You’re Probably Hitting Your Dinks Too Hard

Why your dinks pop up, the pickleball culture conversation players keep having, and more.

Author

Empower Pickleball
May 07, 2026

So… the PPA officially dropped the highly anticipated docuseries Partners on Tuesday, and I have thoughts already.

The trailer hyped it up, but some of the clips they teased beforehand had me pausing like… wait, who are they talking about? And what happened there?

I haven’t finished the full series yet, but I’m not surprised pickleball made its way into reality TV territory. Between the partnerships, drama, business deals, and personalities involved… it kind of fits.

Have you watched Partners yet? Let us know below.

Have you watched Partners yet?

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And if you haven’t watched yet but you’re curious, keep scrolling—we linked the first episode down below. If reality TV-style pickleball content isn’t your thing, that’s fine too… because there are a lot of good stories in today’s issue. ☺️

TIPS & TRICKS

Your Dinks Don’t Need More Power

Most players treat the dink like a mini groundstroke—short swing, quick contact, hope it lands softly.

Even small hits create timing errors, pop-ups, and inconsistency.

Senior Pro Gina Cilento says the fix is surprisingly simple: stop hitting your dinks and start carrying them.

Here’s what that looks like:

  • Soften your hands → no stabbing at the ball

  • Stay connected through contact → guide instead of slap

  • Eliminate the backswing → smooth push, not quick jab

  • Let the paddle absorb → especially during fast exchanges

💡 Why It Matters: The softer and more connected your dink feels, the more control you gain at the kitchen line.

👉 Learn the habit that instantly cleans up dink errors.

GEAR

The Women’s Pickleball Apparel Worth Buying Right Now

We spent way too much time digging through reviews, Reddit threads, and athletic brands trying to figure out what women’s pickleball apparel holds up on court.

A few favorites:

  • Vuori One Shot Dress → easy on and off the court

  • adidas Climacool Skirt → breathable and reliable

  • Thorlo Socks → surprisingly huge difference for foot fatigue

We also broke down what matters in pickleball apparel—movement, sweat, fit, and what doesn’t ride up mid-match.

💡 Why It Matters: Cute is great… until your outfit stops working once the games get competitive.

👉 See the full list of picks.

OPINION & INSIGHT

When Did Pickleball Stop Being Fun?

Pickleball built its reputation as the welcoming sport—the fun sport.

But more players are starting to say the same thing: “I loved it… until I didn’t.”

Not because of the game itself, but because of the experience around it.

Between constant tension, partner blame, hyper-competitiveness, and every match feeling tied to ratings and ego, some players are quietly stepping away altogether.

And honestly… that should probably concern people.

💡 Why It Matters: Growth is great—but if the culture shifts too far in the wrong direction, players stop wanting to stay.

👉 Read the full conversation players are starting to have out loud.

COMMUNITY

She Missed Competition—But Mostly She Missed Connection

After becoming a mom, dealing with an injury, and stepping away from tennis, Melissa Esmero missed having something that felt like hers.

One pickleball lesson turned into coaching, competing, and building spaces where players feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are.

Now she’s helping other players find confidence both on and off the court.

💡 Why It Matters: A lot of people come to pickleball looking for a game and end up finding something much bigger.

👉 Read Melissa’s full story.

Most Paddles Look the Same—These Don’t

Most paddles look the same.

ARTI is doing the opposite—leaning into bold, design-forward paddles that don’t just perform, but really look like something you’d want to carry onto the court.

They’re built with high-end materials for control, spin, and consistency, but what really stands out is the design. Each paddle feels intentional, not generic.

If you care about how you play and how your gear looks, this is one of the few brands doing both well.

👉 Shop ARTI paddles and use code EMPOWER30 for 30% off.
As a heads up, they’ve already got a pretty solid sale happening on their website, so our code only applies to full-price items.

  • 42-Year-Old Filipina Player Keeps Building Her Legacy 🌏 Diana Hughes continues to prove age isn’t slowing her down, adding more international medals to a career that includes a historic gold-silver-bronze sweep at the 2025 World Pickleball Cup.

  • Pickleball Gets Its “Drive to Survive” Moment 🎬 A new six-episode docuseries called Partners just premiered on Prime Video, following the drama, rivalries, contracts, and behind-the-scenes business moves shaping the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball.

  • Kentucky Officially Sanctions High School Pickleball 🏫 Pickleball will officially become a sanctioned high school championship sport in Kentucky starting in the 2027–28 school year.

A Cute Little Pickleball Gift Idea

It might not get here in time for Mother’s Day, but if you need a gift for your pickleball bestie for any occasion—or honestly just something cute for yourself—I found these personalized pickleball keychains on Etsy and immediately went down a rabbit hole.

They come in a ton of colors and patterns, you can personalize them with a name bar, and they’re one of those things that just make your bag feel more fun. The floral pink and turquoise striped are my faves.

Also love that it’s a small business and everything ships in a gift box ready to go.

👉 A really solid under-$25 pickleball gift idea.

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.