PicklePod

Lea Jansen joins the pod after her first singles title in nearly three years. We discuss paddle technology, her return to singles, drug testing, and the new wave of players in the women's game. A big change is imminent in the pro game. Find out what Lea would change to help the game keep up with other professional sports. Save 20% on Tifosi sunglasses with code DINK20 at https://tifosioptics.com/ Find an event near you and register to play in The Dink Minor Leagues at https://officialminorleaguepb.com/ Subscribe to The Dink 3x weekly newsletter https://thedink.beehiiv.com/ Want to work in pickleball? Join The Dink Team. We're looking for a full-time social media manager. Send us an email at [email protected] to apply. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Zane demands a trade 4:29 What you’re hearing about JOOLA 6:28 Lea joins the pod 11:09 Why Lea retired from singles 16:10 Also retired from Twitter 20:50 Drug testing and line calls 25:10 Refs fandom an issue 32:09 Want a grievance system 36:46 Inconsistencies in paddle testing 42:22 Only a high-profile incident will create change 44:07 Should be able to capitalize on natural advantages 49:24 Bringing a stack of paddles to be tested 53:56 The upper limit of power 1:00:31 Devil’s advocate on bad line calls 1:02:30 Power ranking beefs 1:07:50 Women’s players that are on the rise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Martinson from PIKKL joins the pod to discuss the current state of paddle technology. Dan's material science background and passion for pickleball have led him to become a paddle expert. His new approach to maintaining paddle integrity could have a big impact on how players use and replace paddles. Find an event near you and register to play in The Dink Minor Leagues at https://officialminorleaguepb.com/ Subscribe to The Dink 3x weekly newsletter https://thedink.beehiiv.com/ Want to work in pickleball? Join The Dink Team. We're looking for a full-time social media manager. Send us an email at [email protected] to apply. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 A gift for Zane 3:42 The Dink Minor Leagues and major league valuations 9:45 Lea’s revenge tour 12:14 Is Donald Young for real? 15:01 The rise of Fed and Tina Pisnik 18:59 M/W doubles recap 21:33 Dan joins the pod 24:01 Understanding the rules 28:38 Weight sidebar 32:26 Favoring a drive/drop hybrid 36:26 Paddle brand sources and protecting IP 40:29 Who is innovating in the paddle space 44:40 Generating more RPMs 51:04 Will paddle manufacturers set a standard? 53:14 Diving deep on grit details 56:08 Not in the final state of innovation 59:56 Carbon fiber could become obsolete 1:05:16 Customization options Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Augie Ge’s unique entry into pickleball had an unfortunate beginning but became a blessing in disguise. After losing his biostatistics job, Ge went all-in and pro pickleball. His own brand of obscure drills and tennis/ping pong background have led him to a PPA Silver Medal, MLP Premier Level, and an Arizona Pickleball League title. Ready to wield something as bold as your backhand? Swing by Warstic’s collection and let your paddle do the talking. https://warstic.com/collections/pickleball-paddles Subscribe to The Dink 3x weekly newsletter https://thedink.beehiiv.com/ Want to work in pickleball? Join The Dink Team. We're looking for a full-time social media manager. Send us an email at [email protected] to apply. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Introducing Augie Ge 4:24 Augie’s blessing in disguise 9:18 Early pro days and Zane’s wedding 13:10 The social bump after good results and salary talk 17:55 Credit to HeyShay 21:47 AZ Pickleball League influence 25:41 The Silver Medal run with Jaume in NC 27:51 Power ranking the lefties and 30:56 Unorthodox training methods and unique wall drills 34:04 Do you train grip changes? 38:11 Table tennis crossover and extra emphasis on the volleys 41:46 Augie’s win over Zane 46:14 MLP Forecast for the DPC 49:20 Augie’s college tennis experience and April schedule 54:10 ALW’s dominance and 100th title 1:00:02 Do you watch when not playing? 1:01:40 Voicemails Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newly appointed GM of the Texas Ranchers, Ryan Dawidjan, joins the pod. The guys grade and analyze all of the MLP teams following the draft. The Ranchers' first pick Christian Alshon has started a Twitter feud. The guys discuss how the back and forth shook out and a new possible on-court challenge between Alshon and James Blake. Ready to wield something as bold as your backhand? Swing by Warstic’s collection and let your paddle do the talking. Want to work in pickleball? Join The Dink Team. We're looking for a full-time social media manager. Send us an email at [email protected] to apply. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Introducing Ryan Dawidjan 6:30 Ryan’s draft experience 8:17 How do you prep in just 48 hours? 14:30 Factoring in growth potential 18:58 Seattle Pioneers 25:02 New Jersey 5’s 30:01 Humberg and Howells 35:07 St. Louis Shock 37:04 Columbus Sliders 40:52 AZ Drive 45:39 NY Hustlers 52:51 Texas Ranchers 59:17 Christian Alshon’s Twitter Feud 1:03:04 Alshon vs Blake hypothetical 1:09:30 DC Pickleball Team 1:10:20 LA Mad Drops 1:11:23 Orlando Squeeze and wedding talk 1:14:03 Dallas Pickleball Club 1:16:30 Utah Black Diamonds 1:18:44 Premier Level snubs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zane recaps his big weekend at the Austin Open and how the conditions were right for a Johns upset. Pickleball United CEO Pranav Kohli stops by to explain the Pickleball World Series. The new international tour is set to kick off in 2025 and offers some of the largest prize pools in pickleball history. Use code DINK10 to save 10% on the new CHUCK pickleball from GAMMA at http://gammasports.com/ Want to work in pickleball? Join The Dink Team. We're looking for a full-time social media manager. Send us an email at [email protected] to apply. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Zane’s big weekend at the Rain Delay Open 5:20 Outlining the winning strategy 9:57 Upcoming pros vs 5.0s and a match vs the Klitchs 16:31 Collin’s scoop in game 2, carry or not 19:27 Play to your strengths with a new partner 24:30 Andrei’s hot streak and Christian’s ceiling 28:35 The curse of the PicklePod 32:34 MLP events overlap some APP events 34:27 Is the gap closing on Ben Johns? 37:14 Iggy on the hot seat and is Andrei #2 40:27 Is the APP vs PPA gap overstated? & Newman vs Wright 42:52 Proton paddles pushing the limits 48:10 Thomas’ rocketship paddle is on the way 51:04 New Vulcan balls in Austin 53:31 Listener questions 56:48 Secret patterns that the pros talk about 59:53 Introducing Pickleball World Series 1:04:45 What makes the World Series different 1:11:57 How is the Times Group involved? 