Ever wish you could get a DUPR redo? For one month beginning mid-March, you can, thanks to a new initiative called DUPR Reset. The best part? It’ll take whichever rating is higher — your new one or your old one. Sounds like a win-win. We lay it all out below.
And speaking of a redo, Army veteran Evan Slaughter turned his life around after the military with a little help from pickleball. Now he’s one of the sport’s funniest and most recognizable content creators. Catch his raucous PicklePod episode now.
In This Issue:
— PPA Tour expands to Canada
— Is this pickleball’s first 8.0?
— SLK unveils the ‘Baby Boomstik’
Anyone up for a game?
Our Picks 👆
☢️ Certified Nuke: Haworth Goes ‘Happy Gilmore’
Chris Haworth might have just hit the hardest serve ever in a PPA event. In his singles finals match against Ben Johns at PPA Mesa (which he won), Chris took four solid steps before slapping a serve so hard the crowd audibly gasped. Ben, to his credit, was able to get it back. Watch it happen.
🇨🇦 Pickleball, Eh? The PPA Tour Heads to Canada
Pickleball’s global march cannot be stopped. New for 2026, the PPA Tour has added multiple events across Canada and two in Italy. Go ahead and mark your calendars. You deserve a vacation anyway.
🚨 Paddle Crackdown: Not Just for Pros Anymore
Starting this summer, all competitors in the PPA Juniors and Senior Professional divisions will be required to use paddles on the UPA-A’s Approved Paddle List, which currently has 173 models from just 37 brands. Curious if your gamer makes the cut? See the list.
🏆 Hunting 8.0: This Pro Might Be the First
After a stellar performance at PPA Mesa, the world is wondering if young-gun Hayden Patriquin is on track to topple Ben Johns as the best men’s player in the world. He’s got a ways to go to eclipse the GOAT, but inquiring minds want to know: could Big H become the first-ever DUPR 8.0?
Why You Should Run Around a Backhand Dink
Ever play against someone who refuses to hit a backhand dink? You know the type. They’ll bend over backwards and scramble to hit a forehand every chance they get.
Yeah, don’t do that. But there is a time and a place to run around your backhand dink in favor of a more aggressive forehand instead.
When you have time during a dink rally, don't just stand there and settle for a routine backhand. Every few shots or so, run around and find your forehand.
This simple shortcut does a few things at once.
First, it empowers you to be deceptive because your opponent can't tell what's coming when your body is sideways and you’re positioned out wide all of a sudden
Second, it sets up the triangle theory, which means you can speed up more aggressively cross-court and know exactly where the next ball is coming back — out at an angle to your partner
Finally, this is a not-so-subtle signal to your opponents that nothing will be coming easy this game; you’re here to play with your paddle and your legs, and they’re going to have to earn what’s theirs at the kitchen line
Pros do this a lot. It’s not them being lazy, it’s them being smart, aggressive, and unpredictable. Try it for yourself and see what happens. Chances are, your opponent will be caught off guard while you're already positioned for what’s coming next.
➡️ Learn more about this and six other shortcut strategies from pro Tanner Tomassi right here.
You Don’t Need More Games. You Need This.
There’s a difference between playing a lot… and practicing on purpose.
The Hydrogen Electron is for the second group.
It’s lightweight (around 17 lbs), app-controlled, and designed by an engineer who literally invented the Apple Pencil — which explains why it feels more like tech you want to use instead of a machine you fight with.
Tap-to-aim control. Custom drills. Adjustable speed and spin. Rapid fire if you want some smoke.
You can grind third shots for 20 minutes straight.
Work transition resets.
Run side-to-side patterns until your legs hate you.
Stone-cold truth: consistency wins at every level.
And consistency comes from reps.

