Happy Friday. Now that pro pickle is winding down for the year, we recognize that it’s on us to fill the gap. We can’t play like ALW or Ben Johns, but we can use words to entertain you.

And what’s more entertaining than a quick round of trivia?

Have you ever filmed yourself fail in pickleball? We want your funniest clips. Send ‘em here.

In This Issue:
 
🤯 Hard mode drill
⭐ Lone Star’s mighty need
🏟️ Pickleball is stadium-worthy

Onward.

We are stunned by the reaction to the launch of The Pickleball Box. We knew pickleballers would like this…but man, it’s clear we should have launched this way sooner. You’ll need to act fast if you want to receive the first box before the holidays.

Pickleball's HARDEST Dinking Drill

When I fell in love with pickleball, I vowed to never pick up a tennis racket again. I downloaded every episode of the Tennis Sucks podcast and turned all the fuzzy balls in my garage into dog toys.

Now some guy named Zane Navratil wants me to break my vow to improve my dink game. Sounds like a hoax to me.

In a new video, Zane demonstrates how drilling with a tennis racket can help build good habits on the pickleball court.

The strings of a tennis racket launch the ball in comparison to a typical paddle. This makes it hard to control your dinks and keep the ball unattackable.

Using such an oversized weapon forces you to use good fundamentals to control the ball. That means:

• Eliminate the backswing 

• Loosen the grip

• Steady the wrist

These three components alone will add consistency to your game. Dust off the old racket and watch Zane explain the drill here.

Just a Tap Away

Tired of searching for the perfect pickleball court? Dive into hassle-free court rentals with Swimply!

Whether you’re planning a pickleball party or a friendly game, Swimply connects you to private courts in your vicinity. Simply download the app, pick a court, and you’re set. Beautiful backyard pickleball courts are just a tap away!

Don’t let court hunts sideline you. Explore Swimply now on their website or in the app store. Escape locally with Swimply.

Texas in Need

Earlier this year, the pickleball statisticians at The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) found that pickleball needs $900mil in court construction costs to keep up with demand. 

Well, if that number is still accurate, then about 10% of that cost will need to go straight to Texas.

SFIA’s new State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report finds incredible demand there.

According to their findings:

• Texas will need to build 2,527 courts at a project cost of $88.5 million to keep up with demand over the next 5-7 years

• Texas has 0.55 dedicated pickleball courts per 10,000 people, which is 55% below average

• Texas ranks 44th in the nation by dedicated court coverage per 10,000 people

There you have it, Lone Star State. Better get building…but please, factor proper zoning into your plans.

Pickleball Mecca has Arrived

If tennis has stadiums, why can’t pickleball? – Totally the logic behind the sport’s latest “first” in Fort Lauderdale. 

Aptly named, “The Fort,” this soon-to-be South Florida destination will serve as a gathering place for eating, drinking, playing pickleball, and – importantly – observing the sport from above.

Featuring 43 professional courts and the world's first pickleball stadium, The Fort will open to both casual and competitive players with open and reserved play, clinics, leagues, tournaments, pro shop, and a recovery center. 

If you’re local, you’ll likely also catch the pros training there, too. 

But what if you don’t live nearby? Consider the local economic impact of a facility like this. The city says The Fort will bring over 100 jobs to the area, so time to start writing to your local planning committee.

The Next Chapter

Welcome to the game-changing Franklin FS Tour Series, featuring the Tempo and Dynasty paddles – your new secret weapons on the pickleball court!

The FS Tour Series paddles combine a sleek, thermoformed unibody frame and T700 carbon fiber surface for controlled touch and killer spin.

Their perforated, textured grip with raised fingerpad inlays ensures a comfortable, firm hold, while optimized swing and twist weight enhance your technique.

The paddle that won nationals is just a click away. Check out the FS Tour Series and start playing like a pro!

Anna Bright Renames Tennis Sucks Pod

Anna Bright is the guest on an all-new Tennis Sucks podcast. She reveals that she is the mastermind behind for the Orlando Squeeze MLP draft strategy and the selection of Rachel Rohrabacher.

Anna and Graham share their frustrations with a paddle that passed testing one day and then failed the next. Plus they cap things off with some good old-fashioned Travis Rettenmaier trash talk.

Watch the episode here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• Experience pro-level flight and control

• Which city will win a Picklr facility? Time to vote

• Is this the Best Pickleball Gift Ever?

• 4 plays you and your partner should be running

• ICYMI: Collin Johns on Julian Arnold: 'Blowhard Bully'

Highlights

• He made that tweener look way too easy

• Incredible save on match point

• Jay was sitting on it

• How was this legal? 😮

• Are you a paddle tapper or do you just move on to the next point?

Homecourt Havens

When it comes to homecourts, no one does it better than AZ. If you or you neighbor don’t have a court already, chances are you will soon.

Rent incredible homecourts like this with Swimply.

A review from the Dink Fam...