^{Advertise | The Dink Home | The Pickleball Box | Subscribe}

It might be the first time in history that pickleball and the FBI have crossed paths but extreme circumstances call for extreme measures. Over 300 investors have lost a combined $50 million and are looking for answers.

The FBI raided the home of former Pickleball Rocks owner Rodney Grubbs on Wednesday. The search warrant for the home was executed as part of an ongoing investigation on Grubbs that involves the IRS and Indiana Secretary of State. More on that below.

In This Issue:

👀 Court vision tips to see one shot ahead
🏆 McGuffin is cooking at PPA Finals
📈 This training tool just got an update

It’s the sound of the police.

Our Picks ☝️

🏆 National Championships: The guide is officially here

Big things are happening next week in St. Louis. Teams from around the nation will compete for a $50k prize pool and a trip to compete in Dubai. If you’re one of the lucky players with their Dream Ticket, your guide is here.

🎁 Holidays: The feel-good holiday gift of the year

Zane Navratil is raising money for Stop Alzheimer's Now, an Austin-based nonprofit that donates 100% of revenue to Alzheimer's research. Last year Zane and the Dink community were able to raise nearly $250,000.

This year, Zane is creating personalized videos through Cameo! If you want a tip or trick, a roast, or just a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays from Zane, click here. 100% of revenue will go directly to SAN!

🙏 Health Update: Thomas Wilson still seeking answers

After nearly 6 months off the pickleball pro tour, Thomas Wilson provided a health update. We hope to see him come back healthy next year.

🗳️ Vote: Pickleball is close to perfect but we want to know…

See The Whole Court Before Each Shot

Court vision is a skill in pickleball that is rarely talked about. Knowing where all four players are on the court and what shot will come next provides a huge advantage.

James Ignatowich breaks down how he can manipulate a point just by where he chooses to stand in a new video.

Court Position

• In this mixed doubles point, James positions himself in the middle of the court to play aggressively and put pressure on his opponents. By leaving his side of the court open, he invites his opponents to hit into the open court.

Reaction

• When James sees the ball headed to the open court he slides back into position to cover the shot. This sequence forces the opponent’s left-side player to cover the middle.

• Because James sees this shift ahead of time he comfortably counters the ball cross-court for the winner.

The court-awareness to see this unfolding is a skill that comes with experience. The sooner you start to look for these patterns, the sooner you can start to deploy them for yourself.

The Clock’s Ticking on Selkirk’s Cyber Week Deals!

Remember those Cyber Week deals from Selkirk we mentioned earlier this week? They’re still going strong, and if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to grab some gear, this is it.

What's today's deal? Get 15% off Selkirk's Pro S1 Pickleballs. Plus, take 30% off Selkirk's Core Line and Pro Line bags and backpacks, and save up to 50% on select pickleball apparel.

Don’t miss out; these deals are wrapping up soon. Head over to Selkirk’s holiday shop and snag these offers before they’re gone.

FBI Raids Home of Former Pickleball Rocks Owner Amid $50M Fraud Allegations

One of the most shocking stories in pickleball continues to unfold. On Wednesday, FBI agents raided the Indiana home of Rodney “Rocket” Grubbs, the former owner of Pickleball Rocks, who faces accusations of defrauding investors out of over $50 million through his pickleball company.

The Scandal at a Glance:

• Accusations: More than 300 investors, many of whom are pickleball enthusiasts, claim Grubbs owes them over $57 million.

• Promissory Notes: Grubbs raised funds by issuing $25,000 short-term notes with 12% interest, but a cease-and-desist order from Indiana authorities flagged the operation as unregistered and fraudulent.

• Bankruptcy: Grubbs filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, shuttered his store, and sold off gear at a loss to repay creditors.

• Defensive Claims: Grubbs denies wrongdoing, attributing financial issues to the pandemic and claiming he had every intention of repaying debts.

What’s Next?

The FBI is investigating potential federal crimes related to the alleged scheme. While no charges have been filed, the agency is seeking to identify victims.

Victims can report their experiences confidentially through a form on the FBI’s website.

This is a cautionary tale for the pickleball community. If you’re considering investments, always ensure they are legally registered and thoroughly vetted.

