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Island Pickle in the Heart of Texas

Island Pickle in the Heart of Texas

Cities with the most public courts. APP returns to NYC.

May 22, 2024

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What’s the world record for the fastest pickleball serve?

60 MPH? 70 MPH?

Now’s your chance to set it. We’re busting out the radar gun at the inaugural Aloha Pickleball Showdown, an upcoming pickleball event at the Austin Pickle Ranch in Austin, TX.

Find out if you’ve got the hardest serve in town, drown your dehydration with Liquid Death, and slip into a new pair of Olukai pickleball shoes on July 13th.

More details below.

Think you've got what it takes to write for The Dink? Respond to this email or reach us at [email protected] with an idea or a writing sample if you’re interested in freelancing for us.

In This Issue:

😵‍💫 Add spin to your overhead
🏞️ Public court growth skyrockets
🎤 The ultimate pickleball panel

Let’s do it.

Trouble Ending the Point?

In tennis, an overhead from the frontcourt is a point-ender. In pickleball, not so much.

It may take 5, 6, 7 overheads to win a point. Sometimes that’s not even enough, and you’re left with a ball in the net and a really sore shoulder.

Rarely is it the case that more power is the right answer. Of course, landing the ball close to the baseline is a good solution, but it comes with added risk.

A safer approach is to add spin to your overhead.

Just like your groundstrokes, you can add topspin or slice to your overhead. This will come naturally for players with a spin serve in tennis.

For both approaches, you will want to lead with the edge of the paddle. Remember, you’re not aiming to make flush contact with the paddle face. An Eastern grip will make it easier to add spin to your overhead.

For topspin

Brush over the top of the ball and snap your wrist down through contact

For slice

Cut under the ball at about 5 on the clock face as you snap through the overhead

It doesn’t take much spin to do the trick. You just need enough to catch your opponent off guard. If they have to account for speed, placement and different spins, you’ve greatly increased your chances of winning the point.

Rally for Better Meals

Get ready to fuel your game day right with ButcherBox! It’s not just about playing pickleball; it’s about powering your body with premium meats.

ButcherBox makes it simple by delivering high-quality, responsibly sourced meat and seafood directly to your doorstep — free of antibiotics and hormones.

Take advantage of their Memorial Day Weekend sale starting today — get $100 off and choose free salmon, steak tips, or chicken breast for a year.

Don't miss out on this opportunity & power up your game with ButcherBox.

Say ‘Aloha’ to the Competition

Are you ready for Hawaiian vibes in the heart of Texas? The Dink and OluKai are teaming up to bring you the "Aloha Pickleball Showdown," an exclusive tournament and party for the Austin pickleball community.

Join us on Saturday, July 13th at the brand new Austin Pickle Ranch for island vibes, prizes, and pickleball! The round-robin format guarantees three matches and we guarantee a good time for all.

Show off your power in the Fastest Serve Competition
Win a free custom KTCHN gear for completing the first erne
Snap a pic with the Liquid Death 'Thirst Hearse' (yes, like an actual hearse)
Fuel your gold medal run with UPTIME Energy

Even if you’re not a seasoned pickleballer destined for first place, there will be plenty of prizes and giveaways for everyone. Registration for the event is now open. Grab your spot before all of the brackets are full.

Public Courts Up 650 Percent in 7 Years

If Parks and Recreation was still in production, it would have a full season dedicated to pickleball. According to the Trust for Public Land, “The number of outdoor public park pickleball courts in the 100 most populous US cities has skyrocketed in the last seven years, increasing from 420 to an impressive 3,182.”

This means there is now about one outdoor public pickleball court for every 20,500 residents in these cities, compared to one court per 141,000 residents in 2017.

In 2023, Seattle, St. Petersburg, and Lincoln, NE topped the list of most courts per capita. This year, Louisville, Madison, and Honolulu have jumped ahead on the list.

Hopefully, the number of courts will continue to rise. Meeting neighbors in the pickleball community is a blast, but sharing one court with 20,500 of them is still far from ideal.

A New York State of Mind

The start of summer in NYC has become a staple on the pickleball calendar. For the third straight year, the APP is set to take over the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the New York City Open.

Tennis Legend in Play
Fans will have the chance to see MLP team owner Kim Clijsters trade her racquet in for a paddle and compete at the professional level. She will be vying for women’s doubles gold alongside Kaitlyn Kerr.

Championship Sunday Audible
The APP will debut a new event in lieu of Championship Sunday. The ‘APP NYC Shuffle’ will feature 16 men and 16 women in competition for $75,000.

The 16 players will be divided into pods of four and shuffle partners in a round-robin format. The winners from each pod will go on to the knockout rounds. Think of it as your typical ladder league on steroids.

Men’s Singles Showdown
The men’s finals at last year’s event was an instant classic and was also a nominee for Match of the Year in The Dink Awards. This year, 60+ competitors will fight for their chance to win a title on the big stage.

Age of Andrei
Andrei Daescu returns to action in NYC. He has a shot at double gold alongside partners Jack Munro and Jill Braverman.

Streaming for the event starts at 1pm ET Friday on APPTV, leading to a national broadcast on CBS Sports Network from 6-8pm ET. Saturday and Sunday will feature broadcasts on FS1. In a throwback to 2022, gold medal matches will be played on the same day of their event.

Play More, Prep Less

Spend more time playing pickleball and less time shopping with ButcherBox, the game-changer in home meat delivery.

With pre-selected curated boxes, you no longer need to wander grocery aisles. Whether you're fueling up for a tournament or recovering from a game, ButcherBox meets all your protein needs with convenience and quality.

Kick off your Memorial Day weekend with ButcherBox’s special offer: enjoy $100 off and get a year’s supply of free salmon, steak tips, or chicken breast.

Check out ButcherBox now and upgrade your meal game!

Pickleball Avengers Assemble

Back in March, leaders from pickleball’s top organizations gathered under one roof to discuss the future of the game. The Dink’s own Thomas Shields led a panel that included:

Anne Worcester - Strategic advisor, MLP
Bryce Morgan - President, PPA Tour
Tom Webb - Chief Marketing Officer, APP
Mike Nealy - Chief Executive Officer, USA Pickleball

Check out the entire panel discussion to see where they think the game is headed. Considering the recent developments around paddle testing and governing bodies, you might be surprised by some of the discussion.