Ranked: Top 10 states based on pickleball talent

It's time to start paddle tracking. Rules updated ahead of APP Major.

July 03, 2024

Happy Fourth of July, Dink Fam! Instead of battling the crowds for a spot on the hill this year, start a new family tradition. Take in the local fireworks show from the comfort of your pickleball courts.

At least a couple of the oohs and ahhs will line up with your winning shots and there’s zero percent chance you receive a noise complaint.

There are only a few spots left and time is running out. This week is your last chance to register for the Aloha Pickleball Showdown, set for Saturday, July 13 at the Austin Pickle Ranch.

In This Issue:

➡️ It’s time to start paddle tracking
🎆 Fireworks expected at the Newport Beach Open
🇺🇸 Did your state make the Top 10?

Enjoy your independence, we will see you again on Monday.

Do You Paddle Track? You Should

What’s the ideal paddle-ready position?

Take a moment.

Do you know?

Maybe you said, “Slightly backhand” or “Paddle straight up and down.”

While these are great answers when standing neutral, the ideal ready position depends on where the ball is on the court.

At least, that is, if you’re paddle tracking. Today’s Up Your Game is a skill that all high-level pickleball players use, yet few ever talk about. It’s a skill that if you master, you’ll become better at pickleball than all your friends (and, more importantly, your enemies).

What is paddle tracking?

Paddle tracking means following the ball with the tip of your paddle. Wherever the ball is on the court, that’s where the top of your paddle, shoulders, and hips should be facing.

This means you’ll sometimes have your paddle straight up (neutral), while other times, it should favor your forehand or backhand.

Why paddle tracking helps you play better

Imagine holding your paddle straight out in front of you, and the opponent on your right hits a speedup crosscourt toward the middle.

To hit this ball, you must:

  1. Turn your paddle back (opening up your forehand)

  2. Accelerate the paddle through the ball

There’s not enough time from when the ball leaves your opponent’s paddle to when it (hopefully) hits yours for you to get this right every time.

Your timing has to be impeccable.

Now, consider that instead of having your paddle straight out in front of you, you learned about paddle tracking (from reading The Dink’s awesome Newsletter).

When your opponent speeds the ball up crosscourt, you don’t have to move your paddle into position because it’s already there.

All that’s left is to accelerate through the ball.

This eliminates unnecessary backswing and improves the timing of your counters tremendously.

Better timing plus less movement equals fewer opportunities to make a mistake.

What if they don’t speed it up?

If your crosscourt opponent hits a dink instead, you’ll have plenty of time to switch to your backhand and hit a good dink in return.

If they hit a poor dink - leaving it up - you’ll be in a great position to attack it out of the air.

For a visual explanation, check out this video from AllThingsPickleball.

Grill Like A Pro

Hey Dink Fam, ready to up your grill game this Fourth of July? ButcherBox makes it easy with their 4th of July Flash Sale. You’re set for the season with unbeatable deals on high-quality meats delivered right to your door.

Starting now, new members can choose from top sirloin, bone-in chicken thighs, or salmon to receive in every box for a year - absolutely free. Plus, enjoy an extra $60 off across your first three boxes.

It's not just about premium cuts; it's about convenience and savings. Why spend extra at the grocery store when ButcherBox offers flexibility in cut selection, delivery frequency, and free home delivery?

Transform your meal prep this summer with ButcherBox. More time for the court, less hassle in the kitchen, and all the savings? That’s something to celebrate.

Which State is Home to the Best Pickleballers?

Most of the top professional pickleball players call either Florida, California, or Texas home. But if you're looking for a deep player pool of consistently solid players, these locations take the cake.

According to data provided by DUPR, here are the Top 5 States based on average DUPR rating:

  1. Hawaii - 4.040

  2. Vermont - 3.870

  3. Oregon - 3.845

  4. Utah - 3.786

  5. South Dakota - 3.750

This data is somewhat surprising based on where most of the top players reside. A common argument among players who travel is if the same 3.5 or 4.0 scale is comparable from state to state.

Thanks to DUPR, we can put that argument to bed. If you’re still wondering where your state fell on the list, you can find the Top 10 here.

Fireworks Ahead at APP Newport Beach?

While you're drinking beers and grilling dogs on the fourth, the pros from the APP and roughly 1,700 amateur players will be celebrating their freedom on the court. The APP Newport Beach starts today and runs through Championship Sunday.

It’s Going to be a Big One
The Newport Beach Open is one of the biggest tournaments of the year in terms of participation and prestige on the APP Tour. It is one of the ‘Major’ events on the APP calendar and is a USA Pickleball Golden TIcket Qualifier.

The Fab 5 Are in Play
On last week’s PicklePod, Jill Braverman explained how the five who joined MLP during the waiver wire period all landed on their respective squads. All of the Fab 5 ladies, Susannah Barr, Megan Fudge, Yana Newell, Bobbi Oshiro, and Jill Braverman are favorites to find the podium this weekend in Newport Beach.

The Haworth Train Keeps Rolling
Chris Haworth is having a record year in 2024. He rolls into Newport fresh off victories over Ben Johns and Federico Staksrud at last week’s PPA Orange County Cup. Haworth is the No. 1 seed here and likely to add to his trophy collection.

  • Paddle testing will now occur before the tournament and prior to the semifinal and medal matches

  • Players will not be able to challenge their own line calls via video replay

  • Partners on Championship Court and live-streamed courts must wear matching apparel. Additionally, logos on players’ apparel can’t exceed six square inches

The broadcast for the weekend will start Friday at 3pm ET and can be found on ESPN+ and ESPN2. More details on the event including our predictions can be found here.

Find Your Fight

We’re diving straight into Warstic’s impressive lineup of paddles. These aren’t just any paddles; they’re crafted for players who love a mix of great performance and standout style.

Take the Royal Grit WSPB4 PRO, for example. With its striking royal blue front and a motivational "Grit" slogan on the back, this paddle is perfect for those moments in a match when you need a little reminder of what you’re fighting for. It’s built to help you play hard and keep your head in the game.

And the Royal Grit isn’t alone; it’s part of a lineup where each paddle is designed to inspire. From cool colorways to empowering words like "Battle," these paddles will power you to get that dub.

Check out Warstic’s collection and find a paddle that speaks to your style. Make sure to use code DINK at checkout for 10% off your purchase.

Are Ben Johns' days of dominating over?

Last weekend in San Clemente, we saw the Johns Bros suffer another surprising loss in the quarterfinals. The loss left the door open for JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier to collect another PPA title.

Okay, no big deal. An occasional loss is nothing to overreact to. Except what was once a rare occasion is now becoming commonplace. So much so that the results last weekend bumped the Johns Bros out of the top spot in the PPA men’s doubles standings. Dylan Frazier is the new No. 1.

Renowned statistician Matty Pickles crunched the numbers.

  • What the data tells us is that in 2024 - unlike the past three years - the odds of Ben Johns winning men’s doubles is under 50 percent for a given event

  • Johns’ match win percentage is down to 80 percent overall, whereas in years past it sat at or above 90 percent

He is still no doubt the best men’s doubles player in the game. But the gap is closing in both men’s doubles and singles. His historic winning ways had to slow down at some point. But don’t feel too badly for him; Johns is the highest-compensated player in the game at roughly $2.5 million per year in earnings - before endorsements.

So why the sudden decline? Zane Navratil explained his strategy when playing the Johns Bros on a recent PicklePod. There is also the issue of a new Vulcan ball in 2024 that players are still getting used to.

Will Ben be able to regain the No.1 spot in men’s singles and men’s doubles this year or are the days of consistent triple crowns behind us?

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