and shifts into the middle to try to intercept the crosscourt dink

When Domi sees her opponent shift into the middle, she knows the line will be wide open. She opens her paddle face at the last second, switches her target, and slices the ball down the sideline for the winner.

Playing by the book is the right move most of the time, but pickleball is just more fun when you can slip in a shot like this and leave your opponent wishing they stayed home.

This Bag’s Got Your Back

Meet the sleek new addition to Selkirk’s bestselling Core Line collection—the Pickleball Sling Bag.

This isn’t your average sling; it’s your court day essential squeezed into one smart-looking pack. With a comfy spot just for your paddle and ball, and a few cleverly placed pockets for all those bits and bobs—like that massive water bottle you tote around or your ever-buzzing phone—it’s got the smarts to keep you organized.

And because Selkirk knows we all have our own style, they’ve rolled out some snazzy new colors like Forest Green, Mauve, and Tan.

Plus, they’re making the deal sweeter—rack up some Selkirk Bonus Bucks when you spend over $100 up through December 23. Whether you’re tearing up the court or just there for the vibes, this bag’s got your back.

The Johns Bros Looking For a Change

Ben and Collin Johns are the most dominant duo in men’s doubles history.

  • They have won 33 titles together

  • In 2023, they set an incredibly high standard that would be difficult for anyone to match

  • But they have not been able to maintain the same pace in 2024

They started the year as the heavy favorite to win every tournament. As the year progressed, the competition caught up. The once unbeatable brother duo was taking losses from multiple challengers.

Yesterday, sources indicated that Ben Johns reached out to Gabriel Tardio as a potential partner for the 2025 season. Tardio’s unique style of play and ability to create offense from the right helped change the meta of men’s doubles.

It has not been confirmed by Ben or Collin that a split is imminent, but Tardio’s ‘like’ on this video points toward it being true. A split is likely contingent on Ben securing the right man for the right side.

We won’t have to wait long to find out. The PPA Masters is right around the corner, January 6-12 in Southern California.

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Got Grip?

Ever wondered why your pickleball paddle starts slipping just when you need that game-winning shot? It’s probably time to regrip, and not just with any grip—Exo Grip’s got the goods.

First, strip off that old, grimy grip. Wipe down your paddle's handle to ditch any leftover stickiness. Now, grab a fresh Exo Grip.

Start from the bottom, keep it tight, and wrap it all the way up, overlapping slightly for that perfect cushion. Once you hit the top, snip off the excess and seal it with their finishing tape.

Why Exo Grip? These folks have infused their passion for pickleball into creating a grip that doesn’t just stick; it enhances your play. Their grips are designed for real pickleball warriors—moisture-wicking for those sweaty matches and super tacky for unbeatable control.

A New Zane on Championship Sunday

There are plenty of big names missing from Daytona, but it’s opened the door for a number of new players to slide into the spotlight.

Zane Ford Presses on the Gas
A new Zane will be competing on Championship Sunday. Zane Ford shocked the field as the 21-seed beat Grayson Goldin, Rafa Hewett, and Michael Loyd to reach his first PPA final. Ford will play Federico Staksrud for gold.

Schaefer Starts the Year Out Right
Dominique Schaefer took out two Jansens on her way to the final. She topped the 1-seed Lea Jansen in the quarterfinals and Helena Jansen (no relation) in the semis. Schaefer will take on Kaitlyn Christian on Sunday.

The Waters Reunion
Leigh Waters will be in action today in mixed doubles with partner Dillon Segur but the main event happens tomorrow. The pickleball world wants to see if Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters still have the mother-daughter magic to win gold in today’s game. We will find out over the weekend.

Find a full preview for the event including podium predictions for our guy Erik Tice here. Tune into the mixed doubles action starting at 11 am ET today on Pickleball TV.

Pickleball Infiltrates the Heisman House

On Saturday, Travis Hunter from the University of Colorado won the 2024 Heisman Award for college football’s most outstanding player. The presentation was held in New York and attracted dozens of former Heisman recipients to the city.

One former winner, Danny Wuerffel, made the most of the talent gathering and hosted a special Heisman edition of his PickleBowl fundraiser event.

Some of the biggest names in football competed in the event including Cam Newton, Tim Tebow, Eddie George, and more. Pro pickleballers Kate Fahey and Ryan Sherry helped the football stars refine their paddle skills. Watch Tebow and Newton play something that resembles pickleball here.

It looks like the next addition to the Heisman House is going to be a pickleball court.

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