Student Of The Game - Pickleball Drilling Journal

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

2025 Select Medical Orange County Cup MxD Bronze Bright/Patriquin vs Humberg/Klinger

Jim Kloss (Commentator): Big H's shot had good topspin, thanks to using the two-handed backhand. That's another big advantage of the two-hander — it lets you generate more topspin, which is usually more effective than what you can get with a one-handed backhand.

Bronze Medal Match

0:00 Game 1
11:18 Game 2

12:38 Beautiful topspin drop

Sunday, June 22, 2025

2025 Select Medical Orange County Cup Playlist

100 Videos

June 22, 2025: Order of play for Championship Sunday at Select Medical Orange County Cup

AI Studio Sunday Summary

Women's Singles: Anna Leigh Waters, who has not lost a singles match in over a year, will face a surging Catherine Parenteau in the final. Anna Leigh Waters vs Catherine Parenteau
Men's Singles: Federico "Fetty" Staksrud is set to play Hunter Johnson, whose powerful serve and two-handed backhand are predicted to pose a significant challenge. Federico Staksrud vs Hunter Johnson
Mixed Doubles: The top two seeds will compete, featuring Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns against the Johnson duo. The matchup is expected to be extremely close and go the distance. Waters/Johns vs Johnson/Johnson
Men's Doubles: The #1 seed (Ben Johns & Gabe Tardio) and #2 seed (Hayden Patriquin & Federico Staksrud), who entered the tournament with identical ranking points, will face each other in the final. Johns/Tardio vs Staksrud/Patriquin
Women's Doubles: A "Breakup Showdown 2.0" will see former partners compete, as Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher challenge the undefeated (37-0) team of Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright. Waters/Bright vs Parenteau/Rohrabacher

2025 Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships Playlist

120 videos3,700+ views

Friday, June 20, 2025

2025 PPA Select Medical Orange County Cup: Anna Leigh Waters/Anna Bright

In the 3rd point of this Round Of 16 Women's Doubles match, Anna Leigh Waters hit an amazing off speed Twoey backhand dink roll winner from the middle of "No Mans Land" (NML) to Vivienne David's backhand down the line.

Players Socials

Anna Leigh Waters – / a.l.waters_a1
Anna Bright – / annabright.pb
Vivienne David – / viviennedavid97
Lauren Stratman – / lolo_strat_pb

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Tanner Tomassi: Understanding the Difference Between a "Push" Dink and a "Dead" Dink

Mastering the Dink: How to Apply Pressure and Avoid Getting Attacked with Your Soft Game at the Kitchen Line

Introduction:
In the nuanced world of pickleball, the dink shot can make or break a rally. Often misunderstood as simply a "soft shot," the dink actually comes in two important forms: the push dink and the dead dink. In a recent instructional video, Tanner Tomassi breaks down these two types of dinks and explains how understanding their differences can elevate your game — especially at the non-volley zone (NVZ), also known as the kitchen. This guide translates Tomassi’s insights into a clear step-by-step approach for practicing smarter, applying more pressure, and avoiding easy attacks.

What Is a Push Dink?

A push dink is a controlled, intentional shot that travels with purpose and lands in a high-pressure area near your opponent’s feet — specifically within what Tyson McGuffin calls the "pressurized zone." This is the zone just beyond the kitchen line, extending one step into the court.

Characteristics of a Push Dink:
- Has forward motion or "intent."
- Lands near or on the opponent's kitchen line.
- Keeps your opponent guessing: Should they volley it out of the air? Let it bounce? Step back?
- Causes indecision and creates opportunities for your team to move in or attack.

What Is a Dead Dink?

A dead dink lacks energy and intention. It’s a soft shot that usually lands too far from the kitchen line, often sitting up and inviting your opponent to pounce.

Characteristics of a Dead Dink:
- Floats or lands too shallow (closer to the net).
- Doesn’t create pressure — it invites it.
- Easy to attack or volley aggressively.
- Often leads to your team being put on the defensive or losing the rally outright.

The Pressurized Zone: Your Target Area

Imagine stepping one foot into the kitchen and drawing an imaginary line across the court. Everything beyond that line, extending several inches toward your opponent, is the pressurized zone. This is your target area.

When you consistently land your dinks in this zone:

You force your opponent to make quick decisions.
You reduce their options.
You control the tempo of the rally.

