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Before you sign off for the weekend, buckle up. We’ve got a new, top-secret power paddle debuting soon from Selkirk. The curious case of an “Anna Leigh Waters” Google Search. And the formation of a new—and contested—players association within pro pickleball.

Plus, a No. 1 ranked pro describes the minor mental shift that translated to major results on court.

In This Issue:
— Pros form ‘World Pickleball Players Association’
— The power of learning from your losses
— Anna Leigh Waters: ‘Internet Personality’

Get your mind right.

Zane Navratil and Erik Tice both agree that playing pro pickleball in iconic venues like Central Park in NYC or the Fontainebleau Hotel in Las Vegas is great for the sport. Not so great? The current state of roll-out courts. From bad bounces to preventable injuries, “we’re playing with fire,” says Zane.

Ben Johns made his highly anticipated debut for the LA Mad Drops at MLP Dallas, just days after his historic trade from Carolina. LA swept the NY Hustlers 4-0 behind a casual yet dominant performance from Johns. Next up: The St. Louis Shock.

Our guy Zane Navratil threw out the first pitch at a recent Milwaukee Brewers game, putting pro pickleball on the map (and the mound) in front of a buzzing crowd. Yes, he one-hopped it. But we give full marks for slinging it full-speed.

We recently took a trip to Idaho for a clandestine meeting of pickleball’s brightest minds, all gathered at Selkirk headquarters to behold their highly anticipated new power paddle, the Boomstik, which debuts this summer. It hits like a truck and sounds like a gunshot. And so far, we’re feeling it.

To get in the right headspace heading into the weekend, let’s focus on upping our mental game today, shall we?

We’ve all experienced the paradox of pressure on the court. In rec games or even just warmups, it’s easy to play light and free and with a mental clarity that makes every point, win or loss, a delight.

But as soon as there are stakes involved, say you enter a tournament or just put a friendly wager on a match, your shots get tighter. Drops start falling short. Drives lack oomph. Your unforced error count begins to climb.

No. 1 ranked APP pro Jack Munro has been there. He grinded for years, obsessed with winning, before a small mental shift changed everything: Jack stopped stressing about results and instead realized that learning comes from your losses.

When you win, you just move on. But a loss sticks with you. If you take a few minutes to analyze where you went wrong, you’ll grow more as a player. And you’ll be less likely to make the same mistakes next time out.

And guess what? Shifting your mentality from results to growth takes the pressure off. Which means you can go back to enjoying the game you love rather than stressing about every point.

👉 Watch Jack’s full video.

There’s something pretty great about feeling like you’re moving without the usual effort.

The Discover 2 eBike from Velotric makes that happen. It's comfortable, quiet, and fast. Up to 75 miles on a single charge and a top speed of 28 mph. It’s their best-selling ride for a reason.

Whether you're cruising to the store, the courts, or just out for a loop, it gives you that little spark to keep moving without pushing too hard.

We’re fans. You might be too.

The goal of The Dink Minor League Pickleball has always been to bring the best amateur talent from every state, country, and tour.

Today, that got a whole lot easier. We’ve officially partnered with State Pro Leagues and The National Junior Pickleball Tour to give the most talented, committed, and high-level amateur players in the U.S. better access to bigger stages.

Top performers from each sanctioned State Pro League will automatically qualify for the DUPR 22 division at The Dink MiLP National Championship, where they’ll face off against other elite teams from across the country.

Current Sanctioned State Pro Leagues:

👉 LEARN MORE

If you run a pro league and want to join this growing network, DUPR and The Dink Minor League Pickleball are actively expanding the sanctioned roster.

To apply or learn more, reach out: [email protected]

Google “Caitlin Clark” and the first descriptor that pops up makes sense: “American Basketball Player.” Sydney Sweeney is an “American Actress.” Sure thing.

Now Google “Anna Leigh Waters.” Go ahead. We’ll wait.

The headline under her name isn’t “Professional Pickleball Player” or “Stone-Cold Badass.” Nope, she’s just a run-of-the-mill “Internet Personality.” Which seems to apply to just about anyone with a social media handle these days.

The gall. We’re not sure who’s in charge of Google these days, but someone needs to make this right, and fast. Our only consolation is Ben Johns is treated with the same utter lack of respect.

Seems like the folks at Big Internet need to get their heads out of their computers and onto a pickleball court for a change.

You know when something just feels right? These do.

The Apex Pro Compression Shorts from MUEV are the kind you throw on once and suddenly need in every color. The black’s a no-brainer. The grey and citron? Strong contenders.

We’d tell you how to finish the look, but it's better if you see for yourself. MUEV's got shirts that pull it all together.

Use code THEDINK for 20% off your order.

A group of current UPA pros have organized to form the World Pickleball Players Association, in what they’re calling the first such player advocacy group in the sport’s modern history.

Led by Tina Pisnik and Collin Johns, the WPPA will focus on a number of priorities, including the health and safety of pro players as well as increased transparency when it comes to scheduling, compensation, and more.

“Our priority is to protect player interests and provide a unified, independent voice,” Johns said in a release. “We look forward to working collaboratively with tour leadership wherever possible.”

The WPPA consists of seven founding members:

But hold on just one second…

The UPA, for its part, does not recognize the authority of the WPPA, instead positioning its own Pro Player Committee as “the official and exclusive player representation body recognized by the UPA.”

Zane Navratil today was elected as the PPC’s president. Other notable members include Anna Leigh Waters, Federico Staksrud, Jorja Johnson, Matt Wright and Catherine Parenteau.

Without naming names, the UPA made it clear where it stands on the WPPA: “The UPA confirms that this committee is the only formally acknowledged and authorized voice of its athlete base.”

👉 Read the full article.

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