1:15:50 Finals at MSG or the Sphere 1:19:38 What are you working on now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s it like to be the world’s best player at just 17 years old? Anna Leigh and Leigh Waters join a very special edition of the PicklePod to give you a look behind the curtain. They share some insane fan stories including groups of fans tracking them down at the airport. Finally, Anna Leigh explains how to hit one of her most dangerous shots. Save 10% on the new Airbender paddle from GAMMA with code DINK10 at gammasports.com Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Anna Leigh’s car collection 6:17 The pressure of being number 1 11:40 Partnership helps the mother-daughter relationship 16:00 ALW fandom reaches new heights 19:10 Tennis world recognizes the Waters 22:50 An average day of training 26:49 Adapting to paddle technology 32:15 Anna Leigh’s new paddle 36:39 Is Leigh Waters back? 42:49 Net worth rumors and sponsorship deals 48:12 Lessons from lob-gate 53:35 The pressure to win and the Tyra Black match 1:02:34 Innovating with the Happy Gilmore Serve 1:04:31 Anna Leigh’s two-handed backhand 1:08:10 RV life and ALW’s ‘bodyguard’ 1:13:20 Rapid fire questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jimmy Miller from the King of the Court podcast joins the pod to break down the merger aftermath. The MLP season can finally get underway but there are still a few loose ends to tie up. A couple players have opted out of salary reductions or have been bought out of their contracts. That means we could see some top talent choosing not to compete in PPA or MLP events this year. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Intro 4:14 How Jimmy got on the inside 7:24 What’s the goal for Jimmy? 9:26 Vulcan Ball changes incoming 14:28 Feeding balls to Susan and wearing a Rolex 17:12 Background on the Tour Wars 24:05 Players offered and accepted buy-outs 29:23 Clinics threatened for those that don't take cuts 35:15 How would ProXR feel about Riley not playing tournaments? 39:45 Johnson 5 in no man’s land 42:55 MLP Draft planned for North Carolina - First event Miami? 49:26 Life as a GM 52:10 The Premier/Challenger split 55:48 Should every team be in the Premier Level? 1:05:50 Pros coming after Jimmy 1:19:15 The Gamemaker and new pickle sports 1:24:02 Jimmy needs a new scandal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a surprising upset in Mesa, Collin Johns is back on the PicklePod. He explains how the new Vulcan ball is affecting play and how the new serve rule has helped remove egregious faults from the game. Collin recalls the few teams that have taken him and his brother Ben in the past three years and explains how those opponents were able to hand them an L. Learn what three drills CJ says are mandatory in an all-new episode. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 Colin Johns intro 3:38 A little word association 5:45 Breaking news 9:30 Early life at the Johns household 13:29 The famous nut shot 15:49 Collin’s first match the eye protection 18:32 Bodybag or net cord? 21:14 The bookcase that made Ben’s backhand 29:46 Frankensteining - Stealing shots from other players 33:16 The impact of the Vulcan ball 41:10 The loss the Gabe Tardio/Andrei Daescu 48:47 What’s it take to beat the Johns bros 53:36 Only three drills allowed 59:27 Collin’s role on the player council 1:08:14 The year of the drop serve 1:11:26 Consulting and myth-busting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaume Martinez Vich is the guest on an all-new episode of the PicklePod. From humble origins in Spain, Jaume has gone from Rafa Nadal's hitting partner to a DII Tennis National Champion and is now a top 10 pro pickleball player. Learn more about Jaume's risky bet on himself to make it as a pickleball pro. He shares the details of how he fought for a performance-based contract and exceeded expectations. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Geography pop quiz 3:30 The Road Warrior life 5:41 How did you get good in Hawaii? 8:53 The doubles game is already there 14:02 Improve while playing against weaker players 15:51 Jaume’s revenue streams and support system 19:00 How Jaume funded a pro career and bet on himself 24:35 Initial offers vs Jaume performance-based plan 31:43 Mainland home would be the next step 33:28 Jaume’s experience with an agent 37:09 The weight of social media on brand deals 46:11 Hitting partner with Rafa Nadal and Jaume’s family 50:46 Hayden crashes the party 53:31 The Top 5 Players you don’t want to see in a draw 58:30 Rank these three at the cat and mouse game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Webb, the Chief Marketing Officer at the APP sits down with Thomas and Zane to share a little of what the APP has been building in the shadows. From international events to college championships and establishing a new headquarters in FL, the APP has been quietly making moves. Their goal is to share their brand of pickleball with the world and lay the foundation for the next generation. We're giving away 10 FS Tour paddles. Enter the giveaway here: https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com/franklin Get 10% off the new Airbender paddle from Gamma Sports with promo code DINK10 at https://www.gammasports.com/pages/meet-chuck?utm_source=online&utm_campaign=chuck_launch&utm_id=The+Dink Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Congrats to Zane 5:35 Dink Awards results and PickleBowl recap 12:27 Merger updates and rating system hold up 19:11 Players speak out after the Desert Ridge 24:35 Tom Webb from APP joins the pod 31:41 Not in competition with anyone 35:30 Pickleball’s internal struggles 39:11 Why pull back on streaming? 49:45 Going global, “When America sneezes…” 55:40 Top international markets 1:05:59 Preaching inclusivity over exclusivity 1:12:08 A whole new generation of talent coming 1:16:04 College pickleball taking off 1:21:25 Ken Herrmann keeping the Iced Tea vibes 1:25:20 Building under the APP umbrella Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The big man, Dekel Bar, steps into the PicklePod studio to get some things off his chest. Dekel is not a fan of the new serve rule and thinks it detracts from viewer friendly pickleball. Zane and Dekel had an epic semifinal matchup and the Desert Ridge Open. We break down the hostile attacks and game-changing clips that made the match unforgettable. Sign up to play at the Picklebowl '24 at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. https://www.inspiringchildren.org/vegas-pickle-bowl Benefits go to the Inspiring Children Foundation. We're giving away 10 Franklin FS Tour paddles. Enter the giveaway here: https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com/franklin Get 10% off the new CHUCK ball from Gamma Sports with promo code DINK10 at https://www.gammasports.com/pages/meet-chuck?utm_source=online&utm_campaign=chuck_launch&utm_id=The+Dink Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Dekel is in the house 3:00 Stats from ‘The Match’ 13:00 Are bodybags and acceptable strategy? 