If there was ever any doubt, last night’s Super Bowl performance proved it: defense wins championships. Practice those drives, flicks, and rolls all you want — but if you can’t dictate play up at the net (or the line of scrimmage), you’re going to have to get comfortable with losing.
Nobody likes second place, especially pro Tyra Black, who’s here with a killer kitchen tip for keeping your opponents back on their heels when it counts. It all comes down to one core philosophy: quadrants. We explain below.
In This Issue:
— Full predictions: PPA Cape Coral
— Anna Leigh’s new paddle, Aurelius
— A massive event in Malaysia
Monday funday.
Our Picks 👆
👀 Stay Tuned: More Dink Awards Winners Are Coming
On tomorrow’s PicklePod, we’ll be announcing winners of The 120/Life Dink Awards in the Media category — Most Influential Voice, Best Podcast, YouTuber of the Year, and more. A special guest even helps us do the honors. The fun starts at noon EST.
🇲🇾 1,700: The APP Goes Big in Kuala Lumpur
The APP Tour is in Malaysia for the Kuala Lumpur Open, a tournament with about $50,000 in prize money on the line that’s drawn a record-setting 1,700 competitors, we’re told — including top pros Sofia Sewing, Kat Stewart, Jack Munro, Tanner Tomassi, and more. We’ve got full event predictions, right here.
❤️ Be Mine: Pickleball Paddle Edition
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. If this is news to you, it might already be too late. But for anyone looking for a little last-minute inspiration, check out the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV, now offered in bright pink. Now that’s true love.
🔋 Power Move: New Brand Signs Top Men’s Pro
Hunter Johnson, the #1 men’s singles player on the PPA Tour, is the latest pro to go Instagram official with a new paddle sponsor: Hit Pickleball, a brand so new you can’t even buy their paddles yet. Something tells us if it’s got the Hunter stamp of approval, it hits like a jackhammer. Their debut model’s name? The Hand Cannon.
Tyra Black’s Top Kitchen Tip: Think Deep, Not Wide
Tyra Black isn’t just one of the best defensive players in women’s pro pickleball — she’s one of the best defenders in all of pro pickleball… ever.
Her shot repertoire is deep, but it’s her court sense, anticipation, and athleticism that set her apart.
In a recent video, she breaks down some top tips for dominating the kitchen line — a worthwhile watch for anyone looking to play bigger when it counts.
One pillar of her dinking philosophy stood out to us: she makes sure to move her opponents around constantly, never letting them get comfortable.
But when it comes to hitting an aggressive dink, she prioritizes depth over width, using spin to push the opponent back without ever giving up an opportunity for an Erne.
✅ Here’s a pro tip to help you mimic her strategy: Tyra thinks about each half of the opposing kitchen in quadrants. By dividing each box into four sections, she can target specific spots and create patterns that confuse opponents, never dinking to the same quadrant twice in a row. It's a mental framework that helps her stay precise — and unpredictable — under pressure.
Court to Coffee Without the Car? We’re Listening
Okay… be honest.
Have you looked at e-bikes and thought, “That’d be sick” — and then seen the price tag?
That’s where Upway comes in.
They offer certified e-bikes from brands like Trek, Specialized, and Aventon — but for hundreds less than buying new. Every bike is expertly refurbished, quality-tested, and backed by a warranty. So you’re not rolling the dice. You’re just paying smarter.
Cruise to the courts.
Hit a post-match coffee spot.
More range. Less effort. Still fun.
If 2026 is your “move more, drive less” era, this is a pretty great way to start.
Storylines & Predictions: PPA Cape Coral Open
After a two-week hiatus, the PPA Tour is back in full swing in Cape Coral, Florida, its third stop of the 2026 season.
As always, our pro writer Erik Tice has all the storylines and predictions for each discipline. Let’s get into it.
Women’s Singles
Anna Leigh Waters is skipping singles for this event, which leaves the field wide open. Kate Fahey is the #1 seed and hasn’t won since the Sacramento Open on September 28, 2025.
🏆 Tice’s Take: Kate Fahey def. Lea Jansen
Men’s Singles
Hunter Johnson is the #1 seed coming off a big win in Minnesota. Roscoe Bellamy and Federico Staksrud are in the hunt. Youngster Cam Chaffin is looking to keep it rolling, too. And, as of just a couple hours ago, Chris Haworth was forced to pull out due to illness.
🏆 Tice’s Take: Christian Alshon def. Rafa Lenhard
Mixed Doubles
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns haven’t lost a match in more than 300 days. New partnership Christian Alshon and Rachel Rohrabacher and OGs JW and Jorja Johnson are both looking to play spoiler.
🏆 Tice’s Take: Ben and ALW def. Hayden Patriquin and Anna Bright
Women’s Doubles
It’s been nearly 150 days since Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright have lost a match together. But a couple pairings could give them a run for their money in Cape Coral.
🏆 Tice’s Take: Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black upset Anna and Anna in the semis, then beat Jade and Jackie Kawamoto for the title
Men’s Doubles
Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio are the #1 seed and the overwhelming favorite team to beat. Random fun fact: Ben’s brother Collin is playing this event, teaming up with Jaume Martinez Vich.
🏆 Tice’s Take: Ben and Gabe def. Hayden Patriquin and Christian Alshon
Why Top Pros Aren’t Playing with Your Favorite Paddle
For a pro to compete with a paddle, it must be UPA-A approved — a distinction that comes with a pretty hefty price tag (think $60,000 per year just to get in the door). Only brands with deep pockets, solid market saturation, and a high risk threshold are typically willing to take the plunge.
But beyond all that, there's a reason we don’t often see pros playing with the paddles that all us mere mortals know and love. Think Bread and Butter, Honolulu, Ronbus, Pickleball Apes… the list goes on and on.
According to Zane Navratil, the pros prize:
Peak playability over durability. Sponsored pros don’t pay for their paddles, so build quality isn’t top of their priority list. They want a paddle that feels great, right away.
Power and spin. Pros hit the center of the paddle consistently, so they want maximum responsiveness in the sweet spot.
The "break-in" effect. Pros want paddles that reach peak trampoline effect within a couple of hours of play, not days or weeks, even if that means the paddle becomes unplayable tomorrow.
Compliance. Getting hit with a $2,500 fine and forfeiting prize money for an illegal paddle is a nightmare, so pros obsess over certification.
Amateurs, on the other hand, need control, forgiveness, and a sweet spot that's actually forgiving when they mishit. They want durability because they're not getting free paddles every week and $200, even $300 a pop starts to add up quickly.
The pros are pros because they’re really, really good. Us, well, we’ll keep on trying. And paying for each and every new paddle.
Let’s Talk About Your Bag Situation
Your paddle costs $200+. Why is it living next to loose granola, cracked sunscreen caps, and three mystery overgrips?
We’ve all been there. But ADV bags are built for people who actually want their gear to make sense.
Separate shoe pocket. Structured paddle protection. Enough compartments that your keys aren’t playing hide-and-seek mid-match.
If your current bag situation feels… lawless… this might be your sign.
Check out the ADV lineup and use code THEDINK for 10% off.
Behold: Anna Leigh Waters’ New Paddle, the Aurelius
Almost a month to the day after news broke of her landmark deal with Franklin, Anna Leigh Waters' signature new paddle has been granted UPA-A approval, meaning it's now ready for pro action just in time for this week’s main event, PPA Cape Coral.
The Aurelius is currently available on pre-order and should start shipping out on March 1. It's available in three core thicknesses – 16mm, 14mm, and 12.7mm, which is the model ALW will be using going forward.
The Aurelius is part of Franklin's popular C45 paddle line, which includes Dynasty (elongated), Hybrid, and Tempo (widebody) models.
As for the name: Aurelius is of Latin origin, meaning "golden." We’re pretty sure the implication speaks for itself there.
Headlines & Quick Hits
MLP Announces 2026 Individual Team Schedules
New to Pickleball Doubles? Here’s the Golden Rule
Are You Over 50 and Tired of Getting Lobbed?
Highlights
LSU football coach, big pickleball guy
Flawless tweener, no notes
How to Wreck a Twoey
Missed a recent issue? We've got you covered
A review from the Dink Fam...
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