Odds And Ends in Racketsportsland - November 2024

Lite Tennis - Pick a Ball Club - DinkyBalls - Pickleball - Padel

Author

Rich Neher
October 30, 2024

Table of Contents

Racquet Sports Professionals Needed Worldwide

Sports Pros Connect posted a lot of open positions in October. They are looking for Tennis and Padel Coaches all over the world. Insight driven, targeted opportunities for coaches worldwide. 
See jobs here.


Short Odds & Ends

Tennis Europe

Announcing Tennis: Europe for Summer 2025: 

Founding Director Dr. Martin Vinokur has announced his 51st Summer of taking junior tennis players, 13-18, to European claycourt tournaments from June 27 until July 22 or July 13.  He will offer an expanded three trips at both high school varsity or strong JV and a separate ranked players' level teams with countries including the Czech Republic, Spain, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy.  The goal is to follow up on the work of your local clinics and academies improving a player's strategy and mental approach.  We provide a capstone to your own programs. 

See the world in a team atmosphere for an impactful personal growth experience. For more details, see his newly revised website at:  http://www.tenniseurope.com 
Or phone him at: 1-203-322-9803 for more details.  His 50 years of experience, 5750 past participants and 400 past coaches are what separates him from others.

LITE TENNIS: Real Tennis - Small Court

Repurposing Pickleball courts - America’s answer to the Pickleball invasion on tennis courts

Lite Tennis co-founders Leo Estopare and Buff Farrow of Wichita, Kansas have introduced a new and fun way of playing on a Pickleball court - with tennis racquets and their own, proprietary foam ball. Leo is no stranger to Racket Business. He is a frequent contributor and commentator, and the owner of the ‘Deuce Something’ tennis apparel brand.

Leo posted on Facebook: “Tennis friends, at no surprise to you, I'm still in the tennis industry. Along with good friend Buff Farrow, we've founded LiteTennis, real-like play-action on a pickleball court. Our game spec performance ball and favorite tennis racquet provide a new experience to enjoy among friends on a small court...swinging and hitting the strings’ “sweet spot” just like yesteryear.

Visit litetennis.com and all the social media platforms...we're now in play mode!

Leo continued, “LiteTennis is going to enhance tennis participation and increase the tennis fanbase for all ages and skills. You’re welcome, tennis industry. Buff and I invite you to a new action-packed playing experience, you'll be glad you did...it's worth a shot!

The Pick a Ball Club Concept

A revolutionary new business model creating innovative and inclusive spaces for people to enjoy and benefit from physical and mental wellness. The booming popularity of Pickleball demands future multi-use indoor facilities that are developed with a smaller footprint. The Pick a Ball Club is a concept that caters to various court sports enthusiasts and designers. These facilities will cater to Pickleball's exciting future and create a new and exciting Pickleball experience.

9 Sports, 32 Technology-Equipped Courts, Open 365, 24/7, and a 4-wall Glass Television Arena Court

The Pick a Ball Club includes nine different court sports and lifestyle activities that can be enjoyed on an 800-square-foot racquetball court. Sports include Pickleball, Racquetball, Basketball, Wallyball, Dodgeball, Paddleball, Handball, and Platform Tennis. Lifestyle activities with instructors and classes include aerobics, martial arts, and Tai Chi, to name a few. Additionally, there will be designated courts for Squash, basketball, and golf simulators, as well as putting greens. The Pick a Ball Club will be open to the public 24/7, 365 days a year, and will be a hybrid public/membership facility.

Pick a Ball Club Licensing, Sponsorship and Franchising Opportunities

Are you a developer looking to tap into the rapidly growing world of Pickleball? Look no further than Pick a Ball Club! Our concept allows you to create professional teams and leagues in various markets with established player and fan bases. With opportunities for licensing, sponsorship, and franchising, you can take advantage of the booming popularity of Pickleball and establish a presence in this exciting and ever-growing industry. 

From the Dink Newsletter

More Pickleball Odds & Ends

Rich’s take on a WSJ article
“The Turf War Between Tennis and Pickleball Is Escalating”

The U.S. Tennis Association says that 10% of courts in America have been taken over or repainted since the pickleball boom began (Article)

Throughout the spectacular rise of pickleball in the U.S., American tennis has always insisted that there was no war between the two sports. More people picking up rackets of any kind, the U.S. Tennis Association argued, could only be a good thing.

Nonsense. The war has been going on for years. Kamperman and Smith wanted to fight it with POP Tennis. Problem was: POP Tennis was not a USTA internal initiative. No chance to get USTA support and grow.

The battle for court space has arrived—and tennis is losing ground fast. Today, the USTA says, at least 10% of tennis courts in America have been taken over and repurposed for pickleball.

“There are not enough courts to support tennis growth,” says USTA chief executive Lew Sherr. “And court infrastructure being compromised with people playing pickleball on those courts or courts being repainted.”

