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Buying a pickleball paddle used to be simple. Now you need a PhD in materials science, a spreadsheet of swing weights, and six hours of YouTube reviews just to narrow down your options.

With hundreds of paddles on the market, how do you actually find the right one? Chris Olson of Pickleball Studio has tested more than 500 of them. And because we asked nicely, he's sharing his five-step process for cutting through the noise. Just for you.

In This Issue:
— PPA pros flock to Hong Kong
— Selkirk's wild new ball warranty
— Why packed clubs are losing money

Less analysis paralysis. More pickleball.

What happened to just showing up and having fun? A heated Reddit debate asks whether pickleball's obsession with competition is sucking the joy out of the sport. Pick a side.

Counterfeit paddles were bad enough. Now Ed Ju is sounding the alarm over suspected counterfeit Life Time pickleballs. Harder? Check. Bouncier? Check. Still expensive? Check. Here's what to watch for.

Nice courts will get players through the door. Great programming keeps them coming back. Here's what the best clubs are getting right.

Halfway around the world? Doesn't matter. The PPA Hong Kong draws are absolutely stacked with top-tier talent, plus some intriguing new partnerships. Here's who's teaming up.

We've all been there. You get body-bagged, blow an easy putaway, or watch your opponent celebrate a little too enthusiastically. Suddenly, you're seeing red.

But is playing angry actually a bad thing? According to pickleball pro Eric Roddy, not necessarily. A little fire can sharpen your focus and fuel a comeback. Too much, and you're headed for a spectacular crashout.

Here's how to make anger work for you, not against you:

The takeaway: Play with a chip on your shoulder, not a screw loose. Controlled fire wins matches. Blind rage loses them.

➡️ Read Roddy's full breakdown of playing angry.

Warping Point built its new Nightblade paddles around its own sci-fi story universe, one where humans end up in ancient combat bodies and discover the tech inside is more powerful than anyone expected.

The paddles follow the same idea: full foam, 16mm elongated shapes, 2100 RPM, and plenty of pop.

Two ways to play it:

• Nightblade 01: Fast, explosive pop that helps you attack with compact swings.
• Nightblade 02: Same power, but a more solid, stable feel for heavy drives and baseline pressure.

Both retail for $149.99, backed by a 1-year warranty and 30-day free trial.

Get your hands on one (or both).

Your local pickleball club can be absolutely packed and still be bleeding money. How's that for a business model?

According to Dave Conord of PDI Consulting, many facilities are financially hamstrung before they ever open their doors.

His latest report identifies 121 ways clubs can improve their bottom lines. Here's the kicker: 46% of the identified cost-saving opportunities are locked in before opening, through decisions about leases, locations, and construction.

And the math gets ugly fast. Miss your targets for court occupancy, players per court, and revenue per player by just 15% each? That's a nearly 39% shortfall in projected court revenue.

➡️ Here's why full courts don't guarantee profits.

Buying a new pickleball paddle has become a full-blown research project. Swing weight, twist weight, core construction, power ratings, foam density. And that's before you even look at the price tag.

Chris Olson of Pickleball Studio has tested more than 500 paddles. And his biggest piece of advice? Stop chasing the latest and greatest. Start with your dealbreakers.

Pick three to five things you absolutely need from a paddle — whether that's a manageable swing weight, a longer handle, reliable durability, or a certain level of power. If a paddle doesn't check those boxes, move on. No matter how glowing the reviews.

Olson also breaks down why static weight can be misleading, how full-foam cores compare to honeycomb, and why feel might be the most underrated factor in choosing your next weapon.

The goal isn't finding the best paddle on the market. It's finding the best paddle for you.

➡️ Read the full five-step buying guide.

You won 11-6.

You hit the shots you trust, targeted the weaker opponent, and dodged the patterns that make you uncomfortable.

It worked, but what did you actually improve?

Welcome to the “4.0 trap” — playing pickleball and improving at pickleball aren’t the same thing.

Here’s the difference.

Selkirk just made a pretty bold promise: Buy its new S2 Pro pickleball, and you're covered against cracking and warping for an entire year.

Yes, even if your ball turns into an egg.

Selkirk calls it an industry-first warranty, and it's not the only upgrade. The S2 Pro features a harder, faster feel, a textured surface for immediate spin, and a patented 38-hole design engineered for more consistent flight.

Whether it lives up to the hype remains to be seen. But a one-year warranty on a pickleball? That's certainly one way to get our attention.

➡️ Meet the new S2 Pro.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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