^{Advertise | The Dink Home | Shop Gear | Subscribe}

The new year is off to a roaring start. Parris Todd was fined big for her involvement in a pickleball event in Japan. The three other pros she was with? Yeah, they didn’t fare quite as well.

The Anna Leigh Waters paddle rumor mill is churning at a fever pitch. We don’t know where she’s going just yet (or do we?), but we can report her current deal with Paddletek is definitely done. And she’s not the only top pro signing a new paddle deal for 2026 and beyond.

We get into all this, and much more, below.

In This Issue:
— 120/Life named The Dink Awards title sponsor
— UPA denies pros’ termination appeal
— 26 pro pickleball predictions for 2026

New year, same hustle.

After being fired by the UPA for attending an unsanctioned event in Japan, pros James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman filed an appeal seeking reinstatement. It took about 10 days, but the league has levied its answer: appeal denied.

Play pickleball long enough and you’re bound to develop a few partner pet peeves. Like having zero patience at the kitchen line. Or giving up on a play before it’s over. We’ll add one of our own: not knowing how to stack past 4.0. What’s yours?

We asked seven of the sport’s top reviewers to predict the biggest paddle trends of 2026. If they’re right, expect longer-lasting grit, bigger sweet-spots, and even built-in sensors. As one put it, “Rec play is heading into a power recession.”

Dekel Bar goes to 11Six26. Eric Oncins signs with Engage. Rachel Rohrabacher is done with Selkirk. Gabe Tardio says goodbye to PIKKL. Quang Duong calls it quits with Sypik. We’re tracking all the pro paddle moves of 2026.

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a dinking loop that only ends when you try to speed up and immediately get countered into oblivion?

It’s the classic 4.0+ plateau. You’ve got the fundamentals, you’re consistent, but you lack the "weapons" to actually finish points.

Thankfully, Jack Munro is here to fix your failing speedups. Follow these simple steps and watch your offense go from “ho-hum” to “Holy Moly!”

✅ Let the ball bounce and reach its highest point. This should be common knowledge by now; the higher the ball sits, the better your angles of attack.

✅ See the paddle, see the ball. Speedups are all wrist, not arm. If your paddle disappears from your peripheral vision, you’re swinging too big. And you’ve already lost the element of surprise.

✅ Place, not pace. If you put the ball in a tough spot at 40% power, your opponent is going to pop it up. That’s when you go for the slam dunk.

🔑 If you remember one thing, remember this: the speedup is a setup, not the winner. Think of it like a jab in boxing: it’s quick, it’s deceptive, and it puts you in prime position for the knockout blow.

➡️ Watch Jack work.

We talk a lot about performance, recovery, and longevity in this sport, but there’s another piece that doesn’t always get the spotlight: heart health.

120/Life is a brand built around one simple idea. Helping people manage their blood pressure through a natural, daily routine.

Their powder and drinks use natural superfoods like beetroot, hibiscus, and pomegranate and are clinically backed to support healthy blood pressure, better blood flow, and overall cardiovascular health.

It’s the kind of product that quietly fits into your day and starts to matter more the longer you play, train, and compete.

And speaking of 120/Life…

The Dink Awards are back... bigger, better, and more community-driven than ever.

And this year, we’re proud to announce 120/Life as the official title sponsor of The 120/Life Dink Awards.

We just told you why their doctor-endorsed drink mixes and beverages can help you manage healthy blood pressure without the pills or complicated protocols — just something you’ll actually enjoy drinking every day, even when you’re on-the-go.

Say, between matches at your local pickleball court.

But this partnership goes deeper. 120/Life Founder Adi Malik and his team know firsthand the types of passionate enthusiasts the sport attracts.

“We’re genuinely aligned with what makes pickleball special — not just as a sponsor, but as a brand that values staying active for the long haul.”

120/Life’s products are clinically backed by more than 1,000 active health professionals and come with a simple guarantee: a full refund if you don’t see better blood pressure numbers in just two weeks.

“The Dink Awards celebrate not just elite performance, but the culture and community around the sport,” adds Malik, “which made this partnership feel like a natural fit for us.”

➡️ Learn more about 120/Life — and get a special discount on us.

Top-ranked pro Parris Todd has been issued a $50,000 fine and suspended for two UPA events for her involvement in an event in Japan in early December.

Todd joined three other pros – James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman – for a series of clinics and exhibitions hosted by the Pickleball Japan Federation in Tokyo’s Ariake Tennis Park around Dec. 10.

By all accounts, a different pro, Tyra Black, was scheduled to attend but opted out last minute. Todd joined in her place.

Her suspension will reportedly include one MLP event and one PPA event. To date, the UPA has not issued a public statement regarding the sanctions.

Todd was a late addition to the Japan event. We're told she did submit prior approval through proper league channels, but the nature and scope of the event were different from what was originally described.

She is currently ranked #5 in women's singles and #7 in women's doubles on the PPA Tour.

➡️ Get the full story.

Every January comes with the same promise: eat better, feel better, don’t fall off by week three.

Protein usually makes or breaks that plan. Maui Nui Venison makes it easier with wild venison snack sticks that actually taste good and don’t come with a sugar crash. Ten grams of protein, just 55 calories, and packed with nutrients from Maui’s volcanic soils.

It’s one of the few snacks that works post-workout, between meetings, or when you’re just trying not to grab something regret-adjacent. Original has a subtle sweetness. Peppered brings the savory kick and skips the sugar entirely.

Right now, if you add five Stick Starter Packs to your cart, you get one free. No hoops, no gimmicks. Just head to mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK and stock up while it lasts.

We’ve already recapped the biggest moments in pro pickleball from last year. Now it’s time to look ahead.

Our pro guru Erik Tice gazed deep into his crystal ball and pulled out 26 predictions for 2026… everything from who will win PPA medals (and who won’t) to which players top MLP teams will drop (looking at you, Flash and Shock) to whether Nick Kyrgios will finally wield a paddle in an official PPA event.

It’s a great primer before PPA Masters, which kicks off next weekend (full preview on that coming soon). Here are just a few we’re paying extra close attention to:

🔮 Anna Leigh Waters will lose a singles match in 2026
🔮 Chris Haworth will reach #1 in men’s singles
🔮 Someone you’ve never heard of will earn a PPA medal
🔮 The Shock and Flash will have major roster shakeups
🔮 Quang Duong will re-sign with the UPA

And you thought 2025 was full of surprises.

➡️ Get all 26 predictions.

A review from the Dink Fam...

Share the best newsletter in pickleball with your friends and you’ll get free stuff. What’s not to like?

{{rp_personalized_text}}

Copy & Paste this link: {{rp_refer_url_no_params}}

If your company is interested in reaching an audience of active pickleballers, you may want to give us a shout.