22:58 Going to see more drives 24:46 Vulcan ball 'out of round' 28:09 Dekel’s thoughts on the new serve rule 33:30 You must challenge the toss before the third shot 39ish 40% of serve returns missed in tennis and ball conspiracy 44ish Neutralize a big serve 47:22 Results from the Desert Ridge Open 51:20 How were the crowds in Arizona? 53:30 ATP’s crush on SportsCenter 55:45 Liquidity tweet possibly cut 58:35 Escape room and the switch to Joola 1:01:00 Dekel’s Pickleball 360 1:04:33 More voicemails Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zane and the boys get raucous in Austin for his bachelor party. He suffers the right of passage of the white rabbit run and falls asleep at a comedy club. The PPA-MLP 'deadline' has officially passed but there are still questions unanswered. The guys discuss whether China prepping for Olympic supremacy should have pros concerned. Sign up to play at the Picklebowl '24 at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. https://www.inspiringchildren.org/vegas-pickle-bowl Benefits go to the Inspiring Children Foundation. Dock tok https://www.docktok.com/ AreyoukiddingTV Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Zane's Bachelor weekend 6:30 Napping at a comedy show 11:54 The Picklebowl 2024 at the Plaza Hotel & Casino 14:56 The MLP - PPA merger “deadline” 21:53 The buyout pickleball lottery 26:28 New serve rule still in play 31:48 JW, Dylan, and Jack Sock all missing from Desert Ridge 34:10 Riley and Thomas f*ing good 34:30 Zane walkout clip 37:01 Pat Smith suspended and possible players union 42:21 A deeper look at men’s singles 48:26 Women’s singles and Rohrabacher’s rise 51:44 Front Office Sports article - China wants to lead in pickleball 1:02:58 My DUPR just went up 1:04:31 Gambling in Pickleball 1:11:36 Addressing the viewership problem 1:16:34 SAN Question and voicemails Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riley Newman makes a special appearance on the PicklePod and shares his best stories from six years of pro pickleball. Newman covers his break up with Matt Wright and how he is building partnerships in 2024. The guys give an update on the PPA - MLP merger and Riley explains his surprising decision to sign with MLP last year. Finally, Riley responds to the haters who don't like his style of play or paddle tap philosophy. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ 0:00 A heartfelt voicemail from Altaf Merchant 3:57 Merger talks are back on track, for now 7:26 First MLP event is on its deathbed, merger or nothing 10:44 Johnson 5 caught in contract limbo? 16:33 DUPR is growing users and capital 20:32 Riley Newman still has basketball fever 24:16 Building a partnership with Thomas Wilson 28:30 Second isn't good enough 31:00 Where the pancake grip got started 36:02 What difference does a paddle make? 38:18 Still no paddle taps and battling the haters 43:45 We are never getting back together 51:40 The Riley Newman origin story 55:01 MLP Draft drama and signing with the league 1:00:34 What content do you consume? 1:02:14 The next wave of talent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Munro is a pickleball OG. He picked up the game before it was cool and was a junior national champion a decade ago. After a long hiatus, he is back to reclaim his throne in America's fastest-growing sport. Zane and Jack are joined by Carlos Di Laura who is putting together a pro pickleball playground and training center in Austin. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drop a comment below for a chance to win a Zane Navratil Signature Paddle. The progression draw has been met with some pushback. Some pros aren't fans of being pushed aside to make room for tennis superstars. The new carry rule has players everywhere arguing and pulling out their rulebooks. Zane lays out his bold predictions including another new serve rule. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Intro 4:19 Explaining the progression draw 9:03 Optics of unearned byes 15:53 Mama Waters is back 19:34 The race for points and paddles 25:33 The paddle responsible for the most W’s 29:50 Scouting the up and comers 35:01 Zane’s 2024 predictions 39:47 New Vulcan ball feels heavy 42:49 No gold for new pro tennis players 46:04 The Dink Awards voting 55:15 Rule change against carry 59:40 Correct server and receiver rule change and improved replays Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drop a comment below for a chance to win a Zane Navratil Signature Paddle. Both pro tours will feature a new ball in 2024. How will the change affect the pro game and will this trickle down to a consumer market that has been dominated for years? New serve rules could help eliminate the game's serve regulation struggles. Some players have navigated the contract minefield and have few limitations for 2024. Find out what Zane and Thomas think about the changes on an all-new picklepod. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 The new Jamie 2:10 Stop Alzheimer’s Now results 5:16 New balls drop in 2024 10:25 What it costs to be the official ball of the PPA 17:20 APP goes with the OWL ball 21:43 How much does the ball affect shot selection? 24:32 Zane’s most controversial paddle 28:58 Testing out Gearbox hype and paddle upgrades 33:14 Partner mix-up and contract limitations 36:25 MLP Draft - a new auction format 45:41 New serve rules for PPA result in 52:48 Pairings to debut and re-unite in 2024 55:48 Tyson’s new paddle contract 59:12 Takeya ends paddle endeavor - Riley, AJ and Lindsey go looking 1:01:32 The Dink Awards 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a new deadline on the PPA/MLP merger but there still seems to be no clear path to the finish line. “Big Pickleball” has started throwing its weight around and it's got some players on the defensive. Thomas sums up the game's current juxtaposition in a pickleball version of The Night Before Christmas that you don’t want to miss. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Record-setting week for Stop Alzheimer’s Now 3:30 Zane’s Christmas gift 8:01 Let’s get your take on “Big Pickle” 11:00 “Every reason to fear Big Pickle” 16:35 Other targets in the crosshairs 17:58 Zane wins the caption contest, garbage is garbage 26:42 CNBC article addresses the Player Collective 30:57 Inequitable salaries and players that need to step up 36:23 85% of Premier players signed “patently false” and a new deadline 44:49 Dutch Auction and $15 million raise = extended runway 50:09 APP chuggin’ along with high school, colleges and international game 55:41 Pro pickleballers stranded on an island Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas is away and Zane is hosting a party. Jason Bock and Carlos Di Laura join Zane in-studio to cover a disappointing loss at MLP San Clemente, action from the PPA Finals and all things Austin pickleball. Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Stop Alzheimer’s Now big give 5:50 Introducing Jason and Carlos 10:54 PPA Finals coverage 16:04 Collin Johns’ thoughts on sportsmanship 19:50 Magnified version of personality on court 26:49 Favorite chirp and net cord philosophy 30:29 MLP San Clemente not a Superfinal 36:17 Genie Erokhina’s teardrop 40:24 Sportsmanship award and bad line calls 46:24 Neil’s replay at APP Chicago 52:37 The Dutch Auction for MLP 2024 1:02:46 What’s the right formula for pro play? 1:04:56 The world’s slowest Nasty Nelson 1:07:43 Stats vs Coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Altaf Merchant joins the pod after completing a perfect season in men’s senior pro doubles. The Mumbai Monster recaps the most exciting matches on his way to a 59-0 record. Merchant explains how his fiery personality has gotten him into trouble on the court and shares why he thinks he was snubbed in the MLP 2023 draft. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Win apparel from The Pick and a new paddle from Veloz in our new giveaway https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com/thepick-veloz Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/ Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Check out the new Helios and Titan Elite paddles from Takeya https://takeyausa.com/collections/pickleball Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Merchant vs the internet 5:32 Altaf’s claim to fame 9:34 The pressure of entering the senior tour 12:29 Hip thrusts for everyone 16:34 Altaf was snubbed for MLP 24:21 The race to sign Altaf 28:09 Pickleball in India 31:37 Best/Worst Zane memory 33:28 Any beefs on tour? 40:15 Rapid fire Altaf 43:28 Commitment to be a pro 48:59 Top 5 in all the wrong categories 51:58 Stop Alzheimer’s Now Campaign 59:39 Altaf’s social media team 1:02:20 How many matches to get an invite back to the pod? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connor Garnett is in studio to cover everything from Nationals in Dallas. The former investment banker made the switch to full-time pickleball in 2023 and it is paying off. Garnett weighs in on the drop serve discussion and Zane explains why the serve is so difficult to regulate. Connor shares his experience with the progression draw and questions if JW Johnson and Collin Johns swap secrets to benefit the Columbus Sliders. Don’t miss Connor on this all-new episode. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/ Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Find and book private courts in your area with https://swimply.com/ Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:00 Explaining the rules to Connor Garnett 3:55 Banker in previous life 7:55 The decision to go full-time 10:36 Let’s talk about Nationals 16:45 The amateur experience with UTPR and sandbagging 22:01 Progression draw loved it, hated it and indifferent 31:05 JW the first new champ in 7 years 37:31 Haworth’s big upset 40:01 Collin claps back at DUPR 47:03 Do JW and Collin share secrets at MLP? 51:37 Lea Jansen wants to change the serve game 58:51 AJ and Fed at Nationals 1:06:58 The status of San Clemente Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paddles were dropping left and right at MLP Dallas. Zane estimates that 90% of paddles were ruled out via PPL testing before the event. Affected pros were left searching for legal paddles. The boys recap the MLP action including Federico Staksrud’s blow-up on Saturday, the now infamous two-become-one rule, and all of the vuvuzela noise. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/ Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Find and book private courts in your area with swimply.com Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:15 Zane wants another shot at the DC squad 5:58 Not playing in Nationals 7:23 If Ben and ALW played men’s how far would they go? 8:40 A frantic call from Tropickleball about the Detroit Bounce tourney 10:48 Paddle drama is at an all-time high - assumed 90% fail 16:31 The law of diminishing grit 21:44 Two-become-one foot fault rule against Daescu 25:03 Vuvuzuela’s hard to listen to 27:49 Staks got out of hand, earned an Orange Card and a record fine 32:09 A shocker that the Black Diamonds didn’t make the cut 33:34 Shadows covered the court in Dallas 35:07 Alshon takes the MVP award 38:02 New 2024 schedule released 42:24 Thomas is struggling to find games in Austin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

USA Pickleball’s man behind the paddle tests shares his wealth of knowledge with the PicklePod. Carl Schmits explains what is going on with the new wave of paddles hitting the market and the discrepancy between testing organizations. Zane and Thomas recap the APP Houston Open and weigh in on the line call controversy that brought an army of extra eyes to Championship Court. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/don... Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/ Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/sig... -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes 0:53 The F1 Pickleball Experience 5:04 When Zane and Thomas first met 8:55 Travis isn’t afraid to sling it on Tennis Sucks 15:39 APP Houston line calls boil over 20:09 Punishment for overruling calls 24:43 No Premier Level trades 27:15 Zane needs suggestions for a creative loser punishment 32:14 Carl Schmits joins the pod 40:28 How do testing organizations work together? 44:28 USAP’s plan for testing at Nationals 51:44 The new Gearbox paddle 58:24 Exit velocity test coming soon and auditing the PicklePod 1:02:35 The USAP relationship with the pro tours 1:11:18 What does USA Pickleball do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pickleball’s most analytic player joins the pod for some high-level paddle talk and low-key trash talk. Johns shares his opinion on the new round of paddlegate and why testing will always be chasing innovation. He weighs in on the Tour Wars cease-fire and how pickleball has benefitted from competition over the last 3 years. And finally, Collin addresses his haters about covering 30% of the court and his feud with net cords. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Win a pickleball facility and lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/ Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam Swimply is like AirBnb for pickleball courts. Find your perfect court at https://www.swimply.com/pickleball?