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There’s a new league in pro pickleball. But only if you’re 50 or older. And only if you’re ready to compete against “the best of the best.” The U.S. Legends Pickleball League is actively drafting players to fill out 120 roster spots across 12 teams. Interested? Read on below. The clock is ticking to throw your paddle in the rack.

In This Issue:
— Defying odds with 48-year-old pro Matt Wright
— New ‘Legends League’ draws 200 to tryouts
— This Amazon Basics paddle is USAP-approved

Time to lace ‘em up.

It’s almost MLP Playoff time, and the New Jersey 5s want you to know it. Their self-released hype video has been updated to include their newest addition, Noe Khlif. “We gonna be the champs ‘til the day we die, so we’re yellin’ out 1-2-3-4-5!”

Another day, another ritzy enclave at odds about building more pickleball courts. This time, it’s Mountain View, CA. Demand is there, but some residents don’t want to sacrifice green space for concrete courts. There’s even an online opposition campaign: “Save Cuesta Park and Annex.”

John Lucian Goins won his first PPA gold medal, defeating Gabe Joseph in the finals at PPA Bristol. The 17-year-old had to beat a behemoth in Christian Alshon to get there, and also picked up the nickname “Johnny G” along the way. Congrats, G.

It’s been a minute since we checked in with you, dear reader. But we’re happy you’re here. And we want to make sure that feeling is mutual. So take a few seconds and weigh in, would you?

Matt Wright is a 48-year-old corporate attorney based in Wichita, Kansas. He’s also one of pro pickleball’s most electric veterans.

This weekend at PPA Bristol, he made it to the men’s doubles finals with teammate Jaume Martinez Vich, an astonishing accomplishment for anyone who’s been fighting with players half his age as long as Matt has.

Matt and Jaume ran into the buzzsaw that is Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio. But their run brought to light a few observations on how you can compete when the odds are stacked against you.

✅ Matt will never be the most agile player out there. He counteracts this with absolutely elite court positioning and anticipation. His ability to read where a ball is likely going next, and react accordingly, is next-level.

✅ Matt knows when a shot is out of his reach. Lobs? Drop-shots? Aggressive ATP defense? Nah. He doesn’t even try, opting instead to play within himself and let the other stuff go.

✅ You don’t thrive in pro pickleball without fast hands, and when Matt is feeling it, his are as quick as anyone’s. (Editor’s note: This is a skill you can improve; stop making excuses and go drill!)

✅ Matt isn’t beating anyone from the baseline. Instead, he’s living proof that a consistent drop shot is still king. And he very rarely misses one.

✅ When all else fails, get yourself a younger, more agile partner who can chase down anything and speed up with the best of them. Like Jaume Martinez Vich.

➡️ Watch Matt and Jaume topple Tyson McGuffin and Max Freeman in the semis of PPA Bristol.

We all know pickleball does wonders for your body and mind. But the truth is, muscles, joints, and recovery don’t bounce back the same way as the years roll on.

That’s where NOVOS Core comes in. Co-developed with Harvard and MIT scientists, this daily longevity drink targets the 12 root causes of aging to help keep you sharp, mobile, and ready for whatever your next match throws at you.

We’re talking better recovery, healthier joints, deeper sleep, and the kind of focus that keeps you one step ahead at the kitchen line. Backed by research, stocked by Equinox, and featured in places like Forbes and Sports Illustrated.

The Dink fam gets 10% off their first month with code THEDINK10.

➡️ Try it here and see how good aging can feel.

If you’re 50+ and looking to level up your pickleball status, there’s a new league in the mix. And they're actively looking to fill team rosters.

The U.S. Legends Pickleball League, a burgeoning team-based league for players over 50, held its one and only combine in Richmond, Virginia, over the weekend, drawing more than 200 hopefuls vying for a spot on one of the 12 teams.

"The USLPL was created to offer greater access and value to all 50+ and 60+ players who want to be part of an elite senior pro organization," co-founder Ron Cortese told The Dink.

The 12 teams include:

Each team will draft 10 players straight from the combine for a total of 120 players in the league. Fun fact: Eight of the 12 teams are owned or co-owned by women. 

Starting in September, once per month, teams will play four league matches, or “showdowns,” in top-tier indoor facilities in Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

➡️ Want in? You can still register to compete through August 15. Learn more.

PPA Bristol is in the books, just in time for the gang to gear up for the first wave of Major League Pickleball playoffs this weekend in San Diego.

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with all this pro action, here’s the water cooler recap from Tennessee:

Women’s Singles
🥇 Parris Todd
🥈 Kaitlyn Christian

Men’s Singles
🥇 John Lucian Goins
🥈 Gabriel Joseph

Mixed Doubles
🥇 Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns
🥈 Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson

Women’s Doubles
🥇 Anna Bright/Anna Leigh Waters
🥈 Jorja Johnson/Rachel Rohrabacher

Men’s Doubles
🥇 Gabe Tardio/Ben Johns
🥈 Matt Wright/Jaume Martinez Vich

➡️ For a full rundown, including the bronze medal winners, check out our event recap.

We all like to think our ankles can handle anything pickleball throws at them. Until they can’t.

The TayCo AthleticX Brace gives them the extra support they wish they had sooner. Worn right over your shoes, it stabilizes without slowing you down, so you can still cover the court and chase that “impossible” dink without hesitation.

It’s trusted by pro trainers, college programs, and everyday players who want to keep playing hard without replaying past injuries.

➡️ You guys can use code DINK20 gets you $20 off here.

Paper towels: ✅
Baby diapers: ✅
Trash bags: ✅

Soon, there will be a new item you can add to your Amazon cart: Pickleball paddles.

The world’s largest online retailer has officially entered the pickleball market. Its debut model, the Amazon Basics AB-01, was approved by USA Pickleball on August 5.

It’s not the best-looking paddle we’ve ever seen. But it’s far from the ugliest. Depending on the price, could this replace the Onix Z5 as the go-to budget option for beginners?

Time will tell. But you better believe we’ll be ordering a few as soon as they’re out.

➡️ Read the full article.

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