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The Copa América Final was the hottest ticket in sports over the weekend. So hot that thousands of fans without tickets forcibly attempted to enter Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida via a security breach.

Meanwhile, in Grand Rapids, fans were climbing over each other to get a glimpse of Championship Court. It was standing room only at the Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament Finals, and even that space was hard to come by. More on the exciting MLP weekend below.

We have a theory we want to put to the test...

In This Issue:

🧠 The smart way to open your opponent’s weakness
🤡 Mid-Season Champions crowned
⛳️ Pickleball bounces golf off the course

Fore.

Target Your Opponent's Strength

APP Tour and PPA Tour gold medalist Chris Haworth is the special guest on this week’s episode of PicklePod. Last month, Chris collected monumental wins over the top two players in the world, Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud.

In his conversation with co-hosts Thomas Shields and Zane Navratil, Chris explains a strategy that he swears by and is surprised that most people don’t implement it.

He says that 95 percent of the time he returns the serve to his opponent’s strength … not their weakness. But why?

By moving an opponent toward their strong side of the court, it opens up space to hit the ball to their weak side. He uses the fourth ball to exploit their weak side more effectively.

Chris gives an example involving Tyson McGuffin, who will typically run around a backhand to hit an inside-out forehand. McGuffin is more dangerous with the inside-out forehand than just a regular forehand from his strong side.

In Chris’ eyes, it is safer to return to McGuffin’s forehand then target the backhand on the next shot.

The Same is True for Doubles
Chris and Zane also discuss how the concept is beneficial in doubles. Instead of hitting every ball to an opponent’s weakness, it can be more effective to hit a ball to their strong side as a setup for the next ball.

Listen to what Zane and Chris have to say in this week’s episode.

Need a Style Assist Off the Court?

Ladies, ever notice the pickleball guys in your life could use a little nudge in their off-court style? Well, you’re in luck because Selkirk’s latest Owen collection is here to save the day (and maybe their wardrobe too).

They’ve got a lineup that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. The collection includes standout blue and green short-sleeve button-downs, perfect with the Bueller hybrid shorts for anything from a laid-back brunch to a day at the beach.

And that’s just the beginning—they've got plenty more options to choose from. Feel free to explore the rest of the Owen collection right here. and find the perfect pieces to elevate their leisure look this season.

The New Jersey 5s are Mid-Season Champions

You could not have drawn it up better. A Championship match that goes back and forth, blow for blow, and ends in a tiebreaker. That is exactly what we got at the Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament yesterday.

Down to the Wire
The New Jersey 5s and D.C. PIckleball Team matched up perfectly in the Mid-Season Finals. The teams traded games, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, and finally 2-2, setting up the singles Dreambreaker.

Again, no team could find an edge with the score tied at 10, 14, and 18. At 18-18, Zane Navratil and James Ignatowich took the court to decide the match.

Former MLP Champ, Zane Navratil, is not who you want to see across the net in a clutch moment. Navratil rattled off three straight points to bring home the title for The 5s.

D.C. Outperforms the Odds
The D.C. team entered the event as the No. 5 seed. They were the only team in the semifinals not to have a bye. The team swapped Allyce Jones for Vivian Glozman prior to the event and knocked off the top-seeded St Louis Shock on their way to the final.

Challenger Results: Quad Aces
A recent roster move for the Brooklyn Aces also helped propel them at the Mid-Season Tournament. The squad paid up to snag Pablo Tellez from the Texas Ranchers back in June. Tellez led the Aces to a Challenger Level Title yesterday.

Let the record show that our professional pickleball reporter Erik Tice not only correctly predicted a New Jersey 5s victory in his bracket before the tournament, but he had the Brooklyn Aces taking the Challenger Level as well.

Trading Golf for Pickleball

The golf course used to be the place where deals were sealed in the corporate world. The links were an ideal setting for business meetings and client entertainment.

However, Bloomberg reports that pickleball is emerging as a popular alternative, offering time and cost savings while being more inclusive and easier for beginners.

Bloomberg says several clubs across the country have reported a huge surge in corporate outings and significant increases in booking inquiries. One club claims they receive 10-20 requests per week. The key reasons behind the spike in business-related court bookings?

• Pickleball is less intimidating for beginners

• Pickleball costs less and is more diverse

• Pickleball takes less time to play

Compare a round of golf to a match in pickleball. Eighteen holes will put 4 people on the course for 4-5 hours and cost at least a few hundred dollars.

Whereas a best-of-three match in pickleball can be played in under an hour and costs all of $15-30 bucks to rent the court.

It is easy to see why pickleball is making headway in the corporate world. With the creation of more venues offering predictable and reserved indoor play, the trend will likely continue in favor of pickleball.

However, not every business deal on the pickleball court will have a positive outcome.

Light Up the Night

For all our night owl players, you know just how crucial good lighting can be. Ever lost a point due to that one dim corner or a flickering bulb? Well, those days are about to be over.

Meet Tweener: a straightforward, innovative LED lighting solution tailored for pickleball and tennis courts. What really makes Tweener stand out is how easy it is to set up. These lights are mounted right onto your existing fence posts, avoiding the complications and costs typically associated with high mast lighting — no need for heavy construction or lengthy building permit approvals.

Plus, here's something to think about: Tweener's setup costs about half as much as traditional systems. This makes it an affordable option for local clubs and home courts, particularly where there are tight rules about light height or spillage.

So, next time you're rallying under the stars, make sure you're doing it under the best lights in the game.

Chris Haworth’s Winning Singles Strategy

You’re going to have a new favorite player after you listen to the latest PicklePod. Despite having wins over the top players in the world, Chris Haworth is humble and hungry in his pickleball journey.

Haworth shares his road to becoming one of the best singles players in the game and what he is focusing on to become one of the best doubles players as well. Watch the full episode here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• ‘Bangers’ aren't going anywhere, so here's how to beat them

• Meet Rosie Johanson, the UVA Tennis Star Turned Pickleball Singles Threat

• A Complete Listing of The Dink Minor League Pickleball Events in August

• ICYMI: Travis Rettenmaier and the worst line call you’ll ever see

Highlights

• They brought the wrong paddle 🛶

• Would you say sorry? 🤝

• Could do this all day ⏳

A review from the Dink Fam...

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