PicklePod

This episode of the Picklepod is absolute chaos—in the best way possible. We break down the UPA contract terminations involving James Ignatowich, Vivian Glozman, Ryan Fu, and Paris Todd, and debate whether the league is enforcing rules fairly or simply protecting exclusivity at all costs. Is this about contracts… or relationships? From there, we hit a packed slate of pickleball news: The Tesla pickleball paddle that sold out instantly and is already reselling for up to $1,000 (and may or may not be lost at a restaurant 🤯) MLP & OWL AI partnering to solve line calls—will AI actually work in pickleball? Nick Kyrgios joining Stack Athletics and what that means for pickleball’s mainstream future DUPR & USA Pickleball officially joining forces and what it means for ratings Inside stories from MiLP Nationals, including wild team promos, kid ATPs, and content gold Results and storylines from the APP Championships and PPA Challenger Raleigh A preview of the Daytona Beach Open, including new partnerships and why it’s must-watch We also dive into the Dink Awards, why fan voting matters more than ever, and who might be the most influential voice in pickleball right now. And yes… the episode ends with a frantic real-time hunt for a missing Tesla paddle. This one has everything. 👇 Drop a comment with your take on the UPA situation and whether you’d actually play with the Tesla paddle or keep it in the box. There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give Blue Cannatine a try at https://troscriptions.com/DINK or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. Maui Nui Venison has more protein per calorie than just about anything else out there, and it tastes unreal. Order your Ohana Reserve Box today and receive a free 12-pack of jerky sticks http://mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/ Reach out to Alex at [email protected] #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ 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.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -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 #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 3:09 UPA terminates three pro contracts 10:10 What does this say about ‘Big Pickle’? 20:27 Thomas vs Anna Bright at Courted Miami 24:35 Nominate your favorites for the 2026 Dink Awards 30:06 UPA to add AI line calling solution 35:25 Nick Kyrgios + Jack Sock, Stack Athletics 37:54 DUPR knocks out competition for USAP + APP 39:32 The Dink MiLP National Championships 45:07 APP Championships finish the year 48:44 New names take gold at PPA Challenger Raleigh 54:23 ALW + Jorja to team up in Daytona 56:16 Tesla paddles sell out and go missing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Zane is joined by The Dink’s own Alex Weaver for a deep-dive into one of the wildest and fastest-growing problems in pickleball: counterfeit paddles flooding the market. You’ve seen them on T-Mu, Facebook Marketplace, maybe even at your local rec courts… but the scale of the problem is WAY bigger than most players realize. Alex breaks down: - How knockoff brands are copying top paddles within weeks of release - Why major companies are fighting regulatory “whack-a-mole” to get fakes removed - How players are getting tricked by manipulated Google listings and fake reviews - The real impact on innovation, quality, and the future of the sport - What USAP and UPAA are (finally) preparing to do about it - Why $30 “bargain paddles” often cost you more in the long run Whether you’re shopping for a holiday gift, worried about getting duped, or just fascinated by the business side of the game, this is one of our most informative deep dives yet. 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every week and stay plugged into the fastest-growing sport in the world. There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give Blue Cannatine a try at https://troscriptions.com/DINK or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. Maui Nui Venison has more protein per calorie than just about anything else out there, and it tastes unreal. Order your Ohana Reserve Box today and receive a free 12-pack of jerky sticks http://mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/ Reach out to Alex at [email protected] #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ 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.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -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 #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 3:35 The counterfeit paddle epidemic 9:15 How can you spot a knockoff? 12:47 Does this happen in other sports? 19:04 It’s a big problem for the brands 23:11 The governing bodies’ role 26:35 It’s harder to stop players who want knockoffs 27:55 The ‘seal’ is printed on illegal paddles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the PicklePod, Zane and Tice dive into one of the wildest slates of global pickleball we’ve had in a while — even if half of it was nearly impossible to find online. We break down tournaments in Vietnam, Australia, and China, plus look ahead to the biggest December events in the pickleball world. From the mystery surrounding DJOY Vietnam, to Bondi’s underdog run at MLP Australia, to new partnerships forming for Hangzhou, we're covering everything the pickleball diehards want to know. And yes… we attempt the impossible: building the worst pickleball player in the top 20. We also talk Dink Awards, Minor League Nationals, Juniors vs. the Breakers, the Pickleball Marathon world record attempt, APP Tour Championships, Daytona chaos, and the freshest international storylines in the sport. Topics include: • D-JOY Vietnam recap • MLP Australia finals + Bondi’s run • APP's new Global Pickleball Alliance + rankings • December pickleball schedule: Minor League Nationals, Dink Awards, Hangzhou Open, APP Championships, PPA Daytona • Junior phenoms changing the game • Building the worst top-20 pro (fan-suggested segment!) 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every week and stay plugged into the fastest-growing sport in the world. There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give Blue Cannatine a try at https://troscriptions.com/DINK or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. Maui Nui Venison has more protein per calorie than just about anything else out there, and it tastes unreal. Order your Ohana Reserve Box today and receive a free 12 pack of jerky sticks http://mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK Discover plant-based wellness support from Trulieve https://www.trulieve.com/?utm_medium=... Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ 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.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -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 #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 2:47 D-Joy Pickleball Event in Vietnam 8:36 The Global Pickleball Alliance 12:24 MLP Australia season finale with Purple Jesus 14:49 The Dink Awards Preview 16:18 The Dink MiLP Nationals Week 27:09 International events in December 31:48 Courted Miami at Sip N Pickle brings the vibes 32:52 APP Championships + PPA Datytona 35:10 Build Your Worst Pickleball Player Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the PicklePod, Zane and Tice break down one of the wildest weekends of pickleball we’ve seen all year. The Lakeland Open delivered everything—controversial calls, insane comebacks, breakout stars, near meltdowns, and another dominant run from the tour’s heavy hitters. We kick things off with Part 2 of last week’s viral Create-a-Player Draft, where Zane and Tice build the ultimate women’s pickleball player. 11 categories. No duplicate picks. Maximum trash talk. The community demanded a rematch…and Tice wants revenge. From there, the guys get into all the biggest stories: Lakeland Open Chaos – The now-infamous Roscoe/Hunter match point controversy – Luca Mack’s eye-opening semifinal run – Noe's first PPA medal – The 17-point swing that shocked the men’s doubles bracket Nationals Recap – Jill Braverman's viral line call – Why a $225K event ran with no replays – PK’s first singles title • Global Pickleball Politics – The WPF, GPF, UWPF alphabet soup explained – What a potential merger means for the Olympics – Why governing bodies matter more than people realize Lakers Pickleball Tournament – Yes… the Lakers ran their own pickleball event – Luka Dončić credits pickleball for slimming down – Why NBA players might be the worst body type for dinking • Debate of the Week: If Ben and Anna Leigh were forced to split up in 2026… who wins more mixed titles? Zane and Tice go deep on the chessboard of future partnerships. 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every week and stay plugged into the fastest-growing sport in the world. There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give Blue Cannatine a try at https://troscriptions.com/DINK or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. Maui Nui Venison has more protein per calorie than just about anything else out there, and it tastes unreal. Order your Ohana Reserve Box today and receive a free 12 pack of jerky sticks http://mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK Discover plant-based wellness support from Trulieve https://www.trulieve.com/?utm_medium=... Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ 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.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -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 #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:56 Build a Women’s Player 13:39 Quick hits Carmel-by-the-sea + International merger 19:58 Jilly B’s controversial call 22:23 Nationals winners and Zane’s son 27:25 PPA Lakeland recap 34:13 Hunter vs Roscoe and the controversial net cord 46:33 Ben vs ALW hypothetical split 53:03 Women’s doubles and men’s match of the weekend 57:50 Luka and the Lakers host a pickleball tournament Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the PicklePod, we switch things up — no PPA or MLP action to recap, but a massive week of storylines, debates, and one of our favorite interviews of the year. Zane and Tice debut a brand-new segment: Build-A-Player — where each builds the “perfect” pro pickleball player using only 11 unique skills… but they can’t use the same player twice. The results? Chaos, controversy, and an absolutely stacked conversation that you’ll want to vote on in the comments. We also break down: 🔥 PPA Melbourne (rain delays, surprises, and emerging stars) 🔥 Which partnerships are legit and which are temporary 🔥 Why the tournament format changes actually matter 🔥 The Lakeland draws — including matchups that could get spicy 🔥 How agents are now influencing pro partnerships (yes… really) Then we’re joined by Kyle Yates, one of the OG goats of pickleball. Kyle breaks down: 🇺🇸 Team USA’s run at the Pickleball World Cup 🏆 Why the international scene is exploding 🥁 How Venezuela brought an actual marching band 🎽 The jersey swaps, the atmosphere, and the wildest crowds he’s ever seen 🎾 The origin story of “The Kyle Shot” 👀 Whether pickleball is getting closer to an Olympic future 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every week and stay plugged into the fastest-growing sport in the world. There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give Blue Cannatine a try at https://troscriptions.com/DINK or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. Maui Nui Venison has more protein per calorie than just about anything else out there, and it tastes unreal. Order your Ohana Reserve Box today and receive a free 12 pack of jerky sticks http://mauinuivenison.com/THEDINK Discover plant-based wellness support from Trulieve https://www.trulieve.com/?utm_medium=... Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ 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.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -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 #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 - Intro 05:20 - PPA Melbourne recap: delays, chaos & standout performances 10:48 - PPA Lakeland preview: Why this “open” feels like a Slam 15:04 - Singles shake-up: Fed back to #1, Ben seeded #8, chaos in draws 20:40 - Women’s singles danger zone: Seone Mendez & Salome in ALW’s path 26:01 - Mixed doubles storylines: Rachel & Andre reunited, matchup drama 31:30 - Doubles partnership chaos: agents, contracts & 2026 shakeups 36:50 — Women’s doubles preview: Tyra/Paris, Jackie/Jade & chaos in the quarters 42:30 — The “Build the Perfect Player” draft begins (serve, drives, drops) 58:40 — Introducing Dr. Scott (Troscriptions): Blue Cannatine for focus & energy 1:03:55 — Nicotine’s misunderstood role: low-dose benefits for athletes Improved recall, relaxation, focus, and why delivery method matters. 1:09:20 — Methylene blue explained: endurance, energy & mitochondrial function 1:11:10– Kyle Yates Joins the Show 1:13:20 – Inside the Pickleball World Cup: Atmosphere, Format & Team USA’s Win 1:21:45 A preview for Olympic Pickleball 1:25:40 Kyle's Hall of Fame career and Kyle shot origins 1:33:39 Jersey swaps with other countries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices