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Happy Labor Day Weekend, Dink Fam. Before you sign off, know this: The pros are battling it out on the Las Vegas Strip, and Championship Court is looking ready for its close-up. One pro gives his tips for perfecting the offensive lob (hint: be a little ruthless). And a pickleball tattoo is making the rounds on Facebook.

All this and more, below, including an answer to the age-old question: Is switching paddles too often seriously hurting your game?

In This Issue:
— Zane Navratil reflects on tough MLP loss
— For a perfect lob, deception is key
— Calling all pickleball tattoos

Long weekend vibes.

This Sunday afternoon, Big City Pickle in Chicago’s Fulton Market will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind social pickleball experience. Food, drinks, games, and prizes — all in the spirit of meeting new people playing the sport we love. Tickets are on sale now and going fast.

With new models dropping all the time, paddle FOMO is very real, but probably best avoided. Take it from professional reviewers Pickleball Pursuit: “If you're looking for actual gains, and to get better, it's almost always better to just stick with a paddle that's just good enough.”

At just 18 years old, Anna Leigh Waters is focused on growing her personal brand and winning pro pickleball medals at a voracious clip. But when it does come time to settle down, she takes a more lighthearted approach: “What if he doesn’t like my floor plan?”

The PPA Tour is in full swing in Las Vegas and looking like it’s ready for its red carpet moment on the strip. We’ve got the full match schedule, plus analysis and predictions, in our event preview here.

News flash: You’re probably not lobbing enough.

Defensively, a high-arching, baseline-kissing sky-ball can bail you out of a variety of sticky situations. If nothing else, it gives you and your partner a precious extra second to regroup. But a killer offensive lob is where the magic really happens.

PPA Tour pro Eric Roddy isn’t afraid to air it out. Here are his tips for using the lob as an unexpected offensive weapon.

✅ Be sneaky: “Disguising a lob by making it initially look like a dink or a speed-up will keep your opponent guessing, or even better, will make them have no idea a lob is even coming.”

✅ Be deliberate: “If all four players are at the kitchen and the ball is coming to you, try to wait as long as possible before hitting the lob. This not only plays into deception, but it will keep your opponents on the kitchen line longer.”

✅ Be ruthless: “Find the less athletic opponent and use them as a target, aiming to hit the lob over their backhand shoulder.”

Might we also add: It’s just fun making your friends run laps around the court.

➡️ Get Roddy’s full lob tips.

If you’ve seen Parris Todd play, you know her game has personality—fast hands, clean drives, and plenty of style. Her new Franklin C45 Series paddle is built with the same energy.

It’s got the specs to back it up: a 13.25mm PowerFlex core for extra pop, a carbon fiber face for spin and control, and a double-thermoformed unibody frame that stays solid set after set.

But it’s not just about performance. And the looks? Metallic lilac, hot pink, and sky blue.

Parris helped design it to fit the modern game. Now it’s your turn to put it to work.

➡️ Preorders are open now, shipping 9/19.

Comfort is key. Looks are important, too. But have you ever bought a pickleball shoe based on how many hours it’ll last?

The brothers behind Montis Pickleball put years of R&D into their signature model, with one value proposition top of mind: They provide an average of 250 hours of rigorous play for just $109 per pair.

It all comes down to a dense and durable outsole. Combined with a partial sock liner, solid heel cup, and wider toe box, the Drop 1.0 offers the type of foot lockdown necessary for the lateral demands of competitive pickleball.

“The quality of our products is on par with the absolute best of what's out there from the big tennis brands that have been doing this for 100 years,” they say.

➡️ See for yourself: Read the Montis story.

A member of the Pickleball Forum Facebook Group posted her fresh pickleball ink, much to the approval of the members.

“I got my first and only tattoo in my 40s and I absolutely love it! I'm thinking of getting a second one,” she said.

We’re digging the minimalist aesthetic and pop of color with the heart. And it got us thinking: Who among our hundreds of thousands of newsletter readers has a pickleball tattoo they’re just as proud of?

Leave a review below and let us know — or send them to our editor, [email protected]. We’ll share the best ones in a future issue.

Labor Day’s not just about the cookout. It’s about slowing down, enjoying the extra day, and maybe riding somewhere new. The Velotric Discover 2 eBike makes it easy.

Comfortable enough for everyday rides, powerful enough to take you 75 miles without breaking a sweat. Whether it’s to the courts, the park, or just around the neighborhood, it’s built to turn a simple ride into the best part of your day.

➡️ See the Discover 2 here.

For the second year in a row, the New Jersey 5s fell in the Major League Pickleball Finals, losing a three-match spectacle to the improbable Columbus Sliders.

From a parking lot in Pennsylvania, team captain Zane Navratil reflected on the loss.

“There’s not much else to call what the Columbus Sliders did than an incredible Cinderella run,” he said. “A run like this is never going to be done for a very, very long time.”

Ultimately, the 5s had a game plan and it just didn’t work. But, says Zane, they’ll be back better and stronger than ever.

“The Columbus Sliders just proved they were the grittiest team in Major League Pickleball,” he said. “They 100% deserved the win.”

➡️ Hear more from Zane, including his take on on-court trash talk, Anna Leigh’s MLB first pitch, and listener questions.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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