Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 10

March 28, 2024

Hello, and welcome to Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 10!

We’ve officially made it to 10 volumes of Austin Pickleball Update! 

When we started this newsletter 5 months ago, our goal was to create value for the Austin pickleball community and bring that value to readers in a simple, easy to digest format. We had an idea that, like us, there were other pickleball players in Austin who were seeking information around where and how to play, as well as wanting to know about upcoming pickleball tournaments and events in Austin. 

10 newsletters later, Austin Pickleball Update is now a community of 1,000+ people, far exceeding our initial goals.

To our readers, we are grateful for your love and support. Thank you for being on this journey with us!

We’re excited to bring you the next 10 issues of APU, and to continually grow and evolve along with pickleball in Austin, Texas.

Volume 10 of Austin Pickleball Update provides a recap of the PPA Austin Open, covers how to improve your dinks, and provides (as always) a huge tournament update with 15 events!

In this issue of APU you will find:

  • PPA Austin Open Recap

  • Pickleball Strategy 101

  • Community News

  • Event & Tournament Update

  • Austin Pickleball Update Social Groups

Interested in sponsoring APU and reaching our engaged community of 1,000+ pickleball players in Austin? Reply to this email or DM us on Instagram and we’ll be in touch.

Let’s dink on in!

Tournament of the Week - Polo Spring Swing

Want to get paid to play pickleball? Then come win your event at Austin’s Polo Spring Swing! Taking place April 19-21 at the Polo Tennis and Fitness Club, this tournament features doubles scramble events with cash payouts, as well as a Moneyball event on Friday. Make friends (or friendly rivals) and play at your level without waiting around. Find out more at this link or learn more in our tournament update below.

Community Fundraiser - Dink 80 Challenge for Alzheimer's

Did you know that Alzheimer’s is the fastest growing of the top 10 most deadly diseases, and the only one with no cure? Join the Austin Pickleball Community in raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association by taking the Dink 80 Challenge. Learn more and donate here.

The kickoff party for the Dink 80 Challenge for ALZ takes places at Bouldin Acres South Lamar on April 9 from 5-6:30pm, where there will be two courts for rotating play and dinking contests. 

You can also attempt 80 dinks (or volleys) in a row anytime before May 15, post your results online, and ask your friends to support you with a donation. Anyone who donates or raises $100 or more by May 15 will get a chance to win a new Selkirk Power Air Paddle, four new Selkirk S1 balls, and a lesson with local coaches.

APU’s Dink 80 challenge entry will be on our Instagram soon, and you can donate to our team here. Thank you for your support!

PPA Austin Open Recap

The PPA Austin Open took place two weekends ago from March 14-17 in Austin. This was Austin’s first and last major pro pickleball tournament of the year, and we’re doing a deep dive into the event and overall experience.

Aerial shot of the championship court

The Results and Winners

On the competitive side, there were a TON of upsets across all major events. #1 seed Ben and Collin Johns were upset in the Men’s Doubles quarter final round by none other than Austin local and fan favorite Zane Navratil and his partner Christian Alshon aka TweenerKing. Continuing their tournament run, Zane and Christian had a come from behind win in the semi-finals against Federico Staksrud and Pablo Tellez (check out the match winning point here) to get themselves into the championship match. 

Zane Navratil, flying pickleball legend

While they ultimately lost in the finals, Zane and Christian provided what was arguably the largest upset of the tournament by winning 11-6, 15-13 in two straight games against the Johns brothers, the best Men’s Doubles team in the world, through smart and aggressive play. I’m excited to see how they both continue competing, hopefully together, in future events. 

The Men’s Doubles event was ultimately won by Andrei Daescu and Matt Wright. Andrei wasn’t done there, as he and his partner Anna Bright defeated Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters in a best of 5 Mixed Doubles final to get Andrei his second gold medal of the weekend. 

Andrei Daescu and Anna Bright, PPA Austin Open Double Gold Medal Winners

Beating ALW and Ben Johns is no small feat, as it’s been more than a year since this was done in a PPA event. Additionally, Andrei Daescu was a substitute partner for both Matt Wright and Anna Bright, which makes his double gold at the PPA Austin Open all the more impressive.

The double golds didn’t stop with Andrei. Anna Bright won her second gold medal in Women’s Doubles with her partner Rachel Rohrabacher, defeating Anna Leigh Waters and her partner Catherine Parenteau. 

Continuing our theme of upsets, this win by Bright and Rohrabacher is another incredible feat, as Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau have never lost a match together since they started playing together. It also took Bright/Rohrabacher 9 match points before they could finally seal the deal, showing the resiliency of Waters/Parenteau, who are never truly out of a match until it’s over.

Courtside watching Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau

To throw one last note in our upset column, this tournament marks the first time since 2021 that Anna Leigh Waters did not win a gold medal in a tournament she entered, although she did skip Women’s Singles and won two silvers. That said, she can take comfort in still being arguably the best pickleball player in the world at 17.

