🎉Only 5 Days Left to Sign Up! Dinkville’s 3rd Anniversary Tournament July 19th & 20th
Dinkville is proud to be sponsored by Selkirk, and we highly recommend their exceptional products and strong commitment to the future of pickleball. Make sure to use code ADV-LHALLAM at Checkout to receive a FREE GIFT!
Hey Dinkville Community,
Time is running out to lock in your spot for one of our favorite events of the year! We’ve got brackets for all skill levels, so whether you’re a seasoned dinker or just getting started, grab a partner and come compete at Pickleball Kingdom Hendersonville on July 19-20!
🔥 Why You Should Sign Up:
• 💸 Every bracket we will give away a $250 paddle to a random player
• 🎁 Tons of other giveaways and surprises throughout the weekend
• ❄️ Play on beautiful indoor courts with A/C — no need to sweat the weather
• 🏆 Fun competition, great people, and a celebration of the Dinkville community
TUESDAY NIGHT FREE BEGINNER CLINICS – VETERANS PARK - HENDERSONVILLE
Every Tuesday evening in Hendersonville, we’re hosting free clinics for new players at Veterans Park. You’ll learn the rules, play with other beginners, and get top-notch instruction. Bonus: We give away a free Selkirk paddle every Tuesday, so come learn and maybe leave with some brand-new gear!
🔥 1. Book Your Rooftop Court at the Bobby Hotel in Downtown Nashville!
We’ve had over 300 players head up to the Bobby Hotel rooftop court this summer—and if you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for?! This place is legit.
Play with friends, host a little event, or just soak up the downtown Nashville vibes while dinking under the skyline. It’s hands down one of the coolest pickleball courts in the country.
Today In Pickleball Brought To You By The Dink
Up Your Game
Dinking Patterns to Play a More Aggressive Right Side
Just because you’re right-handed and find yourself on the right side doesn’t mean you’re in a beta position. Being aggressive from here comes down to patterns and strategy. You’ve got more weapons than you might think.
Zane Navratil walks you through his tried-and-true options.
✅ Target the opponent diagonally from you. This limits their options to attack. Keep the ball low and get a feel for their strengths and weaknesses.
✅ Aim for their right foot, deep in the kitchen and wide toward the sideline. This is your safe shot, as it keeps that player on defense. Push them wide or deep enough and you’ll likely force a pop-up.
✅ Create a rhythm and then vary your shot locations. You know where to aim, now be unpredictable. Just like you, your opponent is looking for patterns to exploit. Mix up your shots: sideline, middle, shallow, deep … even mix in a lob. Never let the other team get comfortable.
✅ Take forehand dinks out of the air whenever possible. This puts you on the offensive, taking time away from your opponent while pushing the ball where you want.
✅ When you’re pushed out wide, the reverse logic applies. It’s tempting to counter a wide shot with another wide shot, but never fear resetting a dink to the middle. This lets you get back into position and start working on another pattern.
✅ When possible, look to go behind the player in front of you. Targeting the player diagonally from you means the other player will be pinching the middle in support. This leaves the sideline exposed. Mix in a few dinks to that open area, and you’ll start to open up holes in their defense.
Ben Johns Stops by CNN
While in the Big Apple for MLP Randall’s Island, Ben Johns stopped by CNN News Central to talk about the pickleball craze and his position as the sport’s most accomplished pro.
He covered the standard talking points, like the sport’s impressive recreational growth since 2020 as well as the increasingly competitive professional circuit.
Then Ben disclosed what attracted him to pickleball first in 2016, and why he keeps coming back for more.
“There are a lot of things about pickleball that are really engaging,” he said, “but it was the same for me initially as it is for most people now — you can play with anybody and have a great time.”
And while Ben is flying around the world to compete, the sport’s accessibility and social nature can be selling points for anyone.
“Anybody can play. And because of that, you meet a lot of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet in your normal, day-to-day lifestyle,” he said. “It brings a lot of people together from very different backgrounds.”
Event Recap: MLP Randall’s Island, NY
Major League Pickleball took over the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall’s Island, NY, over the weekend, with six of 16 Premier teams and all six Challenger teams taking the court.
It was a smaller event, the appetizer before the mid-season tournament this weekend in Grand Rapids, MI. But it wasn’t short on storylines — here are a few of our favorites:
➡️ The Carolina Hogs, with recent addition Etta Tuionetoa, showed out, earning 10 points from five matches and becoming a legitimate playoff contender.
➡️ The Columbus Sliders rolled, going undefeated and looking like a team to beat.
➡️ On the flip side, the once-dominant Orlando Squeeze faltered, earning just six points from a possible 15. This puts them on the fringe and could make for a tough playoff draw.
➡️ Four teams have clinched a playoff spot: Dallas Flash, St. Louis Shock, Columbus Sliders and Brooklyn Pickleball Team. The New Jersey 5s will be soon to follow.
➡️ On the Challenger side, the Nashville Chefs were the talk of the weekend, going undefeated and cementing themselves as the second team behind the Las Vegas Night Owls.
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Thank you,
Landon Hallam
Dinkville Founder/CEO