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Let’s talk paddles. Brand new paddles, to be more specific. It’s July, which means the sport’s top brands are dropping their latest and greatest models en masse, all vying for your attention… and your dollars.

From a $99 full-foam head-turner to a few new shapes from fan-favorites Ronbus, Paddletek, CRBN, and more, there’s something for everyone hitting the market this summer. We round up the best new options below.

In This Issue:
— 4 MLP Premier teams secure a playoff spot
— Tips for right-side aggression at the kitchen
— Ben Johns talks pickleball on CNN

What paddle budget?

Study hard, kids. When Donald Young got injured mid-match during Friday’s NYC MLP action, the New York Hustlers tapped onsite alternate Erik Forsythe, a 37-year-old local legend who trains late-night after full days as a Long Island first-grade teacher. We give his performance a solid A.

Some 500 million pickleballs are produced every year, translating to 77 million pounds of plastic waste. A Portland, OR, recycling service is teaming up with a local facility to do their part, turning thousands of discarded balls into plant pots, construction materials, and other long-lasting products. It’s good to be green.

APP Newport Beach saw a barrage of new winners, including a gold medal clash between prolific content creators Tanner Tomassi (playing with Richard Livornese, Jr.) and Kyle Koszuta (partnered with Patrick Kawka). Tanner took it for his first-ever gold. Check out our full event recap for more.

We knew he liked to swing a paddle from time to time, but here’s a deal we never saw coming: 11Six24 is putting some major star power behind a few of its upcoming launches, teaming up with TV’s favorite deal-maker, Howie Mandel. Why Howie, you ask? We’ll counter with this: Why not?

Just because you’re right-handed and find yourself on the right side doesn’t mean you’re in a beta position. Being aggressive from here comes down to patterns and strategy. You’ve got more weapons than you might think.

Zane Navratil walks you through his tried-and-true options.

✅ Target the opponent diagonally from you. This limits their options to attack. Keep the ball low and get a feel for their strengths and weaknesses.

✅ Aim for their right foot, deep in the kitchen and wide toward the sideline. This is your safe shot, as it keeps that player on defense. Push them wide or deep enough and you’ll likely force a pop-up.

✅ Create a rhythm and then vary your shot locations. You know where to aim, now be unpredictable. Just like you, your opponent is looking for patterns to exploit. Mix up your shots: sideline, middle, shallow, deep … even mix in a lob. Never let the other team get comfortable.

✅ Take forehand dinks out of the air whenever possible. This puts you on the offensive, taking time away from your opponent while pushing the ball where you want.

✅ When you’re pushed out wide, the reverse logic applies. It’s tempting to counter a wide shot with another wide shot, but never fear resetting a dink to the middle. This lets you get back into position and start working on another pattern.

✅ When possible, look to go behind the player in front of you. Targeting the player diagonally from you means the other player will be pinching the middle in support. This leaves the sideline exposed. Mix in a few dinks to that open area, and you’ll start to open up holes in their defense.

👉 Watch the full video.

Franklin just added some fire to their C45 lineup.

The new Dynasty paddle is what you’ll see in Jorja Johnson’s hands, and if you’ve watched her rip drives down the line, you already know why.

It’s longer, slightly head-heavy, and made for players who like to bring the heat. Jorja swings the 14mm in red. It also comes in a mint chrome… but that one’s already sold out. The 16mm version is still available in both red and mint and ready to ship.

Check out the full C45 lineup.

While in the Big Apple for MLP Randall’s Island, Ben Johns stopped by CNN News Central to talk about the pickleball craze and his position as the sport’s most accomplished pro.

He covered the standard talking points, like the sport’s impressive recreational growth since 2020 as well as the increasingly competitive professional circuit.

Then Ben disclosed what attracted him to pickleball first in 2016, and why he keeps coming back for more.

“There are a lot of things about pickleball that are really engaging,” he said, “but it was the same for me initially as it is for most people now — you can play with anybody and have a great time.”

And while Ben is flying around the world to compete, the sport’s accessibility and social nature can be selling points for anyone.

“Anybody can play. And because of that, you meet a lot of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet in your normal, day-to-day lifestyle,” he said. “It brings a lot of people together from very different backgrounds.”

Major League Pickleball took over the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall’s Island, NY, over the weekend, with six of 16 Premier teams and all six Challenger teams taking the court.

It was a smaller event, the appetizer before the mid-season tournament this weekend in Grand Rapids, MI. But it wasn’t short on storylines — here are a few of our favorites:

➡️ The Carolina Hogs, with recent addition Etta Tuionetoa, showed out, earning 10 points from five matches and becoming a legitimate playoff contender.

➡️ The Columbus Sliders rolled, going undefeated and looking like a team to beat.

➡️ On the flip side, the once-dominant Orlando Squeeze faltered, earning just six points from a possible 15. This puts them on the fringe and could make for a tough playoff draw.

➡️ Four teams have clinched a playoff spot: Dallas Flash, St. Louis Shock, Columbus Sliders and Brooklyn Pickleball Team. The New Jersey 5s will be soon to follow.

➡️ On the Challenger side, the Nashville Chefs were the talk of the weekend, going undefeated and cementing themselves as the second team behind the Las Vegas Night Owls.

👉 Read our full event recap.

If your Fourth of July weekend was heavy on the standing, walking, or pickleballing, your feet probably have notes.

G-defy makes footwear that’s built for relief. We’re talking shock absorption, comfort-first design, and support that actually lasts past game three.

Each pair comes with two free orthotics tailored for different arch types, so you’re not just buying shoes. You’re investing in how your whole body moves.

Fresh styles just dropped for summer. Use code DINK for 30% off orders over $100 and give your feet something to actually look forward to.

July is a popular time of year for new paddle releases… and this month is no exception.

Some of the sport’s top brands are dropping new models this summer, many of which will flood the market this month. These run the gamut from fresh shapes, surprising price points, and so, so many new full-foam cores.

Here’s a list of the notable paddles that have dropped recently, or will be available soon.

Go ahead… it’s OK to look.

👉 Check out our article for more info.

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