To round out our champions, Women’s Singles was won by Judith Castillo, and Men’s Singles was won by none other than Ben’s Johns, who still managed to snag a gold medal in his hometown tournament on his 25th birthday.

The Event

We’ve covered the results and upsets, but how was the tournament event itself? 

On the one hand, it was an amazing experience to watch the best pickleball professionals in the world come to play in Austin. On the other hand, the tournament was plagued by weather delays, facility switches, and wasn’t technically even located in Austin.  

This tourney stop was billed as the “PPA Austin Open”, however the tournament was located in Lakeway, nearly an hour from downtown Austin, which makes the designation of this being an “Austin” tournament somewhat of a stretch. I understand that Austin is now a destination city and this tournament came on the heels of SXSW, however the location of the tourney being in Lakeway really highlights the lack of high level pickleball facilities and tournament spaces that are actually in Austin. 

You're always a winner with pickleball friends

This lack of good pickleball tournament facilities in our fair city was further highlighted by the poor weather during the weekend. Due to rain delays, the PPA had to move some of the pro events to Dreamland and Eastside Paddle club, in addition to canceling some of the amateur events. I’m glad the tournament was still able to run, but the fact that there are only two pickleball facilities in Austin with 4 indoor courts highlights just how much the city of Austin still needs to grow and uplevel to become a true pickleball hub and destination.

Weather issues aside, I do believe the PPA did a stellar job managing all of the changes needed to put on the best event possible. I give huge props to the PPA management and event team for seeing this event through to completion.

The PPA bills their tournaments as a place where “amateur matches will be played alongside the championship court”, and this was spot on. You could watch Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau play on center court, and then literally be walking next to them around the facility to the next match. 

Courtside for the Men's Doubles semifinals

We sat courtside to see Zane and Christian get into the finals for less than $80/ticket, which felt like a steal and was so much fun as a spectator. The accessibility to being up close and personal with the best pickleball players in the world felt special and unique, and I’m grateful for the experience. I don’t know another professional sport where you can be this close to the best in the world during an active competition. 

This PPA Tour stop also highlights how much professional pickleball has to grow as a sport. There wasn’t much to do at the tournament during rain delays or between matches, the facility wasn’t professional feeling or fluid to navigate, and a $140 entry fee for amateur tournament attendees where you could lose two games and be done for the weekend didn’t feel like a great value. It kind of felt like the PPA Austin Open was a local/state soccer tournament rather than the world’s premiere event in pickleball. 

APU winning first place for Austin Pickleball Newsletters

This all just shows how much pickleball has to grow as a sport. I expect the PPA Tour, and stops in Austin, to be bigger and better with the coming years.

A Private Pickleball Oasis on the East Side

Looking to schedule a private pickleball game? Look no further than East 12th Pickleball. 

The backyard court of your pickleball dreams

Nestled in a prime corner lot, this pickleball court provides the perfect blend of accessibility and privacy, making it an ideal spot for anyone seeking a great pickleball game. Whether you’re new to pickleball and looking to enjoy time with friends or an advanced player wanting to improve your game with a coach, East 12th Pickleball offers the perfect setting for all of your pickleball court needs. 

APU readers get 50% off their court bookings for the month of April, and can book the court here for $15/hour. Contact [email protected] with any questions or to learn more.

Pickleball Strategy 101 - Master the Dink

The dink. A funny sounding word, huge pickleball newsletter, and core shot in pickleball. 

If you’re reading this newsletter you are likely familiar with the shot, but to get us all on the same level, USA Pickleball defines a dink as “a soft shot hit on a bounce from the NVZ (non-volley zone) intended to arc over the net and land within the opposing NVZ either straight across or diagonally crosscourt.”

Backhand dinks FTW

Dinking effectively is a crucial part of any pickleball player’s arsenal. Most players begin working on and using their dinks around the 3.5 level. Even if you’re a beginner, I’d highly recommend working on your dinks sooner rather than later. There’s a reason that dinking is usually the first shot you see players using during warmups, from recs to pros, and that’s because it’s so important to have dialed-in for pickleball success. 

Are you looking to improve your dinking game quickly? Below are a few dinking tips and techniques broken down into three categories: fundamentals, advanced techniques, and shot selection. Let's jump in and see how you can improve your dinks!

Fundamentals:

  • Imagine Catching the ball: Instead of swinging at the ball, think of a dink like catching the ball with your paddle, where you practice gently striking the center of your paddle for the shot. This helps you get a better feel for control of the shot and reduces the chance of errors.

  • Contact point: Make sure to contact the ball with your paddle in front of you, not behind or to the side. This allows for better control and accuracy.

