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We all plan to be playing pickleball well into our 80’s. The game keeps us young and challenges our brains in ways that other activities can’t.

The real hope is not only to be playing at 80, but also crushing the ball like Anita here. It looks like she’s been putting whippersnappers in their place since 2013.

We’re just about two weeks out from the Aloha Pickleball Showdown in Austin, TX. Registration closes soon. Register here.

In This Issue:

⚖️ Mayhem on the MLP Waiver Wire
💉 Pickleball’s juiced era
↕️ Playground game turned pickleball strategy
 

Okay Monday, let’s do this.

The Seesaw Effect

Need an easy way to stop playing out balls? Follow this new concept called ’The Seesaw Effect’ from Shea Underwood and Caleb Cousins.

It basically says that as you move from the baseline to the kitchen line, your paddle’s ready position should move from low to high.

You can assume that any ball that is hit above your paddle, with pace, will be going out.

When you’re in the transition zone, it can be hard to tell which ball is going to land in. As long as your paddle is in the right ready position, you shouldn’t need to lift it any higher unless you’re going on the attack.

One of the hardest shots in the game is resetting a ball from the transition zone into the kitchen. By understanding which ball is going out, you can avoid having to hit that high-difficulty shot.

Whether you adhere to The Seesaw Effect or the chest-high, let-it-fly doctrine, just remember that we all need to start letting more out balls actually go out. Keeping them in play only makes your job harder and gives your opponent free rein to unload on their next drive or speedup.

Never Drop the Ball

Does your game lose steam as the match drags on? It might not be your energy dipping—it could be your paddle not keeping up. With the Selkirk Vanguard Control, you'll maintain peak performance throughout the entire match.

This isn’t just any paddle—it’s a game enhancer. Built with a QuadCarbon Face and a solid PolyCore interior, the Vanguard Control Invikta is like the secret sauce for your swing, giving you that perfect blend of power and finesse. Whether you’re driving hard or dinking softly, this paddle keeps your game tight from start to finish.

And since we all appreciate a great deal, here’s one for you: when you pick up the Vanguard Control—or any Selkirk paddle—you’ll save $115 on any SLK OMEGA. Just use the code TrustInSelkirk at checkout to snag this deal.

Swing by and check out the Vanguard Control Invikta. It might just be your new best friend—no offense to your doubles partner.

A Good Reward for a Bad Start

There’s no doubt that last year’s Tour Wars had a significant impact on Major League Pickleball. Player contracts ranged from multi-millions to tens of thousands.

The uncertainties within those contracts led to some players choosing to sit out altogether. Fast forward to MLP waiver’s period last week, and five major women’s players are back in the mix and a ton of moves have been made at the Challenger Level.

• CA Black Bears - Select: Susannah Barr, Waive: Emily Cederquist

• Chicago Slice - Select: Megan Fudge, Waive: Kelsey Grambeau

• Miami PB Club - Select: Bobbi Oshiro, Waive: Rianna Valdes

• Florida Smash - Select: Yates Johnson, Waive: Pat Smith

• Bay Area Breakers - Select: Jill Braverman, Waive: Rachel Rettger

• SoCal Hard 8’s - Select: Yana Newell, Waive: Christine Maddox

• CA Black Bears - Select: Brandon French, Waive: DJ Young

• Miami PB Club - Select: Noe Khlif, Waive: Roscoe Bellamy

• Bay Area Breakers - Select: DJ Young, Select: Patrick Kawka

This is obviously a huge shake-up for the Challenger Level and is heavily influenced by an influx of APP talent that previously chose to sit out MLP. The question is, is it fair? Is it fair to have this level of talent enter the league midseason?

Any teams that had a slow start at the first two MLP events were handsomely rewarded with top-level talent in the first Waiver Period. Chalk it up to luck, or just good timing.

One thing is for sure, the Challenger Level just got turned upside down. Read more about the impact of these selections here and catch up on anything you might have missed from the Premier Level waiver moves from last week.

Travis Takes On the State of Paddles

If you were a baseball fan back in 1998 you saw one of, if not, the most exciting MLB seasons in the history of the game. It wasn’t because of competitive games or great playoff series — the Yankees actually swept the Padres in the World Series.

What captured America’s attention was the home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. Of course, after lengthy investigations, most of the records surrounding the campaign are now accompanied by an asterisk.

Travis Rettenmaier took to Instagram to ask if this era of pickleball deserves an asterisk of its own. The controversy around the Gen3 and other ‘juiced’ paddles makes you question if any titles won with these paddles should have an asterisk.

Rettenmaier says: “The advantage is about as substantial as I’ve ever seen in sports” and “It’s tough to tell if a player is really good, or if they have a great paddle.”

His post also mentions that the problem has not gone away. Some players have switched to using “alpha,” which is believed to be an earlier version of the Gen 3 paddle that uses the same technology. The post reiterates, “This is certainly not a level playing field,” and Rettenmaier predicts major changes coming in the next 12 months.

See the Difference

Now that we've got you set up with the Selkirk Vanguard Control paddle, let’s talk about the other essential—the ball. You can't start a game without one, so why not ball out with the Pro S1 Pickleball?

The Pro S1 is no ordinary pickleball—it’s built to last and perform. Made with a tough elastomer material, it features a patented 38-hole pattern that ensures accurate flight and reliable bounce on any court surface. Its vibrant colors keep your focus locked in, and thanks to its sturdy build, they’re backing it with a 1-year no-crack warranty.

Grab the Pro S1 Pickleball from Selkirk today and experience a difference you can feel—and see.

Rumors That Might Change Pickleball Forever

The pickleball world could look a lot different in 2025. Rumors have begun to swirl about a potential new paddle certification process under the UPA's new 501c3 USA Pickleball competitor, the UPA-A. If the rumors have any truth to them, could they lead to consumers paying even more for paddles?

Thomas and Zane debate who won last week’s MLP trade frenzy and share the details from a visit to Proton HQ. Catch the new episode here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• Don’t miss out on The Dink’s Aloha Pickleball Showdown

• Big Moves: Proton Signs Wave of Top Pros

• A Look at the PPA Tour Points Race at the midway point

• A Listing of The Dink Minor League Pickleball Events in July

• An Inside look at the St. Louis Shock, MLP’s gold standard

Highlights

• Get cutthroat when your fourth cancels 🔪

• What your sign says about your game ♎️

• A reset machine 🤖

• It just makes sense 🧠

A review from the Dink Fam...

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