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=Launch&utm_id=Dink -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Collin and Zane get into business 3:36 The new paddlegate 9:01 The current level of testing 12:54 The difference between innovation and cheating 20:39 Jilly B calls out 'biggest cheater in the game' 31:30 The players’ responsibility 38:48 The Johns’ status during the Tour Wars 45:30 Recapping the merger 51:52 Matt Wright’s longevity - CJ’s potential partners 57:52 The benefit of the Newman/Wright breakup 1:01:00 The Johns winning strategy 1:08:23 FanDuel lost money setting odds on the Johns 1:09:45 Bryan Bros interest in pickle 1:15:48 Steve Kuhn’s official resignation 1:18:39 Why the net cord hates Collin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: One of the most viewed instructors on YouTube, John Cincola stops by the PicklePod. Cincola weighs in on the line call controversy at APP Atlanta, he tells us who he thinks will join MLP in the shuffle draft, and almost shares his secrets for playing 2 vs 1. Show Notes: 0:00 Introducing John Cincola 6:50 Overwhelming overrules at APP Atlanta 11:11 Relying too much on ref certification 18:05 Worst calls from your career 23:20 Team Fudge Barr finally takes the top spot 29:05 Andrei the Philosopher pitches a shutout on Championship Sunday 35:00 Roscoe’s top 10 shot and Zane embraces the tomahawk 41:29 The Bryan Bros journey into pro pickle 47:51 Zane is not convinced forehand’s in the right call 50:09 Shuffle draft week in MLP 56:21 Thomas taking on Zane 2 vs 1 1:00:56 John’s Youtube channel + return of Zane Affleck 1:06:01 Political pickleball hypotheticals 1:09:25 College pickleball on the rise and SAN questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MLP Champion Rachel Rohrabacher makes her first appearance of many on the PicklePod. Rohrabacher has gone from the hectic environment of SEC tennis to an all-time MLP performance. She recaps her accelerated journey from college champion to Premier Level pro. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Find a league that fits your schedule with Honcho: https://www.honchopickle.com/ Win a free trip to the USA Pickleball National Championships in Dallas: https://nationalsgiveaway.kickoffpages.com/ Swimply is like AirBnb for pickleball courts. Find your perfect court at https://www.swimply.com/pickleball?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=Launch&utm_id=Dink Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Intro 6:12 Rachel’s journey into pickleball 12:53 Was there animosity between players? 14:49 An unbelievable comeback victory 21:50 The story of Rachel’s draft position 26:52 Comparing SEC tennis and MLP 31:40 Where does the MLP win rank in your career? Thoughts on Dreambreaker 38:34 Dealing with pickleball fame and team chemistry 45:01 Andrei’s philosophical quotes 47:39 Questions for Rachel 54:50 The Bryan Bros expected to make a run in pro pickleball 1:00:10 The story of Swimply 1:13:10 Pickleball will outweigh the pool category Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zane and Thomas caught wind of three players who won’t be in the mix for MLP Atlanta. Some of them might sit at home in bubble wrap until the ball drops on New Year's to protect their new contracts. The guys preview the highly anticipated event and share their predictions for who will hoist the cup. Thomas recaps the first-ever Bounce Nashville Tournament sponsored by the Tenessee Titans and issues a correction towards USA Pickleball. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Swimply is like AirBnb for pickleball courts. Find your perfect court at https://www.swimply.com/pickleball?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=Launch&utm_id=Dink Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Zane toes the line 5:46 Okay let’s start the podcast - MLP sit-outs 10:56 Fans of PicklePod out in the streets - Bounce event in Nashville 15:00 Agents of Change take on the MLP Freeze 19:19 Tyson and Tyler meet again at MLP 24:50 Pablo is inadvertently the bad boy of pickleball 25:50 Who gets first dibs act Jack Sock in 2024? 29:27 USA Pickleball and 99% of players 39:20 Viewers weigh in on Tyson and Tyler 41:38 MLP Atlanta Preview - Zane’s X factor 48:05 Group B is loaded 51:30 Group C predictions 54:40 SAN Questions 58:58 Best parent/child pro duos in pickleball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zane and Thomas wade through the Tour Wars fallout on a new episode of PicklePod. MLP Atlanta is a go, but there is still plenty of bad blood among owners, players, and staff. Speaking of bad blood, the McGuffin vs. Loong feud rages from the court to podcasts and to Twitter. There is speculation on holdouts, renegotiations, and how this new organization can function moving forward. Zane and Thomas cover Zane’s injury and recap their head-to-head results from last week. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Swimply is like AirBnb for pickleball courts. Find your perfect court at https://www.swimply.com/pickleball?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=Launch&utm_id=Dink Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Honcho winners get to play Zane 2 on 1 3:56 Singles is 5 years behind doubles 7:02 Contracts will need to be touched up 13:29 Tennis players entering the mix 18:50 Paddle companies choosing from top talent 23:49 Tyson’s flips the bird at PPA Cincy 33:20 Pickle4444 with the inside information 42:19 Pros overcoming bad blood 47:40 I will clean out the porta-potties 50:47 Where does USA Pickleball stand? 57:47 Annonymous accounts coming for Zane 1:08:14 Ken Hermann the last OG left 1:10:42 No more relegation - What 2024 looks like Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything we know about the battle between the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. Jimmy and Thomas break it down. 20% off your first purchase at Vuori: https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Rep the Pickleball Lifestyle. Pickleball Apparel: https://repthedink.com Pickleball's #1 newsletter, join 150,000+ pickleballers: http://thedink.beehiiv.com/ Thoughts? Tweet at us @ pickleball: https://twitter.com/Pickleball Pickleball's #1 Blog: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/ Everything else: https://linktr.ee/dinkfam What's The Dink? The Dink is the front page of pickleball, delivering news, stories, tips, gear reviews, highlights and more to millions of pickleballers. Pickleball Lives Here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Ignatowich joins the pod from a Sonic parking lot in Kansas City. He breaks down his match-of-the-year contender from TOC and explains why he wasn’t a candidate in the Riley Newman partner sweepstakes. Zane and Thomas cover Zane’s injury and recap their head-to-head results from last week. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Use code DINK20 to save 20% of pickleball apparel at https://dillylife.com/ and receive free shipping on orders over $75. Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Podcasting is hard 6:20 Rec matches with Maurice the Grease 10:20 Is your goose cooked in singles? 17:01 If James can make it anyone can 20:20 An eye for talent - evaluating Dallas Pickleball Club 25:14 The best teammate in pickleball 33:20 Snubbed in the Riley Newman partner search 39:10 The latest from ProXR 46:00 James' first round loss at TOC 55:20 Pat Smith’s resurgence + Zane’s injury 1:04:50 Ranchers new ownership group and Teqball 1:06:10 Stop Alzheimer’s Now questions 1:11:58 Collin vs Matt on the right side Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time ever, a winner of the PicklePod listener contest joins the pod. He is a former free diver and competitive surfer who outlines the flow state benefits of pickleball. Zane explains the new scrutiny around his signature paddle and gets coerced to auction off a seat at his wedding. Plus a story featuring Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox and ayahuasca in Costa Rica. Learn more about Honcho Pickleball League here: https://www.honchopickle.com/ View open positions at The Dink here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedink/jobs/ To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Honcho Pickleball League and pickleball job openings 4:15 We introduce Connor Irwin, kinda 11:00 Flow state and pickleball 16:41 A new standard for the grit test 22:43 A coaching relationship or serial killer material 27:05 Pros are still young and when to tag an opponent on the ground 35:45 DJ Young is turning things around 39:10 Mindfulness in pickleball, Ayahuasca with MGK and Meghan Fox 46:27 The Kumbaya era is over 52:18 Best pods in pickleball 55:12 Did Ben Johns like losing? 