Outsmart the transition zone

MLP club on the move. Another paddle removed from the list.

June 12, 2024

Paddles are falling like dominoes. Another paddle has been hit by USA Pickleball this week and removed from the approved equipment list.

After a brief foray into the world of foam core paddles, it appears the pickleball world is not prepared to make the leap to Generation 3.

More on that below.

In This Issue:

✈️ Major League movement
🏆 Sneak peek at MLP D.C.
📋 Another paddle bites the dust

Who’s next?

When to Attack Through Transition

A massive differentiator between 4.0s and 5.0+ players is how they play through the transition zone. 

Lower-level players tend to be aggressive when they shouldn’t, while higher-level players understand to look for specific tells to know they have the green light to attack.

Fortunately, we have someone like top pro Catherine Parenteau to help us all learn these tells.

According to Catherine, the key to reading whether or not to attack is to first look at your opponent’s contact point. 

Red light signals

If you hit a drop shot and it’s high, your opponent will raise their eyes and paddle in anticipation of hitting an aggressive shot down at your feet.

This is a signal to you that you should stop, split step, and get ready to block or reset the ball.  

Green light signals

However, if after you hit a drop shot you see the top of their head:

Head down - contact point below knees

And their eyes lower:

Head and eyes lowered

Their contact point will be below their knees.

You should advance toward the kitchen and prepare to be aggressive on your next shot. If their return ball is high, you should position your body and paddle to hit down on the ball for a putaway.

If they concede the kitchen by hitting a dink, look for a speedup opportunity or hit an aggressive dink to their left or right foot.

Yellow light signals

These are a little trickier, but essentially instead of seeing all these signs, you’re just looking for one (top of their head, eyes down, knees bent, etc.) and a ball that’s at least waist high that you can drive.

Yellow light signals are also reserved for what you know about your opponent. For instance, if they handle aggressive shots well, consider this as a red light and be more patient.

However, if they struggle against aggressive shots, then treat these as green lights all day.

Check out Catherine Parenteau's full video on working through the transition zone.

All About the AMPED Pro Air

Have you noticed that striking new paddle on the courts? It's the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air, a direct evolution from the Selkirk Labs Project 005. This paddle isn’t just making waves with its vibrant colorways; it’s reshaping the game.

The new open throat design is all about improving aerodynamics, making your swings smoother and more effective. Pair that with a 16mm honeycomb core and FiberFlex+ Fiberglass face, and you’ve got a paddle that delivers an unbeatable blend of power and touch.

It's the perfect time to see for yourself why this paddle is making waves in the pickleball community. Grab yours and feel the difference for yourself.

The Delisting Hit List

USA Pickleball has a hit list and if you’re a paddle manufacturer, you don’t want to be on it. The advent of foam core paddles has shaken the pickleball landscape this year, and now USAP is working to clean up the mess.

We covered the JOOLA Gen 3 paddle saga that is still ongoing as well as USAP’s decision to delist the Ronbus Ripple paddle. The latest paddle to join the club is the Vatic Pro Oni.

Pickleball Studio shared the news that paddle orders were halted as a result of the delisting.

“Given the changing landscape of the sport as well as newly adopted USAP testing methods, we regret to inform you that our Oni Paddles are scheduled to be de-listed by USAP,” the company said in an e-mail to customers who had already purchased the paddle or pre-ordered one.

The common thread between these three types of paddles is a foam core. The foam core technology added an undeniable pop and power to paddles that most would argue the game is not ready for.

Are we only just beginning this delisting of paddles by USAP? Should delisted paddles be permitted in rec play and amateur events? We asked the Dink fam for their perspective.

Major League Movement Ahead of D.C.

Major League Pickleball is headed to Washington D.C. for its second event of 2024. One team will have a completely new look in D.C. after it announced a rebranding and a new home.

Introducing the Carolina Pickleball Club
Let’s face it. The Seattle Pioneers is not a great team name. Tom Dundon’s squad took the opportunity not only to move, but also to rebrand as the Carolina Pickleball Club.

Dundon is the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, so the Tar Heel State was a natural fit. This team paid up for Ben Johns and added Andrea Koop, Jessie Irvine, and Collin Johns, but the foursome has yet to take the court as a team.

Aces Hit the LOTTO
The Brooklyn Aces have teamed up with the Italian sports apparel brand LOTTO. The ownership group that includes Kevin Durant, Drake, and Michael B. Jordan welcomed the LOTTO brand, which hopefully can provide a much-needed upgrade to the MLP uniform landscape.

Get Back on the Court Faster

Let's talk game prep and recovery, Dink fam. We all could use a little help with our pre and post-game routines. Keeping those muscles happy and healthy is key to keeping you on the court. That's where the Theragun Prime comes into play.

What’s cool about the Theragun Prime? It’s powerful, quiet, and seriously effective. It digs deep to prep and repair your muscles, reaching 60% deeper than average massagers and designed to keep you moving without skipping a beat.

Did we mention you can sync your Theragun Prime with the Therabody app? This means you can follow guided routines tailored just for you, adjust the device speed, and really dial in your recovery session to match your body’s needs.

Here’s an insider tip. Use the code DINK10 to grab yours at a sweet discount. Don't just play the game; change the way you prepare and repair with Therabody.

A Sneak Peek at MLP Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. will be the first time we see the Carolina Pickleball Club hit the courts this season. Also making their 2024 debut are the Utah Black Diamonds, California Black Bears, Chicago Slice, and Las Vegas Night Owls.

Injury Substitutions
Christian Alshon will miss this week’s event and will be replaced on the Texas Ranchers by Quang Duong.

DJ Young from the California Black Bears is also dealing with an injury. He will be replaced by Spencer Smith.

Pat Smith of the Florida Smash is still dealing with an injury related to a ball striking him in the eye and has been placed on IR. Yates Johnson will be replacing him.

Home Field Advantage
The hometown D.C. Pickleball Team currently sits in second place in the Premier Level standings. Will competing in their home city give them an edge and help close the gap on the St. Louis Shock?

Matchup to Watch
Hot mics at the PPA Sacramento Open caught Ben Johns giving some less-than-flattering feedback on the drives of Hurricane Tyra Black. Tyra jokingly replied to a Ben Johns Twitter post yesterday.

The two will face off for the first time since the incident on Friday as Johns’ Carolina PB Club takes on Tyra and the Dallas Flash.

You can catch the Major League Pickleball action on Pickleball TV and MLP YouTube starting at 2pm ET tomorrow.

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