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Need a tad more proof that pickleball is going mainstream? A 12-year-old competing for Texas East in the Little League World Series cited a pickleball player as his favorite professional athlete. Not Steph Curry. Sorry Patrick Mahomes. This kid wants to be Ben Johns when he grows up. And we are here for it.

In This Issue:
— Your twoey dink crash course
— The guys give out awards on the PicklePod
— Looking to dink and mingle? Tinder can help

Take us out to a ballgame.

Ben Johns is bringing his talents to the Malaysia Cup this September, marking the first time the GOAT will play a PPA event outside the U.S. The Kuala Lumpur event is a milestone moment for the region. The $500,000 prize purse probably doesn’t hurt either.

Thanks to a fresh partnership between the PPA Tour and sports video tech company PlaySight, fans can now expect live-streaming from up to 45 courts at every PPA Tour event. High-def, multi-angle coverage of every match? Say less.

A trending Reddit thread wonders: Why say sorry on a net cord when it’s part of the game? The short answer: It’s a holdover from tennis etiquette. But the fine print is a bit more nuanced. Basically, it’s a courtesy. Just don’t expect it and it’s all good.

Selkirk isn’t ready to share all the tantalizing details just yet, but there’s one thing we can tell you about the upcoming Boomstik release: It’s launching on Thursday, August 14. Set your alarms — this one is going to drop with a bang.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to perfect the twoey dink, let Zane Navratil put that to bed for you: “If you can’t hit a two-handed backhand dink, you’re not playing modern pickleball.”

Dead dinks are the kiss of death these days. And simply playing defense at the kitchen line isn’t going to win you many games. It’s time to level up.

For those among us who haven’t fully committed to the twoey cross-court dink, here’s Zane’s three-minute crash course to get you off and swinging on the right foot.

✅ Choose your grip. Most pros opt for one or two fingers from the top hand placed on the back of the paddle’s face. This provides extra stability and control.

✅ Get comfortable dinking with your off-hand, as it’s doing most of the work here. For you righties, that means putting the paddle in your left, finding a partner, and hitting cross-court dinks until it doesn’t feel awkward anymore.

✅ From there, slowly start to add your dominant hand. First, just touch the handle when you make contact. Once that feels good, you can fully grip the paddle with both hands.

✅ A good twoey dink is all about your footwork and your setup. Make sure you’re behind the ball before making contact and squatting low to generate power and topspin through your legs, not just your arms.

✅ Hit the ball between your legs, never behind your body. Your paddle tip should be facing toward the ground or perpendicular to it. Now brush up on the ball on contact rather than hitting it flat.

One final pro tip: Maybe add a few extra squat sets into your gym routine? The lower you get before making contact, the more consistent and explosive the shot can be.

➡️ Watch the full video.

It’s time you met the Jetsetter Shorts by Jack Archer—your ultimate travel companion.

Crafted from luxurious Japanese Rebound fabric, they offer exceptional stretch for unrestricted movement, resist wrinkles so you stay crisp off the plane, control odors to keep you fresh all day, and repel stains to handle spills with ease.

What really sold us is the fit—it’s tailored without ever feeling tight. You get extra room where you need it and a trim silhouette everywhere else, plus a diamond-shaped gusset for smooth movement and a curved waistband that always sits just right.

But don’t just take our word for it—grab yourself a pair and try them risk-free for 30 days. If you don’t love them, get a full refund, no questions asked.

Plus, as a member of the Dink fam, enjoy 15% off with code JETSETTER15.

Nico Valencia, aka Nico the Lefty or just Nacho Libre for short, joined the PicklePod from a police interrogation room his new podcasting setup to chat through a laundry list of topics with Zane Navratil.

Nico’s notebook was full of random musings, some of which Zane entertained, others… not so much. A few highlights:

All that, plus MLP Playoffs 101 with pro writer Erik Tice.

➡️ Watch the full PicklePod episode.

If you’re looking to meet someone... someone active, interesting, and maybe just competitive enough to keep things fun, there’s no better place than the pickleball court.

Offering just the right blend of competition and connection, it’s no wonder pickleball is popping up in dating profiles in record numbers.

It’s also why we’re pumped to welcome Tinder to our Courted social pickleball mixer events, coming soon to your favorite courts in Chicago, Austin and Miami.

With Courted x Tinder, you can expect:

Sound like something you might want to take a swing at? Learn more.

You might recognize him from the villa, but Jeremiah’s making waves on the pickleball court now.

He’s repping the latest Original Penguin collection, and it’s clean. Classic polos, crisp shorts, and just enough flair to make a statement without screaming for attention.

Want the same vibe? Use code OPDINK for 25% off. A little end-of-season sale magic might even sweeten the deal.

Despite showing out at the Little League World Series, the biggest stage for a young slugger by a country mile, Texas East’s Michael Frankie has his priorities straight: Kid just wants to play pickleball.

While his teammates list their favorite athletes from more mainstream leagues like the NFL and MLB, Frankie’s pro of choice prefers a paddle to a bat: It’s Ben Johns.

Funny enough, the broadcast felt it necessary to qualify Johns’ credentials, making sure to specify that he’s a pickleball player and not just some random dude.

Texas East fell to Louisiana in the following game, but Frankie will always be No. 1 in our hearts.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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