PicklePod

Latest Episodes:

The rule changes tripping everyone up Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

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The progression draw has been met with some pushback. Some pros aren't fans of being pushed aside to make room for tennis superstars.

The new carry rule has players everywhere arguing and pulling out their rulebooks. Zane lays out his bold predictions including another new serve rule.

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To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

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Show Notes:

0:00 Intro

4:19 Explaining the progression draw

9:03 Optics of unearned byes

15:53 Mama Waters is back

19:34 The race for points and paddles

25:33 The paddle responsible for the most W’s

29:50 Scouting the up and comers

35:01 Zane’s 2024 predictions

39:47 New Vulcan ball feels heavy

42:49 No gold for new pro tennis players

46:04 The Dink Awards voting

55:15 Rule change against carry

59:40 Correct server and receiver rule change and improved replays

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These three things will change pickleball Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Drop a comment below for a chance to win a Zane Navratil Signature Paddle.

Both pro tours will feature a new ball in 2024. How will the change affect the pro game and will this trickle down to a consumer market that has been dominated for years?

New serve rules could help eliminate the game's serve regulation struggles. Some players have navigated the contract minefield and have few limitations for 2024. Find out what Zane and Thomas think about the changes on an all-new picklepod.

Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

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Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

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-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

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-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes:

0:00 The new Jamie

2:10 Stop Alzheimer’s Now results

5:16 New balls drop in 2024

10:25 What it costs to be the official ball of the PPA

17:20 APP goes with the OWL ball

21:43 How much does the ball affect shot selection?

24:32 Zane’s most controversial paddle

28:58 Testing out Gearbox hype and paddle upgrades

33:14 Partner mix-up and contract limitations

36:25 MLP Draft - a new auction format

45:41 New serve rules for PPA result in

52:48 Pairings to debut and re-unite in 2024

55:48 Tyson’s new paddle contract

59:12 Takeya ends paddle endeavor - Riley, AJ and Lindsey go looking

1:01:32 The Dink Awards 2023

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So we’re just not going to acknowledge this? Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

There is a new deadline on the PPA/MLP merger but there still seems to be no clear path to the finish line. “Big Pickleball” has started throwing its weight around and it's got some players on the defensive.

Thomas sums up the game's current juxtaposition in a pickleball version of The Night Before Christmas that you don’t want to miss.

Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

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-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes:

0:00 Record-setting week for Stop Alzheimer’s Now

3:30 Zane’s Christmas gift

8:01 Let’s get your take on “Big Pickle”

11:00 “Every reason to fear Big Pickle”

16:35 Other targets in the crosshairs

17:58 Zane wins the caption contest, garbage is garbage

26:42 CNBC article addresses the Player Collective

30:57 Inequitable salaries and players that need to step up

36:23 85% of Premier players signed “patently false” and a new deadline

44:49 Dutch Auction and $15 million raise = extended runway

50:09 APP chuggin’ along with high school, colleges and international game

55:41 Pro pickleballers stranded on an island

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Ben Johns is the luckiest player in pickleball w/ special guests Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Thomas is away and Zane is hosting a party. Jason Bock and Carlos Di Laura join Zane in-studio to cover a disappointing loss at MLP San Clemente, action from the PPA Finals and all things Austin pickleball.

Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes

0:00 Stop Alzheimer’s Now big give

5:50 Introducing Jason and Carlos

10:54 PPA Finals coverage

16:04 Collin Johns’ thoughts on sportsmanship

19:50 Magnified version of personality on court

26:49 Favorite chirp and net cord philosophy

30:29 MLP San Clemente not a Superfinal

36:17 Genie Erokhina’s teardrop

40:24 Sportsmanship award and bad line calls

46:24 Neil’s replay at APP Chicago

52:37 The Dutch Auction for MLP 2024

1:02:46 What’s the right formula for pro play?

1:04:56 The world’s slowest Nasty Nelson

1:07:43 Stats vs Coaching

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This pro went absolutely ape sh** w/ Altaf Merchant Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Altaf Merchant joins the pod after completing a perfect season in men’s senior pro doubles. The Mumbai Monster recaps the most exciting matches on his way to a 59-0 record.

Merchant explains how his fiery personality has gotten him into trouble on the court and shares why he thinks he was snubbed in the MLP 2023 draft.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Win apparel from The Pick and a new paddle from Veloz in our new giveaway https://giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com/thepick-veloz

Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Check out the new Helios and Titan Elite paddles from Takeya https://takeyausa.com/collections/pickleball

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes

0:00 Merchant vs the internet

5:32 Altaf’s claim to fame

9:34 The pressure of entering the senior tour

12:29 Hip thrusts for everyone

16:34 Altaf was snubbed for MLP

24:21 The race to sign Altaf

28:09 Pickleball in India

31:37 Best/Worst Zane memory

33:28 Any beefs on tour?

40:15 Rapid fire Altaf

43:28 Commitment to be a pro

48:59 Top 5 in all the wrong categories

51:58 Stop Alzheimer’s Now Campaign

59:39 Altaf’s social media team

1:02:20 How many matches to get an invite back to the pod?

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Grading the Nationals Experience w/ Connor Garnett Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Connor Garnett is in studio to cover everything from Nationals in Dallas. The former investment banker made the switch to full-time pickleball in 2023 and it is paying off.

