Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

• The Punch Dink: How To Add Pace Without Losing Precision

• These Court Snacks Are Quietly Killing Your Game - What To Eat Instead

• 8 Solo Pickleball Drills to Sharpen Your Skills How To Train Without A Partner

• Fitness Expert Glenn Dawson: 4 Shoulder Relief Movements

• New Salvo In The $70 Million Pickleball Paddle Fight: Joola vs. USA Pickleball

• Pickleball Program Boosts Health & Wellness For Cancer Survivors Study Finds

• How 'Florida Humidity' Is Fueling Ben Johns' Ascendancy In Pickleball

• Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Power Rankings

• APP Fires Next Salvo In Battle For International Expansion

• Coach Mary: 4 Tips To Help You Get To The NVZ

🥷SKILLS

The Punch Dink: How To Add
Pace Without Losing Precision

Most players think of dinks as soft, floaty shots that barely clear the net. But there’s another flavor of dink that’s gaining popularity among skilled players — one that keeps the ball in the kitchen while adding just enough pace to make your opponents uncomfortable.

It’s called the punch dink.

Used at the right time, this shot helps you reset faster, change the rhythm of a rally, and apply subtle pressure without giving up position. It’s not about blasting the ball — it’s about staying in control while pushing your opponents to make the next mistake.

Let’s break down how, when, and why to use this underrated shot.

What Is a Punch Dink?

A punch dink is a short, compact shot where you guide the ball forward with a firm push — not a full swing.

💪 Introducing Our New Health & Fitness Section
Weekly Advice To Keep You Fit & Injury Free

These Court Snacks Are
Quietly Killing Your Game

What to Eat Instead for Long Pickleball Days

We all know that what you eat affects how you feel. And if you're like most pickleball players, you try to make smart snacking choices during your games.

But here's something that might surprise you: the snacks for athletes are often the worst choices. Here’s why:

First, Let’s Talk About What Not to Eat

Most of us try to eat the right things. We grab what we’ve seen marketed as healthy or energizing. But during active play – especially sessions lasting two or three hours – your body has very specific needs.And some foods and drinks slow you down more than they help. Here are 3 that often hurt more than help during long sessions:  

1. Sports drinks (anything ending in “-ade”) 

Yes, they’re everywhere. And yes, they’re packed with sugar. That sugar gives you a short-term spike... followed by a crash. The result? Brain fog, jittery hands, and the sudden feeling that your focus just left the court. 

 🥷 SKILLS

8 Solo Pickleball Drills
How To Train Without A Partner

These creative, equipment-friendly solo drills help build fast hands, sharper footwork, and better paddle control—all in your garage, driveway, or at the court alone. From reflex tools to wall work, each activity targets a specific part of your game.

Reaction Ball Grab Drill

The reaction/reflex ball is unpredictable by design. Its bumpy, uneven surface makes each bounce random, forcing your brain and body to react fast.

Try this:
—Drop the ball from shoulder height and try to catch it after the first bounce.
—Use only your paddle hand to simulate match reflexes.
—For extra challenge, tap the ball once with your paddle before catching.

It’s a low-cost, high-value way to develop explosive reaction time and visual tracking—perfect for defending body shots or preparing for speed-ups.
[Find these under under $10 Here]

Footwork Ladder with Shadow Dinks

Fast feet are quiet feet. This drill builds efficient, balanced movement without ever hitting a ball…

See All the Drills here….

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with
GLENN & BRIANNA

4 Shoulder Relief Movements

⚖️ LEGAL NEWS

New Salvo In The $70M Pickleball
Paddle Fight: Joola v. USAP

In what may become one of the most high-profile legal showdowns in pickleball history, paddle manufacturer Joola and USA Pickleball—the self-proclaimed governing body of the sport—are locked in a contract dispute involving 150,000 paddles, $70 million in inventory, and a whole lot of finger-pointing.

At the heart of the case is a breakdown in the equipment approval process, which has left one of the most recognized names in paddle manufacturing with a warehouse full of unsellable gear. The implications could ripple far beyond the courtroom—raising questions about oversight, brand trust, and who really holds the power in pickleball’s booming marketplace.

