MLP just tested 240 paddles 😳

Zero, Zero… Start

Wake up!

It’s Sunday, and you know what that means?

It’s DINKING time.

But first, some housekeeping notes.

1. Mind sharing the word about SDC? Share the newsletter or Youtube channel in any of your pickleball related text groups, Spond groups, Facebook groups, etc. and let’s grow the membership!

2. I’m trying out a slightly different format this week (gotta keep things fun and experiment). Send me your feedback.

3. I put out a poll on my personal Instagram asking for feedback on the branding of Sunday Dinking Club and the results were surprising. The experimental logo is in the header. Are you team yellow or blue?

Reply or DM me on Instagram to let me know your feedback on the new format and branding preference. This is a social club afterall; your opinion counts!

🎧 If you prefer to listen to this week’s content, throw in your Airpods.

👀 If my good looks make your weekly pickleball news even more enjoyable, watch here on Youtube.

Alright, let’s get started.

🚫 Is that paddle legal?

Major League Pickleball released the findings of its recent testing of 240 paddles, performed by Pro Pickle Labs.

By the numbers:

• 240 paddles tested

• 66 unique models

• 24 different manufacturers

Pro Pickle Labs tested each paddle for deflection as well as roughness. For now, all of the information and data is anonymized (check out the raw data, here), but the MLP will be reaching out to paddle manufacturers who failed the test, privately.

Long story, short. I think some brands are going to be in big trouble. Who do you think failed the test?

⏰ Shot Clock

Tim Parks (owner of the Hard Eights) might have just convinced me that a shot clock would make the (pickle) juice worth the squeeze.

I love pro pickleball as is, but this would make pro matches even more exciting for viewers, hands down.

Someone try this out in an upcoming exhibition match, please 🙏.

🤷‍♂️ Missing In Action

You may have noticed that a lot of the top pros weren’t in attendance at the US Open Championships this week. Why? The rumor mill will tell you that PPA contracted players weren’t allowed to play, but from what I can gather, the top pros wanted their appearance fees and the US Open didn’t want to pony up.

Plus, anyone who made the championships would have missed out on this weekend’s PPA event in Newport Beach.

But not to worry, you can catch the creme de la creme in Newport Beach at the OGIO Shootout, streaming on the PPA Youtube channel. It’s Championship Sunday. In case you were wondering where Sunday Dinking Club got its name… real dinkers, dink on Sunday.

📺 Honey look, Pickleball’s on TV!

The PPA and CBS inked a deal to bring pickleball straight through the bunny ears and into your living room.

Things kicked off with CBS airing the mixed doubles finals of this weekend’s PPA OGIO Shootout yesterday, with even more dates planned all summer long.

Check out the schedule here.

🎥 Millions of views or millions of dollars? How ‘bout both?

Dude Perfect, the trick-shot extraordinaires launched a pretty epic Pickleball trick-shot video that will make you even more embarrassed that you missed that dink earlier this week. Although content creators would be crazy not to jump into the pickleball craze, the video was also made to celebrate their recent investment in the Major League Pickleball team, Frisco Clean Cause. Watch it, here.

🟡 Slicing your backhand 3rd shot drops? Here’s a tip to improve your consistency | via Pickleball Health

🟡 B-E AGGRESSIVE! How to use aggressive dinking tactics like the pros to give yourself more put-away opps | via Pickleball Performance Lab

🟡 Kick off your Sunday shoes. How to properly move your feet on the pickleball court | via Zane Navratil

🟡 Stop swinging. How punching the ball at the kitchen line could lead to less balls in the net.

😮 OGI… OHH! This new line up of pickleball specific bags from PPA sponsor, OGIO look 🔥. How many followers do I need to get free merch? 🤔

📺 Jack Sock (the best? doubles tennis pro) will be playing at the PPA tournament in Charlotte the weekend of May 5 and just did an interview with Dave Fleming from the PPA. Watch here.

🤣 These guys made a 3-foot tall pickleball paddle… And you can buy it. Check it out, here.

🪚 Is this legit? If you were ever interested in starting your own paddle brand, these guys might be able to make you a Selkirk Power Air knock-off pretty quick.

📺 Want a behind the scenes view of the business of pickleball? Listen to Tim Parks (owner of the Hard Eights) discuss the ins and outs of pickleball on The Dink Podcast. Now let’s convince him that the Sunday Dinking Club podcast should be on his top 10 list!

🔀 Want to watch the top up and coming pickleballers? Minor League Pickleball has announced that all future streams will be moving to the DUPR Youtube channel.

📺 Chris from the Pickleball Studio just ranked all of the top carbon fiber paddles. Where does yours land on his list? Find out, here.

• The Pickle Yard | Mauldin, SC

• Bangers & Dinks | Chesterfield, VA

• The Pickleball Club | Sarasota, FL

• Dill Dinkers | Columbia, MD

• Performance Pickleball RVA | Richmond, VA

• All In Pickleball Gym | Grand Rapids, MI

• Pickleball America | Stamford, CT

• South Lakes Park | Wichita, KS

If you enjoyed this week’s newsletter, share it with someone you’re dinking with later. Or better yet, send it to your entire group.

Until next week, enjoy your Sunday and have a dink for me.

p.s. Phil Mickelson and Ellen Degeneres were the latest celebs to hit the courts this week. Should we make them honorary SDC members or should be make them prove their worth first?

– “Downtown” Logan Brown