1:03:10 Playing poorly on Adderall 1:08:24 Zane wants to auction seats to his wedding 1:20:10 Stop Alzheimer’s Now questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Seattle Open was full of headlines. The guys cover Lea’s singles retirement, Pablo’s costly paddle throw and the upset over the Johns bros. MLP announced new paddle color guidelines to eliminate a possibly unfair advantage. Zane discusses how he pushes the rules to their limit. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 A warm welcome for Zane in Boston 5:20 Zane’s spin drill catches some hate 10:17 New MLP paddle guidelines 16:33 ProXR in the hands of some surprise winners 23:10 Pushing the limits to their edge 33:33 Getting reps against the best talent in Austin 43:27 PPA Seattle and Lea’s retirement 50:26 An ‘assault’ of the scoreboard 53:55 Riley vs Matt + T Swift 57:50 Catching the early erne and beef history 1:00:35 Pat Smith and DJ Young upset the world’s number 1 team 1:04:14 Stop Alzheimer’s Now questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The boys have been on the road and are back with some classic stories. Thomas went toe-to-toe with Jay Devilliers on the court before attending Ed Sheeran in Detroit. Zane ended a match in the most savage way possible. He recounts one of the strangest on-court injuries that you will ever hear. The discussion leads to the APP’s new growth strategy which appears to be an international endeavor. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Attending Ed Sheeran with Jay Devilliers 5:35 Oh man, "This is going to be on the pod" 8:30 Zane with a chip on his shoulder 12:50 Announcing the ProXR swear jar 16:25 Beer City’s development and operation 25:48 Pickleball concussions are a real thing 30:26 Zane’s Nasty Nelson 40:22 The Best Hands Index 51:15 Emerging stat best indicator of success 54:15 APP Tour going international 59:11 Finding the next big pickleball event 1:14:34 Stop Alzheimer’s Now questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a special edition of PicklePod from the Morning Brew podcast studio in Manhattan. The King of the Court crew joins the pod to dissect the eventful MLP draft. The guys cover who won the draft, who lost the draft and who got left out in the cold. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Who the hell is Jimmy Miller? 8:15 Everybody running a burner account 11:52 Almost canceled before the MLP Draft live in Central Park 17:13 The ‘Big Boy’ draft recap 23:30 The misses in the draft 29:40 Surprising picks that turned heads 35:55 The feeling of sitting in the green room 39:15 Jay Devilliers and Thomas going to Ed Sheeran 43:15 Agents taking over in pickleball 52:58 Where the Zane and Tyler beef started 58:14 The well-known names that didn’t make the cut 1:05:31 Tyler doesn’t have beef with everybody 1:08:30 Conflict of interest in ownership 1:11:52 The influencers mock draft 1:15:30 Mean tweets with Zane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US tennis icon and former sexiest man alive James Blake defends pickleball on the PicklePod. Blake is an owner in Major League Pickleball and an advocate for the sport. The Twitter trolls have been blowing up Blake’s DMs and he has a message for the haters. Pickleball is here to stay. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns. Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Sexiest tennis player alive according to People Magazine 4:30 James Blake ends pickleball vs tennis debate 9:28 Pickleball poaching players before they reach tennis 15:34 Has tennis reached a plateau in the US? 19:29 Roddick proponent and opponent 26:10 See the game up close for true appreciation 28:43 An open ear with Major League Pickleball 33:10 Zane questions if team pickleball is a gimmick 38:05 Let’em yell or make it civil 45:04 Rapid Fire: Tennis stars get graded 49:55 Best predictor of pickleball success 55:22 Pickleball itself is a gimmick according to trolls 59:38 Listner questions for Stop Alzheimer’s Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What will it take to beat the most dominant men’s team in the game? Zane Navratil thinks he has the answer. The guys go over the stand-out performances from San Clemente including the rise of Hurricane Tyra Black. Equity and royalties are now being structured into paddle deals. How big should the pros' slice be in the pickleball pie? Send in your listener questions to support Stop Alzheimer’s Now. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ Show Notes: 0:00 Intro 5:14 No memes of the week 9:05 The future of MLP 16:25 PPA San Clemente Recap Hurricane Season 23:11 How to beat the Johns bros 31:38 Mr Beast jumps in the chat & the pickleball brackets struggle 34:50 Issues with seeding 42:05 Tournament grind doesn’t end 50:40 Equity and open play etiquette 59:35 MLP New Rules - PicklePod Agents of Change 1:07:37 Rowdiness expected to make a comeback in San Clemente 1:09:40 A new Lea Jansen fueled by the haters 1:15:50 Tesi’s for the boys 1:18:59 Listner questions for Stop Alzheimer’s Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: MLP creator Steve Kuhn joins PicklePod this week. Steve is addicted to growing the sport of pickleball domestically and internationally. On the pod he unveils new initiatives and projects that will get pickleball into schools, create more playing opportunities and end sandbagging once and for all. Don’t miss an all new episode with pickleball visionary Steve Kuhn. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/don... Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' free e-newsletter at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/sig... -Follow us on IG @thedinkpickleball -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Let’s get right into rally scoring 5:45 Pickleball Cares and pickleball politics 12:48 A global perspective on Pickleball 17:50 A billion players worldwide 29:30 Steve Kuhn Pickleball Ventures 32:10 The highest prize pool in stock options 43:19 Managing different opinions and investors 49:54 Steve Kuhn Snooker superfan 54:50 Bussin with the boys 1:02:51 A new version of DUPR is here 1:07:10 The end of sandbagging 1:18:30 Minor League Pickleball and MLPalooza 1:20:51 PickleMall in Kuhn’s Portfolio 1:28:10 Pickleball’s chance to enter NCAA and high school relevancy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: Zane and Thomas address the mud that is being slung around the pickleball world. New podcasts and Twitter have provided a platform for players to defend themselves and point fingers and Zane says he’s “Here for it.” On the heels of an epic comeback from William Sobek, the guys debate the best comebacks of all time. Listener questions are answered in support of Stop Alzheimer’s Now. Show Notes: 4:46 The new Tyler Loong pod 11:30 Dissecting the drama 18:00 Chasing clout or high school drama? 26:15 Pass/fail/pass on Tyler’s new paddle 28:25 Zane Affleck folklore 33:00 Betting announced in pickleball 36:01 NYC Open Sobek vs The Wolf and the best comebacks 44:12 No taps for you 50:38 Randall Emmett doc 55:49 Stop Alzheimer’s Now question submissions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Break out your calculator and loafers because we’re talking pickleball finance. Companies are trying to break into the ball game, players are upping their media output and pickleball is taking over malls. We’re back from a two week hiatus to cover everything happening in the world of pickleball. To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html Want to work in pickleball? Visit https://pickleballjobs.io/ Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/ ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Cussin’ for a Cause 4:07 Meme of the week 9:08 Ranking Twitter personalities 18:27 Brands expanding into the ball game 23:37 PickleMall is a thing and it’s backed by Steve Kuhn 30:07 A strong Atlanta Open for the Mumbai Monster 33:30 The Jack Sock experiment: Good or Bad for the Sport 42:32 Pros can extend their reach with video 53:35 MLPalooza and a new team name for Zane 1:01:04 It’s all padel and pasta in Italy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MLP Commissioner Brooks Wiley stops by PicklePod on his podcast tour. Brooks and the Pickle Pro Labs team have been busy creating new standards for pickleball testing and he is here to update the fans. Brooks shares plans for future MLP updates including an MLP ball and VAR system. MLP San Clemente is just one month away and will now include a Super Final to determine the season one champion. Find out more in an all-new episode. Show Notes: 0:00 Getting down in the dirt - Meme of the week 6:07 Updates from the Commissioner 11:29 Creating new methods for paddle testing 16:31 The new MLP ball 19:45 Getting ready MLP San Clemente - VAR, Championship Court 24:11 The first blue card in MLP history 27:30 Tyson McGuffin calls out DJ’s antics 32:15 Finding a way to make pickleball look cool 43:03 Twitter is taking over the pickleball conversation 50:55 Red Rock paddle testing results 53:10 Pickleball conspiracy theories - policing amateurs 1:00:06 Rule changes and the Wild West Tournament 1:06:15 Minor League Pickleball and the Super Finals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first on-site DQ for paddle delamination, pickleball pro flips the bird to courtside heckler and a new rebel will sell you a juiced-up paddle. We thought we could get away with taking a week off but there is too much happening in the world of pickleball. We cover the Newport Beach Shootout, US Open, and results from the infamous Red Rock Open paddle challenge. Show Notes: 0:00 Twitter’s MVPs 3:55 Meme of the week 7:35 Mr. Bean meme 10:40 One stream for all the pickleball drama 12:35 Altaf men’s win 13:07 US Open pro results 16:18 The drama-filled Newport Beach Shootout 18:46 Ben and Collin lose to Newell and Locklear 21:09 One singles tournament per month 24:48 Six paddles exceed the limits during MLP testing 29:43 The challenge results from PPA Red Rock Open 34:35 What happened with the Ansboury DQ 42:53 Lea Jansen’s response to Red Rock results 47:37 The guy juicing paddles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Owner of the SoCal Hard Eights, Tim Parks, joins the PicklePod. Tim’s insights into MLP financials, sports betting, and building a sports league are shaping the way the game is played. Tim is willing to debate anyone on the merits of rally scoring and brings a unique take to the conventional wisdom of MLP draft strategy. Quite possibly the best episode yet. Show Notes: 0:00 The 'no-due diligence' era 4:50 Always wanted to be a GM 8:30 The best podcast in pickleball 15:25 The billion-dollar businesses surrounding pickleball 22:10 Tim invests in The Dink 26:07 How MLP can build a moat 33:32 Let’s talk about gambling 42:32 Extranalities and the Paragon of Virtue 48:30 Tim’s first pro pickleball experience 56:33 The cold war between PPA and MLP 1:07:43 Dispelling the myths about rally scoring 1:17:04 The Monte Carlo simulation 1:21:34 Convince me to add the shot clock 1:24:23 Coach Anna Bright allowed on court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time to check in with pickleball GOAT Ben Johns. Ben went on Twitter to address the paddle delamination issue and started a fire. He goes deeper into how to test for delamination and why power is a problem. We touch on all the controversies facing the pro game including white paddles, match schedules, and rule changes. Ben even provides a history lesson on some of Pickleball’s OG’s. You can’t miss this episode with Pickleball’s top dog. Show Notes: 3:02 The tweet that starts the delamination fire 7:20 How the deflection test really works 12:11 Somewhere between a wooden paddle and tennis racquet 19:19 US Open rule change 24:14 An ultrasonic test could be the solution for delamination 31:04 The pickleball OG’s 37:01 What does a top player look like 10 years from now? 41:12 Riley Newman’s unique style may be helping and hurting 45:00 Ben will not be playing pickleball in 2033 50:07 The right-side player will be left-handed in the future 56:30 James Ignatowich’s quick ascension 1:00:30 Ben’s close alignment with the PPA Tour and MLP feelings 1:07:14 Who The 5’s should have picked last in the draft 1:12:00 White paddle sh*t 1:17:45 Pro players wait to speak out - Seeking more transparency 1:25:54 Let’s schedule and promote big matches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: It’s been said before. It will be said again. Pickleball is the wild west right now. Between PEDs and paddle delamination, there seems to be cheating happening every weekend. Lea Jansen joins the pod to share her unabashed thoughts on the matter Show Notes: 0:00 Twitter fingers Jansen 3:30 We need drug testing 7:12 Delamination Abundant in Utah 11:02 Lea vs Salome Saga 17:12 The YouTube chat and being authentic 24:16 “Quit whining and figure out your own game” 28:20 Testing for a delaminated paddle 32:40 What off site testing means 35:22 Does delamination benefit you in doubles? 