  • Dink ceiling: Imagine an invisible plane stretching out above the net running parallel to the ground, and try to keep your paddle below it. This helps you keep your dinks low and controlled.

The contact point for your dink should be in front of you

Shot Selection:

  • Reset dinks: We talked about resets in APU Volume 9, however there is also a reset dink, where you aim to hit a dink back to the middle of the court when you are pulled wide. This helps you regain control and neutralize the point.

  • Offensive dinks: When in a good position on the court, go for more aggressive dinks that target your opponent's feet to create advantageous opportunities.

  • Mix up your shots: Alternate between crosscourt dinks and down the line dinks, as well as targeting your opponent's weaker side. This keeps your opponent guessing which shot is coming next and puts them on the defensive, which keeps you in the advantageous position for the point.

Advanced Techniques:

  • Imaginary line technique: Draw an imaginary line from your outside foot to the net. If the ball comes to the inside of that line, you can dink back wherever you want, up the line, to the middle, or cross court. If the ball crosses the imaginary line, play the ball either in front of you or to the middle, not cross court. This helps ensure you're setting yourself up to make a successful shot to win the point or keep the rally alive.

  • Pickleball in the armpit: Place a pickleball in your armpit and practice dinking, with the goal of not dropping the pickleball out of your armpit. While it sounds silly, this drill helps you keep your swing compact and prevents excessive follow-through for your dinks. 

  • Add spin: Once you start to feel more comfortable with your dinks, you can experiment with adding slice or underspin to the shot. This makes the ball stay low and is more difficult for your opponent to handle.

Imaginary line technique

Summary:

  • Imagine catching the ball, contact it in front of you, and keep your dinks below the imaginary dink ceiling.

  • Reset dinks to the middle when pulled wide, go for offensive dinks when in a good position, and mix up your shots while targeting your opponent’s weaker side.

  • Use the imginary line technique, experiment with spin when ready for advanced dinking, and use the pickleball in the armpit drill to improve your dink swing.

Check out the above tips in action in the video 20 Dinking Protips From the Masters by Pickleburner.

Good luck improving and mastering you dinking game!

Austin Real Estate Perfect for Pickleball

Vince Mathon, pictured right, shortly after winning a pickleball tournament.

Looking to buy or sell property in Austin? Look no further than Vince Mathon, Austin, TX Realtor® and Founding Partner of Revel Property Group. Vince is your go-to expert for a personalized, professional, and uncomplicated real estate experience. He also plays pickleball nearly every day, which means he can show you the best properties for pickleball in the city, in addition to talking pickleball shop as he shows you around. 

If you're looking to buy or sell a home or land, discuss investment opportunities, or lease an apartment or house, text or call Vince at 737-267-5585. Learn more at www.vincemathonATX.com.

Community News

Other Racquet Social Club’s Food & Drink Hiatus

Other Racquet Social Club, which opened their club in January, is temporarily closing their food and beverage service. The club posted a message on their Instagram last week stating “after a few weeks of meetings, we’ve been informed we need to work on our self a bit more before we can welcome the public back to our bar and social spaces” and that they’d “be back soon.” 

While this closure does limit parts of the club experience, APU has learned that their pickleball courts are still open to members and guests they bring, so the pickleball play can (thankfully) continue.

Huge Pickleball Facility Coming to Cedar Park

A 47,500 square foot pickleball complex is coming to Cedar Park in 2025. The $8 Million project will feature an indoor facility with 16 pickleball courts, and will break ground on July 1st. 

This facility joins the ranks of indoor pickleball projects debuting north of Austin in 2024/2025, like Pickleland, TopShot TX, and Pickleball Kingdom. It will be interesting to see the reception to these facilities when they officially launch, as well as if/when these larger indoor facilities make their way to Austin proper. 

Pickleball & Art in Austin

Art + Pickleball = Awesome

Eastside Paddle Club debuted an awesome new mural in their club. Painted by local artists muralé & co., the piece blends together Austin landmarks and pickleball themes. I’m a big fan of murals like this, so shout out to ESPC for bringing this pickleball art to their space and Austin.

Upcoming Events & Tournaments

Community Events

APU Paddle Demo Event

Interested in checking out and demoing some of the latest, high-end pickleball paddles? Join us for our next Paddle Demo Event on Saturday, April 13, from 10-11:30am at Pan Am Park. Register for the free event here and check out our website to see the paddles available at our paddle demo events.

APU paddle demo event at SARC

Interested in hosting a paddle demo event at your club or court? Let us know at [email protected].

Rooftop Eclipse Viewing, Yoga, & Pickleball

Hosted by the Texas Ranchers, 365 Things Austin, and Austin Pickle Ranch, this all-inclusive rooftop party features a 45 minute yoga session, eclipse viewing, and pickleball play. With a blend of astronomy, wellness, and fun, this rooftop event promises an unforgettable experience for all. Purchase tickets here.

Austin Area Pickleball Tournaments

  • Location - Polo Tennis And Fitness Club, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Fundraiser tournament with round robin random doubles format. 2.0-4.0+ skill brackets. All proceeds for this tournament help fund the New York trip expenses for the Sycamore Springs Middle School Choir. 6 game minimum.

  • Price - $40

Pickleball with My Peeps - March 30, 2024

  • Location - Dreamland, Dripping Springs, TX

  • Overview - For fun, non-DUPR group stage tournament. Fun pickleball competition, but with relaxation. 3 game minimum. Registration closes Thursday 3/28 at midnight.

  • Price - $35

Polo Spring Swing - April 19-21, 2024 - Tournament of the Week

  • Location - Polo Tennis And Fitness Club, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round Robin scramble tourney with payouts for winners. 3.0-5.0 skill brackets with age brackets. Moneyball coed doubles event on Friday. 5 game minimum.

  • Price - $35 tourney fee + $10 per event, with $10 off for senior/junior events

  • Location - Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round robin co-ed scramble doubles format. 2.5-4.5+ skill brackets. Registration deadline April 13th. 3 game minimum. 

  • Price - $45, with 100% of the profits going to Texas School for the Deaf class of 2024

  • Location - Austin Tennis Center, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round Robin format with 3.0-5.0+ skill brackets. Must register with a partner. 6 games to 11 or 4 games to 15 guarantee.

  • Price - $40 per player

  • Location - Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, TX

  • Overview - MLP format team tournament, with teams consisting of two men and two women (nonbinary players can take any spot in the team). Skill brackets for combined team DUPRs of 12, 14, 16 and 18. Captains responsible for registering and paying for the team. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $145 per team

  • Location - Austin Tennis Center, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round Robin format with 2.5-5.0+ skill brackets events. Must register with a partner. 6 games to 11 or 4 games to 15 guarantee. 

  • Price - $40 per player

002 Spring Classic - May 17-19, 2024

  • Location - Horseshoe Bay Resort, Horseshoe Bay, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with double elimination singles and gender doubles and round robin mixed doubles. 3.0-4.5 + open division skill brackets with age brackets. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $75 for first event, $25 for each subsequent event

  • Location - Austin Tennis Center, Austin, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with singles, mixed doubles, and gender/nonbinary doubles events. 2.5-5.0+ skill brackets. 4 game minimum.

  • Price - $40 per player

  • Location - Dreamland, Dripping Springs, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with singles, mixed doubles, and gender doubles events. 2.5-5.0 skill brackets with age brackets. 5 game minimum.

  • Price - $75 for first event, $45 for second event

Greater Texas Area Pickleball Tournaments - Dallas, San Antonio, Houston

ERA's Houston Spring Clash - April 4-7, 2024

The Cranky Pickle - April 6-7, 2024

002 Lone Star Shootout - April 12-14, 2024

  • Location - Waco Regional Tennis & Fitness Center, Waco, TX

  • Overview - Round robin tourney with singles, mixed doubles, and gender doubles events. 3.0-4.5 skill brackets with age brackets. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $70 for first event. $25 for each subsequent event

PPA Tour Houston - April 10-14, 2024

  • Location - Lifetime Pickleball Kingwood

  • Overview - PPA Tour stop where amateur matches will be played alongside the championship court. Double eliminationtournament with singles, mixed doubles, and gender double events. 3.0-5.0 skill brackets with age brackets. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $145 ($100 tourney fee + $40 per event fee + $5 registration fee)

Minor League Pickleball - April 20, 2024

  • Location - Oasis Pickleball Club, Rockwell, TX

  • Overview - MLP format team tournament, with teams consisting of two men and two women. Skill brackets for combined team DUPRs of 14, 16, 18 and 20. Team and individual registration available. 3 game minimum.

  • Price - $70 individual, $280 for teams.

Tired and Sore from Lots of Pickleball?

Get the edge on the pickleball court with Dr. Thomas Kolenda (DC, FASA, FICPA) of Kolenda Chiropractic in Austin, TX. If you're experiencing soreness or pain after a challenging pickleball session, don't let it hold you back. Take advantage of Dr. Kolenda's expertise and schedule an appointment today. 1-512-231-9002, [email protected], kolendachiropractic.com.

Austin Pickleball Update Social Groups

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Share Austin Pickleball Update

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If you’re looking for places to play pickleball in Austin, check out our Austin Pickleball Courts and Clubs page here. 

Previous volumes of Austin Pickleball Update:

If you have any Austin pickleball news, tips, or topics that we should cover or may have missed, please reach out! We're always grateful to hear from our readers.

Look out for Austin Pickleball Update - Volume 11 on Thursday, April 11, 2024!

See you on the courts!✌️

Phillip & Kylee Klugman - Austin Pickleball Update