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DUPR just dropped new features designed to bring more transparency to your rating. A turnkey pickleball facility is for sale in Southern Maine just a year after opening. (Asking price: $2.8 million.) And a new proposal could wipe nearly 40 public pickleball courts off the map in Seattle.

In This Issue:
— Can pickleball catch tennis?
— An insane mixed-doubles stat line
— Subscores come to DUPR

Lock in.

Eric Oncins has made headlines for blowing the ball over the net at more than one recent pro event. He seems to have a knack for it. The legality of the move? That’s a bit vague at the moment. But it hasn’t stopped him from having some fun with all the new attention.

Industry expert David Johnson predicts pickleball will add another four million participants this year, a pace that would push its overall player base tantalizingly close to tennis. Is 2027 the year we finally take the crown?

A Picklr in Westbrook, Maine, is reportedly for sale just a year after opening its doors. 62,000 square feet in a prime location. 19 courts plus a pro shop and premium locker rooms. Asking price: $2.8 million. Monthly rent: $29,000. What could go wrong?

Anna Bright recently offered five tips for improvement we can’t stop thinking about. Drill more. Loathe unforced errors. Bring intensity to rec play. Watch game film. All great points. But don’t sleep on learning from better players around you. Pros do it all the time.

First-time partnership Eric Oncins and Tyra Black just won mixed doubles gold at PPA Sacramento. It was Eric’s first PPA gold ever and Tyra’s first in a minute.

Sure, Ben and Anna Leigh weren’t in the mix. But Tyra and Eric did something in their five-game finals win against Jorja and JW Johnson that would have had them in contention no matter what.

They posted zero errors on their combined serves, returns, and third shots.

That means neither player hit a ball out of bounds or into the net for any of those shots. For five straight games. Against a very talented and motivated team. In a gold medal match.

That’s insane. And fairly unprecedented — it’s only the third time it’s been done in any PPA final since 2022, says tour statistician Jim Ramsey, and the first time ever in a five-game final.

It goes to show how much of an impact unforced errors can have. They might feel small in the moment. But they add up.

Eliminate a few and you’ll notice the difference. Eliminate them entirely and who knows… maybe you, too, could win PPA gold.

Missed a few shots. Timing feels off. Something just isn’t clicking.

If you’re adjusting mid-point…not quite set…or just not moving the way you want to, it shows up everywhere.

It’s easy to blame the paddle… but sometimes it’s simpler than that.

That’s where better apparel actually matters.

Pickleball Central makes it easier to dial that in — with a wide range of options you can browse and compare, all in one place.

Because when everything feels right, your game usually does too.

Browse apparel that actually works on court and unlock exclusive pricing through our link.

For years, your DUPR rating has been a single number. Helpful? Sure. But also… limiting at times.

Now, the sport’s leading rating system is rolling out a suite of new features designed to show why you are the player you are — not just what your rating is.

Because you matter. And you’re more than just a number.

Here’s what’s new:

Instead of just chasing a rating, you can now make smarter decisions about how to improve — with actual data and insights to back it up. Nice.

➡️ Learn more.

A new proposal from Seattle Parks and Recreation could eliminate more than 30 pickleball courts across the city, sparking backlash from local players and associations.

During the pandemic, the department added pickleball lines to existing tennis courts, creating shared-use spaces that helped fuel the sport’s rapid growth.

Now the city is proposing to remove many of those lines and more clearly separate tennis and pickleball facilities.

If approved, the plan would reduce Seattle’s pickleball courts from 92 to 56, with seven neighborhoods losing a combined 36 courts as soon as June. Tennis courts would remain largely intact, with 107 courts preserved.

City officials say the strategy is meant to balance demand between tennis and pickleball, and additional pickleball courts will be built in other locations across the city.

Players argue it will take time—and more importantly, it’s unnecessary. This shouldn’t be framed as a competition in the first place.

A petition opposing the plan has reportedly gathered about 2,000 signatures.

➡️ Watch the news report.

Most points are decided before you ever swing.

It’s that first step.

If you’re late getting set, off-balance, or reaching instead of planting — you’re already behind. And that usually has nothing to do with your paddle.

SQAIRZ is built to fix that part.

A wider, more grounded base means you can load, push, and change direction without fighting your footing.

So instead of reacting late…you’re set early. That’s how you win the point before the shot.

Check out SQAIRZ Pickleball Shoes and use code THEDINK for $20 off!

From controversial line calls at the US Open to a shocking paddle-toss disqualification in Sacramento, last week might have been the most chaotic week in pro pickleball yet.

On this week’s PicklePod, Zane and Nico break it all down:

Plus, Zane has an interesting theory about the ladies’ loss at Pickleball Slam 4:

✅ Yes, the guys played great and deserved the win.
✅ Yes, Genie was effectively singled out.
🚫 But could it also be true that Anna Leigh Waters, by virtue of her greatness and partnering with the best players in the world, is actually rusty in the role of on-court alpha?

➡️ Fan roasts, foot fetishes & one pickle pundit’s horrible take.

A review from the Dink Fam...

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