40:54 If you’re the league do you love the controversy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: Zane and Thomas burn through pickleball’s hottest stories of the week. First up, they respond to Lea Jansen’s take on singles. Then a juicy letter from a host in Daytona is making its way through the picklesphere. Can we chalk it up to growing pains? Zane shares his takes on the inaugural Pickleball Slam. There’s still a chance for you to get on the pod, jump in the comments and make your case. Show Notes: 0:00 Lea thinks singles are a thing of the past 8:01 Zane college tennis crossover into pickleball 15:30 Dunking in the comments 20:22 The famous Medium article ‘Grow Up Pickleball’ 37:43 The APP Tour’s sit-and-wait strategy opens the door for new players 46:00 Big Papa Jimmy has a way with words 50:25 The Pickleball Slam had entertainment value, not just a hit n giggle 57:05 Jack Sock might be the ultimate tennis crossover athlete Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: Pickleball’s most polarizing player Julian Arnold is here to talk all things MLP. His unabashed excitement for the game leaves some fans pining for more and others muting their TVs. Learn more about how Julian co-founded his paddle company Volair and coined his own catchphrase. MLP Mesa’s Most Valuable Player also shares his insights on how pro pickleball can continue to improve. Andiamo! Show Notes: 0:00 Julian and Thomas’ first epic battle 2:00 The birth of ANDIAMO 6:15 The first MLP blue card was issued to Pablo Tellez 13:33 What is crossing the line in pro pickleball? 21:13 People have started to appreciate the Andiamo energy 24:04 Creating your own brand 34:35 The best way to tank your DUPR 37:52 MLP Daytona - sloped courts, wind, and time at the beach 47:18 Side selection is crucial in MLP 52:29 Getting the court visuals correct will help eliminate a side advantage 57:11 The Saslow Super Dreambreaker 1:01:01 Rally removes shots from the game 1:04:08 The shot clock concept Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: PPA Tour Commissioner Connor Pardoe joins the PicklePod to clarify the current paddle testing situation. He shares his vision for the future of the tour and addresses current pain points. One big change coming this spring is gambling on pickleball which is expected to debut in May. Tune in for an inside look at one of pickleball’s most influential personalities. Show Notes: 0:00 PPA Tour growth in the past two years 5:35 The whole CRBN picture and paddle testing status 10:46 Explaining paddle delamination 19:02 Ben Johns' tweet 25:05 Players talking PEDs and establishing a Player Handbook 31:50 Pickleball learning from Padel 33:27 When is gambling going to enter pickleball? 43:26 Line call automation is coming…eventually 47:10 Zane may have changed the review system 49:37 Rally scoring makes the game easier 55:47 Is the MLP merger still moving forward 56:58 Shaping the future of the PPA Tour 1:00:00 When does the pro tour split away from amateur events 1:05:15 The backdraw has its own purpose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bad boy of pickleball DJ Young joins the PicklePod to discuss his run-in with the law. Young is the first player to be fined on the PPA Tour. DJ breaks news about not being able to use his paddle at PPA Austin. The guys discuss USA Pickleball revamping the paddle testing process, Nationals' new home, and Dude Perfect joining the list of MLP owners. Plus, the winner of the merch giveaway is announced. Show Notes: 0:00 DJ needs to sign a waiver 4:50 The ‘How much did you get fined?’ game 9:20 Zane’s paddle sells out after it gets challenged 13:40 DJ’s hip thrust routine 18:20 Paddle throwing competition 21:28 Paddles or PEDs for a bigger advantage 39:00 What’s actually being said between players on-court? 47:38 Dude Perfect invests in an MLP team 56:15 Let’s bring DJ to a rage room 1:00:00 New paddle testing overhaul 1:14:29 Nationals is moving from CA to TX 1:23:34 Collin Shick’s breakout weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is huge breakup news in the world of pro-mixed doubles. The superteam of Riley Newman and Anna Bright has called it quits. Also in this episode, Zane rates the moves of the MLP Shuffle Draft and crushes on his AI alter ego. It's the last chance to be a guest on the PicklePod. Jump in the YouTube comments and let us know who is the Shooter McGavin of pickleball. Show Notes: 0:00 Imparting emotional damage - Zaney rules tourney 2:50 The first strike in the feud with Dylan Frazier 4:40 Zane crushes on his alter ego w/ @memesofpickleball 9:05 The court of public opinion 10:50 DJ Young was issued the first fine in PPA Tour history 14:59 Zane analyzes MLP Challenger Shuffle Draft 21:05 Swapping Chuck Taylor for Daniel De La Rosa 24:07 AZ Drive add Heather Nobler - DC drafts Amanda Hendry 27:20 Scott Doerner = Sick hands, still learning to dink 29:50 Intrigue surrounding Hurricane Tyra Black to the Aces 34:25 Anna Bright abandons Riley Newman 38:30 Zane’s solution for players dropping out of the back draw Memesofpickleball post https://www.instagram.com/p/CpbL7VsAmnA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a new episode of PicklePod, Zane and Thomas cover the PPA Indoor National Championships. James Ignatowich stole the show on the court and on the mic. Zane explains how players can build a personal brand. The guys discuss possible options to replace the coveted MLP Dreambreaker. There’s still time for you to be a guest on the show - jump in the comments and leave a review. ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/ -Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball* -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball ------------------ Show Notes: 0:00 Intro 3:02 One commenter leading the race 5:00 The walking meme James Ignatowich 8:58 Building a personal brand 14:05 Biggest revenue stream 16:50 Auditing Zane’s game 22:10 The Alshon vs Ignatowich ‘beef’ 26:50 Pickle is more entertaining when you don’t know who will win 28:35 Salome Devidze vs Lea Jansen - we’re going to need more refs 33:10 Zane’s rules for bad line calls 36:43 DJ’s paddle smash will change the rules for players 43:44 Players using their phone mid-match 52:12 The next step of stats is actionable takeaways 57:25 Having a ‘Good Side’ changes a match 1:05:10 Is the Dreambreaker the correct way to break a tie? 1:09:24 The Savannah Bananas of pickleball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hottest new pickleball debate is pushing paddle testing to its legal limits. Zane and Thomas cover the most creative ways to skirt pickleball rules. Pro serves seem to be rising higher and higher, is the drop serve the only feasible solution? We want you to get involved with the pod. Show some love in the comments and one listener will make a guest appearance on an upcoming episode. Show Notes: 1:30 Corrections from last week 5:00 Creative Exploitation of the pickleball rules 12:11 Pesa’s alleged carry 15:51 Shea Underwood’s screenplay 18:18 Pro serves creeping higher and higher 22:08 Steve Paranto’s push for the drop serve 28:34 Dwell time could be the last straw for paddle testing 36:55 Deflection level can change sound and shot angle 43:47 Listener questions 54:18 Hat Zane plays 56:17 Show me all your PB contacts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices