Turn your warm-up into a training session

Former NFL player sets lofty pickleball goals. No. 1 and 2 upset in Texas.

March 17, 2025

Green beer, green shirts, and green dots. Anyone who tuned in to the pro action over the weekend may have noticed a curious little red or green dot pop up on the screen in critical moments.

That wasn’t your eyes playing tricks; turns out, a brand-new replay system was quietly rolled out during some later-stage matches, including Sunday’s finals.

“It’s called SpotON Replay,” UPA-A President Jason Aspes told The Dink of the proprietary new software built in-house. Basically, it’ll indicate whether a ball was in or out using an intuitive green or red dot that leaves little room for misinterpretation.

They’re chasing bad line calls out of pickleball like snakes out of Ireland.

In This Issue:

🥇 Fresh faces top PPA podiums in Texas
📚 Tyra Black’s intentional approach to drilling
🏈 Ex-NFLer leaves pro frisbee for pickleball

Happy St. Paddy’s Day, fam.

Our Picks ☝️

🆕 Keep It Fresh: When to Switch Your Overgrip

Never replacing your paddle’s grip is like using the same running shoes on repeat — bad idea. Whatever your skill level, a fresh grip can make a world of difference. Know when to change it up. (Tip: It’s more often than you might think.)

📱 Kid Friendly: Using Pickleball to Combat Screen Time

It’s no surprise that kids are spending too much time glued to screens. In Malaysia, they think they have the answer: Free pickleball for all. The new initiative is “a full-fledged push to combat rising inactivity levels, reduce screen time, and promote national unity.”

🗞️ Extra, Extra: Another Trade in MLP 

Late last week, the Bay Area Breakers acquired high-energy Darrian “DJ” Young while the defending champs Dallas Flash added up-and-comer Wyatt Stone to their roster. The MLP season goes into full swing next month in Orlando.

🗓️ Get in the Game: Minor League Schedule Drop

The Dink Minor League Pickleball just released an updated schedule of 2025 events, including State Championships and Regional Showdowns. Think you have what it takes? Let’s see you prove it on the court.

Tyra Black’s Go-To Warmup Routine

Pickleball pro (and freshly minted PPA gold medalist) Hurricane Tyra Black recently sat down with paddle reviewer John Kew to talk about her rise from tennis star to pickleball powerhouse.

The two hit the court for some instructional sessions, where Black dropped this gem: “I don’t really drill too often.”

That doesn’t mean she isn’t putting in the extra work, though. Here’s how she focuses on doing a few simple things with maximum intention every time she hits the court.

✅ Turn your warm-up into a training session – Instead of casually dinking, structure your warm-up with purpose. Start with dinking down the line, then crosscourt. Move into drop shots, resets, and fast hands firefights at the kitchen before working on serves and returns. Every shot gets attention before the game even starts.

✅ Play games that force skill development – Instead of just rallying, incorporate drills inside your games. Play skinny singles to refine placement, work on resets under pressure by intentionally speeding up attacks, and practice cat-and-mouse points at the kitchen to sharpen your soft game.

✅ Pick one focus per session – Every time Black steps on the court, she works on one specific skill—whether it’s refining her drop shot, improving her flick speed-ups, or adjusting her grip for better control. You don’t need a separate drilling day; just set an intention before each session and track your progress.

That might sound simple, but it’s clearly working for her. So enough with the excuse of “not having enough time” to drill; every time you play is an opportunity to improve.

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🤔 Newsletter getting clipped? Click ‘view entire message’ or click here to read online

Former NFL WR Ditches Frisbee for Pickleball

Rodney Adams, a former NFL wide receiver, was all set to make history as the first ex-NFL player to suit up for a pro Ultimate Frisbee team. The Colorado Summit even hyped up his signing, and Adams himself called it a perfect fit—until he changed course.

Turns out, chasing plastic discs wasn’t the move. Instead, Adams bailed on his UFA contract and is reportedly taking his talents to pro pickleball.

“I aim to become the first NFL crossover athlete to become a pro pickleball player with success,” Adams told The Dink. “I know what it takes to reach and compete at the highest level.”

Adams doesn’t have an official DUPR rating — or a contract from the PPA.

But, he has reportedly been “training with the best” in preparation for his new pursuit. The question is: Does he have what it takes?

A Weekend of Firsts for PPA Texas

It was a gusty, action-packed PPA affair in Texas over the weekend. When all the dust had settled, some fresh new faces emerged atop the podium.

Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio won men’s doubles, beating several tough teams along with way, including the three-seed Dylan Frazier and Andrei Daescu. In the end, they bested the top-seeded team of Christian Alshon and Federico Staksrud in five games.

That win put Johns at an incredible 150 career PPA golds. His mixed-doubles win with Anna Leigh Waters — the two topped Jorja and JW Johnson in three games — made it 151.

The most shocking result of the weekend came in women’s doubles. Both the (1) seed ALW/Catherine Parenteau and (2) seed Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher, were upset before Championship Sunday.

The women’s doubles final saw (3) seed Hurricane Tyra Black and Parris Todd overcome (5) Callie Smith and Etta Tuionetoa, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4, their first PPA gold together.

In singles, Christian Alshon won his second-straight gold over Federico Staksrud while Anna Leigh Waters continued her dominance with a gritty win over Kate Fahey.

Get the full breakdown, including some wild weather-related moments, right here.

PPA Texas Open Results

Selkirk's Basically Giving Away Free Money

Okay, pay attention, because this is basically free pickleball money: Selkirk's got a Bonus Bucks program and it's kinda awesome.

Spend $50 at Selkirk, get $5 Bonus Bucks. Spend $100, get $10. You get the idea. It's like getting paid to shop for pickleball gear... almost.

Bonus Bucks activate after 45 days (gotta be patient, folks), but then BAM – discounted paddles, apparel, whatever your heart desires on your next Selkirk haul.

Popularity Contest: Padel vs. Pickleball

With its low barrier to entry, social appeal, and accessibility, pickleball has cemented its place as America’s fastest-growing sport. But there’s a new challenger on the court—padel—and it’s reportedly growing even faster worldwide.

There are now 30 million padel players worldwide, with 60,000 courts across 130 countries as of early 2025. In the US, the number of padel clubs and courts doubled from 2023 to 2024, with California, Florida, Texas, and New York leading the charge.

As for pickleball, there are about 20 million people playing across 70,000 courts in the US alone — a number that’s expected to surge in the coming years. It’s also booming in Asia, India, Australia and elsewhere abroad, both at a recreational as well as pro level.

While some enthusiasts claim that pickleball is more of a hobby while padel represents a true sport (we, ahem, beg to differ), their relative popularity across the globe more likely comes down to a matter of accessibility and real estate.

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