The Dink Pickleball Newsletter: The Paddle Hack 28% of Players Missed, Rooftop Pickleball Hits SXSW, and Machine Gun Kelly’s Agency Reps Pickle Pros
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Don’t ring any alarm bells just yet, but Ben Johns has now been upset in singles in two straight tournaments, this time going down to 17-seed Zane Ford in the round of 16. (Somewhat convincingly, we might add.)
More on that - plus the biggest pro storylines heading into tournament weekend - below.
But wait, before you go: We know it’s impolite to ask, but it’s for your own good. So, uh …
What's your age group?
(We promise we're not judging; it's anonymous!)
Our Picks ??
?? NY State of Mind: Pickleball Blooms Early in Central Park
If you’re visiting Central Park this April, be sure to pack a pickleball paddle — CityPickle returns to Wollman Rink a month early with 14 courts nestled into NYC’s iconic park. Pro tip: Bring some snacks and expect to wait in line.
?? Howdy, Austin: Rooftop Pickleball Hits SXSW
If you’re in Austin for SXSW , stop by Urban Pickleball Club for some open play, giveaways and paddle demos. The fun flies from 9am-3pm. Yours truly is the presenting sponsor so you know it’ll be fun. (You’re welcome.)
??? Ballers: Machine Gun Kelly’s Agency Now Reps Pickle Pros
Talent agencies aren’t new to the pro pickleball world. But there aren’t many that rep the likes of Machine Gun Kelly and every skater boy’s dream-girl, Avril Lavigne. Enter La Familie, the new muscle behind Catherine Parenteau, Callie Smith , Collin Shick and Brooke Buckner.
?? Wind: Pickleball’s Arch Nemesis
Heavy winds can absolutely derail a pickleball game. If you can’t take the action inside, know this: According to science, there’s a slight strategic advantage to playing against the wind. So, choose sides wisely.
POV: Facing Down the World #1
Ever wonder what it’s like facing down the top men’s doubles team in the world?
Tanner Tomassi did just that at a recent PPA Tour event with partner Richard Livornese Jr., as they were paired against Ben Johns and Andrei Daescu in the round of 32. Johns and Daescu went on to win gold, but not without a fight (the second game was 12-10).
Luckily for us, Tomassi is also a prolific content creator. And he broke the whole match down on his YouTube channel.
This is a far cry from your garden variety rec play, but there are valuable lessons to be had for all levels — some you know, like getting your returns deep, some you may not.
Have a Game Plan Tomassi & Livornese had one rule: no speeding up off the bounce.
?? Lesson: If your opponents have faster hands, don’t feed the fire.
Keep ‘Em Guessing Smart ball placement at the kitchen line kept Johns & Daescu on their toes.
?? Lesson: Make the other team uncomfortable—unforced errors will follow.
Find Your Rhythm Early Tomassi started strong with cross-court dinks—his go-to shot.
?? Lesson: Stick to what you do best. Consistency beats flash.
Serve Big, Return Big The first two shots can set the tone for the whole rally.
?? Lesson: Take control early. Every shot matters.
No Free Points Up 9-7 in game two, Tomassi & Livornese got tight and missed easy shots.
?? Lesson: Against strong opponents, unforced errors are fatal.
That’s a wrap. If Tomassi can take Johns to extra points, you can put up a fight in your next rec game. Remember: Stick to the plan.
Heard About This Coffee?
So, we were chatting with a fellow member of the Dink fam the other day, and he was RAVING about this coffee service called Trade. Said it totally changed his mornings. Here's what he had to say...
“Each week, I settled for whatever coffee was on sale, missing out on true flavor. Then I discovered Trade, a specialty coffee marketplace featuring over 450 handpicked roasts from passionate small-batch roasters worldwide.
“My perfect cup was just a quiz away! Freshly roasted and delivered within 48 hours, Trade has completely transformed my mornings, and I’m so excited to share it with you.”
As a Dink reader, enjoy an exclusive 30% off your first month when you subscribe today.
Seriously, who doesn't love a good cup of coffee to kickstart those early morning matches or refuel after a grueling drilling session? This Trade thing sounds pretty legit.
Will the Wind Shake Things Up in Texas?
The pros are fighting it out in McKinney, TX, for the chance to earn PPA gold.
There are lots of fun storylines heading into the weekend, as always. Ben Johns saw another early exit, this time in the round of 16 to Zane Ford (above). And Anna Leigh Waters will face a surging Kate Fahey in women’s singles, an uphill climb for Fahey as she’s never won a game off ALW.
But the matchup we’re most interested in? Mother Nature vs. everyone else. More specifically, the wind. Winds are supposed to hit 30 MPH sustained today, with gusts easily creeping into the 40s.
The PPA Tour removed a threshold for play in terms of the wind MPH, so it is up to the referees and tournament director to decide whether or not to move play indoors. We expect play to be moved indoors sometime this afternoon for the duration of the day, and possibly Saturday as well.
Find everything you need to know about the Texas Open here and tune into PickeballTV to watch all the action beginning at noon EST.
Poll: How Often Should You Change Grips?
Changing the grip on your paddle can be like changing the tires on your car: It’s not something you think too much about until something just doesn’t feel right.
To test this theory, we wanted to know how often our readers change their paddle overgrips.
Turns out, 46% of you freshen up once a month. That checks out. But a whopping 28% of you have never changed your paddle grip. Not even once.
Consider this a public service announcement: Playing with a fresh overgrip is the simplest performance hack that can significantly improve your paddle control and how effectively you place the ball where you want it to go.
Since that’s the name of the game, might we suggest you give a new overgrip a try?
Forget Strategy for a Bit
We know, we know, we talk a lot about dinking, drives, and strategy. But sometimes, pickleball is about something more than just points, right?
"The Heart of Pickleball" book gets that. It's packed with personal stories from people whose lives have been touched (and maybe even changed) by this crazy game we all love.
Seriously, some of these stories are incredible. Plus, the authors sprinkle in pickleball tips, fun facts, and even ideas for a pickleball party.
If you're looking for a feel-good read that reminds you why pickleball is more than just a sport – it's a community, a passion, a thing – this book is worth checking out.
Winning Big, In Style
In 2023, Liam Duffin missed the cut to compete for his school’s national team. What a difference a year makes.
Fast forward to today, and he not only led Utah Tech University to a win at the 2024 DUPR Collegiate Nationals, he did so with the type of game-winning backhand erne you dream about.
We caught up with Liam at The Dink MiLP National Championship to walk us through what he was thinking before such a storybook finish. “I’m walking back. In my head I’m just thinking, ‘stay calm, relax, this is a very big point for us.’”
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