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Pickleball is feeling a bit intense right now, isn’t it? A top-ranked young pro was just banned from competing in UPA events. The DUPR algorithm can now punish you for a win. And the MLP trade deadline looms tonight, with a few big-name moves already shaking things up.

We’re here for it. But sometimes it’s nice to just play a little pickle and keep things light, you feel? Enter The Dink’s new Courted series of social pickleball events, coming soon to a rad court near you. No pretension, just vibes. Details below.

In This Issue:
— Hate the new DUPR algorithm? Give it time
— Courted NYC tickets on sale now
— The ATP simplified with Tyson McGuffin

We’re all in this together.

Brian Levine, UPA board member and strategic advisor for Major League Pickleball, hopped on the PicklePod to talk through DUPR’s new algorithm update. He understands the collective freakout, but says to give it time: “It’s never perfect. But every day you’re trying to improve it.”

Cam and Peyton from the hit podcast “You Should Know” just pushed an interesting pickleball theory. Basically, they say, the sport’s prolific spread can only be the work of one global puppet-master: Big Pharma. It’s a salacious conspiracy that’s riddled with holes, but it’s nice to know we’re in their heads.

A new partnership between USA Pickleball and the European Pickleball Federation seeks to create “a single recognized referee standard” — the latest move by one of the sport’s most influential governing bodies to inch pickleball closer to the Olympic stage. Peep the press release.

We’re on the hunt for pickleball’s most powerful paddle, as voted on by you, our loyal readers. Take a minute and give us a piece of your mind, will ya?

Once a novelty, the around the post (ATP) has become a routine shot in advanced pickleball games. And just like your drop and twoey roll dink, it’s a shot that should be drilled. When the time comes, you want to nail it.

Luckily for you, Tyson McGuffin whipped up a quick tutorial. Here are the highlights:

✅ Get moving. Footwork is the foundation for any successful ATP. You need to get to the ball rather than reaching for it.

✅ Don’t rush it. Most ATPs fail because they’re hit too soon. You want the ball to reach its widest point before making contact. You have WAY more time than you think.

✅ Seriously, keep waiting. The ball can, and probably should, be a few inches off the ground before you hit it. Angles are your friend here. Give yourself the best shot possible.

✅ Keep it tight. Swing small and focus on hitting your spot. You don’t need to crush this for it to be a winner.

✅ Keep your hips open and your bellybutton facing your intended target. Think of this more as a redirection than a full shot.

✅ Think of the face of the ball like the face of a clock. You want to “kiss the ball at 3 o’clock", says Tyson, for the best chance of spinning the ball into the open court.

👉 Watch the full video.

You don’t need to sprint to stay active.

Velotric’s Discover 2 eBike makes movement feel good again. A smooth ride with just enough assist to keep you going without wearing you out.

It’s low-impact, joint-friendly, and honestly a great way to get outdoors without dreading the return trip.

Your knees will thank you. So will your energy levels.

Today, we’re kicking off something completely new — and you’re invited.

Introducing Courted: our spin on the modern social mixer — an afternoon of music, drinks, vibes, and just enough pickleball to break a sweat or break the ice.

We’re talking intro lessons, open play, mini-games with prizes, and special exhibition matches featuring some of your favorite pros (more on that soon 👀).

No, this isn’t a tournament. It’s not a networking event. It’s a hang — with paddles, people, and energy you actually want to be around.

📍 NYC Aug 2 (Limited tickets available)

📍 Chicago Aug 30

📍 Austin Sep 27

📍 Miami Dec 13

Get your NYC tickets now → courtdernyc.eventbrite.com

The dust has barely settled from the mid-season tournament and already MLP is back in the headlines:

1️⃣ The final trade deadline of the season expires at 10pm EDT tonight. If any team wants to make a roster move before the playoffs — like the New Jersey 5s did already — today is the day.

2️⃣ In a surprise move, the league announced last night that only the Challenger Level champion — not all six Challenger teams, as previously believed — will be promoted to Premier for 2026.

3️⃣ This weekend, all six Challenger teams and six Premier teams will compete in a legit indoor arena at MLP St. Louis. This is a big one, as four of the top-ranked Premier teams will go head-to-head: Dallas Flash, St. Louis Shock, Columbus Sliders, and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team.

The Chaifetz Group, which owns the St. Louis Shock, also happens to own a 10,600-seat multi-sport indoor arena three miles outside of downtown, which will play host to this weekend’s MLP event.

This provides a unique opportunity for a host to go big, and Ross Chaifetz, owner and GM of the Shock, isn’t holding back. Sunday’s match between the Shock and Brooklyn will air on ESPN2 and the first 1,000 attendees will receive a free replica Shock jersey.

How else will they make this event memorable, we wonder. A full lights show? Highlights up on the Jumbotron? Celebrity appearances? Penthouse suites for each team?

👉 Read our full event preview for more on all things MLP.

Did you catch Carlos Di Laura moving like a damn panther at the MLP Mid-Season Tourney? Turns out the Slice's newest weapon wasn’t just his speed; it was what was on his feet.

Carlos was laced in the SQAIRZ XRZ, the same model co-designed by Zane Navratil and now officially on the feet of the entire Chicago Slice squad.

The XRZ has a roomier toe box for stability, a multi-directional outsole for lateral movement, and a reinforced toe cap for the draggers out there. Zane ran through six prototypes to get it right.

If you want more support, more power, and less worry about rolled ankles, you might want to give the XRZ a look.

How does pro pickleball become a more engaging spectator sport?

Zane Navratil, as usual, has some thoughts. If he had a magic wand, there are 10 rules he’d implement right now, including:

And he’s just getting going. There’s plenty more where these came from.

👉 Read the full article.

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