No, it’s not Dodgeball 2 — but Ben Stiller’s new Apple comedy The Dink might just give pickleball the same cult-classic treatment. Think washed-up tennis pro, high-stakes paddle drama, and the kind of absurdity only Hollywood can serve.

You'll find:

• Juniors pickleball’s record-breaking tournament

• Personalities that turned into DinkyBalls

• The pressure that sneaks into open play

Plus, a few ways to shake off that point you wish you had back. Pickleball on the big stage, on the big courts, and in all the little moments that keep us hooked.

🍿 Hollywood Takes On Pickleball (Again)

Apple Original Films just bought a sports comedy all about pickleball — and yes, this is a big deal. The Dink stars Jake Johnson (New Girl) as a washed-up tennis pro who does the “unthinkable” to save his family’s club: he picks up a pickleball paddle. Produced by Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films, the movie also ropes in Stiller in a supporting role, alongside tennis icons Andy Roddick and John McEnroe.

No, it’s not a Dodgeball sequel (even though the title feels tailor-made). But like Dodgeball, it runs on the same formula: an underdog sports story with absurd comedy, culture clashes, and a few over-the-top cameos.

Why This Matters

Hollywood comedies don’t usually pick pickleball as their stage. A studio like Apple — fresh off projects with Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington — putting it on theirs signals something bigger: pickleball has moved from quirky pastime to pop-culture fixture.

How It Could Shape Perception

• Mainstream Spotlight: Millions of non-players will hear “pickleball” for the first time in a movie theater.

• Comedy Lens: Expect plenty of paddle jokes, but also a glimpse of what makes the sport addictive and social.

• Celebrity Stamp: Stiller, Johnson, McEnroe, Roddick — names that draw audiences who’ve never stepped on a court.

The Bigger Picture

Pickleball’s growth has been fueled by community and word of mouth. But a movie like The Dink drops it into the same cultural bucket as baseball, boxing, or even Formula 1 (which just got its own Brad Pitt movie). It won’t capture every nuance of the game, but it does cement pickleball as something worth telling stories about — not just playing.

Why Stiller?

He’s a tennis diehard who knows how to lampoon sports culture. With The Dink, he’s skewering a rivalry he’s watched up close while doubling down on the kind of goofy, crowd-pleasing comedy he’s famous for.

And yes — the word “pickleball” still makes some people roll their eyes. But if Stiller and Apple get this right, even the skeptics might find themselves laughing with it, not at it.

🌍 Around the Picklesphere

🎥 Sitting down with one of pickleball’s original Hall of Famers
💛 The in-between points that make pickleball unforgettable
🔄 Why open play doesn’t always feel open
🏙️ Central Park sets the stage for MLP’s biggest trophy chase

😤 Let Go of the Bad Point

BRING THIS TO THE COURT: Everyone has a point they’d like back—the missed dink, the serve into the net, the sitter you gift-wrapped your opponent. The trick isn’t avoid mistakes (impossible), it’s learning to respond with intention instead of reacting with frustration.

Here are a few simple reset moves:

• Have a Short Memory: Label the mistake, learn if you need to, then erase it. Dwelling only distracts from the point that matters—the next one.

• Focus Forward: The most important rally is always the one coming up. Take a breath, bounce on your toes, and get ready to play the ball in front of you.

• Use Reset Cues: A paddle tap, a single deep breath, or even a quick laugh resets your mental state and keeps the game fun.

• Respond, Don’t React: Frustration clouds judgement. Choosing a calm, intentional response puts you back in control.

Mistakes happen at every level. What separates solid players from frustrated ones is how fast they reset. Train yourself to let go fast, and you’ll find more consistency, confidence, and enjoyment in every match.

👉 Read the full article here.

🌿 Relief That Moves With You

When sore joints or tight muscles threaten to pull you off the court, Dobson’s Choice has your back (and your knees, shoulders, and everything in between). This all-natural CBD balm works fast — and their new twist-up stick means no more messy hands or greasy grips mid-match. Just roll it on, feel the relief, and get back to the game.

And right now, first-time buyers can score a Buy One, Get One Free deal on both the jar and the stick. Use code EMPOWER at checkout — just don’t forget to click the orange Apply button or the discount won’t trigger.

Rub on, pain gone.

🏆 Junior Pickleball Heads to the Big Stage

The National Junior Pickleball (NJP) Tour is about to host its largest event ever — more than 200 players, ages 8-18, will compete August 29-September 1 at the 2025 JOOLA Celebration in Kissimmee, FL. With athletes traveling across the U.S., Ecuador, and South Korea, this one’s shaping up to be historic.

→ Four days of nonstop play: skills clinics, singles, doubles, and a team event.
→ Premier venues, reffed matches, and extra court time with a round-robin format.
→ Prizes and pathways: JOOLA paddles, free entry into the NJP Championship Cup, and a year-long junior sponsorship for one standout athlete.

And it’s not just about competition. The weekend includes pro exhibitions, gear demos, and community connection — giving young players the chance to feel like pros on a national stage.

🔗 Get all the details for the event here.

🎨 Pickleball’s Personality Parade

Everyone court has them — the loud-and-proud banger, the zen dinker, the trash-talker, the lifer with a story for every rally. Former Pickles Indoor founders Lisa and Dustin DeMeritt turned those player “types” into DinkyBalls — a brand that celebrates pickleball’s quirks with cartoon-like characters and merch.

Their motto says it all: Be You. The World Will Adjust.

It’s not about skill or stats — it’s about the personalities that make pickleball feel like the most fun circus in town.

👉 Learn more about DinkyBalls.

🎭 Who Are You Really Playing For?

Pickleball has a reputation for being lighthearted and welcoming — but step onto the wrong court and suddenly it feels like everyone’s watching. From overthinking your serve to apologizing after every drive, social pressure shows up in sneaky ways.

• Performance Anxiety: Worrying about every shot, tightening up, and missing the easy ones.

• People-Pleasing: Holding back or over-apologizing just to keep partners happy

• Competitiveness Creep: When “just for fun” games turn into tryouts for the “good” court.

• Group Dynamics: Cliques, unwritten rules, or subtle signs about who belongs where.

At the end of the day, the question is simple: are you playing for yourself, or everyone else? Finding the balance means mixing groups, being upfront about the kind of game you want, and dropping the constant apologies.

👉 Learn more about the social side of pickleball.