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Back in December, Selkirk shocked the pickleball world by dropping a surprise collab paddle with Tesla. It came out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly, selling out in a matter of hours.

Well, it’s back. At least we think it is… it dropped yesterday. See the photos below. And act fast if you want one for yourself.

In This Issue:
— How to lift your struggling partner up
— 14 wall ball drills you need now
— Selkirk x Tesla: redux

No newsletter Monday. MLP isn’t the only one taking a weekend off.

As the No. 1 seed, the 5s had their choice of semifinal opponent. They took Brooklyn over the Shock or the Flash. Make of that what you will. Semifinals start Friday, Aug. 28. Finals follow that weekend in Central Park. Get the schedule.

What do you do when your partner is struggling? Just keep quiet? Say a supportive word or two? The Reddit community has another idea: “Tapping paddles says more than verbal reinforcement.” Whatever you do, just don’t overdo it. You get us?

This week on the PicklePod, we relive the Sliders’ stunning Dreambreaker comeback, where CJ Klinger closed out three straight points to force a decisive third match against Brooklyn. Down two points from elimination. Listen to how it happened.

The C45: Anna Leigh Waters plays it. So does a rotating cast of top pros who picked it and kept it. Power paddle that doesn't make you sacrifice touch. Quiet flex. Check it out.

Drilling doesn’t have to involve a few hours of expensive court time, a bucket of balls, and a partner.

Just you and a sturdy wall will do.

There are lots of ways to effectively go about this — the link below will show you 14, to be exact. Here are three we like a lot:

Force yourself to hit a percentage of volleys with two hands on the paddle. Keep your non-dominant hand ready on the grip between shots rather than hanging off to the side. This builds the two-handed backhand counter reflex that wins hands battles.

Set up a shot with some pace or spin, then practice straightening your arm and taking the ball early. Sometimes you add a little spin yourself. Sometimes you push it flat to a corner. The point is to get comfortable contacting the ball when it is not sitting perfectly.

✅ Flick Shots Out of the Air

Once the ball rises above net height, flick it. Practice going crosscourt, down the line, and at different heights. If the ball drops low, transition to a roll. Remember to stay compact on every swing.

All that said, let us be the first to state the obvious: you don’t need a plan to hit the wall. Just go get reps and stick with it. Your weaknesses will be revealed soon, trust us. Now focus there.

➡️ 11 more wall drills right here.

The Bean is back.

Two years ago, the original Jelly Bean proved a paddle didn't need a premium price tag to play like one.

11SIX24's follow-up with the Jelly Bean 2 keeps that idea and reworks the details. Denser foam core. Grit that still spins after a season, not just the unboxing video.

Choose from Hurache-X, Vapor, Ultré, or Pegasus, in Cosmic Grape, Island Punch, or Cornflower Blue.

Be the first to get the Jelly Bean 2.

Back in December, Selkirk shocked the pickleball world by dropping a collab paddle, totally out of the blue, with one of the biggest names in tech.

The Tesla Plaid Pickleball Paddle by Selkirk looked like nothing else on the market, cost a cool $350, and completely sold out in a matter of hours.

It was so popular, they ran it back a couple weeks later. And yeah, that one sold out in a flash, too.

Well, here we go again.

The Tesla Aurum Pickleball Paddle by Selkirk went on sale yesterday, exclusively on the Tesla website.

And it's mostly déjà vu all over again: Limited release. $295. USAP Approved.

The aesthetic has changed. But the tech, we're told, is pretty much the same as the first drop.

Have to have it?

➡️ You better act fast.

One round on the court and you feel 10 years older? That's not in your head.

NAD+, the stuff your cells run on for energy, can drop up to 80% as you age.

Mimio hands it back. Same longevity, recovery, and NAD+ boosting benefits you’d experience during a 36-hour fast, minus the hunger and the 2pm crash.

Clinically shown to help improve metabolism and reduce distraction so you can have steadier energy and more mid-game focus.   

It’s as easy as two capsules, once a day.

Try Mimio and use code DINK20 at checkout for 20% off.

Falls are the leading cause of pickleball injuries for players 60 and up, and it's not close.

But fatigue isn't the real threat out there. Footing is.

Turns out the fix isn't more cardio, either.

A 12-week study of senior players found a program built around core, hip, and balance work led to fewer reported falls at the five-month follow-up.

The catch: exercises where you just hold a position, like a plank, didn't move the needle on their own. Holding still doesn't prepare you for a ball coming at an angle you didn't choose.

What did matter is a little more surprising, and worth the read.

➡️ Get the full breakdown.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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