The Dink Pickleball

America has spoken, and the verdict is clear: Pickleball isn't just a trend—it's a movement. For the fourth year running, it's clinched the title of the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. 13.6 million dabbling casually while 6.2 million swung their way into the core player category. That's a staggering 45.8% jump from last year! The UPA-A is clamping down, ensuring every paddle swings true to its specs. Under new regulations, if a paddle from a batch veers off the mark by more than 10%, it's game over for that model. This means stricter quality checks and possibly penalties for manufacturers. This week on the PicklePod, we talked to rising pro Zane Ford, known for his flashy style, and Andrei Daescu, a quiet force in PPA men’s doubles with a glittering record across multiple tours. And don’t miss our talk with Pran Kohli from Pickleball World Rankings, who sheds light on the delayed international tour and the future of global pickleball competition.

For the fourth straight year, pickleball holds the title of America’s fastest-growing sport—now closing in on 20 million players in 2024. At this point, it’s less of a trend and more of a full-blown movement.

Pickleball vs. Padel: The battle for America’s courts is heating up. One is taking over public parks at an insane pace. The other has luxury clubs popping up left and right. So which sport is winning the popularity contest? The numbers are in. ??

Just when we thought Rodney Adams was set for a career catching frisbees, the former NFL wide receiver made a game-changing pivot to pro pickleball. Adams is now “training with the best” in preparation for his new pursuit. Pickleball has been smashing records as America's fastest-growing sport, but padel isn't far behind, sprinting up the popularity charts worldwide. With 30 million players worldwide, padel is booming in Spain and across Europe, while pickleball, with 20 million players, dominates U.S. courts and continues to expand globally. The Dink Minor League Pickleball just released?an updated schedule of 2025 events, including State Championships and Regional Showdowns.

If your overgrip looks like it’s been through a war, it probably has. Sweaty hands, endless dinks, and that one ridiculous Erne attempt—it all adds up. But how often should you actually swap out your overgrip? The answer might surprise you.

Should pros be protected from headshots? At PPA Tour Mesa, the targeting rule got put on ice—right before Federico Staksrud found himself down two points in a very controversial semifinal. Now, Fed is speaking out, and PicklePod is breaking it all down.

The DUPR Collegiate National Championship came down to a single moment—one swing that made history. If you missed it, don’t worry. We’ve got the clutch shot and the full breakdown right here.

Ever think about how often you change your paddle grip? Turns out, while 46% of our readers refresh their overgrips monthly, a staggering 28% have never changed theirs—not even once! Tanner Tomassi and Richard Livornese Jr. did just that, taking on Ben Johns and Andrei Daescu in a nail-biter at a recent PPA Tour event. Despite not clinching the win, the pair shared crucial takeaways from their intense match against the gold medalists. Last year, he didn't make the team. This year, Liam Duffin's backhand erne clinched Utah Tech's win at the DUPR Collegiate Nationals. He walked us through that game-winning moment at The Dink MiLP National Championship, reflecting on the pressure.

The Pickleball Bro is taking over courts across the country, and if you haven’t played against one yet… just wait. One South Florida rec player gives us a firsthand account of this rising phenomenon.

NFL Today jumped out of?the?studio and onto?the?pickleball court to preview?the?Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos game back in January. While on?the?court, host Kyle Brandt rallied off?the?analogies comparing pickleball to football. He said that pickleball is?the?‘air fryer of sports’ and that?the?Denver Broncos were?the?‘pickleball of playoff teams’ for a number of reasons. ?? They both are fun, have a lot of buzz, and are not going away soon ?? They both are at their best when players wear their brightest colors ?? They both are multigenerational & have their fair share of skeptics Brandt brings to analogy full circle claiming that?the?Buffalo Bills are more like tennis. Let’s hope that pickleball doesn’t share?the?same fate as?the?Broncos who lost to?the?Bills, 31-7. https://lnkd.in/ePYhk_9f