Selkirk's Boomstik is back for round two. And apparently, $333 wasn't quite expensive enough.
Meet the Boomstik ST. The highly anticipated sequel drops November 10, and we've finally got the full rundown on what's changed: Sharktooth Groove Technology, upgraded InfiniGrit, adjustable perimeter weights, two shapes, and a fresh $350 price tag.
In This Issue:
— The new rules of winning firefights
— 7 recovery methods, ranked
— Jack Sock stuns world No. 2
Your wallet has been warned.
Our Picks 👆
🗡️ Pick Your Fighter: The Nightblade 001 & 002
Power or control? The 001 brings faster energy return and instant pop. The 002 brings a steadier feel and more dwell time. Same shape, same carbon face. Choose your fighter. Both are $135 with code THEDINK.
🌀 Frustrating: How Do You Counter Heavy Spin?
One frustrated beginner took to Reddit looking for advice on handling opponents who put ridiculous spin on everything. The community came through with tips on reading paddle angles, anticipating weird bounces, and fighting spin with pace. See what other players recommend.
🚨 Upset Alert: Jack Sock Takes Down World No. 2
Jack Sock just delivered one of the biggest upsets at PPA Worlds. The No. 13 seed rallied from a game down to stun No. 2 Federico Staksrud, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8, in men's singles. The former tennis star is through to the quarterfinals, and one of the tournament favorites is headed home early.
🔥 Too Hot: CPX Paddles Get the Boot
USA Pickleball has delisted the CPX Hyper+ elongated 14mm and 16mm after retail samples tested significantly hotter than their approved counterparts. And here's the kicker: USAP is considering financial penalties. CPX has acknowledged the issue and is developing a replacement model. Get the full scoop.
The New Rules of Winning Firefights
You're in a heated hands battle at the kitchen. Balls are flying. Adrenaline's pumping. Time to bury one at your opponent's feet, right?
Wrong. And that mindset might be costing you points.
Coach Ryan Dawidjan, working with Zane Navratil, has a refreshingly simple take on modern firefights:
✅ Stop trying to hit winners.
✅ Just get the dang ball back over the net.
Think about it. A ball into the tape has a 0% chance of winning the point. Make your opponent hit two or three more shots? Now we're talking.
Here's how to put that philosophy to work:
Block more, counter less. Not every speedup deserves a haymaker.
Aim through, not down. Unless the ball sits high, forget targeting shoelaces.
Embrace the long miss. Better to sail one long than bury another in the net.
Practice patience. Rally at 70–80% speed and penalize net errors.
The new firefight flex? Making them hit one more ball.
And there’s more where this came from.
➡️ Master all six new-age hands-battle habits.
Two New Colors for the Ultré Power 2
Cornflower Blue and Cosmic Grape join the Ultré Power 2 lineup today at 3 p.m. ET.
Same flat-top hybrid shape. Same HexGrit surface. Same Gen 4 floating core.
The Ultré has been going fast, so grab yours while the new colors are in stock.
Shop the Ultré Power 2 (use code THEDINK for $10 off.)
Selkirk Boomstik ST: New Tech, Full Specs, $350 Price Tag
The wait is almost over. Selkirk's Boomstik ST drops November 10, and we've finally got the full scoop on what's under the hood.
The headline upgrade? Sharktooth Groove Technology, a redesigned perimeter that promises more ball bite, nastier topspin, and better control. But there's plenty more to unpack:
InfiniGrit Ultra: A new surface Selkirk claims delivers 4x more friction and 50x the texture hardness of the original.
Adjustable MOI: Customizable perimeter weights let you fine-tune the paddle's feel (or pop them off completely).
BoomCore: A 16mm PureFoam core with an EVA power ring.
Two shapes: Elongated and widebody, both weighing 8.0–8.3 oz.
Fresh colors: We’re partial to the gray ourselves.
The price? $350, with a limited lifetime warranty. Premium paddle, premium price. No surprises there.
We've got the full specs, color options, and plenty of photos.
The Moment Before You Shank the Ball
Two tenths of a second.
That’s the gap between a shot that finds the sweet spot and one that shanks off the edge.
It isn’t more power. It isn’t better footwork. It’s a habit most players skip, and it shows up most on the shots you care about.
We broke down five ways to build it into your game, including where to start on your next warm-up.
Your Pickleball Recovery Routine Might Be a Waste of Money
Got a $200 massage gun? Fancy compression boots? A cold plunge that makes you question your life choices?
Congrats. You might be spending a fortune to recover worse.
Pickleball trainer Connor Derrickson ranked seven popular recovery methods from S tier (elite) to F tier (forget about it). And the results might sting more than your quads after a three-hour drill session.
Here's how they stack up:
S Tier: Sleep. The undisputed recovery GOAT.
A Tier: Nutrition and walking. Boring? Sure. Effective? Absolutely.
C Tier: Massage guns, compression boots, and cold plunges. Feel great, but the recovery benefits are limited.
F Tier: Alcohol. Sorry, post-match beer enthusiasts.
The takeaway? Your best recovery habits are surprisingly simple, and none require a charging cable.
We've got the full breakdown, including where to spend your time and money.
➡️ See all seven rankings.
Headlines & Quick Hits
Everything You Should Know About Pickleball’s Biggest Event
5 Drop-Step Keys That Fix Your Dinking Footwork Woes
The Beginning of the End for Widebody Paddles?
Highlights
Jeremy Piven beats Ben Johns
Reverse forehand tomahawk?!
Riley Newman’s paddle setup
Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered
A review from The Dink Fam...
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