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RIP to the Dink. Pickleball is entering its "quiet era".

RIP to the Dink. Pickleball is entering its "quiet era".

PLUS: $131 million dollar pickleball problem in Cali & Pickleball meets Capitol Hill.

Welcome back, Kitcheners.

Read time: 3.5 min

Shhh…silence… as we say our tearful goodbyes to the sport of pickleball we all once knew and loved.

Keep reading please ‘cause the game (and your paddle) is changing (for better or for worse).

RIP to the dink 🪦

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: The “Quiet” Pickleball
News Stash: $131 million dollar pickleball problem in Cali. Pickleball meets Capitol Hill.
Sizzling Skills: The ♾️ drill, explained.
Kitchen Talk: Are abandoned warehouses the solution to meeting pickleball demand?

DAILY SCOOP

The “Quiet” Pickleball

We all know it and should admit it: pickleball is kinda annoying. And even more so to those who don’t obsess over the sport like you and I.

Need proof? Sure, just search up pickleball on Google and witness the complaints that plaster the news headlines day after day. 🙄

(as the writer and researcher for this newsletter…it can get KINDA annoying)

But WAIT (oh, thank you lorrrddd)…

USA Pickleball has FINALLY acknowledged the looming sound problem and is now on a mission to keep the peace while keeping the sport pumping.

Their solution?

This governing bod just dropped a "Quiet Category" for gear that turns down the volume without cramping players' swag. We're talking paddles, balls, covers - anything that makes a racket - now 50% less ear-splitting than the usual stuff.

See, as pickleball goes gangbusters, noise bubble up. USA Picklleball's done their homework, partners with sound pros, and can now school manufacturers on creating quieter gear.

Their incentive program rewards brands that stand on the side of empathy by actively working on investing in and creating silent-but-deadly paddle tech.

But they aren't stopping at equipment. No sir.

USA PB's also expanding their pad development program to install noise buffers and sound insulation at new builds and renovated courts. Acoustic evaluations, earmuff building materials, ordinances - they're going all in.

And it's working. Iinnovators have served up new quiet gear with the same pop as traditional stuff. USA PB's got solutions on deck and ready to deploy - no disturbances here.

Let’s just hope these initiatives work because from the outside looking in…

The complaints are not doing the pickleball brand any favors.

NEWS STASH

Cali needs millions to keep picklers happy

Happenings: California's pickleball pandemonium is outta control… but good luck finding courts to play on. (No, seriously…it’s getting cray cray).

A new report reveals the Golden State needs to drop a sweet $131 million building 3,748 new pickleball courts within 5-7 years to keep up with demand.

With only 0.67 courts per 10k people (45% below avg), Cali ranks 41st for pickleball access.

Bottom line: California better figure out how to fund this pickleball court bonanza... or risk losing its rep as the capital of fitness fiends.

Pickleball keeping Capitol Hill tensions down?

Happenings: Forget C-SPAN snoozefests…the hottest new drama on Capitol Hill is the Senate's bipartisan pickleball fests.

During down time, Senators are trading in talking filibusters for backhand smashes and volleys. We're talkin' weekly pickleball games bringing together lawmakers, putting all difference aside.

GOPer Shelley Moore Capito says paddlin' up with Dems helps "connect in a different way" when tensions get high. And Thom Tillis insists it's "hard to treat people" badly after sweating it out on the court together.

So while Congress duels over spending bills, this bipartisan pickleball caucus brings lawmaker rivalries to the court.

Because everyone can agree legislative gridlock ain't as fun as a cross-court smash.