Want a DUPR Redo? Now’s Your Chance
DUPR is giving players a fresh shot at their rating — without the downside.
The global pickleball rating platform just announced the launch of DUPR Reset, a new feature that allows players to reassess their rating during a defined competitive window, with zero risk of their number going down.
For a whole host of reasons, many people feel their rating doesn’t always reflect their current level of play. We get that (and can certainly relate at times). And so do the powers that be behind the algorithm at DUPR.
The first Reset Period runs March 16 through May 17, and is open to players worldwide
Players must opt in through their DUPR account on the web or the app; the cost is $35
A separate Reset rating will be calculated using only matches played during the Reset window
At the end of the period, a player’s official DUPR will reflect whichever rating is higher — their original rating or their Reset rating
In short: no risk of going down.
The upside is everyone now has a clear, defined path to recalculate their DUPR rating based on their current level of play. The downside? By mid-May, you won’t be able to complain about your DUPR being wrong anymore.
➡️ To learn more, including a few requirements to qualify, check out our article.
Selkirk Launches Revamped SLK Line, Including a ‘Baby Boomstik’
Selkirk is hitting refresh on its popular and accessible SLK line of paddles.
The company just launched a complete reset of the SLK by Selkirk lineup, with a stated mission to make high-level performance technology accessible to every skill level.
Whether you’re a first-time player stepping onto the court or someone entering their first local tournament, the revamped SLK range is designed to scale alongside improvement.
While the SLK ERA remains the flagship of the line, three new models — the Dauntless ($180), Geo ($100), and Valkyrie ($80) — are now live and turning heads.
The Dauntless is the standout, positioned as the most advanced paddle in the new lineup — built for players seeking next-gen performance at a mid-tier price point.
It debuts Selkirk’s new one-piece PureFoam™ core and a sleek, integrated MOI Tuning System.
It’s more control-oriented than its powerful older sibling, the Boomstik, while still boasting built-in weighting and a potent amount of pop.
So, is this the Baby Boomstik? There’s one way to find out.
You Track Your DUPR. Do You Track This?
Pickleball players love numbers.
DUPR.
Serve percentage.
Unforced errors.
But here’s a stat most people ignore:
Nearly 1 in 2 adults have high blood pressure. And most don’t feel it.
That matters.
Because high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for mortality. Even lowering your top number, your systolic pressure, by just three to four points can reduce fatal heart attacks by 10 percent.
That’s why your heart health matters, especially for active adults who want to keep playing for decades.
120/Life is a once-a-day functional drink built with ingredients like hibiscus, pomegranate, beet, tart cherry, cranberry, and magnesium. It was developed by a registered dietitian and designed to support healthy blood pressure in a simple, daily way.
It’s something you can pair with a home blood pressure monitor and literally track your results.
Many people see improvement within two weeks or get their money back.
If you care about longevity, not just winning today, this is one of the simplest measurable resets you can make.
Go to 120Life.com and use code DINK for 20% off.
Try it risk free for two weeks.
Nothing to lose but higher numbers.
The Shirts Come Off on This Week’s PicklePod
If you’ve spent any time perusing pickleball content on the internet, you’ve likely come across Evan Slaughter. The Army veteran has become the face (and, uh… belly) of Volair Pickleball, posting comedic videos and memes to help spread his love of the sport far and wide.
Evan joined Zane and Nico this week to talk about receiving a Purple Heart, addiction and pickleball, and why he wasn’t cast as the lead in Ben Stiller’s upcoming pickleball comedy, “The Dink.”
And yes, they followed Evan’s lead and did it all shirtless.
Also in this week’s episode:
Is Hayden Patriquin the new #1 pro?
Will Anna Leigh Waters drop Ben Johns?
Who sells more paddles, pros or creators?

Headlines & Quick Hits
Switching Hands: Savvy Technique or Bad Habit?
A Look Inside Gabe Tardio’s Pickleball Bag
How Do You Hit a Twoey With This Thing?
Highlights
Bodybag sends him flying
Longest paddle toss ever, full stop
Thought this ball would never come down
Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered
A review from the Dink Fam...

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