Interesting. What the USTA CEO conveniently forgot to mention: The USTA did absolutely nothing to help preserve thousands of tennis courts for tennis. Besides, he himself ordered the building of PICKLEBALL COURTS at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. Shouldn’t he be called a hypocrite?

And all of those new (Pickleball) players are now spread across 65,000 courts at some 15,500 facilities nationwide, according to USA Pickleball. 

“If I was in tennis’s shoes, I know that that wouldn’t be something I would appreciate either,” USA Pickleball CEO Mike Nealy said. “The market will find its way.”

Another hypocrite. May I remind you, Mr. Nealy, that your organization sent thousands of Ambassadors and busloads of players to Parks & Rec meetings and told them how to steal tennis courts?

“But at a time that tennis is growing and experiencing really unprecedented growth, it does create stress,” Sherr says. “We’re trying, as best we can, to support tennis infrastructure.”

Show me the support, Mr. Sherr. You’re sitting nicely on your (almost) $2 million salary and you’re doing absolutely nothing, just lip service. Besides, where is that unprecedented growth of tennis? Didn’t you admit in April, that 98% of the 4.8 million players tennis gained during tennis has already left the sport?

The USTA said that red ball is now being played by 20,000 people at more than 500 venues around the country. Those numbers, however, pale in comparison to the millions clamoring for space to play pickleball. “If we were not growing or tennis players were defecting it would be very different,” Sherr says. “Participation is not zero sum, but the court space is.”

Shows us again how removed the CEO is from reality. Kamperman insinuated that POP Tennis will blow Pickleball away. Sherr thinks Red Ball will be the answer to Pickleball’s appeal. 20,000 people? Give me a break, Mr. Sherr. You are delusional.

And you know what? I think he knows it.

DinkyBalls Pickleball Lifestyle Brand

A New Brand Inspiring Connection Through Pickleball’s
Playful Personalities

Boston, Ma — DinkyBalls, a fresh, spirited pickleball lifestyle brand founded by Dustin and Lisa DeMeritt, has entered the scene with a heartfelt mission: to capture the joyful and inclusive essence of pickleball through creative, personality-driven products. Inspired by the tight-knit community at their former Pickles Indoor Pickleball Club, DinkyBalls celebrates the personalities and playful spirit that make pickleball unique.

From Court to Character: Celebrating “The Land of Misfit Toys”

The DinkyBalls story began when Dustin and Lisa noticed the vibrant mix of personalities on the pickleball court—a place where people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels gather to connect and compete. These “pickleball personalities” inspired a collection of characters like “Legend, the Nostalgic Noble,” who brings classic wisdom and timeless values to the game; “Lobber, the Airborne Ace,” whose high-flying shots inspire both awe and frustration; and “Banger, the Whamm’er Slamm’er,” whose powerful hits test the limits of every opponent.

Each DinkyBalls character carries a story, celebrating the humor, camaraderie, and heart that players bring to the court.

More Than Merchandise: A Lifestyle Connection

DinkyBalls offers custom-designed apparel, accessories, and lifestyle goods that go beyond simple merchandise. Each item, whether a shirt, hat, leggings, briefs, décor, or bag, represents the shared love and inclusivity of pickleball, inviting players to “wear their connection to the game.” With over 15,000 followers on Instagram, DinkyBalls has quickly cultivated a loyal community that resonates with its lighthearted yet meaningful approach.

A Call for Collaboration & Connection

The DeMeritts are inviting like-minded brands, media, and community members to collaborate, build relationships, and grow the pickleball community. “DinkyBalls isn’t just about creating products—it’s about celebrating the connections pickleball brings into people’s lives,” Dustin DeMeritt shared. “We’re thrilled to engage with those who see pickleball as more than a game and are excited about building a future rooted in these shared values.”

About DinkyBalls

Founded in 2024 by Dustin and Lisa DeMeritt, DinkyBalls is a pickleball lifestyle brand dedicated to celebrating the diverse personalities that make pickleball a beloved sport worldwide. With thoughtfully crafted products and character-driven storytelling, DinkyBalls invites players, fans, and supporters to connect, laugh, and embrace their passion for pickleball on and off the court.

DinkyBalls: A Whacky Bunch of Pickleball Personalities!

The Padel State

The Padel State

The Golden Point

Sebastian Maniscalco

With each passing day, padel is becoming a bit more mainstream in the U.S. And that trend got a big boost yesterday when comedy giant Sebastian Maniscalco took to Instagram to let his 1.8M followers know that he was braving 95-degree heat to try the sport out for the first time. While the point of the post seemed to be that there are simply too many racket sports to keep track of nowadays, after actually playing it, he might just follow in the footsteps of fellow comedy legend Andrew Schulz and discover Padel is the only racket sport he cares about. We'll see!