^{Advertise | The Dink Home | Shop Gear | Subscribe}

After months of on-court play testing, we’ve rounded up the top men’s pickleball shoes of 2026. From upstarts like Stria and Nox to incumbents including Selkirk and Skechers, here are the 15 models you should know — from lightweight speed shoes to stability-first workhorses, for every type of player and every type of foot.

In This Issue:
— Beware of fake paddles
— Your partner needs a pep talk
— Is pickleball adequate exercise?

What a time to be alive.

The RPM founder doesn’t think there are too many paddle brands out there, but he does want you to watch out for the shady ones. Counterfeit paddles are everywhere; here’s what you need to know to avoid the scams.

Pickleball trainer to the stars Connor Derrickson has some tough news you might not be ready for: playing pickleball is excellent for your cardio health, but it’s not enough on its own. Here’s what else you should be doing.

When an unseasonal fall storm hit Maine a couple days ago, pro Rachel Rohrabacher was faced with a tough decision: Call off her wedding, or move the date up 48 hours? The rest is history.

The PPA Las Vegas Open is underway, and there are a couple new doubles teams we’re excited for: John Lucian Goins and Elliott Schupp in men’s and Tina Pisnik and Sofia Sewing in women’s. Get our full event predictions, right here.

Partner chemistry is one of the most important aspects of a fun and successful pickleball session.

And whether you’re playing with a buddy or paired up with a stranger, one thing is undeniable: If the on-court alchemy is off, you can find yourself on the losing side, and quick.

To nip this in the bud, it might be time for a partner pep talk. Here are a few signs to watch out for.

✅ The apology loop. If you’re trading phrases like “my bad” and “that’s on me” and “sorry, partner,” you’re spiraling without knowing it, focused on a bad shot rather than mentally preparing for the next good one.

✅ Bad body language. If your partner has gone silent, slinking around between points like all the air has left the room, it’s on you to prop them back up.

✅ Scaredy cat. Playing scared is a surefire sign that your partner’s confidence isn’t where it needs to be. They’re expecting mistakes before they even happen; that’s a recipe for certain disaster.

Pep talks can take all shapes and sizes. Our favorite? Laugh off a mistake or poor decision and offer a friendly chirp: “All good! No worries. Swing free, partner. We’ve got this.”

➡️ Watch it in action.

Six Zero just turned 4.

Born in Australia, Six Zero has built a lineup that's found real success, and the Coral 16mm is a big part of that.

This hybrid, elongated widebody took home three awards last year: All Court Paddle of the Year from Pickleball Effect, All Court Hybrid Paddle of the Year from Pickleball Studio, and Paddle Innovation of the Year from JOHNKEW Pickleball.

And since it's their birthday, the Coral is 15% off through Oct. 4.

Grab the Coral.

We gave you the top women’s pickleball shoes of 2026 already; now it’s time for the fellas.

We searched high and low and tested many, many models through hours of on-court play to arrive at a fairly exhaustive list of truly excellent men’s pickleball shoes currently on the market.

From lightweight speed shoes to stability-first workhorses, these are the 15 best options of 2026 for every type of player and every type of foot.

Specs, warranty info, fit, design, price… we break it all down so you don’t have to.

➡️ See the full list.

Most dink battles are lost before anyone notices.

Pros like Gabe Tardio and Hayden Patriquin run one play on nearly every point, and most rec players do the exact opposite without realizing it.

It's called the half-volley hunt, and once you know what to look for, you'll see it in every pro match.

See how the play works.

Zane Navratil is a PPA gold medalist again after a storybook run at PPA Barcelona alongside mixed doubles partner Judit Castillo (who triple-crowned the event).

He’s basking in the glow, and rightfully so. But he was able to focus long enough to welcome breakout PPA star Nico Acevedo to this week’s PicklePod.

Nico talks about going from college tennis to the pro pickleball tour, the support that helped him take the leap, and how he and Yuta Funemizu fought through a string of demanding matches at PPA Arizona. Their run included wins over Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud, close calls, match-point battles, and a marathon final.

The conversation also gets into the details behind Nico’s dangerous backhand flick, the balance work that helps him reach and recover, and the communication and mindset that powered the team.

From there, Zane shares his take on the European circuit, the MLP Nations Cup, and why the next wave of international players could raise the level quickly.

All that, plus: Guess My DUPR, listener comments, and a serve-rule debate.

➡️ Catch the full episode now.

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.