5 Bullet Weekly: Game For A Better Brain Raises +$200K!

5 Bullet Weekly: Game For A Better Brain Raises +$200K!
Eric Decker and his sons before Game for a Better Brain Pickleball Tournament

Need New Pickleball Paddles, Shoes, or Gear? Go to our Friends at the Tennis Store in Franklin, TN

If you’re looking to upgrade your pickleball gear, head to The Tennis Store in Franklin—it’s my go-to spot, and it should be yours too! They have everything you need to get tournament-ready, whether it’s paddles, shoes, or any other equipment. Plus, when you mention DINKVILLE at checkout, you’ll get an additional 10% off your entire purchase.
P.S. We are working with them to update their name to Pickleball Store lol


Dear Dinkville Community,

Glow in the Dark Pickleball is this Friday-Saturday November 8th-9th at Lipscomb Racquet Club so make sure to sign up today as limited spots available!

Here’s your five bullet weekly:

1. Sign up for the Dinkville Glow in the Dark Pickleball!

We’re going to have an incredible time on playing Glow in the Dark Pickleball on Friday and Saturday Night at Lipscomb Racquet Club! All skill levels/Ages welcome so sign up today!


2. Tuesday and Thursday Ladder Play at Lipscomb

Want to play with different people and improve your skills in a high-energy setting? Join our ladder play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, led by a Dinkville instructor. We have four courts reserved for three straight hours of fun, with no waiting around—just pure pickleball action! Sign up now.


3. Free Intro to Pickleball Clinics at Veterans Park

These sessions are filling up fast! If you know anyone who wants to learn the game, invite them to our free clinics at Veterans Park. We offer three sessions from 5 to 8 p.m., so sign up today and bring your friends and family to join the fun.


4. Private Lessons with Dinkville Pros
Ready to elevate your game? Book a private lesson with one of our Dinkville instructors and start focusing on your strengths so you can dominate your next tournament.


  1. Go Vote!

Its a big week so make sure you go Vote!


Dinkville is proud to be sponsored by Selkirk, and we highly recommend their exceptional products and strong commitment to the future of pickleball. Please check out their site HERE and use code ADV-LHALLAM at Checkout to receive a FREE GIFT from Selkirk!


Game For A Better Brain was a HUGE Success!!

Photo Credit Devin Tolentino

This past week, we celebrated an incredible event—the Game for a Better Brain charity pickleball tournament, aimed at raising funds and awareness for mental health and supporting recovery efforts. Thanks to all who joined and supported us, we raised over $200,000! It was a huge success, and we’re so grateful for everyone who made it possible.

The event featured an amazing lineup of celebrities, including Eric and Jesse Decker, Shawn Johnson and Andrew East, Jana Kramer, Hannah Brown, Golden Tate, Randall Cobb, Mike Wolfe, J.T. Hodges, Ben Zobrist, Meyers Leonard, Caroline Bryan, Jason Wahler, Carlos Whittaker, Evan Slaughter, Brock Holt, Daniel Breezy, and many more. It was fantastic seeing everyone playing, connecting, and enjoying the game, all for such a meaningful cause.

A massive thank you goes to our partners for their support in setting up our courts, especially AT Sports for the top-notch court setup, and to our volunteers who ensured everything ran smoothly. We’re already looking forward to making next year’s event even bigger and better!

Check out some of the fantastic photos from the tournament, and thank you once again to everyone involved for helping make a difference.


Intermediate Bracket Medalists

Gold- Michael Walker and Brooklyn Tolentino

Silver- Steve Wilson and Chris Snyder

Bronze- Lyon Chadwick and Lexi Graves


Beginner Bracket Medalists

Gold- Chad DeVine and Madyson Bergeon

Silver- Greg Biorkman and Jennifer Biorkman

Bronze- Ryan Cain and Josh Ware


Today In Pickleball Brought To You By The Dink

Up Your Game

Ben Johns Explains the Mistake KILLING Your Game

Ben Johns is known for making the impossible possible on the pickleball court. But what might be more impressive is his consistency in maintaining his status at the top of the game month after month.

On the PicklePod, Johns identified a major mistake that is detrimental to the consistency of amateur players: trying to control or add to your shot with wrist movement.

Johns explains, “Your wrist is a hinge that is entirely for controlling the direction of the ball. You should not be moving it as you're hitting. There are some exceptions that rule, but the general rule, especially for amateurs, is to lock your wrist out.”

  • Johns explains that any minor movement in the wrist will significantly affect the direction the ball travels. For most amateurs, that level of fine-tuning creates more errors than winners.
  • He also adds that the wrist hinging doesn’t add significant power to your shot. It has a huge impact in sports like badminton, but it is not worth the increased risk in pickleball.

Remember, it’s all about consistency and being able to repeat and rely on your shots. Sure, you might add that highlight shot 1/10 times, but that’s not going to turn into consistent wins.

Or as Johns says, “If you use this (your wrist) as you're hitting, sure, you can hit a sick shot occasionally, but it's very hard to time that. And it's just not strong at all.“ But don’t take our word for it; hear it directly from the GOAT.


Which Ball is the Standard for your Crew?

We asked, and you answered. With all of the new pickleballs flooding the market, what is everyone pulling out of the bags at your court?

The Franklin X-40 received an overwhelming majority of the votes and still seems to be the go-to among recreational players.

Many voters weighed in that temperature is a major contributor to their ball choice.

  • “The Franklin seems to be the most common but the Selkirk and Vulcan are both harder and more fun to play with. The Dura has gone the way of the Dodo! It all comes down to outside temperatures and what plays best. Harder balls on warmer days, softer ball on cooler/cold days.”
  • “We cracked 4 balls yesterday morning, temperature around 50 degrees, the Selkirk S1 was the only ball to hold up.”

Just like with paddles, the right ball comes down to personal preference. If you want a fast game, there are options for you. If you prefer something a little slower where drives and aggressive play are less effective, then a different ball can control for that.

Whichever ball you choose, make sure your pickleball bag is stocked (use code: 10DINK). Don’t be the guy who leaves the court with more balls than they arrived with.

Major League Pickleball Bracketology

The MLP Playoffs start today in Dallas. As a reminder, each round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series between the two teams. This weekend you’ll see:

Premier Level Quarterfinals
(3) Dallas Flash vs (6) NY Hustlers
(4) D.C. Pickleball Team vs (5) Texas Ranchers

Challenger Level Quarterfinals
(3) Miami Pickleball Club vs (6) Frisco Pandas
(4)Atlanta Bouncers vs (5) Las Vegas Night Owls

The top seeds have byes through the quarterfinals and directly into the semis. Will that time off hurt them in the long run? Will they be rested or rusty heading into Championship Weekend in late November?

We want to know who you predict to win it all:

Who will win the MLP Premier Level Championship?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Who will win the MLP Challenger Level Championship?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

The first match starts today at 1 pm ET on Pickleball TV. Don’t miss a special ESPN 2 broadcast of the Dallas Flash vs. New York Hustlers at 5 pm ET. Find your complete guide to the MLP playoffs, including predictions for each round from our guy Erik Tice, here.


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Landon Hallam
Dinkville Founder/CEO

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