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Imagine this: You’re 20 years old again. Seemingly overnight, you’ve become one of the top stars in a new professional sports league. You’ve got the hardware to prove it. The lucrative contracts and sponsorship deals, too. You win without the appearance of trying all that hard. Everyone wants a piece of you. So full of energy and swagger and potential…

That’s real life for Gabe Tardio and Hayden Patriquin. On the eve of MLP’s opening weekend, the best friends and St. Louis Shock teammates join the PicklePod for an unhinged and (mostly) uncensored look at the lives of two of pro pickleball’s hottest stars. And trust us when we say they do not disappoint.

In This Issue:
— JOOLA’s tasty new paddle
— No sleep, no rules, can’t lose
— Full foam, crazy grit, $150

Jam-packed with goodies.

For the first time since its debut in 2019, the APP Tour is expanding its reach to include a new APP Asia Tour, comprising six events in six countries: Malaysia, China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, India, and Vietnam. Yet another sign of pickleball’s global proliferation.

The guys from the Pickleball Effect podcast put out a bat signal to ask a burning question: Now that foam paddles are so ubiquitous, can we safely say they’re truly as durable as originally promised? Thousands of games later, survey says: without a doubt.

After an entertaining but mostly fruitless PPA season together, CJ Klinger and JW Johnson appear to be parting ways. Rumor is, CJ will team up with Eric Oncins next season while JW will attach his wagon to rising star Tama Shimabukuro. Intriguing.

As part of its new Pops Summer Tour, JOOLA is dropping an ice pop-inspired line of Pro V paddles. Because “summer is better with pickleball.” The tour rolls into nine cities from Texas to Maryland. You can cop the paddles beginning May 26. Learn more.

There are literally thousands of paddles on the market right now, and honestly, most of them are really good.

Now more than ever, the hard part isn’t finding a good paddle — it’s finding the right paddle to elevate your game.

Luckily, Chris Olson of Pickleball Studio has tested hundreds and hundreds of paddles over the years, and he’s here with some sage advice.

In a nutshell, decide what you must have and what you can compromise on.

To help you cut through the noise, here’s what you should be asking yourself before pulling the trigger on a new purchase:

If you don’t know or don’t care, skip it. But for key considerations like price, shape, long-term durability, and feel, don’t compromise. Answer honestly and see where that leaves you.

Chances are, your perfect paddles isn’t what you (or your buddies at open play) might think.

➡️ Let Chris explain.

Every pickleball addict knows the feeling.

You start the day flying around the court…and three hours later your timing disappears, your feet stop moving, and suddenly you’re speeding up balls straight into the net.

That’s why more players have started adding Troscriptions’ Blue Cannatine to their pregame routine.

It’s a fast-acting chewable troche designed to support cleaner energy, focus, and mental stamina without the jittery crash that can come from overdoing caffeine before long sessions.

The biggest difference players notice? They still feel sharp later into play.

Especially during marathon open play sessions, league nights, and tournament days where your game usually starts falling apart by the afternoon.

Try Blue Cannatine here and use code DINK for 10% off!

Full-foam paddles are having more than a moment these days – they're clearly here to stay. But for every paddle chasing maximum power and pop, there’s another question players keep asking:

What about feel?

That’s the lane Warping Point is carving out with the new Sophon, the company’s first Gen-4 full-foam paddle that just launched yesterday.

At $149.99, the elongated 16mm paddle stands out in one of pickleball’s most crowded — and increasingly expensive — categories with a surprisingly straightforward pitch: premium foam technology, durable grit, and high-level performance without the jaw-dropping price tag.

We hit the court with it ourselves and it absolutely delivers:

All across the court, we loved the large sweet-spot, responsive tri-foam core feel, and extra-gritty surface.

It's a paddle we’re instantly adding to the regular rotation. In today’s super-saturated market, that's saying a lot.

➡️ Full foam, crazy grit, just $150.

For this week’s PicklePod, we’re joined by two of the most exciting young stars in pickleball: Hayden Patriquin and Gabe Tardio, fierce competitors on the PPA Tour, but teammates on the MLP’s St. Louis Shock.

We dive into everything from Shock team culture and MLP pressure to why Gabe ignored traditional pickleball advice and built his own game from scratch. Hayden also opens up about his on-court personality, social media backlash, and finding the balance between playing with emotion and staying under control.

We also get into:

This episode goes all over the place in the best way possible. One minute we’re breaking down elite strategy and the next we’re talking baccarat, sleep habits, and why nobody actually knows the “right” way to play pickleball.

➡️ Not one you want to miss.

Most pickleball players will do anything for more power, spin, or control…

…but completely ignore the thing absorbing every sprint, stop, and awkward split step on court.

That’s where VKTRY Insoles come in.

They’re designed to return energy with every step while giving players more support and stability during long sessions on court.

The difference shows up late into play:
less dead-leg feeling, quicker movement, and legs that stay fresher longer.

Basically, they’re built for pickleball addicts.

And right now is probably the best time to try them:

VKTRY’s Memorial Day sale is running 5/20–5/26 with $50 off VKTRY Gold Performance Insoles. They also come with a 90-day money back guarantee.

Shop the VKTRY Memorial Day sale today!

The Hustle, Starter Story, and The Dink are teaming up for something a little different during NY Tech Week.

It’s called the Founders Open: a pickleball and networking mixer bringing together founders, operators, investors, and builders for a morning on the court instead of another rooftop happy hour.

Expect beginner-friendly pickleball, breakfast + coffee, exclusive merch, and a curated room full of ambitious people who actually want to connect.

No panels. No badges. No awkward networking circles.

📍 City Pickle Times Square, NYC
📅 Wednesday, June 3
⏰ 9am–12pm

Spots are limited!

➡️ RSVP here

A review from the Dink Fam...

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