The Dink Pickleball Newsletter: Denver’s Pickleball Plan, England Wins the Inaugural European Cup, and Moms Are Making a Difference
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The Major League Pickleball playoffs delivered the drama over the weekend. Upsets, tight matches, and Dreambreakers had fans chanting in Orlando and glued to TV at home.
The champions at both the Premier and Challenger Levels were underdogs heading into the weekend but overperformed when it mattered most. More on that below.
Sorry to disappoint but there will be no newsletter on Wednesday and Friday this week. We will see you again in December.
Happy Thanksgiving Dink Fam.
Our Picks ☝️
🎁 Gift Guide: Find the perfect present for your favorite player
Looking for the perfect gift for the pickleball enthusiast in your life? Check out The Dink’s Ultimate Pickleball Gift Guide—packed with top gear, apparel, and accessories for every skill level, all in one convenient spot! Explore it now: Pickleball Gift Guide
🏆 European Cup:nbsp;England wins the inaugural European Cup
24 countries competed in the first-ever European Cup in Southampton, England over the weekend. The home team, led by Louis Laville CMDip , came out on top with Spain and Italy taking silver and bronze.
🌎 World Record Attempt: West Michiganders’ attempt cut short
Four players in Grand Rapids attempted to break the record for the longest amount of consecutive play in a pickleball game (34 hrs and 5 min). A break in play that exceeded the allotted limit led to the group calling it quits at 13.5 hours. Luckily, the attempt still helped raise money for a good cause, Gift of Life Michigan.
🎙 Comment: Valuable lessons from Michael Loyd
The most recent episode of the PicklePod left one listener stunned. They commented, “Damn there are so many valuable lessons in this episode. Awesome! Thank you!” Watch it here.
Can You Dink While on the Move?
Giving away popups is one of the fastest ways to lose a pickleball point and a great way to end up with an unintentional pickleball-shaped tattoo.
In a new video, John Cincola outlines a drill he uses to dink consistently while under pressure and on the move.
The Dink70 Drill
In the drill, two players stand diagonally from each other at the kitchen line. Cones are placed in the kitchen to divide the court into a 70/30 split.
Each player is responsible for covering 70% of the kitchen as opposed to the normal 50% seen in other doubles drills and warmups. The added court forces you to move around more which in turn makes dinking more difficult.
One key takeaway from the video is that players need to get their paddles in position early. Preparation is commonly overlooked when it comes to consistency.
Cincola says to beat the ball to the spot and have your paddle in position as early as possible. This prevents any last-second lunging or reaching that would lead to popups or other errors.
Next drill session, lay a barrier down at the 70% mark and compete with your partner in a mini-game to eleven to see who can maintain good dink form while on the move.
Who Else Needs a Sleep Boost This Season?
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Don’t snooze on Beam's biggest sale of the year—stock up now and ensure every morning is a good one!
Denver Turns to Pickleball for Positivity
A new proposal aims to bring pickleball to the heart of downtown Denver. Plans are underway to transform an empty lot near the 6th Avenue rail and bus station, into a vibrant pickleball hub.
The concept includes six courts, fencing, landscaping, and a kiosk, creating a lively space for players of all levels.
FOX 31 reported, “The city was working to address safety issues on the intersection of Broadway and Colfax and what the city could do to bring more positive activation to the area. After ideas ranging from an urban garden to a food truck port, participants of a vision session landed on one of Denver’s favorite sports: Pickleball.”
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The city has not always had a cooperative relationship with the game. Last year, it closed the courts at Congress Park due to noise complaints.
While details are still being finalized, the plan is to have the courts up and running in 2025.
Dallas Flash Shock The 5s
The great thing about pro sports is that you never know what is going to happen. Most people thought the MLP season would come down to a battle between the top-seeded New Jersey 5s and second-place St. Louis Shock - Major League Pickleball . But the Dallas Flash Pickleball had other plans.
Semifinal Sweeps
The Dallas Flash Pickleball dismantled the Shock winning their semifinal series in two matches, without the need for a Dreambreaker. In the other semifinal, the 5s did the same to the Texas Ranchers with decisive 3-0, 3-0 victories.
Finals - Dallas Flash vs New Jersey 5s
The whole season came down to Sunday in Orlando where the Flash and 5s played three matches to decide a champion.
Match 1 - As the 5s did throughout the season, they forced a Dreambreaker then took care of business in singles to claim the match 3-2.
Match 2 - The second match was headed in the same direction with things tied up 2-2 after doubles. The 5s were undefeated in Dreambreakers all year but were bested 21-15 by a Flash team with their back against the wall.
Match 3 - Everything came down to match three where The 5s men upset the favored Flash. Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black answered back with a massive win over Anna Leigh Waters and Mari Humberg.
The Johnsons won a close mixed doubles match to give the Flash a 2-1 lead. No one was playing better than Augie Ge and Tyra Black on Sunday and in game four, they edged out ALW and Will Howells 25-22, to seal the deal for Flash.
Miami Wins the Challenger Crown
At the Challenger Level, it was the third-seeded The Miami Pickleball Club who completed two upsets on their way to the title. In the finals, they split matches with the Chicago Slice before closing out the final match with a 3-1 regulation win. Find the full recap here.
Is Your Breath Telling You Something About Your Game?
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See how Lumen turns your breath into your most valuable asset—grab yours with code THEDINK for 15% off.
Moms on a Mission in Mississippi
A group of determined Mississippi moms is transforming neglected tennis courts at Poplar Springs Swim & Racquet Club into a vibrant multi-purpose space for tennis and pickleball. What started as a small beginner pickleball meetup at the Baptist Anderson Healthplex has grown into a passionate community ready to tackle this big project.
The team is raising funds to repair cracks, repaint the courts, install nets, repair floodlights, and eventually resurface the area to create a high-quality recreation spot for everyone.
Follow their journey and consider donating to bring this shared vision to life.
Headlines & Quick Hits
Highlights
Pickleball in Denver? Now that's a dill-icious idea! 🥒 Can't wait to see the city serve up some fun! And congrats to the Dallas Flash and Miami Pickleball Club for their epic wins! 🏆 Just remember, if you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen... or the pickleball court! 😂 Enjoy the break, Dink Fam! May your Thanksgiving be filled with turkey and no pickleball injuries! 🦃🎉