Are You Changing Direction on the Wrong Dink?

DUPR answers, smarter dinking, and a giant pickleball in Ohio.

Author

Empower Pickleball
August 20, 2026

I’m not sure about the rest of the country, but man, I woke up to 100% humidity this morning, and it feels like it’s been this way for weeks.

Some of y’all are lucky enough to live somewhere with dry heat. You’d never be able to get me off the court. But sadly, humidity is my kryptonite, so I’m stuck inside. Luckily, the rain gives me another excuse. 😂

We’ve got a jam-packed issue this week, including the season finale of 99% Pickleball. And we’re ending on a good one: DUPR CEO Tito Machado joined Mari and Nikki to answer your burning DUPR questions.

That got me curious about all of you…

Are you on DUPR?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

TIPS & TRICKS

Are You Changing Direction on the Wrong Dink?

Moving the ball during a dink rally can create an opening, but according to Senior Pro Gina Cilento, changing direction just because you can is often what gets players into trouble.

Low dinks near the net are usually safer to send back crosscourt. The better opportunity comes when you get a higher or softer ball, spot an opponent out of position, and can redirect without leaving something attackable. Sometimes that means staying patient through several crosscourt dinks before making your move.

💡 Why It Matters: A poorly timed direction change can turn a neutral dink rally into an easy attack for your opponent. Learning which balls to redirect—and which ones to leave alone—helps you create an advantage without forcing one.

EDUCATION

Want to Host a Pickleball Social? Start Here

A few reserved courts and a cooler of drinks don’t automatically make a great pickleball social. The best ones give people enough court time, make it easy to meet someone new, and create an environment where beginners and solo players actually feel comfortable showing up.

If you’re thinking about organizing one, a few things can make a big difference:

  • Start smaller than you think instead of overcrowding the courts

  • Build in some structure so newcomers aren’t left watching established groups play

  • Plan for the off-court experiences, from food and shade to name tags and ways to stay connected afterward

💡 Why It Matters: A successful pickleball social isn’t really measured by how many people show up. It’s measured by whether they meet someone, enjoy playing, and want to come back for the next one.

👉 See how to plan a pickleball social people actually want to attend.

COMMUNITY

She’s Learning Pickleball in Public

For two years, Shawna Grosskleg watched people play pickleball and wondered if she was athletic enough, young enough, or coordinated enough to join them. Then she finally picked up a paddle and, like so many of us, became completely obsessed.

Now, at 46, she’s the creator behind FearlessPickleballHer, where she calls herself an “advanced beginner learning out loud.” Instead of only sharing the shots she gets right, Shawna shows the misses, frustration, small wins, and everything that comes with learning a new sport as an adult.

💡 Why It Matters: It’s easy to look around pickleball and feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing. Shawna is making space for women who are still figuring it out—and showing that you don’t have to be great at pickleball before you’re allowed to belong.

From Plant to Tablet: Meet the Scientist Behind LEVEL

Most people picture CBD as an oil dropper or a gummy. LEVEL founder Chris Emerson, PhD, took a different approach: a precision-dosed tablet for people who want to know exactly what they’re taking.

Each CBD Protab contains 25 mg of CBD in a scored tablet that can also be split in half for a lighter dose.

👉 Learn more about LEVEL and the CBD Protab.

  • Pickleball Is Taking Over Times Square 🗽 CityPickle is turning Times Square into a free pickleball festival Aug. 26-30, with complimentary court time, MLP pros, live DJs, giveaways, and more. Reservations for free open play will open the day before.

  • They Built a Backyard Pickleball Court for $13K 🏡 After learning a professionally installed court could cost around $35,000, a Missouri couple decided to DIY most of theirs. The finished court cost $13,311 and took 45 days to complete, including a 30-day wait for the concrete to cure.

  • Is This the World’s Largest Pickleball? 🟡 Toledo just unveiled a massive pickleball sculpture along the Glass City Riverwalk that could potentially be the largest in the world. The installation is part of local artist Dean Davis’ 100 Works of Art initiative.

Tito Machado: What Your DUPR Is Really Telling You

Pickleball players will do just about anything to move that little number up. According to DUPR CEO Tito Machado, that’s part of the problem.

For the Season 1 finale of 99% Pickleball, Tito joins Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado to answer the questions players constantly argue about. Why can you win and still drop? Are regional DUPR bubbles real? Can a 70-year-old and a 20-year-old really use the same rating system? And what is DUPR doing about sandbagging, stale ratings, and people creating burner accounts to escape their current rating?

Tito also gives us a look at what’s coming next for DUPR, including AI, video-based ratings, stronger verification, and new ways for players to establish an accurate rating.

And underneath all the numbers is a much simpler idea: your DUPR should help you find people you actually enjoy competing against.

📺 Watch it on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

The Visor That Lives in My Pickleball Bag

I was first introduced to Headsweats at the US Open about six years ago, and I’ve owned a few of their hats ever since. But their Reflective Supervisor visor is probably my favorite.

The best part is the terry sweatband across the forehead. It actually helps keep sweat from dripping down my face when I’m mid-point, which is exactly what I need on those brutally hot, humid days. Remember my rant at the beginning of this newsletter? 😅

It’s lightweight, stays put, and the black underside of the visor helps with glare. Mine basically lives in my pickleball bag all summer.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!

Have something happening at your courts?

The wins, the drama, or the moments that stick with you—we’d love to hear it.

If people are talking about it, it’s probably worth sharing.