Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Last week Zane called out Hayden Patriquin's Columbus performance. Hayden texted back one sentence — and then went 10-0 in St. Louis. We cover all of that, the Shock's total demolition of the Mad Drops, a deep dive on how to actually beat Ben Johns, and full MLP power rankings with a new segment: the James Ignatowich Terminated Team of the Week. 🪓
We also run a brand new age-based MLP draft (teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s — yes, all age groups must be represented), Nico recaps his wild weekend at the Bread & Butter Nerdy Tournament in Vero Beach (featuring Robert Slutzky playing right-handed and Doug dropping $420 checks), and we debate whether the pro pickleball world needs to stop glazing Ben Johns just for showing up.
Plus: the dead spot problem is real, Nico's most awkward fan FaceTime, and another round of Guess My DUPR.
🗳️ Vote on our age draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z
📣 $500 Midwest Racket Sports Giveaway → giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com (ends June 12th!)
💊 Marek Health → marekhealth.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off
🩺 ZocDoc → zocdoc.com/thedink
Be the first to try Zane's new course here: tzpickleball.com
#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at thedink.beehiiv.com
instagram.com/thedinkpickleball -Follow us on IG
-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at zanenavratilpickleball.com
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
#pickleball #pickleballcourts
------------------
0:00 Intro
1:08 Nico’s experience at the Nerdy Tourney
5:06 Winner of the Nerdy Tourney
9:42 Drafting players from every decade
21:49 Nico’s funny story + Zane’s chill weekend
25:12 The Shock right the ship in home event
28:55 Hayden’s response to criticism
38:03 Ben Johns is the dad of MLP
40:48 Power + Tier Rankings
49:44 Terminated team of the week + paying for a roster spot
52:50 Trading bad bounces for bigger venues
59:59 Listener comments
1:02:11 Guess my DUPR
Last week Zane called out Hayden Patriquin's Columbus performance. Hayden texted back one sentence — and then went 10-0 in St. Louis. We cover all of that, the Shock's total demolition of the Mad Drops, a deep dive on how to actually beat Ben Johns, and full MLP power rankings with a new segment: the James Ignatowich Terminated Team of the Week. 🪓
We also run a brand new age-based MLP draft (teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s — yes, all age groups must be represented), Nico recaps his wild weekend at the Bread & Butter Nerdy Tournament in Vero Beach (featuring Robert Slutzky playing right-handed and Doug dropping $420 checks), and we debate whether the pro pickleball world needs to stop glazing Ben Johns just for showing up.
Plus: the dead spot problem is real, Nico's most awkward fan FaceTime, and another round of Guess My DUPR.
🗳️ Vote on our age draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z
📣 $500 Midwest Racket Sports Giveaway → giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com (ends June 12th!)
💊 Marek Health → marekhealth.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off
🩺 ZocDoc → zocdoc.com/thedink
Be the first to try Zane's new course here: tzpickleball.com
#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at thedink.beehiiv.com
instagram.com/thedinkpickleball -Follow us on IG
-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at zanenavratilpickleball.com
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
#pickleball #pickleballcourts
------------------
0:00 Intro
1:08 Nico’s experience at the Nerdy Tourney
5:06 Winner of the Nerdy Tourney
9:42 Drafting players from every decade
21:49 Nico’s funny story + Zane’s chill weekend
25:12 The Shock right the ship in home event
28:55 Hayden’s response to criticism
38:03 Ben Johns is the dad of MLP
40:48 Power + Tier Rankings
49:44 Terminated team of the week + paying for a roster spot
52:50 Trading bad bounces for bigger venues
59:59 Listener comments
1:02:11 Guess my DUPR
