Do referees have a raw deal?

Do referees have a raw deal?

September 06, 2024

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s officially football season. Last night’s game between the Chiefs and Ravens game ended on a touchdown catch that was reversed to an incompletion after instant replay.

A camera view down the line captured the toe of Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely come down out of bounds as he landed in the end zone.

The Chiefs escaped with their first win of the year and a greater appreciation for instant replay. Pickleball fans are excited and referees are relieved for a new look at the pro game with Close Call Replay technology starting this month.

In This Issue:

🏆 Hall of Fame Class of 2024
🎯 Choose your target wisely
🎙️Catch a new PicklePod out now

It’s a game of inches.

Our Picks ☝️

 📰 News: Going Out With a Bang

Donald Young’s unbelievable run at this year’s tennis U.S. Open ended one win short of a championship. He and Taylor Townsend lost in the mixed doubles final yesterday. It would have been a storybook ending for Young to win a title in his last tennis event, but for now, it’s back to the PPA and MLP for DY.

🤔 Imagine: Hey Now, You’re an All-Star

Nearly every American sport has an All-Star event. The major sports leagues – NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS – all have All-Star events. Is it time to add one in pickleball?

Competitions could include fastest serve, most consistent drop, hardest overhead and more. As for the game itself, it’s a great opportunity to incorporate new variables like wooden paddles or extended net posts. What skills challenge would you want to see in a PB All-Star event?

💬 Quote: “I Very Rarely Play Tennis Now”

“I play a lot of pickleball. I love it. I realized there aren't so many players to play (tennis) with for me to feel like I'm really going to push myself … I'm not getting any better at tennis. I can still get better at pickleball because I just picked it up. So it's fun, fun for me to get better at something.” - American tennis great James Blake on a recent podcast

📹️ Video: Worth the Wait?

Think you’ve got it bad trying to find court time? Try waiting 90 minutes to play one game. The views at these courts are incredible, but everybody wants a turn. You might have a shorter wait to ride Space Mountain during summer vacation.

Choose Your Target Wisely

Not a real video game

Where should you attack an opponent who is standing at the kitchen line? You're not wrong if you said the hip, shoulder, or right at their chest. But you’re also only half right.

The correct answer lies in your opponent’s paddle position. Here’s a quick breakdown of common paddle positions and where to aim your attack to be most effective.

Opponent’s Paddle = Backhand Heavy 

Many players lean toward their backhand to cover more of their body. However, this makes them vulnerable to forehand-side attacks. Target these areas:

- Big target: Anywhere on their forehand side

- Precise target: Their forehand-side armpit or shoulder

The problem with sitting backhand heavy is that your opponents can force you into a “chicken-wing” position that causes weak counterattacks.

Opponent’s Paddle = Low or Close to the Hip 

Players who hold their paddle low and close to the hip are especially vulnerable to high-speed shots. To capitalize, aim for:

- Big target: Chest

- Precise target: Backhand-side chest or shoulder

Hitting high forces them to raise their paddle, making it difficult to defend effectively.

Opponent’s Paddle = Out in Front, Neutral 

Players are less vulnerable when they hold their paddle in a neutral, ready position. Instead of a speed-up, try hitting aggressive dinks to force them to lower their paddle. If they fail to bring it back up, you’ll have an opening for a later attack.

Otherwise, consider attacking their partner or choosing your attacking shots against this person wisely.

There’s Something for Everyone

Selkirk recently dropped a bunch of new paddles in their SLK line, and they're looking pretty nice!

Let’s dive into a few of their paddles, starting off with the SLK HALO. They introduced the SLK HALO Pro paddle and it features a Patent-Pending Carbon Fiber Kevlar LinkWeave technology, designed to give you superior spin.

The EVO series got a major upgrade with a T700 CarbonFusion Carbon Fiber surface. This one is ideal for advanced players who want to take their game to the next level. And their OMEGA Hybrid Air paddle has an edgeless, open-throat design for faster swings and a perfect combo of power and control.

