Breaking news alert: Bread & Butter Pickleball Company, the plucky upstart family paddle brand based in Florida and known for its solid paddles with killer designs, was just swallowed up by Big Pickle behemoth Selkirk Sport in a vicious corporate takeover guaranteed to suck the soul out of everything that made it fun to begin with.
Just kidding. That’s what the haters are saying. The reality is far more wholesome and consumer-friendly. We’ve got the full story behind Selkirk’s acquisition of Bread & Butter below.
In This Issue:
— The cutthroat world of partner politics
— Put this shot on repeat: the bunt drop
— 7 popular paddles with the most spin
Look alive.
Our Picks 👆
📈 1.5 Million: Partners Doc Is Driving Numbers
The first episode of Partners, the new pro pickleball reality series that follows the PPA Tour and its top stars, has eclipsed 1.5 million views on YouTube alone. That’s undeniable appeal. If you’ve been holding out, it’s time to indulge.
🚨 Royalties: JOOLA & Paddletek Reach Settlement
Five weeks ago, JOOLA sued 11 paddle brands for alleged patent infringement. Today, it reached a settlement agreement with two: Paddletek and ProXR. Those brands will pay royalties on sales of three paddles until inventory sells through. Here’s what you need to know.
🥇 PPA Tour: ‘If You’re Not First, You’re Last’
On this week’s PicklePod, Zane and Nico get into the cutthroat world of partner politics on the PPA Tour. From the outside looking in, it appears light and fun. From the inside, it’s often anything but. As Zane bluntly puts it: “If you’re not first, you’re last.”
👎 Not OK: Targeting the Elderly
Shirley is 80 years old and regularly playing open plays. We love Shirley. We do not love hearing that some guy “targeted” her head from the kitchen line. Shirley is fine, but understandably shaken up. Don’t be like that guy. Also, wear eye protection out there.
Put This Shot on Repeat: the Bunt Drop
The drop shot is pickleball’s most essential and misunderstood shot.
You know you need to get to the kitchen consistently to win games. And you can’t hit a drive every shot to accomplish that. Eventually, you’ve got to take some pace off.
For any host of reasons, that’s when the wheels start coming off.
Should you slice a drop? Roll it? Hit topspin or no spin? Where should you aim? Is the middle best? Do you have time to run around to your forehand?
Everyone take a breath.
Instead of over-complicating this, opt for the humble bunt drop instead.
The mechanics are straightforward:
Step forward with your paddle-side foot
Keep your paddle tip down
Use a gentle pushing motion rather than a swinging motion
Your wrist stays locked the entire time
The entire swing path starts about a foot behind your leg and ends a foot in front of it
Your goal is to take pace off the ball and land it softly in your opponent's kitchen, forcing them into a defensive position.
That’s it. The bunt drop naturally puts just enough backspin on the ball without needing your wrist at all. It’s highly compact, very simple, and easy to replicate. Over and over. Every single drop. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.
There’s a reason so many pros rely on this countless times every single game. It’s not flashy. It just works.
Most People Have No Idea What Their Number Is
Here’s a crazy stat:
Nearly half of adults have high blood pressure. Most don’t know it.
So for Blood Pressure Awareness Month, 120/Life is pushing a ridiculously simple challenge:
Check your blood pressure.
Drink one 120/Life daily.
Check again in 14 days.
That’s it.
No pills. No complicated routine. Just a once-a-day drink mix designed to support healthy blood pressure using clinically studied ingredients.
And yes — many people see measurable changes in as little as two weeks… or your money back.
➡️ Try the 14-day challenge and get 20% off using code DINK
Selkirk Acquires Bread & Butter
Starting now, you can expect to see a lot more of Bread & Butter Pickleball – both in your social feeds and at your local courts.
That’s because the Florida-based brand with a cult following and catchy paddle designs was just acquired by Selkirk, months after the Idaho family business announced a raise of $30 million.
“Selkirk is... another family-built business that has never lost sight of the player,” said Doug Sapusek, founder and CEO of Bread & Butter. “With their platform behind us, we can put our gear in the hands of more players without losing the fun that defines us.”