Garnett weighs in on the drop serve discussion and Zane explains why the serve is so difficult to regulate. Connor shares his experience with the progression draw and questions if JW Johnson and Collin Johns swap secrets to benefit the Columbus Sliders. Don’t miss Connor on this all-new episode.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Find and book private courts in your area with https://swimply.com/

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

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-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes

0:00 Explaining the rules to Connor Garnett

3:55 Banker in previous life

7:55 The decision to go full-time

10:36 Let’s talk about Nationals

16:45 The amateur experience with UTPR and sandbagging

22:01 Progression draw loved it, hated it and indifferent

31:05 JW the first new champ in 7 years

37:31 Haworth’s big upset

40:01 Collin claps back at DUPR

47:03 Do JW and Collin share secrets at MLP?

51:37 Lea Jansen wants to change the serve game

58:51 AJ and Fed at Nationals

1:06:58 The status of San Clemente

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Pros were literally scrambling to find legal paddles at MLP Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Paddles were dropping left and right at MLP Dallas. Zane estimates that 90% of paddles were ruled out via PPL testing before the event. Affected pros were left searching for legal paddles. The boys recap the MLP action including Federico Staksrud’s blow-up on Saturday, the now infamous two-become-one rule, and all of the vuvuzela noise.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Find and book private courts in your area with swimply.com

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes

0:15 Zane wants another shot at the DC squad

5:58 Not playing in Nationals

7:23 If Ben and ALW played men’s how far would they go?

8:40 A frantic call from Tropickleball about the Detroit Bounce tourney

10:48 Paddle drama is at an all-time high - assumed 90% fail

16:31 The law of diminishing grit

21:44 Two-become-one foot fault rule against Daescu

25:03 Vuvuzuela’s hard to listen to

27:49 Staks got out of hand, earned an Orange Card and a record fine

32:09 A shocker that the Black Diamonds didn’t make the cut

33:34 Shadows covered the court in Dallas

35:07 Alshon takes the MVP award

38:02 New 2024 schedule released

42:24 Thomas is struggling to find games in Austin

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We grilled USA Pickleball about paddle failures Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

USA Pickleball’s man behind the paddle tests shares his wealth of knowledge with the PicklePod. Carl Schmits explains what is going on with the new wave of paddles hitting the market and the discrepancy between testing organizations.

Zane and Thomas recap the APP Houston Open and weigh in on the line call controversy that brought an army of extra eyes to Championship Court.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/don...

Win a pickleball facility and a lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/sig...

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes

0:53 The F1 Pickleball Experience

5:04 When Zane and Thomas first met

8:55 Travis isn’t afraid to sling it on Tennis Sucks

15:39 APP Houston line calls boil over

20:09 Punishment for overruling calls

24:43 No Premier Level trades

27:15 Zane needs suggestions for a creative loser punishment

32:14 Carl Schmits joins the pod

40:28 How do testing organizations work together?

44:28 USAP’s plan for testing at Nationals

51:44 The new Gearbox paddle

58:24 Exit velocity test coming soon and auditing the PicklePod

1:02:35 The USAP relationship with the pro tours

1:11:18 What does USA Pickleball do?

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Collin Johns: Cheating vs Innovation, Tour Wars, Net Cords Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Pickleball’s most analytic player joins the pod for some high-level paddle talk and low-key trash talk. Johns shares his opinion on the new round of paddlegate and why testing will always be chasing innovation.

He weighs in on the Tour Wars cease-fire and how pickleball has benefitted from competition over the last 3 years. And finally, Collin addresses his haters about covering 30% of the court and his feud with net cords.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Win a pickleball facility and lifetime of pickleball gear! https://picklryourcity.kickoffpages.com/

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

Swimply is like AirBnb for pickleball courts. Find your perfect court at https://www.swimply.com/pickleball?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=Launch&utm_id=Dink

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-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes:

0:00 Collin and Zane get into business

3:36 The new paddlegate

9:01 The current level of testing

12:54 The difference between innovation and cheating

20:39 Jilly B calls out 'biggest cheater in the game'

31:30 The players’ responsibility

38:48 The Johns’ status during the Tour Wars

45:30 Recapping the merger

51:52 Matt Wright’s longevity - CJ’s potential partners

57:52 The benefit of the Newman/Wright breakup

1:01:00 The Johns winning strategy

1:08:23 FanDuel lost money setting odds on the Johns

1:09:45 Bryan Bros interest in pickle

1:15:48 Steve Kuhn’s official resignation

1:18:39 Why the net cord hates Collin

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Line calls spark controversy w/ John Cincola Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Description: One of the most viewed instructors on YouTube, John Cincola stops by the PicklePod. Cincola weighs in on the line call controversy at APP Atlanta, he tells us who he thinks will join MLP in the shuffle draft, and almost shares his secrets for playing 2 vs 1.

Show Notes:

0:00 Introducing John Cincola

6:50 Overwhelming overrules at APP Atlanta

11:11 Relying too much on ref certification

18:05 Worst calls from your career

23:20 Team Fudge Barr finally takes the top spot

29:05 Andrei the Philosopher pitches a shutout on Championship Sunday

35:00 Roscoe’s top 10 shot and Zane embraces the tomahawk

41:29 The Bryan Bros journey into pro pickle

47:51 Zane is not convinced forehand’s in the right call

50:09 Shuffle draft week in MLP

56:21 Thomas taking on Zane 2 vs 1