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A guy in Ontario wanted a neighborhood pickleball court so badly, he up and built one. No permits. No permission from the town. He didn’t even own the land. Now he’s being told to tear it all down and foot the bill. Guess some rules aren’t meant to be broken?

Speaking of rules, pro Catherine Parenteau details some best practices when it comes to covering middle at the kitchen line. Her helpful X’s and O’s below.

In This Issue:
— St. Louis Shock clinch MLP #1 seed
— The X-Rule for covering middle
— When it’s better to ask for permission

Away we go.

It was a wild one in Dallas over the weekend. We get into it below, but here’s the headline: The St. Louis Shock went undefeated and clinched the #1 seed for the playoffs, while the Dallas Flash were solid at home and secured the #2 spot.

A trending Reddit thread is tackling the age-old question of proper etiquette when it comes to open play pickleball. Don’t offer unsolicited advice. Be liberal with your line calls. Avoid lobbing someone twice your age? Enter the debate at your own risk.

Pickleball content creator and funnyman Ed Ju artfully demonstrates how to clear a court surface when nobody remembers the leaf blower: Everyone gets in line, paddles in hand, and starts swinging like crazy.

One of two organized groups advocating for pro players’ rights just elected Zane Navratil its president. “It’s time for a collaborative, solutions-oriented voice at the table,” Zane said of his new role leading the Pro Player Committee.

We all know the importance of covering middle when playing doubles. But a quick session of X’s and O’s with pro Catherine Parenteau reveals a useful trick that could bail you out of a lot of sticky situations.

When everyone is at the kitchen line, CP illustrates the importance of court positioning to minimize attackable openings. Let’s say the ball is hit to the player across from you:

This, by now, should be fairly common knowledge. By covering the two-thirds of the court closest to the ball, you’re minimizing your opponents’ ability to speed up into open court. If they dink cross-court, you can easily recover. If they try to speed up, chances are high it’ll go out.

But what if they still try to attack through the middle? Whose ball should that be?

A good guide is the X-Rule, which simply states you always let the player across from the attack defend the middle. It might not be ideal positioning every time, but at least roles are well-defined and you’ll avoid the dreaded paddle-clack.

👉 Watch the video.

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If you’re not a fan of Major League Pickleball yet, watch this match between the St. Louis Shock and the New Jersey 5s from the weekend’s event in Dallas, then report back. Spoiler: It goes to a Dreambreaker. And it’s positively electric.

MLP Dallas was a barnburner. Pickler Universe provided a world-class venue, and crowds were treated to some of the best matches of the season as a result.

When all was said and done, a few storylines bubbled to the surface:

✅ The St. Louis Shock were on one, dropping just one point all weekend. They’ve gone 11-0 in their last two events, a showing that’s earned them the #1 seed heading into the playoffs.

✅ Ben Johns looked like a new player in MLP, smiling, coaching his teammates, and playing his heart out on the court. He led the Mad Drops to a gutsy win against the Dallas Flash, 21-18 in a Dreambreaker.

✅ The Flash are fallible, but remain a serious championship contender as the clear #2 seed. Tyra Black didn’t lose a game all weekend, a dominant showing for her team’s home event.

For a full event breakdown, plus a look ahead at the playoff race, check out our recap article.

This is the multimillion-dollar pickleball complex at Burlington’s City Park, about 30 minutes east of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Beautiful, no? City officials thought so, too. So in an effort to prioritize the locals, The Almanac News reports, they imposed restrictions on out-of-town players, like increased prices and limited access to amenities. And they couldn’t play unless accompanied by a resident member.

The glitzy facility opened in May. Today, their attendance is suffering. During the past few months, City Park has reportedly been empty during half of its operating hours while the free outdoor courts just a few miles away are bustling with activity.

“We thought the restrictions at City Park were good because residents got the advantage,” said Tony Laws, the city’s recreation director. “But they want to go where all their friends are playing.”

Build it and they will come… unless you charge them extra and tell their friends to stay home.

You figured out your playing style. Now let’s make sure your shoes can keep up.

G-defy’s lineup was made for movement. We’re talking real shock absorption and built-in orthotics that align your body and ease the pounding from hours on court.

They dropped 15 new summer styles, from court-ready pairs to everyday wear. Use code DINK for 30% off orders over $100.

It’s comfort you didn’t know you were missing.

A pickleball enthusiast in Lake Crest Beach, Ontario, felt his neighborhood needed a pickleball court. So he built one.

The only problem? He didn’t run his plans by the town. Or get the proper permits. Or make sure the massive concrete slab wouldn’t be obstructing any important underground infrastructure.

Worse yet, he built the court on town property. And now, he’ll have to tear it all down at his own expense.

Not surprisingly, the courts have been a hit, attracting players of all ages and skill levels.

“It was nothing malicious about it. I have a great group of neighbors. They had talked about pickleball. So, I chose to put it in,” the court’s architect, Rob DiMenna, said at a July 21 council meeting.

DiMenna said he’d happily sign a lease agreement with the town and assume all insurance liabilities.

But in the end, the council wouldn’t budge, saying it never would have approved a court in that location in the first place.

Let this be a lesson: Sometimes, asking for permission is wiser than begging for forgiveness.

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