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There’s a group of guys, now well into their 70s, who have gathered every five years for four decades straight to play pickleball and reminisce about the sport’s earliest days.

And they should know: they grew up with two of the founders and their families, Joel Pritchard and Barney McCallum, in the picturesque Seattle neighborhood of Magnolia.

Their fun and inspiring story, below.

In This Issue:
— How to play pickleball tug-of-war
— Kate Fahey won’t stop screaming
— RIP ‘Tweener King’

That Friday feeling.

Christian Alshon earned the nickname “Tweener King” in 2023 and promptly changed his social media handles accordingly. But he’s matured as a person and a player since then, and is ready to pass the title on to someone more deserving: “It pains me to do this, but as I no longer hit gratuitous tweeners, it is time.”

The PPA Tour just wrapped an event in Kuala Lumpur, and not to be outdone, The Dink Minor League Pickleball is heading to Malaysia, too. From December 6-7, top international amateur talent will descend upon the Grand Pickleball Arena in Selangor. Get your passport ready.

After a recent tennis convert was told she’s playing “incorrectly,” she posted to Reddit asking the following: What’s wrong with “banging” if you’re winning points? To be sure, a soft game becomes more critical the better you get. But if you’re getting beat by a banger, maybe your dinks need some work…

Heavy favorites Ben Johns and Dekel Bar lost in three games to Zane Navratil and Armaan Bhatia in the semis in Da Nang, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11. Now your favorite podcast host and the #1 Indian player are on to the finals to face the gold medal winners from Malaysia, Eric Oncins and Tyson McGuffin. Good morning, Vietnam.

Here’s a fun Friday pickleball drill for you, courtesy of pro Eric Roddy.

It’s called Tug-of-War. The beauty, just like the childhood game, is you’ll be having so much fun playing the game, you won’t even realize what a good workout you’re getting.

In Tug-of-War, both players (or teams) start at five points. One of you is playing towards 0, the other upward toward 10. Each point you win moves your score in your direction. The only way to win the game is to string multiple points together in a row.

If you are playing this game as singles, it immediately serves as a fitness drill, as the point system promotes long, grinding games. In doubles, it helps hone shot selection and decision-making. Tug-of-War makes you and your partner have to lock in and focus on each point, which should result in you making smarter decisions.

“I like to play Tug-of-War towards the end of my practice session when I am tired, as that is often when my decision-making starts to slip and I start to lose focus. It's a great drill to simulate late-game situations (like 9-9 in the deciding game), where mental toughness and focus are essential to victory.”

➡️ More drills disguised as games.

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➡️ Try NOVOS Core here.

Screaming in pro pickleball is a polarizing topic. And right in the middle of it all is Kate Fahey.

She joined this week’s PicklePod to quiet the haters, just a few days ahead of her wedding weekend. Turns out, Kate is working on redirecting her emotions on-court, but that doesn’t mean she’s turning off the acoustics altogether.

"It's not in my nature to be completely mute. I've tried it and I play horribly. It's not who I am," she told Zane.

Kate has played competitive tennis since she was very young, culminating in a decorated, All-American career at the University of Michigan. Yelling has just always been part of her game.

Now in the pro pickleball spotlight, the criticism can be intense at times.

"I started working with a sports psychologist this year who has helped immensely. I think a lot of it is pent-up anger that I have on court. But it's also the hate that I get online," she said. "Reading those messages, it's hard. It hurts. That's something that I've worked on a lot."

➡️ More from Kate.

Every five years for the past four decades, Mike Cole and 11 of his childhood buddies have assembled for a few days of steak, cigars, poker… and pickleball.

The crew grew up in Magnolia, a Seattle neighborhood that was home to two of pickleball’s early founders, Joel Pritchard and Barney McCallum.

They all ran in the same circles. And while attending Queen Anne High School, McCallum convinced one of the guys’ dads to build a pickleball court in their backyard. Not surprisingly, it became a neighborhood fixture.

According to Mike, "It had to have been one of the first five courts in the world."

In forty years, the group has only missed one reunion, during COVID. And they’ve got no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

“Every five years until we’re dead,” joked Mike.

➡️ Read the full story.

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➡️ The Dink fam can save 20% today with code NEWSLETTERS20.

Goods news for all you pickleball obsessives looking to get your fix: Pickleballtv is now streaming around the clock on YouTube TV.

The partnership was announced yesterday, and represents a big step for the sport’s desire to reach more households and more eyeballs.

Here’s what will be covered:

“It’s crazy to think how far the sport has come,” UPA CEO Connor Pardoe posted on X. “We’re bringing the game to the masses, and this is a huge milestone worth celebrating for our partners, fans, staff, and especially the pro players making it all possible.”

➡️ Read the full story.

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