What does this mean for you, dear B&B loyalists?
Bread & Butter will maintain its independent brand presence, including its website, marketing channels, and product strategy
B&B will tap into Selkirk’s vast distribution infrastructure, meaning more Locos for the masses, and soon
Also be on the lookout for new products from both brands, including paddles, balls, footwear, apparel and more
Could this mean we see a Loco with InfiniGrit somewhere in the future? New shapes or colors? A "Loco Pro" or some new collab paddle entirely (a “BreadStik" if you will)? Perhaps.
Will Selkirk step in and tinker with one of the most beloved paddles in all of pickleball? We highly doubt it.
This we know for sure: this is a sign of things to come, a strategic consolidation of the “fragmented pickleball equipment market” Selkirk promised as part of its recent capital raise.
Bread & Butter is the first. And it’s a big one. But it certainly won’t be the last.
Pickleball Camp in the Big Apple? Yes, You Can
CityPickle is turning two of the most iconic spots in New York City into pickleball destinations this summer.
Their adult camps in Times Square and Central Park combine high-level coaching, skill-based instruction, and community-focused play in some of the coolest court settings in the sport. Expect structured sessions, competitive games, great energy, and a chance to meet other pickleball players while spending a day on court in NYC.
Whether you’re beginner+, intermediate, or advanced, they’ve got options running throughout the summer.
Upcoming Camps
Times Square
May 29 — Half-Day Advanced
July 24 — Half-Day Intermediate
August 12 — Half-Day Beginner+
August 28 — Half-Day Intermediate
September 11 — Women’s Half-Day Intermediate
September 25 — Full-Day Intermediate
Central Park
August 13–14 — 2-Day Intermediate
August 24 — Women’s Half-Day
September 25 — Half-Day Beginner+
This is the kind of pickleball trip you’ll talk about for a while.
➡️ Learn more!
Men Age Differently. Most Find Out Too Late.
Most men don't think about their skin until eye bags, dark spots, and wrinkles seem to appear all at once. Particle Face Cream was engineered for exactly this. Premium anti-aging ingredients, one formula, trusted by over a million men. No complicated routine. Get 20% off now with the code BH20.
Pickleball’s New Meta Is Spin — These Top Paddles Do It Best
Without a doubt, 2025 was the year of the power paddle. But the meta has shifted. From pros down to rec, more value is being placed on control, finesse, and touch.
We used to want to smash the ball all across the court. Now we want to shape it.
More than ever, spin is king. It's why you're seeing so many brands coming out with their version of longer-lasting grit technology. But a paddle's ability to generate RPMs goes far beyond the surface; it runs core-deep.
To help you cut through the noise, we teamed up with the Paddle Lab to compile a list of the seven most popular paddles that generate the highest RPMs.
Brands big and small are represented, with prices ranging from around $150 to more than $300. Some of them pack a punch, others lean toward more control.
But all of them fit pickleball's new meta perfectly: plenty of pop and power when you need it, but with access to maximum spin to shape the ball where you want it.
CRNB3 TruFoam Waves (1,588 RPM)
Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue (1,577 RPM)
Selkirk Boomstik (1,552 RPM)
RPM Q2 (1,530 RPM)
Six Zero Ruby Pro (1,515 RPM)
Holbrook Zone (1,514 RPM)
Franklin C45 Aurelius 14mm (1,471 RPM)
Headlines & Quick Hits
Pickleball Etiquette for Beginners
Simple Dinking Patterns That Win More Points
How Pickleball Strategy Has Changed Over 10 Years
Highlights
PPA Finals: top plays
The only 3 shots you need
Nico reacts to B&B news
Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered
A review from the Dink Fam...
What did you think of today's newsletter?
Share The Dink Newsletter, Get Rewards
Share the best newsletter in pickleball with your friends and you’ll get free stuff. What’s not to like?
{{rp_personalized_text}}
Copy & Paste this link: {{rp_refer_url_no_params}}
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.