Tomassi recommends practicing dinks that land as close to the kitchen line as possible without hitting the net — giving you maximum pressure and control.

Practice Tip from Tanner Tomassi:

“Next time you're practicing, aim your dinks as close to the kitchen line as possible.”

Summary:

A push dink applies pressure, lands in the pressurized zone, and keeps your opponent off balance. A dead dink is passive, sits up, and invites an attack. By focusing your practice on controlled, intentional dinks that land near the kitchen line, you can dramatically increase your effectiveness at the net and win more points. The dink isn’t just a soft shot — it’s a strategic weapon. Make it count.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Who I’m Like: Anna Bright” – A Pickleball Anthem Hits the Mic and the Court

AC Baby’s High-Energy Tribute Is More Than Just a Song—It’s a Cultural Moment for the PPA Era

Introduction:
In a packed episode of the King of the Court podcast, Alex Crum—aka AC Baby—dropped more than just insider pickleball talk. He previewed the release of a bombastic new anthem titled Anna Bright (Official Music Video). What began as a playful discussion about name-checking top-tier pros turned into a full-blown cultural reveal: a hip-hop track packed with swagger, ferocity, and unfiltered admiration for the rise of one of pickleball’s biggest stars.

The Build-Up: “It’s Not About Anna Leigh…”

In the King of the Court interview, Crum teased the inspiration behind his latest single. “It may or may not be named after a very prominent professional pickleball player,” he laughed. While co-hosts guessed Anna Leigh Waters, Crum quickly clarified, “It’s not about her... even though it was going to be.” He explained that the optics of a 33-year-old man dedicating a song to an 18-year-old phenom might “be misconstrued in some type of way.”

Instead, Crum landed on Anna Bright—one of the sport’s most electrifying female pros—as the song’s namesake. “It’s Mo Bamba, it’s Tyler Herro—not Halle Berry,” he said, emphasizing that the track is more about energy, grit, and game than romance or glamour. “It’s a certified banger,” he added, confidently predicting the song’s future presence at PPA events across the country.

The Song: Bold Bars, Court Swagger, and High BPMs

The official video opens with a simple question—“Are you ready?”—before launching into a machine-gun flow of athletic bravado:

“Put me in the ring and I’ll compete / I’m so heavy with these hands / I’m too nimble on my feet…”

What follows is a lyrical blitz that names Bright outright:

“Yo, hey Anna Breezy / My god, you make it look easy / You line up all of these picklers / And turn them into zucchini…”

With playful metaphors and thumping 808s, Crum casts himself as both competitor and commentator. Lines like “It’s hot boy summer” and “I’m a grim reaper, I’m a ditch digger” give the track its fighting-edge tone, while “Took a step outside and it’s all looking bright” doubles as a nod to the song’s title and its defiant optimism.

From Soundbooth to San Clemente

Crum revealed that the song was recorded the night of the podcast and that a music video is in the works. “I’d love to get it out before San Clemente,” he said, referring to the upcoming PPA Tour stop. Whether it drops before or after, it’s clear this isn’t just a one-off track—Crum envisions it as the anthem of pickleball’s professional era.

He even referenced previous attempts at pickleball music, noting a former PPA employee who rapped during timeouts: “But this one? It’s on another level.”

The Legacy Play: A Song That Names the Brightest

In a sport still defining its pop culture footprint, Anna Bright (Official Music Video) doesn’t just ride the wave—it helps create it. The choice to center the song around Anna Bright is savvy. Bright, known for her fiery court presence and competitive fire, embodies the same traits Crum raps about: swagger, strength, and a hunger to win.

Far from a novelty, the track reflects how deeply embedded players like Bright are becoming in the cultural fabric of this fast-growing sport.

Summary: A Banger Born from Bravado, Brilliance, and Bright

Anna Bright (Official Music Video) is a high-octane celebration of dominance, hustle, and individuality on and off the court. Originating from an off-the-cuff podcast riff, it matured quickly into a full-fledged anthem. Alex Crum's decision to shift focus from Anna Leigh Waters to Anna Bright was less about controversy and more about ethos—the song had to match its subject's vibe, and Bright brought the heat.

With lyrical swagger, clever metaphor, and bold production, the song doesn’t just honor Anna Bright—it turns her into a symbol of the new pickleball generation. And in doing so, it might just become the official soundtrack of the sport’s most electric moments.