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The worst thing about pickleball

The worst thing about pickleball

It's National Championship week. The right formula for rec play.

December 11, 2024

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Happy Wednesday. We’re halfway through the work week and we have the perfect thing to get you over the hump.

We’re giving away some chicken sandwiches. Just refer two fellow pickleball players to the newsletter by next Wednesday and receive a $5 Chick-fil-A gift card.

Copy & Paste this link: https://newsletter.thedinkpickleball.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER in a text message or email to get started. Only real, unique people count as referred subscribers. Don’t cheat. We can tell.

In This Issue:

⚖️ Balance your level of competition
🫵 Pickleball's unpopular opinions
🇮🇳 India’s no. 1 ranked player on PicklePod

Enjoy your lunch.

Our Picks ☝️

🎁 Holidays: This year’s most popular gift

The most popular gift among the pickleball crowd this year is going to be this dancing pickle with its own pickleball-themed tune. If that’s not your style, find the perfect gift for the pickleballer in your life here.

🗣️ Quote: Cold hard advice from Zane Navratil

“Drilling in Pickleball is like eating your vegetables. We all know that we should do it, but we don’t.”

🗼 New Heights: Pickleball at the world’s tallest building

Watch Australian pickleball pro Mitch Hargreaves travel to the top of the Burj Khalifa and hit some dinks on the 163rd floor.

🏝️ Destination: Caribbean pickleball in 2025

The APP just announced a first-ever stop in the Cayman Islands as part of its international expansion initiative. The Cayman Islands Open will take March 20-23 next year.

Finding the Right Balance in Rec Play

On your journey to becoming pro, it’s important to play against all types of competition. James Ignatowich suggests a balance of different skill levels to hone different parts of your game.

He suggests you split your rec games at this ratio:

Be the best player on the court 25% of the time to practice aggression and refine advanced shots.
Play as the worst player 25% of the time to identify and address weaknesses.
Spend 50% of practice playing with evenly matched partners to test and develop overall gameplay.

When playing at these various levels, targeting will be a factor. Being the worst player on the court gives the experience of what it feels like to be the target.

Being the best player on court gives you the opposite perspective and allows you to practice shrinking the court to remove pressure from your partner.

No matter which skill level you’re playing at, you get out of the game what you put into it. If you want to get tournament-style reps in, then treat it with the same intensity as a tournament.

Get a Grip on Proton's Best

Ever wondered what gives the pros their edge? It's not just skill—it's also about having the right gear. Proton’s series offers a paddle for every player.

Whether you’re a fan of the super soft touch of the Series 2 paddle, known for its gentle play and control, or the gritty, spin-friendly texture of the Series 3, designed to extend your dwell time and sharpen your game—Proton has your back. And let’s not forget the latest buzz, the Series 4 'Project Roadrunner,' which has been flying off the shelves for a reason.

So, head over to Pickleball Central, the only spot to snag these Proton exclusives. Use the code THEDINK to chop $25 off your purchase and score free shipping.

Gear up like a pro, play like a champ, and make every match count with a Proton in your hand.

The Biggest Amateur Team Event in History

You can find minor league teams in all the major league sports. It’s the place where players refine their skills and prove their worth to make the jump into the big leagues. Pickleball is no different.

Some of the top pros in Major League Pickleball got their start in The Dink Minor League and this weekend a new class of National Championship teams will be crowned in St. Louis.

In 2024 we saw:

150+ tournaments nationwide
12,000+ players compete
7 countries represented

Hundreds of teams who earned a Dream Ticket throughout the year will put in all on the line for the chance to win a national title, part of the $50K prize pool, and a chance to compete in Dubai.

You can get involved in the action with fantasy pickleball from FansPlay. Draft your team of all-stars and climb the FansPlay leaderboard. Watch the drama unfold all weekend long on The Dink YouTube channel.

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The Worst Thing About Pickleball

We asked you for the most common unpopular pickleball opinion and the result was something that’s plagued the game since its inception, the name. The majority of voters selected the “The sport’s name sucks” option in the poll.

It’s hard not to agree. A game that carries a leisurely reputation combined with a goofy name is hard to take seriously. Imagine how much faster the game would have taken off with a different name.

In second place was the opinion “The community isn't as nice and friendly as it paints itself to be.” This may be true in some circles where the competitive nature and lack of court availability intersect but when compared to other spots you can’t deny the level of inclusivity in pickleball.
In third place was “It's okay to be a banger (and a lobber).” While some feel like banging and lobbing aren’t the purest forms of pickleball, they do create some of the most entertaining points.

Pickleball is still a young game and it’s hard to imagine how it will evolve in the next ten years. Who knows, maybe we’ll even see a name change.

MUEV’s Got Something Special

Ever noticed how some pickleball gear seems to forget it’s meant for actual people? Not MUEV. They're all about merging function with fashion, and they're doing it with a flair that catches the eye and keeps you comfy no matter how intense the match gets.

For the fellas, think cool blues and crisp neutral tones. And for the ladies? It’s all about those bright pastels and bold colors that pop at the net and beyond. And the cherry on top? Kamryn Blackwood herself sports MUEV's threads, so you’re in stylish company.

Dive into their sitewide sale—snag 30% off everything and score free shipping on orders over $50.

Explore the collection that’s reshaping pickleball fashion at MUEV.

The Next Frontier of Tour Wars

If you ask Chat GPT who the number 1 player in India is, it will tell you the triple crown champion, Armaan Bhatia. He is leading the pickleball revolution in India and will influence how the game develops as factions compete in the newest version of tour wars.

Watch the episode here.