Spin Shots Just Got a Massive Upgrade

Mastering spin isn’t easy, especially if you don’t have a racquet sports background. But in high-level pickleball, spin is inescapable.

The best way to develop the correct touch is repetitions, thousands and thousands of repetitions. The kind of repetitions you’re not going to get in your local rec play.

Lucky for you, one of Pickleball’s original training tools received an upgrade. The SpinPro allows you to work on all types of spin at any height and at any angle.

How the SpinPro Works

1. Choose Your Shot: Move and rotate the hitting zone to suit your style.

2. Strike the Ball: Their guiding screen teaches you to generate topspin, sidespin, or slice, enhancing your spin capabilities. The ball quickly returns, allowing for hundreds of reps without retrieval. It's designed to withstand powerful hits, so feel free to hit as hard as on the court—or harder!

3. Repeat: To build muscle memory, practice the shot every day. SpinPro’s responsive ball mechanism supports 30–50 strokes per minute, speeding up your learning curve and improving your muscle memory.

4. Master High-Pressure Shots: Take your new skills to the court with confidence, ready to execute game-winning shots under any pressure.

Take your training to the next level with SpinPro.

Get a Grip on Proton's Best

Ever wondered what gives the pros their edge? It's not just skill—it's also about having the right gear. Proton’s series offers a paddle for every player.

Whether you’re a fan of the super soft touch of the Series 2 paddle, known for its gentle play and control, or the gritty, spin-friendly texture of the Series 3, designed to extend your dwell time and sharpen your game—Proton has your back. And let’s not forget the latest buzz, the Series 4 'Project Roadrunner,' which has been flying off the shelves for a reason.

So, head over to Pickleball Central, the only spot to snag these Proton exclusives. Use the code THEDINK to chop $25 off your purchase and score free shipping.

Gear up like a pro, play like a champ, and make every match count with a Proton in your hand.

Upset City in San Clemente

Things got a little heated under the lights in San Clemente last night. The Johns Bros let an 11-1, 5-1 lead slip away and were letting their frustrations show. Dekel Bar and Christian Alshon were the beneficiaries and secured a crucial pool play win.

Let’s take a quick look at the PPA Finals format. The eight players/teams in each division were divided into two pools, the Erne Pool and ATP Pool. They completed 2 out of 3 round-robin matches already and will finish pool play today. The top two teams in each pool will advance to the knockout stage on Saturday.

McGuffin Magic
Tyson McGuffin is getting it done in both singles and doubles in San Clemente. He’s 2-0 in singles and got a big win over long-time rival Ben Johns. In doubles, he and Andrei Daescu are 2-0 and have a shot at a one-seed heading into the semifinals.

Pisnik and Parris
In the women’s game, Tina Pisnik and Parris Todd lead the pack through two days. They’re 2-0 in the ATP Pool while Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher are 2-0 in the Erne Pool.

The dominant duo of Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau took a surprising loss to Jorja Johnson and Lacy Schneemann yesterday. They’ll need to regroup today to stay in contention for gold.

Duong Out with Injury
A lingering knee injury has forced Quang Duong out of the competition, he was replaced by Pablo Tellez.

The action resumes today at 1 pm ET on Pickleball TV. It is the final chance for players/teams to win their way into the semifinals. Find everything you need to know about the event here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• How Much Does it Cost to Build Your Own Pickleball Court?

• New Trending Technology Helping Pros with Recovery

• Top Southeast Colleges Set to Battle at APP’s Southeast Collegiate Regional

• PicklePod: “The Worst Two Weeks of My Life”

• ICYMI: Is It Better to Play With or Against the Wind According to Science?

Highlights

• Prepping for college pickleball 🪖

• How you know you’re feeling it 🔥

Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered

• Surprising Science Behind Playing with Wind

• Ben John’s teaches the shuffle drop

• Dink better while on the move

A review from the Dink Fam...

Share The Dink Newsletter, Get Rewards

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

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving 20% Off The Pickleball Box.

Copy & Paste this link: https://newsletter.thedinkpickleball.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

_{Want to advertise with us?}

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