Imagine you’re told you’re about to spend 2024 regularly working out of one city. But you don’t know what city that is yet, and it’s already mid-December.

That’s the situation pro pickleball players are facing right now after MLP’s latest effort to kickstart their financial situation heading into the new year. More on that below.

Thomas here, it would mean a ton to us if you followed our new Instagram account.

Unfortunately, our previous accounts have been repeatedly attacked by bad actors, and have been suspended as a result. As we work through this, please follow us here. Over and out.

In This Issue:
 
🔪 The art of the slice dink
💸 Creative fundraising at MLP
🧦 The partnership to watch in 2024

Let’s go.

We are stunned by the reaction to the launch of The Pickleball Box. We knew pickleballers would like this…but man, it’s clear we should have launched this way sooner. You’ll need to act fast if you want to receive the first box before the holidays.

The Art of Cut and Slice

Watching dink battles can feel like watching paint dry. Two players trading unattackable shots are unlikely to make any highlight reel.

But for the players on the court, there is more at play than meets the eye. The speed, depth, and spin of each shot must be finely tuned.

One of the first dink variations you should learn is one that is prominent at every level, the slice dink.

Selkirk Pro Dominic Catalano explains The Art of Cut and Slice in a new video.

The slice dink requires a simplistic stroke:

• Everything starts at your shoulder, which should serve as a pendulum without requiring action from the elbow or wrist

• A slightly open paddle face and push motion through the paddle will create the backspin that makes this shot effective

Catalano favors this shot at the kitchen line because he is able to use the width of the court with less threat of an ATP.

According to Catalano, "When we put that backhand cut or slice on it, the ball is going to act almost like a golf ball with backspin on it. It is going to check-up a little bit and not go too wide."

This allows you to be aggressive while dinking but still limit your risk of giving up an ATP. Read more on the slice dink and more dink combinations here.

Just a Tap Away

Tired of searching for the perfect pickleball court? Dive into hassle-free court rentals with Swimply!

Whether you’re planning a pickleball party or a friendly game, Swimply connects you to private courts in your vicinity. Simply download the app, pick a court, and you’re set. Beautiful backyard pickleball courts are just a tap away!

Don’t let court hunts sideline you. Explore Swimply now on their website or in the app store. Escape locally with Swimply.

Premier Level For Sale

This weekend, BLQK Bears GM Jimmy Miller dropped a bombshell:

So, just to recap, that means…

• The previous plan re: eliminating Premier & Challenger in favor of one 24-team league is kaput

• MLP was able to creatively raise funds quickly before the start of the next season – something we can only assume was weighing heavy on their board of executives

We know you likely have lots of questions. We’ve attempted to answer them in our blog, but here’s some added context:

• Another expense for investors: It seems safe to assume that if a return comes for the league’s investors, it’ll likely come first for the Premier teams. Their matches are seen as the “main event” at each MLP tour stop.

• Earning over buying: The league has plans for a promotion and relegation process that will allow teams to earn their way into the Premier Level for free. Teams that are confident they can win at the Challenger Level will have just saved thousands in bidding expenses.

It’s clear that MLP executives have a lot of work to do. Each player will likely spend a good chunk of their year in the city of their MLP team.

With less than a month until the new year, players have no idea which city they will be based in.

We’ll keep you posted, naturally.

Art on the Courts

Miami is where pickleball and art come together.

The Miami Pickleball Club made an appearance at the Scope Art Show — featuring special guest Nick Kyrgios, who told the crowd he’ll eventually play pickle once he puts down the tennis racket.

There’s pickleball by the beach, but this colorful court was literally on Miami Beach, a fitting venue for its the event’s bright pink theme.

Meanwhile, the Art Basel venue paired attendees with an immersive experience on the courts, which were provided by FlexCourt and staffed by pros from Ace Pickleball Club.

They offered pickleballers a place to play against a backdrop of large black-and-white images from French artist JR.

Pickleball Anytime, Anywhere

Experience the court at your table with Pickleball Smash! It's more than a card game – it's your all-access pass to pickleball fun whenever, wherever.

Perfect for 2-4 players, Pickleball Smash is easy to learn, quick to play, and packed with the same excitement as the real game. Whether you're a pickleball pro or just getting started, this game is a total smash for all ages.

Ideal for holiday gifting or as a treat for yourself, it's the best way to keep the pickleball spirit alive anytime, anywhere. Don't miss out on the fun – check out Pickleball Smash now and let the games begin!

A Team to Watch Next Year

This pair is going all in: Selkirk announced Jack Sock and Catherine Parenteau are teaming up in mixed doubles for the entire 2024 PPA schedule.

Let’s break down this partnership.

Jack has:

• A monster forehand drive

• Crazy put away power at the kitchen

• The ability to move around his backhand dink to make it a forehand (we will see if he continues that or if he has developed a serviceable backhand dink)

Catherine has:

• A lot of power from both sides, but some of the best defense in the game

• Steadiness and experience (that Sock doesn’t have yet)

• A great coach who’s good at picking up on little things to fix and target

Will they beat ALW and Ben Johns in the new year? We’re not sure, but we’ll be on the edge our seat during those matches.

Only 1 spot left…

Semi-Final #1 between the Peoria Pythons and the Tempe Tornadoes was an epic battle (watch the replay here). Pythons played a clean match, winning all 4 games, earning a spot in The Orchard Championship Cup.

That means there’s only one spot left.  And Semi-Final #2 on Tue Dec 12 between the undefeated Gilbert Gladiators (4-0) & the Scottsdale Scorchers (1-3) will determine who else moves one step closer to hoisting The Orchard Cup on Tue Dec 19.

Will the Gladiators remain undefeated?  Or will the Scorchers repeat the dark horse act they played in Season 1 and pull off an upset? 

HOW TO WATCH: Get your tickets before they’re gone or tune in to The Dink’s YouTube Channel – Tue Dec 12 @ 8pm ET / 6pm Arizona time / 5pm PT.

First of Its Kind

The adidas Metalbone has arrived, ready to shake up the pickleball world.

With a PMI Foam core and a 13mm profile, it delivers a responsive feel and explosive power on impact. The matte black and red finish accentuates its high-end construction, while the custom adidas tool allows for personal adjustment without the fuss of lead tape.

Transition smoothly from tennis with a design that mimics the grip and feel of a racket, refined for pickleball precision. Whether you're just starting out or aiming to crush the competition, the Metalbone is built to elevate your game.

Don’t just play—dominate with the Metalbone, the new standard in pickleball excellence.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• Win 5 Veloz paddles and luxury apparel

• Which city will win a Picklr facility? Time to vote

• Looking for the perfect pickleball gift? Look no further

• ICYMI: Pickleball's HARDEST dinking drill

Highlights

• Is the drop serve the future of pickleball? 👀

• Simply overpowered

• Challenging Ben Johns to skinny singles

• It’s not all about the money

A review from the Dink Fam...