Dinkville Members Enjoy Learning From Top Pro Player James Ignatowich
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Dear Dinkville Members,
I wanted to take a moment to recap the incredibly enjoyable pickleball clinic we hosted with the renowned player, James Ignatowich. The event was a tremendous success, and I am thrilled to share some highlights with you.
From start to finish, James brought an unparalleled level of energy and expertise to the court. His passion for the sport was palpable, and his dedication to helping players of all skill levels improve was truly inspiring. Whether participants were beginners or seasoned players, James tailored his instruction to meet their individual needs, providing valuable insights and practical tips to elevate their game.
Throughout the clinic, James covered a wide range of topics, including technique, strategy, and mental toughness. His wealth of knowledge and hands-on approach kept participants engaged and motivated, and many left the clinic feeling more confident in their abilities and eager to continue honing their skills.
One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity for participants to engage in friendly matches with James. This not only allowed them to put into practice the skills they had learned but also provided invaluable experience playing against a top-ranked player. The camaraderie and sportsmanship on display were truly heartwarming, and it was clear that everyone involved had a fantastic time.
In addition to the on-court activities, participants had the chance to interact with James off the court during a Q&A session. This provided a unique opportunity for them to learn more about his journey in pickleball, his training regimen, and his insights into the sport. James's openness and generosity with his time left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.
Overall, the pickleball clinic with James Ignatowich was a resounding success, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to James for sharing his expertise and passion with us. I also want to thank all the participants for their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the event.
I look forward to organizing more exciting events like this in the future and continuing to foster a vibrant pickleball community with Dinkville! See some pictures below from the clinic.
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Today In Pickleball Brought To You By The Dink
The Untold Secret About Third Shot Drops
By this point in your pickleball journey landing a successful dink should be quite easy. An area where you might still be having trouble is landing third shots with the same consistency as pros.
Zane Navratil shares his secret to simplifying the drop in a new video.
Ultimately, a drop from the baseline is theoretically the same as a dink. According to Zane, your stroke should look the same too.
Some players overcomplicate their drop because of the distance from the net. But only one thing has to change to account for the distance: Your forward swing.
Zane demonstrates how a dink from the kitchen line, a drop from the mid-court and a drop from the baseline should all look the same.
- A short compact backswing
- Keep the ball in front of your body
- Aim to have the ball land at your opponent’s feet
From the baseline, Zane moves his paddle faster through the ball and lengthens his follow through. In the mid-court, the paddle speed slows a bit and the follow through shortens. And the same applies when he reaches the kitchen line.
If your consistency on thirds is still below the 90 percent level, stop thinking of them as the most difficult shot in pickleball. Start treating them like your average dink.
The Great State Debate
Who would you rank as the top three pickleball states? California? Florida? Arizona? All good guesses.
But when it comes to average DUPR rating, the answer will probably surprise you. In both singles and doubles, the state with the highest average DUPR is Oregon.
CHECK OUT TENNESSE AT #5!! LETS GOOOOO
Utah made both lists and is arguably the fastest-growing state when it comes to the number of courts and the number of players. The midwest was well represented with Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois all making the cut.
Parris is Back
The top seeds Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters and a host of other pros have skipped the trip to Minnesota. That includes Riley Newman, who is likely to be absent from all PPA tournaments this year. Speculation is that under his current deal, there is very little financial incentive to compete at PPA events. The race is on to claim titles in their absence.
In women’s singles, Parris Todd makes her return to Championship Sunday. Due to missing most PPA tournaments last year, Todd had fallen all the way to the No. 15 seed.
Because of her low seed, she met the second-ranked Lea Jansen in the Round of 16. A big comeback win in that round helped clear her path to the finals.
On the other side of the draw, another heated meeting between Catherine Parenteau and Salome Devidze decided the finalist. After dropping the first game, Devidze came back to upset Parenteau for the second tournament in a row.
The men’s semifinals were all chalk with the top four seeds advancing. The finals will be a meeting between No. 1 Federico Staksrud and No. 2 Connor Garnett.
- Cason Campbell continues to impress. He reached the quarterfinals again and is officially Collin Shick’s least-favorite player
- No. 41 seed Dustin Boyer is the Cinderella story in Minnesota. He topped the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds to reach the quarterfinals
Mixed doubles action picks up today at noon ET. Catch the entire weekend on pickleballtv and YouTube.
Howells Upsets Haworth in Sacramento
Triple crown watch is on in Sacramento. Jorja Johnson’s return to the APP could result in some major hardware this weekend.
She’s punched her ticket to Championship Sunday, where she will face the top seed Megan Fudge. In doubles, she will team up with her brother JW Johnson and Jill Braverman, where they will be favorites to top the podium.
Looking ahead, the Johnsons and Dylan Frazier have already registered for the upcoming APP Miami Open as well.
Will Howells is a top candidate for breakout player of 2024. He already won gold in doubles in Punta Gorda and now will play for gold in singles in Sacramento.
Howells defeated top seed Chris Haworth in the semifinals and will take on Jack Foster in the Finals.
Tune into the APP Sacramento open at ESPN+ starting at 3pm ET today. And don’t miss a special broadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday from 10am - 12pm ET.
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Thanks,
Landon Hallam
Dinkville Founder/CEO