The Dink Newsletter: How to Tell If Your Opponent Will Beat You, Ben Johns on the PicklePod, and Air Force Pickler Takes Medals
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Adam Forziati here again. Aren’t you tired of the whole “pickleball just isn’t a spectator sport” line?
I?hate?football. I?hate?baseball. The only live sport I’ve ever enjoyed watching was a hockey game in Denver, and that had more to do with the incredible craft beer selection at the rink.
That is, until I discovered pickleball.
If this sport can convert ME, a nerdy, awkward former sports evader, it must be at least marginally successful as a spectator-friendly event.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments?here.
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McGuffin takes the Mound
What can breathe life back into America’s favorite pastime? How about the ‘Most Electrifying Man in Sports’?
Tyson McGuffin?was the guest of honor at Pickleball Night in Arizona. McGuffin threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Arizona Diamondbacks took on the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday night.
Pickleball night also included a pickleball expo in the streets surrounding the stadium. Two temporary courts were set up outside of?Chase Field?for fans to play pickle and demo equipment.
Another pickleball/baseball crossover is scheduled for April 23rd in?Tampa. The Tampa Bay Rays are recruiting pickleball fans for their day game against the Chicago White Sox .
The Transition Volley
How do I know if someone is savage when visiting new courts? You might think the guy that’s decked out from head to toe in sponsored apparel is the top dog. But that’s rarely the case.
Either way, don't judge a book by its cover. But if you’re going to judge something, a good signal to look for is a strong?transition backhand volley. When they're in no man's land reaching for a low backhand and?still?hit a winner, you can be confident that the rest of their game is solid, too.
Example:?Greg hits a third and approaches the kitchen line. I do my best to keep him back by aiming my fourth?at his feet. Specifically, his left foot if he’s a righty.
He has a choice:
In Daytona, I got burned three times by a player stepping into this shot. They sniped a backhand down the middle, each time for a winner.?I think he even yawned on the last one.
Needless to say, the match did not go my way. It was, however, a valuable learning experience. My loopy fourth deep in the court would not fly. The right play is to keep the ball lower and disguise where the shot is headed.
The takeaway: if you see someone execute the transition backhand volley with ease,?they're most likely a savage.
If you find yourself on the court with a savage, don't be concerned about wins and losses. Note which of your shots are Major League material and which ones belong in the Busch League.
Take the opportunity to test your skills instead of going for highlights.
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Oregon Airman Inspired by Pickleball
Oregon Air National Guard member, Tech. Sgt Nicole C. , lives a life most civilians couldn’t understand.
Her parents and sister often serve as guardians to her daughters while Cooper is serving her country. As a member of the armed forces, she adapts to new challenges all the time.
So it’s no surprise she’s an absolute star on the pickleball court.
Nicole C. admits that when her parents first introduced her to the sport in 2019, she wasn’t interested in the slightest.
“What kept me coming back for more was the insanely nice community I met,” she says.
Four years later, Cooper has won numerous competitions including the Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships. There she won two gold medals and one bronze medal.
While Cooper’s family provides support for both her military and pickleball careers, her military leadership is also very supportive.
“It’s very reassuring to see the military giving back, being flexible, and supporting passions [and] goals,” she says.
Ben Johns Says What Everyone is Thinking
Time to check in with pickleball GOAT? Ben Johns . Ben went on Twitter to address the rampant paddle delamination issue and it started a fire.
He provides a masterclass on how to test for delamination and where paddle testing could be headed.
We touch on all the controversies facing the pro game, including white paddles, match schedules and rule changes. Ben even provides a history lesson on some of pickleball’s OG’s. You can’t miss this episode with pickleball’s top dog.
DUPR Takes Texas
DUPR ’s Minor League Pickleball & Collegiate National Championship events both take place in the Lone Star state this weekend.
The Minor League’s Dallas Showdown will play out Saturday & Sunday over 42 Courts and 3 Divisions in the league’s second showdown of the year. They have a breakdown available?here.
The best in college pickleball hit the courts today, competing for $22,000 in scholarship money, bids for team nationals in November, and, of course, bragging rights. Find their schedule?here.
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