Turn mediocre dinks into winners

Hustlers strike in D.C. Pickle at the ballpark

June 17, 2024

Let’s start the week with a little gratitude. This post in the PB Forum on Facebook reflects how a lot of people feel about the game, regardless of age.

“I express my heartfelt gratitude to pickleball, a sport that has brought me immense joy, excitement, and vitality at 72. It has not only kept me fit and active but also granted me a superb community of like-minded individuals who share my passion.”

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In This Issue:

🏆 The Hustlers take D.C.
🦺 Can you hit the cones?
🔬 Emerging paddle brand attracting pros

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The Two-Cone Drill

There’s nothing quite like settling into a cross-court dink battle. It’s mano a mano with your opponent to see who will make a mistake first.

And while hitting the perfect cross-court dink is the goal, perfection is not always the answer.

If you can make your opponent move from the midline to the sideline, your mediocre dinks become more effective.

Zane Navratil explains his new drill to help work on targeting the middle and sideline dink.

Two-Cone Drill
The drill involves placing two cones about a foot inside the kitchen line. One near the sideline and the other near the midline.

During the drill, you will dink cross-court back and forth with your partner. If you hit the cone, you win the point. Anything beyond the kitchen line is out.

Either cone counts as a point, so there’s incentive to switch your target and make it more difficult for your opponent to find a rhythm. The cone on the court gives you objective feedback to see if the ball is really landing exactly where you want it to.

The Next Step
Once you are hitting cones consistently, it’s time to add a twist: the Two-Cone Drill with Attacking. The threat of an attack makes it so you can’t hit a lofty ball, only focusing on trying to hit the cone.

If that dink is left too high, you’ll lose via an attack. This drill is a closer simulation to real match play and can help make you a killer at the kitchen line.

Be Like Jack Sock

Jack Sock, a four-time Grand Slam tennis champion and Olympic gold medalist, has transitioned into a pickleball star, making a significant impact on the game and earning himself a signature paddle from Selkirk.

Featuring a signature “Jack Sock” colorway, the LUXX Control Air paddle is Jack's weapon of choice, seamlessly supporting his transition from tennis to pickleball. Known for its exceptional control, this paddle lets Jack dictate the match's pace, perfectly suiting his aggressive, offense-driven style.

For players who want to match Jack's powerful play without sacrificing control, the LUXX Control Air is the paddle of choice. If you're a tennis convert like Jack Sock, this paddle is your perfect fit.

Step up your game with Jack's signature paddle today.

Everyday They’re Hustlin’

Some people said picking Jack Sock sixth overall in the MLP Draft was a stretch. They said that he wouldn't be able to lead a team in Major League Pickleball. Well, the current standings suggest otherwise.

Hustlers Go Undefeated
Jack Sock and the NY Hustlers went 6-0 on the weekend at MLP Washington, D.C., with three regulation wins and three Dreambreaker wins. Although Sock was their first pick, Lea Jansen, Jackie Kawamoto, and CJ Klinger all stepped up to move them to first place in the MLP standings.

Johnsons Top the Charts
The Dallas Flash had two impressive 4-0 victories yesterday to help push JW Johnson, Jorja Johnson and Augie Ge to the top of the player standings. Hurricane Tyra Black was not far behind at sixth on the list.

Utah Slow Out of the Gates
The Utah Black Diamonds made their season debut this weekend and left D.C. at the bottom of the standings. The team went 0-4 and will need to turn things around before the Mid-Season Tournament next month.

Who Turned Out the Lights
A lack of lights at the venue caused headaches throughout the weekend. Matches were interrupted by the setting sun and had to be postponed to the next day or later in the MLP season.

Each team will have the opportunity to change up their roster before the next event, as the first waiver wire period is this week. We’ll see which teams are aggressive in making adjustments. The Dink will have it all covered.

Pickleball at the Ballpark

Last week, the Detroit Tigers joined the trend of professional sports teams celebrating the game of pickleball. The Tigers brought a temporary court onto the concourse as the team took on the Nationals.

Fans could purchase specific tickets to the game and receive commemorative paddles for the event.

Meanwhile, in San Diego, the Padres have taken things a step further. They added pickleball courts in their recent renovation of Gallagher Square outside Petco Park.

Fans can play a game before watching the Padres or meet up on non-gamedays for extended hours.

Go Yard

Pickleball isn't just about keeping the ball in play; it's about dominating the court with some seriously slick gear. That's where Warstic steps in. Known for their killer instincts in sports aesthetics, they’re now serving up game-changing pickleball equipment.

From paddles engineered for precision to gloves that grip like a dream and bags that scream style — not just storage — Warstic is here to upgrade your game, no matter if you’re just starting out or you’re the king or queen of the court.

Dive into Warstic’s lineup of elite pickleball gear. Make sure to use code DINK at checkout for a cool 10% off all pickleball products.

Pickleball Returns to the National Mall

Last summer, pickleball courts landed in the shadow of the Washington Monument. Pickleball at the National Mall attracted celebrities, pros, and hundreds of amateur players.

This year, pickleball courts return to the nation’s capital. The pop-up event is scheduled for September 27-29 and will include instructional clinics, exhibition events, and the ability to reserve a court for your foursome.

Perhaps the threat of Honest Abe spying on the courts will finally lead to some decent line calls.

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