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$800 million. The valuation the UPA will present to investors as they seek to raise $150-200 million, according to a scoop from sports journalist Joe Pompliano. More on that below.

In more absurd news, an evening match at a Florida country club got heated after a disputed kitchen call escalated into a multi-person melee involving pickleball paddles and ending in arrests. Hear the bonkers 911 call below.

In This Issue:
— JOOLA teases new hybrid, Kosmos
— 2 popular balls, compared in slow-mo
— You look like a noob, here’s why

Let’s do this.

Next week, we’re announcing the final batch of winners for The 120/Life Dink Awards, including the coveted Paddle of the Year honoree. JOOLA, Selkirk, RPM, Bread and Butter, Franklin… it’s a stacked category. But there can only be one. News will break first on the PicklePod Tuesday at noon — make sure you’re subscribed.

At any level, tournament days can feel like they drag on forever. Game after game, endless waiting in between. It’s a grind. One pro thinks he might have an answer: the mercy rule… 7-0 and it’s game over. Sound crazy? Hear him out.

The APP Tour’s top female, Sofia Sewing, recently announced she’s signing with the PPA Tour. Here’s something you probably didn’t know: she joins a decorated list of APP #1 seeds to make the same move, including Chris Haworth, Hunter Johnson, and Parris Todd. Is there room in pro pickleball for two tours? Zane breaks it down.

It’s quarter final Friday at PPA Cape Coral — many fans’ favorite day for interesting matchups, intense play, and unexpected results. For how to watch and what to watch for, check out our full event preview.

There’s nothing wrong with looking like an amateur out on the court. The vast majority of us, after all, are exactly that.

But when games start getting more competitive, your opponents will use the early points to sniff out weakness — and identify the weaker player. You don’t want that to be you.

It’s in this spirit that we offer a few telltale tendencies to avoid that might make you look like a noob, even if you’re not.

🚫 Lack of routine. There are two shots you know are coming every game: your serve and your return. Having a set routine and starting position for each helps establish consistency and focus your mind. A player across the net who approaches these shots all willy-nilly should be your first target.

🚫 Backpedaling on lob defense. This is a recipe for catastrophe. If you see someone not properly turning their shoulders and hips and actively running down lobs, start picking on them immediately. It’s not ruthless if it’s winning you points.

🚫 Taking massive swings on a speedup attempt. A killer speedup comes down to three things: ball height, a violent snap of the forearm and wrist, and proper placement. Taking a big backswing telegraphs your intentions and eliminates your biggest competitive advantage in the moment: the art of disguise.

Start eliminating these bad habits and you’ll start to see unforced errors go down and points pile up. You may discover the opposing team picking on your teammate now instead of you. That’s called progress. Now go share what you’ve just learned with your partner.

➡️ Watch the video for more tips.

It starts as “just something to play in.”
Then it’s still on when you stop for tacos after.
Then it’s in the wash because you wore it three times this week.

Selkirk apparel falls into that category — comfortable enough for long games, normal enough for real life.

Which is honestly what most of us want.

Browse the Selkirk collection and use code ADV-THEDINK for $20 in Selkirk Bonus Bucks.

UPA is planning to raise $150-200 million in new capital, but it's not just about the pro game.

Sources tell sports business analyst Joe Pompliano that the fundraising will merge UPA (which owns PPA and MLP) with Pickleball Inc., creating a single platform that owns everything from Pickleball Central to tournament software, court construction, facilities and media

The combined entity would generate $140 million in revenue and raise at an $800 million valuation. For context, UPA alone did $64 million last year and projects $81 million this year.

This isn't just a capital raise — it's a bet that pickleball's future belongs to whoever owns the entire value chain.

➡️ Read the full story here.

A pickleball game at the Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange, Florida, escalated into a full-blown brawl Tuesday night, leaving multiple people injured and two players under arrest.

According to Port Orange police, officers responded to reports of a fight involving roughly 20 people. A 911 caller urged dispatchers to “come quickly,” warning that someone might have been struck in the head with a pickleball paddle.

The altercation reportedly began during a game when one man accused an opponent of stepping into the kitchen — one of the most common and innocuous rule disputes in recreational pickleball.

But this one didn’t end with an eye roll or a fault call. No… it escalated far beyond a few terse words.

According to the arrest report:

The instigating couple was later located and arrested at their home. Charges are pending.

We know we don’t need to say this, but we’re going to say it anyway: nothing in life, and certainly not a pickleball game, is so serious that it should escalate to violence.

While we have your attention, you (yes, you) are probably stepping into the kitchen more than you know. You’ve been warned.

➡️ Hear the 911 call.

The Life Time pickleball has become the go-to choice at the pro level, and the GIF above gives a pretty solid indication as to why.

Paddle reviewer John Kew recently sent a slew of balls flying at a cinder block at 70 mph, all to capture what really happens with a high-res camera.

The footage is revealing — here’s what he found:

More and more, competitive players are choosing balls that bounce consistently and hold their shape well. At least at high speeds, there seems to be one clear winner here.

➡️ Take a closer look.

You tell yourself, “Just an hour.”
Two and a half later you’re still rotating in.

The legs are fine. The sweat’s handled. But your brain? Not as sharp.
That’s usually where mistakes creep in — late reads, slow resets, rushed decisions.

Some players have been adding Troscription’s Blue Cannatine into longer sessions to help stay a little more locked in without slamming energy drinks.

No crash.
No jitter spiral.
Just steadier focus when games stack up.

If open play tends to run long (it does), this might be worth looking into.

As part of its Pro V paddle launch next month, JOOLA will debut a brand-new shape, the Kosmos, its first hybrid available for commercial sale.

The paddle fuses two popular shapes – the Perseus and Scorpeus – into a new form that will serve as the signature model for both Federico Staksrud and Tyson McGuffin. And quickly, we’re assuming, become a favorite among other top pros as well.

Kosmos will be 16.3 inches long and 7.7 inches wide, utilizing the full allowable size for an approved paddle.

It's being marketed as “the ultimate versatility paddle” and is already in action at PPA Cape Coral, currently underway.

The anticipated launch date is March 3, 2026.

➡️ So far, Fed is loving it.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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