DINK Awards, 4th Shot Beast Mode, and $150 Kevlar Paddle?!

DINK AWARDS
Top YouTube Content Creator
We were nominated among 7 other great content creators as top YouTube content creator in 2024.

We are grateful to have been chosen and would be honored if you vote for us. Vote here: https://thedinkpickleball.outgrow.us/dinkawards2023?utm_medium=dinkawardsblog&utm_source=thedinkpickleball.com

NEWS
PRO PRESS
APP Tour Golds!

Chris Haworth, one of the very few defeaters of Ben Johns, won Men’s Singles at this past weekend’s APP Masters in Punta Gorda!

Judit Castillo won gold in Women’s Singles!

Jorja Johnson & Yates Johnson took home the W in Mixed Doubles!

Bobbi Oshiro and Milan Rane went away with a trophy in Women’s Doubles!

For the Men’s Doubles, CJ Klinger & Will Howells defeated Daescu & Nunnery for the hard-earned Gold!!! Big congrats to Will Howells who played tennis with my brother at Notre Dame a few years back. Watch out for Will!

PADDLES
WHAT’S NEW

Paddle Stats Spreadsheet - HERE for discounts, and stats!

Kevlar Hybrid Paddle (Kinetic) | Mark Pickleball

RPM: 2001 Very High (Pickleball Journey)

Swing Weight: 119

Twist Weight: 6.85

• Shape: Arc Wide Top

• Material: Dynamic Kevlar

• Features: Thermoform Edge Seal, Foam Injected Edge PP Core and Fill in Handle, Unibody Construction

• Surface Roughness: 30/40 rz

• Size: 16.25 by 7.75 inches

• Thickness: 16mm

• Weight: 8.1oz ±/- .1oz

• Grip Circumference: 4 1/8 Inches

• Grip Length: 5.3”

• USAPA Approved

Use Code PBJourney to save 10% on this paddle

TIP OF THE WEEK
 Nobody is Talking About THIS SHOT!

4th Ball Beast Mode!

In this video, we breakdown the 4th shot ball. This shot is hardly ever talked about and we think it deserves some attention! Stay tuned until the end for a tip on getting more extension!

If the ball is HIGHER -

1 - Paddle is moving THROUGH the ball.

2 - Face of the paddle is CLOSED.

If the ball is LOWER -

1 - Paddle face is OPEN.

2 - Swing more VERTICALLY, not through the ball.

Swing Proportionate to the Speed of the Ball!

FASTER THE BALL, SHORTER THE SWING!

When you get hard hitting drives coming at you, you want to keep a COMPACT and SHORT SWING. This is because the timing will be a lot easier on you and gives you more time to react. As well as using your opponent’s pace to push them back and punish!

SLOWER THE BALL, BIGGER THE SWING!

The timing you can have on SLOWER balls will be much easier for you to manipulate. So SWING BIG! This is when you can really expand your swing, and momentum to put more pace and spin on the ball! The higher the ball gets, the more you can do with the ball!

EXTRA TIP - The “DONKEY KICK”

This is the DONKEY KICK because whenever you need to reach and put more pace on the ball, you can throw your opposite leg backwards like a pendulum! This will expand your reach and momentum!

Watch the video here! 

Subscribe to Pickleball Journey!

DISCOUNTS
WAYS TO SAVE

CRBN 10% Off: PBJourney10 

JustPaddles + Pickleball Journey Discount

Do you want a drilling partner who doesn’t talk smack? Here’s the SpinShot!!!

RECOVERY
STRETCHES/EXERCISES

Additional Injury Prevention Strategies

Besides stretching, other methods can help you in injury prevention in pickleball. Make sure to:

1. Warm-up properly: Spend at least 5-10 minutes warming up your muscles with light aerobic exercises like jogging or jumping jacks.

2. Wear appropriate gear: Invest in quality shoes with proper support and traction, and consider wearing protective equipment like knee pads or wrist guards.

3. Use proper technique: Learn and practice correct techniques for various shots and movements to avoid strain on your muscles and joints.

4. Rest and recover: Listen to your body and take breaks when needed, giving yourself time to recover between games and training sessions.

By incorporating these practices into your Fitness and Training routine, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a safe and successful Pickleball experience.

Thanks to Pickleball Wiki for all this information and these routines! Read more here!