Change Is A Comin': PPA Masters testing new serve rule + The Vulcan is now the official pro-ball

Welcome back, picklers

Read time: ~5 min

Today’s newsletter is going to look a little different. The new and improved format hopefully helps you have easier and more productive conversations about pickleball topics in the media.

I hope you enjoy it, and be sure to leave your feedback below!

PLUS, Franklin Sports is now selling its X40 balls for $1 a ball (possibly in response to the Vulcan ball discussed in this newsletter.) FYI, the website is a bit wonky right now as people are flooding the site. If you’ve wanted a steal on balls, now’s your chance.

Now, on to the newsletter.

How to read The Pickle Talk:

1. First, don’t click any links just yet. Read it all the way through, and then send it to a friend you think might benefit too.

2. Next, come back and dive into the links that caught your eye.

3. Last, go play some pickleball and stir up conversations with your newfound knowledge.

Enjoy :)

TODAY’S BANGERS:

• Pickle Talk: PPA Masters testing new serve rule + The Vulcan is now the official ball

• Bite-Size Pickle: 4 paddles at 4 prices, torn apart. Reese Witherspoon’s clothing line deemed “pickleball-worthy”. The Golden Bachelor, married.

• Golden Pickle: The Fake Out Trick of 2024. Pickleball in the airport?

Let’s get into some... PICKLE TALK 🎙️

1/ The PPA Masters is testing a new serve rule

TL;DR: The PPA Masters is testing a new serving rule that will, for now, only apply to the pro players playing in the PPA Masters.

Deets:

• The old serve hits on 3 points:

  • Must be hit below the waist

  • Must hit up on the ball

  • Paddle must be below the wrist at point of contact

• The new serve tightens the rule further:

  • The hand holding the ball should be at a 45* angle to keep the ball below the waist at all times, even before contact

  • Arm cannot rise during hip rotation, and ball cannot be tossed up in the slightest at any point during the serve

• The Why: Refs are seeing players bend the rule by serving the ball with a slight toss up or arm rise, even if the ball makes contact below the waist. With the potential for the paddle to rise above the wrist, the old serve creates room for a power advantage, which is what the new rule is trying to eliminate.

WPAS: In short, most people are on the same page: this is simply too complicated, and the game should eliminate the volley serve and only allow the drop serve.

One YouTube user commented:

Similarly, a Redditor commented:

Opinion:

As a reminder, this is just a test for the PPA to collect data and feedback on the new rule. Players like Tyson McGuffin are notorious for bending the serve rule, so it will be interesting to see how they adapt. This will, in my opinion, challenge players to be hyperaware of how they are serving. It may also slow down the game as movements are nuanced and judges may have a tough time judging the specifics of the rule.

If all else fails, the drop-serve is a great alternative to making it a fair serve every time. With the nature of a pickleball, it will never be able to bounce above the waist, therefore solving the nuanced serve problems.

***

2/ New Year, New Official Ball. But is it better?

TL;DR: Carvana Professional Pickleball Association has selected the Vulcan as the new official ball of the PPA tour. FYI, it debuted at the Hyundai Masters in Palm Spring, California (January 9th-14th,2024).

Deets:

• For 3 years, the Dura Fast 40 was the official ball of the PPA tour events

• Last year, the PPA invited any ball makers to submit their product for testing to see if the current Dura could be beaten. Vulcan won.

• According to pickleballrumors.com: “Vulcan has been rumored to be paying between $2-3 million annually (plus 8-10% in royalties) to become the official ball sponsor.”

• Current prices: 6-pack for $23.99, a 12-pack for $44.99, and a 100-pack for $349.99 (You can buy here)

WPAS: As the ball was just released for public sales, there aren’t a ton of reviews out there.

But I was able to find one from @matty_pickles on Twitter. He states that the ball is softer and a bit slower than the Dura.

As for public consumption, people are not too happy about the price point. It comes out to be about $5/ball after tax. One Redditor commented:

and another:

Revealed… According to Zane Navratil, pro-player & one of the hosts of the PicklePod Podcast, pro-players are not getting these balls for free. He reveals that he has to buy them with his own money, just like everyone else.

It looks like Vulcan is just trying to make their money back ASAP.

*BITE-SIZE* PICKLES

1/ ➜ Happenings: A pickleballer tears apart 4 pickleball paddles, prices ranging from $40 to $220.

Posted a year ago…this is a reminder to those of us who mindlessly spend our hard-earned money on paddles just because. While there are differences between paddles, they are minute and probably not worth the wide $$$ gap. Watch the demolition here.

[I posted this on Reddit. 14k+ views later, see what people are saying.)

***

2/ ➜ Happenings: Reese Witherspoon has entered the pickleball era, well…kinda. Her clothing brand, Draper James, released a collection of sportswear that People Magazine deems “pickleball” worthy.

Check it out here and see if you can swallow the price tag. Personally, I’ll be stickin’ with my $15 Target set. Sorry, Reese.

***

3/ ➜ Happenings: UPDATE… The Golden Bachelor’s Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist officially tied the knot live on ABC. To us, Gerry is known as the pickleball bachelor who entered the show as a widower simply looking for love once again.

See you on the courts, love birds!

GOLDEN PICKLES

🎫 Click here if you’d like to buy the Vulcan VPRO Flight PPA Tour Pickleball to try for yourself.

🎫 The trick of 2024: The Fake Body Bag fake out

🎫 Boomers play pickleball at the airport gate while waiting for their airplane. I’m not sure whether to be impressed or annoyed.

🎫 These used to be basketball courts. Well, not anymore. If only I could see the basketball player’s faces as they walk in for the first time

🎫 Read up: Pickleball’s posher cousin, Padel, is growing exponentially. The Washington Post reports on the update.

🎫 ICYMI: Pickleball trick shots with Dude Perfect (6.3 million views +)

Unofficial Sponsor: My Pickleball Coach is a newly patented technology designed to be your 1-on-1 mobile pickleball coach. Think.. a virtual personal trainer, but for pickleball. Check it out here to train with pro players like Zane Navratil!

Snap Shots 📸 of the Week

No pickle left unturned 🥳

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Thanks for reading!

Until next time, picklers.

Jonathan W.