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Which ball do YOU use?
Get consistent in transition. A final shot at the playoffs.
In partnership with
Your pickleball team could be headed to Dubai. The winners of the DUPR 22 (a team of 4 players with a maximum aggregate of 22.99) division at The Dink Minor League Pickleball National Championships are getting hooked up this year.
The entire team will receive a trip to the PWR Championship in Dubai, along with a $3,500 cash prize for winning first place. This year’s National Championships, set for December 13-15 in St. Louis, will have the largest prize pool in league history.
In This Issue:
🪟 The playoff window closes for two teams
🛋️ Get comfortable in the transition zone
🥊 When things get a little too competitive
Are your bags packed?
Our Picks ☝️
🗞️ Article: Do Deep Returns Win More Rallies? What about Drives vs Drops?
A statistical breakdown of how deep returns and third shot choices affect point outcomes. Find your skill level and see what the numbers look like for your games.
😲 Quote: Jaw-Dropping Public Courts Coming to Huntsville
The John Hunt Park Recreation Center is under construction in Alabama. A Huntsville Pickleball Club board member says when she shares the news with other players that they will have 25 FREE covered courts, “Their jaws drop.”
🔬 Testing: UPA-A to Use ‘Destructive Testing' in 2025
Pickleball paddles change over time. Some have a break-in period, during which the paddle becomes more powerful. The UPA-A plans to account for that phenomenon in its new testing protocols.
🏌️ Video: Rickie Fowler Plays Pickle at the Shriners Children’s Open
It’s been no secret that Scottie Scheffler enjoys a game of pickleball, but another pro on tour traded the putter for a paddle this week. Rickie Fowler was on the court as part of the festivities at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open.
Tips To Be More Effective in Transition
One thing 5.0 players have in common is that they’re rock solid in the transition zone. No matter what you hit at them, they seem ready for it and usually land it back into the kitchen.
In James Ignatowich’s newest podcast episode, he explained one rule that he uses to be more consistent in the transition zone.
He might have borrowed this one from Lil John, but the tip was to get low.
If you’re playing a volley in the transition zone, they are most likely hitting down on you. Bending your knees will help you with two things.
First, it will give you the power to lift a hard-hit ball back over the net
Second, it will give you the range to comfortably reach a ball headed for your shoetops
Since you know your feet are the target, don’t get frozen at one spot in the transition zone. After you hit a shot, take a step, even a small one, forward or backward.
That way, their next shot aimed at your feet will be an easier volley or a ball you can play off of the bounce.
You can’t avoid the transition zone, so embrace it. Bend your knees and drop the paddle low and centered to prepare for the perfect reset.
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The Race for the Top Six
There were only two Premier Level matches in Miami yesterday, but they helped clean up the playoff picture.
Carolina Out of Contention
Ben Johns’ Carolina Pickleball club started the day hot, earning 3 points in a regulation win over the Orlando Squeeze. The win essentially knocked the Squeeze out of contention and made you picture a world where Johns sneaks into the last playoff spot and then goes on to win the whole thing (See MLP 2023 Season 2 Super Final).
Carolina’s second match of the day, however, burst that bubble. Carolina lost to the D.C. Pickleball Team in regulation, solidifying D.C.’s playoff position and ending Carolina’s chances at a run.
Arizona vs New York
The anticipated showdown of the weekend will be between the Arizona Drive and New York Hustlers on Sunday. Chances are one of these two teams will make the playoffs, and the other will just miss the cut.
Arizona is currently 6 points behind the Hustlers, and both teams have five matches left to play. If Arizona can close the gap, they will have fate in their hands and can move past NY with a win on Sunday.
Match of the day:
Friday - NY Hustlers vs Orlando Squeeze 10:00 am ET
Saturday - AZ Drive vs Orlando Squeeze 12:00 pm ET
Sunday - NY Hustlers vs AZ Drive 10:00 am ET
Which Ball is the Standard for your Crew?
For years, the standard at most pro-level tournaments was either the Dura Fast 40 or the Franklin X-40 pickleball. In 2024, the PPA Tour signed a lucrative deal with Vulcan Sporting Goods, making their Vulcan VPRO Flight the official ball of the tour.
This first generation of the VPRO Flight was met with resistance and negative feedback from the pros. They have since switched to Generation 2, which has helped resolve previous complaints.
But for the average pickleball fan, the choice of which ball to use keeps expanding. Selkirk’s Pro S1 comes with a 1-year no-crack guarantee, and the GAMMA Chuck is the official ball of DUPR. And we are still just scraping the surface.
Some players enjoy playing with any ball, while others prefer sticking with a single brand. Tournament players want to get reps in with the ball they will use in competition, but that also changes depending on their next event.
So, we want to know:
Which ball is the standard in your pickleball group? |
Newell Looks to Make in Two in a Row
Yana Newell fought her way into another Championship Sunday appearance. She will face the 1-seed Amanda Hendry, whose singles game continues to improve. Newell won her first APP singles title at the last stop in Dallas and looks to make it two in a row.
Klokotzky on the Rise
Maria Klokotzky is one of the new names to learn on the APP Tour. Yesterday, she landed her first APP medal with a bronze medal finish. Klokotzky ended the match with a 14-point run after trailing 1-6 in game two.
Haworth vs Goldin
On Sunday, Chris Haworth and Grayson Goldin will meet in another men’s final. If the partnership needs Halloween inspiration, a Ricky Bobby/Cal Naughton, Jr. costume would be fitting. Haworth has won their last five meetings.
Jack Foster defeated Ryler DeHeart to bring home the bronze medal.
Mixed doubles action starts today at 1pm ET on APPTV. Find everything you need to know about this weekend’s event here, including podium predictions from our guy Erik Tice.
Age on Your Terms
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We’re not anti-aging, we’re here to help age on your terms.
Save 15% off your first OneSkin purchase using code DINK at checkout.
Alshon’s Apology
The player who you are on the court doesn’t always match the player you are off the court. Some people break out of their shell when they can let loose during a game, others tighten up and can only focus on playing perfect pickleball.
One thing for sure is that the competitive spirit isn’t always pretty. Whether it’s getting mad at you’re own mistake or at the questionable line call from the other team, we’ve all had a moment we regret on the court.
On this week’s PickePod, Christian Alshon walks us through a recent beef with the Johns Bros. Alshon admits he went too far at the Las Vegas Cup with some explicit post-game comments. Once he stepped off the court, Alshon realized an apology was in order.
Find the whole story here, including how this led to another incident at the next tournament in Atlanta.
Headlines & Quick Hits
USA Pickleball's New Way of Keeping Players Safe
How to Master Attack Patterns in Pickleball | 5.0 Level Play
The Dink Minor League Pickleball to Offer Largest Prize Pool in DUPR 22 History at National Championship
ICYMI: How I Became a Professional Pickleball Player | Eric Roddy
Highlights
If pickleball were played on clay 🛝
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