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Zane Navratil has a message for the haters. After setting the pickleball internet ablaze with his controversial definition of what makes someone a real pro, he’s back on the PicklePod to defend his take. And he's brought receipts.
But that's just the beginning. We've got a paddle getting banned at the worst possible time, a debate over whether Team USA is actually all that good, and CJ Klinger's outrageously expensive Chipotle habit.
In This Issue:
— Get better in just 2 hours a week
— Why Selkirk is ditching widebodies
— Ben Johns’ secret weapon
Guac is extra.
Our Picks 👆
🌯 Dream Sponsor: CJ Klinger Scores Chipotle Deal
CJ Klinger just landed the tastiest sponsorship in pickleball. The 19-year-old is officially backed by Chipotle, and his go-to order is pure chaos: double chicken, double guac, two kinds of beans, and rice. No salsa. No cheese. No regrets. The PicklePod crew has some thoughts.
🔥 Reddit Debate: Could You Return a Pro’s Serve?
Think you could handle a serve from Ben Johns or Chris Haworth? A Reddit thread is debating just that. The consensus? Probably. But it might not be pretty. Surviving the third shot? That's a whole different ballgame.
🤯 Plot Twist: Ben Johns Has Two Forehands
Just when you thought the GOAT had run out of tricks. Ben Johns busted out a surprise left-handed forehand during his singles match against Brandon French at PPA Worlds. Not once. Not twice. Multiple times. Turns out, it's a throwback to his tennis days, when he actually preferred hitting two forehands.
🌟 Star Power: Hollywood Takes Over PPA Worlds
Mark Wahlberg, Jeremy Piven, John Isner, and UFC star Sean O'Malley are trading their day jobs for pickleball paddles. They'll join Ben Johns, Anna Bright, and other top pros for a celebrity showdown Thursday night at PPA Worlds. Get the details.
How to Get Better at Pickleball in Just 2 Hours a Week
Got two hours a week to play pickleball? PPA pro Eric Roddy says that's plenty of time to meaningfully improve your game. But only if you stop playing endless rec games and start practicing with purpose.
His prescription? One hour of drilling. One hour of competitive play. Here's the breakdown:
Minutes 0–10: Dink with purpose. Work all four directional patterns. Mix in topspin rolls and defensive dinks.
Minutes 10–20: Speedups and counters. Attack your partner's shoulder and hip. Switch roles and practice resetting.
Minutes 20–30: Kitchen battles. Play mini-games to four or five points, focusing on the shots you just drilled.
Minutes 30–50: Resets, drops, and drives. Start in the transition zone, then move back to the baseline. Prioritize control over power.
Minutes 50–60: Play 7–11. Put those skills to work under pressure.
Final hour: Game on. Play competitive rec games and actually use what you practiced.
The takeaway: Stop counting games. Start making your court time count.
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Zane Doubles Down, Worlds Heats Up, and a Paddle Gets Banned
Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty are back, and they've got plenty to get off their chests. This week's PicklePod covers everything from the inaugural MLP Nations Cup to sketchy paddles and internet trolls who can't take a hot take.
A few highlights:
What makes a pro? After getting roasted online, Zane doubles (and triples) down on his controversial definition of a professional pickleball player. Jack Sock and Donald Young even weigh in.
Team USA wasn't THAT good? Despite winning the Nations Cup, the guys argue that two MLP teams could beat the American squad. They also pitch a better format for next year.
Paddle drama strikes again. Nico brings a suspiciously powerful CPX paddle to Worlds, only to discover it's just been delisted by USA Pickleball.
Worlds gets interesting. New partnerships, brutal mixed doubles draws, and a birthday qualifier for Zane.
Candy corn slander. The Halloween candy draft gets surprisingly heated.
All that and a whole lot more.
Stop Getting Targeted at the Kitchen Line
The ball’s coming at your hip. You’ve seen this point before, and you lost it.
According to pro Tanner Tomassi, getting targeted at the kitchen line usually comes down to positioning, not paddle skill.
A handful of small adjustments can make you nearly impossible to attack, and one of them is a mid-court move pros rarely explain.
Why Selkirk Is Rethinking Widebodies
Widebody paddles offer bigger sweet spots, more forgiveness, and excellent consistency. So why is Selkirk slowly moving away from them?
Because players aren't buying them.
In a recent interview with Nico the Lefty, Selkirk's Rob Barnes revealed that elongated paddles outsell widebodies by a staggering 8-to-1 margin.
The plan? Shift toward more hybrid shapes starting in mid-2027. Here's why:
Better tech: Modern hybrids deliver forgiveness without sacrificing reach.
Changing tastes: Players simply prefer elongated shapes.
Flat-top hype: Barnes thinks the current craze is mostly a fad.
Bottom line: The widebody isn't broken. It's just losing the popularity contest.
➡️ Learn more and watch the interview.
Headlines & Quick Hits
Why Pros Are Hitting This Once-Rare Cross-Court Flick
6 Keys to Taking Your 3rd Shot on the Rise
3 Pickleball Tips I wish I’d Learned Sooner
Highlights
Nike’s new ALW shoes
One pro’s insane diet
The guys guess your DUPR
Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered
A review from The Dink Fam...
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