The Dink Pickleball

Pickleball might be doing more for your mental health than your body. Back in April, a study surveyed over 18,000 recreational athletes and found that pickleball players experience depression at a rate 60% lower than the general population. The more often they played, the bigger the boost. It turns out the mix of movement, social interaction, and fun might be just as powerful as any workout routine. Why? Movement, social interaction, and fun all rolled into one. It’s not just cardio. It’s community. Another study found social sports cut depression symptoms by up to 34%. And with loneliness now considered a public health risk, that community matters more than ever. So next time you’re on the court, just know you might be doing more for your brain than you think. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ekGKX8xm

Zane Navratil: player, podcaster... president? Pickleball just got a new Pro Player Committee, and Zane’s been tapped to lead it. The goal? Give players more say, more structure, and ideally less chaos. Here’s what that means for the sport and for the players. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ep86tXne

At DUPR, our mission is simple: help grow the sport and support the people building it. Minor League Pickleball is one of the most exciting movements in the game — connecting players, organizers, and communities all over the country. It wouldn’t be where it is without the relentless work of Thomas Shields and The Dink Pickleball. Grateful to call them partners. We’re proud to be in the trenches with so many leagues and leaders pushing this sport forward. This is what it means to build together. Let’s keep going. #pickleball #DUPR #TheDink #MinorLeaguePickleball #growth #sportstech #community

Burlington built a $4M pickleball park. Then told out-of-towners they weren’t welcome. Now it’s sitting half-empty while the free courts nearby are packed. City officials wanted to prioritize residents, but may have ended up isolating them instead. In Lake Crest Beach, Ontario, one man took community pickleball into his own hands, literally. No permits, no approval, and one giant slab of concrete later, the town says it’s got to go. Still clanking paddles in the middle? Try the X Rule. Catherine Parenteau breaks down a dead-simple trick for covering the middle more effectively in doubles.

Major League Baseball (MLB) front offices aren’t just building rosters. They’re building pickleball brackets. Back in April, ESPN dropped a gem of a story: Major League Baseball (MLB) execs, coaches, and umpires are obsessed with pickleball. The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted a high-stakes match between their assistant GM and Triple-A manager that drew 100 people. The Texas Rangers Baseball Club treated it like a good-luck charm during their 2023 World Series run. The Milwaukee Brewers went as far as building courts and handing out fake titles like “VP of Pickleball Ops.” Some teams even ran full March Madness-style brackets. Others had to cancel theirs because it got too competitive. The players may be easing in, but behind the scenes, it’s clear: pickleball has become MLB’s favorite offseason ritual. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eiZVEzTA

DUPR's impact on the growth of amateur pickleball is remarkable. Their work continues to be the driving force behind the success of The Dink Minor League Pickleball, as well as countless other initiatives that have grown the sport immeasurably. Shoutout to this crew of total hustlers working hard to bring pickleball to the world Gilberto (Tito) Machado Caroline Luelf Cesar Clemente Garcia Ben Van Hout Kyrill Hartog Dia Lusk Angelica Karlsson Hantzis and the rest of the crew. #pickleball #amateursports #sportstech

Pickleball now has two player groups making moves behind the scenes. Tina Pisnik is heading up the newly formed World Pickleball Players Association. Zane Navratil is leading the UPA's Pro Player Committee. One’s an independent push for more athlete influence. The other’s working from within the system. Both are full of top talent, and both want a seat at the table. The game is growing. So is the politics. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ebJvqN7R

Back in April, the PPA Tour dropped some big numbers and even now in July, they’re worth another look. Through the first seven events of 2025: Attendance was up 16 percent. Ticket sales jumped 29 percent. Gross ticket revenue hit $1.7 million, marking a 147 percent leap from Q1 of 2023. The top three highest-grossing events in PPA history? All happened this year. Carvana Mesa Cup. Veolia North Carolina Open. Veolia Cape Coral Open. Said CEO Connor Pardoe at the time: With MLP back in action and PPA already stacking record books, the battle for eyeballs (and dollars) is just heating up. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/e6VgVWRc

Life Time Inc. just announced a $50K open-invite singles tournament in Minnesota this September. No DUPR cap. No invite needed. Just one big bracket, one winner-take-most purse, and one way to find out. Details and prize breakdown here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dQmhP-Qz

Back in April, the PPA Tour’s stat guru Jim Ramsey dropped a stat bomb. He broke down every men’s doubles winner since August 2023 and found a clear trend: 17 of the last 19 gold medal teams had at least one player over six feet tall. The lesson? Height helps. But reach is what wins. Duos like Christian Alshon and Andrei Daescu aren’t just tall. They cover the court like a tarp. At the kitchen, their wingspans take away angles most rec players dream of hitting. If you're going for gold, pick a partner who plays big. Or better yet, learn to play bigger yourself: extend fully, strike early, and own the middle. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ekiy7AMG