⚕️HEALTH NEWS

Pickleball Program Boosts Health & Wellness
For Cancer Survivors Study Finds

A new pilot study shows that pickleball isn’t just good fun—it’s good medicine. Project Rally, a YMCA-based program in Florida, helped cancer survivors boost physical activity, improve strength, and find emotional support through regular pickleball sessions.

With high retention rates and strong results, the program is already planning to expand.

Read how one paddle-powered project is changing lives—and what it could mean for the future of survivorship care.
Click here to read more …

🏓 PRO NEWS

How Florida’s Humidity is Fueling
Ben Johns’ Ascendancy in Pickleball

Ben Johns didn’t just move to Florida to train harder—he moved to sweat smarter. In a calculated decision to sharpen his game, the world’s top pickleball player left Austin behind and planted himself in the sport’s most competitive hotbed.

Surrounded by elite talent and training in intense humidity he says gives him an edge, Johns is using every advantage the Sunshine State offers to stay on top.

See how this strategic relocation is shaping the next phase of his dominance.
Read More Here…

🏓 PRO NEWS

Major League Pickleball
Mid-Season Power Rankings

The halfway point of the MLP season has made one thing clear: Dallas and St. Louis are in a class of their own—but surprises are shaking up the rest of the league. From shocking upsets and DreamBreaker drama to roster swaps and breakout stars, this updated power ranking doesn’t just reflect performance—it reveals momentum.

See who’s chasing the crown, who’s falling apart, and which longshot just might sneak into the playoffs…
See More Here…

🏓 WORLD PICKLEBALL NEWS

APP Fires Next Salvo In Battle
For International Expansion

The APP isn’t just expanding—it’s making a play for global dominance. With a new partnership in India and a renewed alliance in England, the Association of Pickleball Players is positioning itself as the international power broker in the sport.

While others test the waters abroad, the APP is building deep roots—and staking its claim on pickleball’s global future.

Get the full story on how these latest deals reveal a long game that could redefine who controls the sport worldwide.
Read the full story here…

RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

TWIN CITIES: MN Pickleball Noise Serves Up Drama- Police Calls
GLADSTONE, MI: Gladstone Pickleball Group Welcomes Everyone To New Courts
SALT LAKE CITY, UT: SLC Mission Hosts Annual Pickleball Fundraiser To Aid Local Families In Need
SAN DIEGO, CA: Over $50K Raised at Second Annual Jason Barry Team Pickleball Tournament Benefiting Cancer Research
KINGSTON, NY: Dink Pickleball A New Indoor Pickleball Court Opens In Town Of Ulster
BOCA RATON, FL: See Renderings For $20 Million Indoor Pickleball And Padel Complex
GRAND RAPIDS, MI: ESPN’s ‘SportsCenter’ Coming To Michigan For Pickleball Tournament
HOUSTON, TX: Houston Farmers Market Adds New Indoor Pickleball Court With Food And Cocktails
DO YOU HAVE LOCAL NEWS TO SHARE? REACH OUT TO US AT
[email protected] and send us a link to your story!

  💪 4 Tips To Help You Get To The NVZ

4 TIPS TO HELP YOU GET TO THE NVZ

This week's tip focuses on the transition zone, and Catherine Parenteau shares four tips to help you get to the NVZ.

This is a great video, so be sure to watch it several times.

Tip 1
Stop moving your feet.  After you execute your third shot drop, drive or hybrid start moving until your opponent contacts the ball.  Stop in a balanced stance with your paddle ready.  Do not try to hit it on the move.  This will help you move to your right or left because you will be stable and ready to hit your fifth shot.

Tip 2
Try to position yourself like a baseball catcher.  Get down, low, with a wide base.  Move to the right or left by sliding and get down and ready.

Tip 3
Keep your paddle low down below your knees, ready to reset or execute the next shot.  If it is up high, you might go for a ball that is out.

Tip 4
Keep your paddle out in front of you!  No backswing.  This will help you execute a soft reset, so that you can get all the way to the kitchen.

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