The Dink Newsletter: Returning the Slice, Paddle Throwback, and MLP Shuffle Draft Results
The Dink Pickleball
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I have a new paddle coming in the mail, but I’m kind of ashamed to admit how excited I am.
On one hand, it’s not the paddle that counts, and I’m always more excited to actually play pickleball than focus on the gear…
...But on the other hand: OOOH, SHINY!
Out of curiosity, I’d like to ask you, our readers, a question:?when was the last time you bought a new paddle??
Let's dink in!
More Than Just a Paddle
You may remember our post depicting?pickleball in the 1970s. One of the striking images from that collection showed a wooden paddle which looked like it weighed 50 lbs.?
But after seeing?this post?in the Pickleball Underground Facebook group showing a paddle from 2010, we were surprised by how “retro” it looked:
Mind you, the poster Brandon Swanson explains that this paddle was used often and that he had to re-glue the edge guard?several times. So it’s bound to look older than it is.
But looking at this paddle in comparison to contemporary ones, we’re reminded of just how far paddle technology has come within the last 13 years.?
You certainly don’t need the most advanced paddle on the market to have fun and play well, though. Just ask Brandon, who says in the post, “We weren’t too fussy in those days…I’ll probably keep this one forever. It’s a reminder of who I am. It reminds me of old friends. Sometimes a paddle is more than a paddle.”
Simone on Slice
A common piece of advice in pickleball is to slice your return, pushing the ball deep into the court and keeping the bounce low.
What you don't hear is what to do if you're the team receiving that ball. For that, let's consult the Queen of Pickleball, Simone Jardim. Her?new video?advises players on how to return a sliced ball.
When a ball with slice hits the ground, it is going to skip, kinda like a stone on a lake. The ball will stay lower to the ground than a regular ball will. It will also move laterally.
The direction of the ball's bounce will change depending on whether it was hit with a forehand or backhand.
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Jardim recommends that you:
Start by identifying their shot. Pay attention to the spin they add, noting if it's from the forehand or backhand
Stay light on your feet. You will need to adjust to the ball after it bounces. Beginners will move with the ball in the air, but won't be prepared to react as the ball bounces.
Create the proper amount of space. Depending on the scenario, the ball could skip toward your body or jump further away from you. You may need to respond by backing up so you don't get jammed, or by moving closer to the ball so it doesn't escape your reach.
Let's look at an example. A forehand slice is coming your way. It is set to bounce on your right side, perfectly lined up for your forehand in this case.
That ball is going to skip from right to left. It is going to jam you and make your shot more difficult....that is, if you don't react.
To combat this, leave extra room for the ball to bounce. Then adjust after the bounce to account for how effective their slice was.
Being more proactive on the court will help you level up. If you are still getting sliced to pieces out there, give this technique from Simone a try.
MLP Shuffle Draft Results
The Major League Pickleball 's first Shuffle Draft of the year has begun. If you missed last?Friday's newsletter?and are unfamiliar, the Shuffle Draft allows teams in the Challenger Level?to adjust their roster by dropping one player and entering a draft for a new one.
The trade window for the current draft fully closes on March 10th. But here's what's happened so far:
There will be no change in Premier Level teams for the first three events in 2023.
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