Pickleball lands 1 Million+ Viewers 🤯

Zero, Zero… Start

Wake up!

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

It’s DINKING time.

But first, mind sharing the word about Sunday Dinking Club? 

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Alright, let’s get started. Here’s what’s happening, Around The Post.

A Milli, A Milli, A Mill 🎤

On the heels of announcing their extended TV deal with CBS, the PPA just released last weekend’s tournament viewership numbers and they reached a Pickleball record (I think?). 1.25 million viewers 😍 “… across CBS, CBS Sports Network, and Tennis Channel.”

What’s the big dill?

In 2021-2022, the NBA averaged between 1.4 - 3.03M viewers per game (the Athletic). If pickleball can consistently pull numbers like they did this weekend, we should see bigger stages (read: court grandstands), more butts in seats, and more investment in the players… aka, more prize money 🤑.

The results are in!

Earlier this week, Salome Devidze took to Instagram to state that her paddle test results came back from the PPA, and… She’s all clear!

Missed the scuttlebutt?

A few weeks back, Salome was accused by fellow women’s pro Lea Jansen of using a delaminated paddle during their match at the Red Rock Open. Watch the excitement, here.

What’s the big dill?

Well, it turns out Lea was wrong (maybe). She’s got egg on her face, but she made a public apology via Instagram after the news was shared.

However, this definitely put the PPA on their toes. They started on-site paddle testing as of last week’s tournament in Newport Beach and even disqualified Sarah Ansboury and her partner for using a Gamma Obsidian that was deemed illegal, post-match. Read all about it, here.

Here are two more key takeaways from the PPA’s statement on the disqualification:

1. “A number of paddles” failed mandatory Tour testing over the course of the weekend 😬. Which means these paddle issues may be more pervasive than we thought. However, the players with paddles that failed pre-match were simply asked to use a different one.

2. Any player reserves the right to challenge an opponents paddle, but if they’re wrong… it’ll be 250 smackeroos ($$) coming out of their pocket.

Drop the “start”. It’s cleaner.

Apparently I’ve been saying it wrong this whole time. Who knew? 🤷‍♂️

Listen, since I started playing, I’ve heard it all. “Zero, zero, start”, “zero, zero, two”, “zero’s on two”, “zero’s on start”… “zero, zero, one… oops, uhhh?” 😂

But according to The Kitchen, it’s officially the end to “start”.

I think I’ll start all my games with “Let’s do this sh*t.” instead.

Put a Sock in it!

At least that’s what I imagine the PPA marketing team said to PPA CEO Connor Pardoe 😂.

Next weekend (May 4 - 7), the PPA Tour will be in Charlotte, NC and Jack Sock has announced he’ll be playing all three events. ✅ Singles ✅ Mixed-Doubles (with the queen, Anna Leigh Waters) ✅ Mens Doubles (with Tyson “where are my sleeves?” McGuffin).

In case you don’t know who Jack Sock is, here’s his resume and here’s a highlight reel of him playing pickleball at the PPA Bubly Team Championships.

Chirp, Chirp 🐤

Admittedly, this isn’t really “news” as much as it is gossip. But arguably, it’s the most PG-13 thing the sport of pickleball has seen to date. So for that reason, it’s news.

In case you missed it, Pablo Tellez gave a fan the middle finger after his doubles match this past weekend. And if he was willing to give the finger to this fan on live TV, what do you think he did when he received his fine from the PPA for the gesture?

Do I blame him? No. Why do fans feel like they’re entitled to say anything they want to athletes?

But, I do think the sport could use a few more WWE moments like this. If Pablo would have summoned his inner Draymond Green, we might have made SportsCenter again. Ba-dum-chshh 🥁

Kitchen Thoughts 🤔

Alright, I’m trying something new out. This is a new segment where I explain my half-baked (sometimes fully baked) thoughts on the future of pickleball.

Some of you will hate them, some of you will love them. Either way, let’s stir the pot.

Pickleball is facing two major problems right now:

1. It’s “too loud” and leading local authorities to close courts around the country

2. Paddlegate 1.0 and 2.0: Paddles are “too rough”, they “delaminate” and are borderline “illegal” every single weekend. If you’re a recreational player and end up with one of these paddles, you’re in for a headache trying to return or exchange your paddle to the manufacturer.

The solution:

The combination of polyester strings and a fuzzy ball is much quieter than the combination of a solid-faced paddle and a plastic ball. Less noise complaints = more pickleball around the country.

An orange-dot tennis ball is a low-compression tennis ball that bounces at about half the rate of a normal tennis ball and is just as quiet.

A racquetball racquet (or even something new that’s similar) uses poly strings, similar to a tennis racquet and has a max length of 22 inches. Only 5 inches longer than the current max length of a pickleball paddle (17 inches).

Together, they create a quieter game, without the paddle drama we’re going through now.

Now before you say anything… I know, I know. This would be a radical change. If something like this were to be implemented it would mean that everyone would have to ditch the paddles they spent hundreds of dollars on, companies would go out of business and players would have to relearn how to play the game with new equipment.

Would the speed still be too much for such a small court, even with the orange dot balls? 

What do you think? Would you be open to trying it if it meant keeping your courts vs losing them due to noise complaints?

I’m actually hoping to play this combo with a couple of friends. I’ll document the findings.

Speed it up

Quick links you’ll want to attack (with your thumb 👍)

• “Pickleball Crashers”. This video is funny, but this persons house is B.A.N.A.N.A.S. And it’s for sale! If you buy this house because of me, I better get invited.

• The most significant stat in PPA Pro Doubles. Should you be initiating the speed up on those yellow-light balls to win more points?

• Turf wars. Pickleball nets get destroyed by tennis players. I’m not pro-vandalism, but do tennis players have a right to be mad?

• Another celebrity picked up a pickleball paddle this week. Here’s a hint… no one told you life was gonna be this way 🎵

• Does your town need a wine & pickleball spot like this?

• This time last year, pickleball was being played in the boardroom of the New York Stock Exchange.

• I don’t know what’s going on here, but it’s wild and it’s tripping me out. Proceed cautiously.

• Anyone have one of those “offshore” bank accounts that needs a visit? Take me to the Cayman’s, ASAP!

• Covered, outdoor courts are the best. I’ve had the opportunity to play at the covered outdoor courts at Dreamland and they were in fact, dreamy.

• Pickleball (or an attempt at pickleball at least) made it onto the Price is Right this week.

• Pickleball just added at select Walt Disney World Resorts. It’s not as cool as it sounds, but if you’re planning a vacay to visit Mickey this summer and wanna ball, you may want to check these resorts out.

Alright folks, I’m out. It’s time to play some pickleball.

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. Please?

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

– “Downtown” Logan Brown

ICYMI: Last weeks PPA Tour results from Newport Beach