These are just a taste of what the new SLK line has to offer. There are four more paddles waiting to be explored! Check out the rest of the SLK series and evolve your pickleball game now!

Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Before Anna Leigh Waters was Anna Leigh Waters, there was Simone Jardim. Before Ben Johns took over the men’s game, it belonged to Kyle Yates. These two legends of the game and an accomplished off-court contributor will have their efforts recognized by being inducted into Pickleball Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Simone Jardim
Jardim was the original triple crown queen. She and Ben Johns were the automatic triple crown pick at any tournament between 2019-2021. Jardim has racked up medals at the U.S. Open, USAP National Championships, the PPA Tour and still owns the APP Tour’s all-time women’s gold medal record. She is still actively competing and won Silver at the APP Chicago Open last week.

Kyle Yates
At just 29, Yates becomes the youngest member of the Hall of Fame. He was a force on the pro scene in the 2010’s and won titles at the U.S. Open, the Tournament of Champions, and the USAP National Championships.

In 2018, Yates was ranked as the No. 1 player by the World Pickleball Federation. He is still actively competing at the pro level and was drafted to play in MLP Australia. Yates’ influence on the game can be easily recognized with his own trick shot known as the ‘Kyle.”

John Gullo (Contributor)
John is widely recognized as a pickleball ambassador in Northern Utah and for founding the Tournament of Champions, the first tournament to offer substantial prize money for professional players.

Beyond the tournament, Gullo played a pivotal role in bringing pickleball to 10 Utah cities, resulting in over 360 active courts in Northern Utah today. Through his American Dream Foundation, Gullo also encouraged youth participation by donating over $25,000 in scholarships for Junior events at the Tournament of Champions.

Simone Jardim, Kyle Yates, and John Gullo will be inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame on November 14th in Mesa, Arizona.

Pickleball’s Unsung Heroes

Much like the legends of the game above, pickleball wouldn’t be where it is today without a different group of people — referees.

Referees are a vital part of all major sports but are often the most underappreciated aspect. That holds especially true in pickleball.

Between countless hours standing in the hot sun to convincing “competitors” that they did in fact step on the kitchen line, the job of referees is not an easy one. And what do they get for their trouble? Until recently, most certified referees would earn $20/match or less.

Conditions are improving thanks to advancements in the professional ranks, but for now, most refs still volunteer their time or lose money to help make competitive pickleball possible.

Our Erik Tice spoke with the two people responsible for the referees in Major League Pickleball and on the APP Tour to better understand who they are and what type of training they receive. It might even convince you to try to become certified!

Unique Investment Opportunity: Whiskey Casks

Here’s an investment opportunity you didn’t know you were missing - whiskey casks.

But where to start?

Try Vinovest.

Vinovest differentiates its whiskey investing platform through strategic sourcing and market analysis. With Vinovest, you can invest in Scotch, American, and Irish whiskey casks, providing diverse and flexible exit options.

Vinovest’s team targets high-growth markets and caters to a range of buyers, from collectors to brands using casks for cocktails. This approach not only enhances your liquidity, but also increases your portfolio’s resilience against market fluctuations. Discover how Vinovest’s innovative strategy sets it apart from competitors.

Show Me an Illegal Serve, Win $20

Zane challenged the PicklePod audience to capture a screenshot of an illegal serve from Dekel Bar from last week’s PPA Las Vegas Cup. The submissions are already rolling in on social media.

Special guest Matty Pickles stopped by the PicklePod this week to share his experience at the PPA Las Vegas Cup. We play “Guess My DUPR” and debate if there is a new top team in men’s doubles. Catch the premiere here.

Headlines & Quick Hits

Highlights

Miss a recent issue? We've got you covered

A review from the Dink Fam...

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Share The Dink Newsletter, Get Rewards

Share the best newsletter in pickleball with your friends and we’ll give you free stuff. What’s not to like?

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving 20% Off The Pickleball Box.

Copy & Paste this link: https://newsletter.thedinkpickleball.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Want to advertise with us?

If your company is interested in reaching an audience of active pickleballers, you may want to give us a shout.

Reply

or to participate.