Is your serve legal?

It's with a very heavy heart we share that the pickleball community lost one of its own this weekend. Senior pro Thanh Vo passed away while competing in the PPA Austin Showdown.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Vo family. The pickleball community is unlike any other, and we've already seen an outpouring of love and support. Dink Fam, you can offer your support by contributing to the Vo family's online fundraiser.

In today's issue:

• PPA Commissioner Connor Pardoe answers all on the PicklePod

• Serve legality

• PPA Austin Showdown

Let's go!

PPA Austin Showdown Results

Is Your Serve Legal?

One of the most contentious points in the game of pickleball is serve legality. The rules seem to change every year.

• In 2021, the drop serve was added to the rulebook

• In 2022, the chainsaw serve was outlawed

• In 2023, the spin serve was eliminated altogether

Refs are asked to monitor the pre-serve spin and a myriad of other factors:

• Contact point below the server's waist

• One foot on the ground behind the baseline

• Paddle face below the server's wrist

• The swing path follows an upward motion

My eyes are crossed trying to watch all of this at once.

One serve that has grown in popularity is a version that looks somewhat uncomfortable. Tyson McGuffin, Catherine Parenteau and others now favor a serve during which their feet are planted, facing the court.

As opposed to a staggered stance, players begin with a wide stance. Feet are parallel to the baseline. Some theorize that a parallel stance lends to generating a greater rotational force.

Players can generate more power by winding and then unwinding their body, like a rubber band. Picture it like a forehand with an open stance. In the clip above, Catherine adds a little kick. The kick is optional, but recommended for added aesthetics (if you want to look cool).

Brush up on your serve legality here and if you are looking to make a change, consider a serve that is making its way through the ranks.

Soft Touch, Fast Hands, Exceptional Control

Look out for the latest performance paddle company, PCKL. We featured the PCKL Pro Series in our latest review and had this to say, "The large sweet spot is forgiving and will keep your play consistent."

"If you are looking for a higher-end paddle for a budget-friendly price then this is a great option.”

Check out the full review and use code DINK15 to save 15% off sitewide!

Commissioner Pardoe Crashes the PicklePod

One of the most influential voices in the sport, PPA Tour Commissioner Connor Pardoe makes a special visit to the PicklePod studio. With drama and controversy swirling in the pickleball community, Pardoe sits down to answer pickleball's uncomfortable questions.

Tune in to hear what's happening now and what's coming next in pickle. Watch here and listen here.

The Pickleball Slam Heats Up

The trash talk is heating up as the Pickleball Slam approaches. The upcoming pickleball exhibition in Hollywood, FL will pit Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick vs. John McEnroe and Michael Chang.

Chang has dubbed their team "The Fast and the Furious" well, for fairly obvious reasons. In response, Roddick joked back about a possible moniker for himself and Agassi, "The Bald and the Balding."

McEnroe is never one to shy away from the mic and has publicly trashed pickleball in the past. And he's not the only one. But apparently a million dollars is enough to change their minds...and make these monkeys dance. Now they just have to avoid embarrassing themselves on ESPN. McEnroe threatens "Mr. Andre Agassi, you can’t run me around like you used to do on the tennis court, and Mr. Andy Roddick, you got to serve underhand. So guess what, Michael Chang and I are coming for you. Let’s do it."

Tune in to the event on April 2nd at noon ET on ESPN.

The Showdown in Austin

Last week in Daytona, Anna Leigh Waters dropped her first singles match in 9 months. Yesterday in Austin, she reclaimed her throne, and did so in triple crown fashion.

She and Anna Bright teamed up this week as the ALW partner tryouts continue. They navigated the draw without dropping a single game. Yesterday they defeated (7) Meghan Sheehan-Dizon and Vivienne David who made an unexpected run to the finals.

In the highly anticipated women's singles final, Waters and Catherine Parenteau split the first two games 12-10, 9-11. Waters was on an entirely new level in game 3 and closed the match 11-1.

Ben Johns looked especially comfortable in his home state of Texas. The GOAT cruised through the weekend to capture his second straight triple crown and fourth of the year. In the growing rivalry with Federico Staksrud, Johns is up 3-1 on the year.

Siblings Jorja and JW Johnson took home bronze in mixed doubles on Friday. Jorja and Parenteau partnered up to make a run at the women's doubles crown but had to settle for third place. JW picked up his second bronze with partner Dylan Frazier in men's doubles.

Athletic Wear Designed for Pickleball Players

AVI is elevating Pickleball by creating exceptional athletic wear. They believe everyone — from professional athletes to casual enthusiasts — deserves well-constructed, expertly designed clothing made just for their sport.

With pockets created specifically to hold pickleballs, comfortable fabrics, and ultra-lightweight feel, AVI is elevated performance wear for both on AND off the court!

A Step Away from the Majors

In Tampa, players with aspirations of making the majors squared off in the first Minor League Pickleball event of the year. Thirty-four teams spread across three divisions all fought for a chance to qualify for the National Championships. These are the winners of the weekend:

DUPR 20: Hit and RunRichard Livornese Jr | Ava Kalist | Jayden Broderick | Isabella NelsonDUPR 18: Drop It Like It's HotSydney Steinaker | Jack Holloway | Ethan Jauschneg | LeAnn TranDUPR 16: Tampa Bay Big DinksDhruv Patel | Amanda Chandler | Kyler Pacyga | Forest Dennis

Want to see where you stack up? Click here to see a replay of the finals. The next chance to play Minor League Pickleball is the Texas Showdown April 15-16. If you're ready to jump straight to the majors, tune into the second MLP event of the year this weekend in Daytona.

Headlines & Quick Hits

• Need a fourth for tomorrow's game? Find one here

• Multi-court pickleball complex coming to Jeffersonville park

• Pickleball growing rapidly in Southeast Texas

• Pickleball Round Robin Raises $3,000+ for Kids Club

Highlights

• The game moves in slow motion for Ben Johns

• What's better than one scorpion? The Double Scorpion

• Right side takeover

• Defense turns into offense

A review from the Dink Fam: