If you’ve ever wondered how an average, borderline 5.0 dude would fair against a top-ranked PPA women’s pro, well, today’s your lucky day.
After weeks of hype and speculation, the full singles match recap of Anna Bright taking on our founder Thomas Shields is officially live on our YouTube channel. And even more ridiculous than you think.
In This Issue:
— The Tesla x Selkirk paddle is back (for now)
— Pro hacks for the ‘re-establishment’ rule
— Fired pros file appeal, seek reinstatement
PS: Our gift to you is today’s newsletter, the only one hitting your inbox this week. Happy holidays, Dink fam.
Our Picks 👆
🚨 It’s Back: Tesla x Selkirk Paddle Redux
Back by very popular demand, an even more limited run of the Tesla x Selkirk pickleball paddle just went on sale. If it’s not sold out by now, we’d be shocked — but you might still have time to secure the bag. If that fails, we’re giving one away soon. Follow us on social for more.
🗓️ MLP Schedule: Now Live for 2026
The 2026 MLP will be condensed into 14 weeks from May to August, with new stops at St. Pete Athletic, the Newport Beach Tennis and Pickleball Club, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Take special note of The Dink MiLP events mixed in again this year. Gotta love that.
🚫 In a Jam: Poor Form or Fair Play?
Many rec courts have some type of obstruction, whether it’s an ill-placed support beam or a tight sideline barricade or fence. One Reddit user wants to know: is it poor form to intentionally serve into these obstructions, or just part of the game? Pro Zane Navratil even weighed in: “Rec play — poor etiquette.”
🍿 Big Premiere: Pickleball Gets Its Lifetime Moment
If you’re like us, you’ve been counting down the days until Lifetime’s “A Pickleball Christmas” premiere. Not because you thought it would be a cinematic masterpiece, per se, but because it’s a movie about pickleball and that’s good enough for you. Honestly, same. Before we give our full review, we want yours…
Did you watch Lifetime's 'A Pickleball Christmas' movie on Saturday night?
Understanding the ‘Re-Establishment’ Rule
Pickleball rules are full of quirks. And no technicality causes more tiffs or challenges than the “re-establishment” rule.
Pros hate getting called for it. You’re probably not getting called for it enough.
During our recent The Dink MiLP National Championship event in Dallas, we pulled legendary USAP ref Ron Ponder onto a court and lobbed as many rule-related questions as we could at him, including this one. Here’s what you need to know.
✅ The re-establishment rule is about where both of your feet are at the moment you strike a volley, and whether you have re‑established outside the kitchen before doing so.
Here’s the most common violation:
A player steps into the NVZ to hit a dink (even a toe on the line counts here)
The next ball is sent at them in the air
They backpedal off the line and hit a return volley
If both feet don’t touch down outside of the NVZ before contact is made, that’s a fault
This happens all the time. And honestly, you’re probably guilty of a few innocent faults yourself. But it’s worth keeping an eye out across the net, too — if an opponent isn’t re-establishing regularly, even in rec play, you’re well within your rights to call them on it.
The pros have this down to a science. Ponder tells us how:
If your toe is on the line, simply lift the toe while keeping your heel down — boom, you’ve re-established outside the NVZ
A simple, short slide step does the trick as well — quick and efficient, you’re back in the game
This is one of those rules that’s more complex than it sounds. Check out the video to ensure you’re on the right side of the law every time.
Clean Protein in Stick Form
Wild venison. High protein. Low calorie. Shockingly clean.
Maui Nui’s snack sticks are not what you expect.
And yes, they also make a Summer Sausage.
Buy four gifts, get one free. No wrapping required. No convincing needed.
Anna Bright Fights with Refs During Match vs. Thomas Shields
The wait is over.
After a week of teaser clips, cryptic captions, and viral speculation, the full Thomas Shields vs. Anna Bright singles match is officially live on our YouTube channel.
A 5.0 vs. the World No. 2.
A founder vs. a pro.
The rivalry so contentious refs were called in for game 2. The showdown so ridiculous there was a paddle check involving a handsaw. The match that never should have happened, but did anyway.
Did Anna “humble” Thomas as promised, or did he beat the odds and shock the world? Without further ado…
New Partnerships, Fresh Faces Shine at PPA Daytona Beach
The final PPA Tour event of the 2025 calendar year is in the books and my, what an event it was.
While a slew of big names opted to sit this one out, the action on-court didn’t suffer in the least.
Just a few of the many storylines that stood out:
Jorja and JW Johnson both earned double gold
Two of the four guys in the men’s doubles final had never won PPA gold before
Jorja and ALW were unstoppable
Women’s singles saw a fresh face atop the podium
Chris Haworth is really, really good at pickleball
The full list of winners:
— Women’s Singles: 🥇 Catherine Parenteau def. 🥈 Katerina Stewart
— Men’s Singles: 🥇 Chris Haworth def. 🥈 Gabe Joseph
— Mixed Doubles: 🥇 Jorja and JW Johnson def. 🥈 Kaitlyn Christian and Andrei Daescu
— Women’s Doubles: 🥇 Jorja Johnson and Anna Leigh Waters def. 🥈 Catherine Parenteau and Tyra Black
— Men’s Doubles: 🥇 Augie Ge and JW Johnson def. 🥈 Riley Newman and Noe Khlif
The next PPA Tour event is The Carvana Masters, held at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA, from January 12-18.
A Clean Save at the Buzzer
Short on time but still want to nail the gift?
A Selkirk gift card lets you send something instantly, pick the delivery date, and include a message. They get the paddle, gear, or apparel they’ve been eyeing, and you avoid the stress of guessing.
Everyone’s happy.
Fired Pros File Appeal Seeking UPA Reinstatement
Nine days after the UPA terminated their contracts for "participating in competitor events" in Japan, James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman have filed an appeal.
The appeal, submitted with support of pro player group the WPPA, challenges the UPA's decision to terminate the contracts "for participating in a 'grow the game' educational clinic," saying the repercussions are "arbitrary, disproportionate, and unsupported by their agreements."
“The players filed the appeal to correct the record and seek reinstatement,” the statement reads. “The appeal underscores the lack of a clear, consistent, and transparent disciplinary and dispute-resolution process at the UPA."
In a brief statement, Jeff Watson, VP of Communications and Marketing for the UPA, told The Dink: “The UPA has received an appeal and will take the appropriate next steps to evaluate.”
As part of the appeal, Ignatowich, Fu, and Glozman said the following: “Nothing in our contracts prohibited this activity. We did not compete in another league, promote a rival tour, or receive compensation of any kind.”
Headlines & Quick Hits
Anna Bright Plays Multiple Points with Sawed-in-Half Paddle
The Paddle Grip Hack Quietly Taking Over Pro Pickleball
‘Hayden Patriquin Is Not a Psychic’: Don’t Trust a Fake
Highlights
Gold medal hands
A blueprint for better points
Jorja and Ann: just too good
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