This week in Five Dink Friday😀

☀️ May Day Madness — outdoor season is officially back
🎯 7 Advanced Tips — the smartest steals from Tanner
👀 More Control — tiny fixes, cleaner shots
🏓 5 Drills to 5.0 — train smarter, level faster
🤝 Good Karma Games — Montana visitors, instant friends

Let’s get to it!

You work on your third shot drops.
Your resets.
Your kitchen confidence.

But when’s the last time you worked on your roof? 😏

Spring is here, and after a long winter, now’s the perfect time to inspect the one thing protecting everything underneath it.

Because just like pickleball…

Small mistakes become expensive ones fast.

A tiny leak today can become a five-figure headache tomorrow.

That’s where Lance — the local legend comes in.

He’s not just good on the roof… rumor has it he’s got a DUPR in the 4s and knows how to finish points at the kitchen too.

He’ll get up there so you don’t have to, and check for:

• Missing shingles
• Pipe sealing issues
• Flashing repairs
• Ventilation problems
• Winter damage
• Sneaky leaks before they attack your wallet

If everything looks good? Peace of mind.
If something needs attention? You’ll know before it gets ugly.

No ladders.
No guesswork.
No YouTube roofing disasters.

👉 Utah readers: Schedule your FREE roof inspection by calling 801- at eagleridgepros.com

May Day, May Day.

This is not a drill.

Outdoor pickleball season has officially arrived.

People everywhere are dusting off their sunglasses, chasing tan lines, and pretending they love battling the wind.

And listen…

I’m happy for you.

Truly.

But I’m also not going to lie:

Indoor pickleball still has my heart.

Because outdoors, you’re not just playing your opponents.

You’re playing:

• the sun in your eyes
• mysterious winds
• shadows
• uneven bounces
• and whatever atmospheric science makes the ball feel weirdly slower out there

Does anyone else feel like the ball behaves differently outside?

I don’t know for sure, but maybe outdoor season is exactly what I need.

Fresh air. Sunshine. A little adversity.

And if nothing else…
at least I’ll get some much-needed vitamin D 😉

I thought this was a really solid video from Tanner.

He shared 7 advanced pickleball tips, and while I want to remember all of them… a few jumped off the screen because I already use them—or immediately wanted to.

💥 #4: Speed Up at the Chest

This one made me feel proud because I’ve been doing it without realizing it was “advanced.”

Whenever someone is moving from the transition zone to the kitchen—or charging forward from the baseline—I love speeding the ball up right at their chest.

It jams them up.

Highly recommend 😏

🎈 #5: Lob When They Lean

I love using the lob strategically.

Not as a panic shot.
Not because you’re lazy.
Not because you’re out of ideas.

But as a tactical counter when your opponent starts leaning in, crowding the kitchen, and trying to take everything out of the air.

That’s when the lob is delicious.

And while we’re here…

Shoutout Jamie Preston — whose topspin lob is absolutely lethal. Jamie can hit that thing from anywhere and make it look disrespectfully easy. I should drill the lob from locations other than the kitchen so I can become equally skilled.

🚨 Bonus: Read Your Own Partner Too

Another good one was backing off the kitchen line when your partner starts getting reckless in a dink rally.

I do this instinctively.

If I feel chaos brewing, I’m buying myself more time.

Sometimes I wish partners would do the same for me when I leave one too high.

I don’t understand why anyone would stay glued to the kitchen line like a sitting duck when the ball pops up. We aren’t trying to hold the Maginot Line folks. Retreat!

And, of course, I made myself a cheat sheet reminder/checklist, and I’m sharing it here for your convenience, too:
⸻

📝 Your 7-Tip Cheat Sheet

1️⃣ If You Pop a Dink Up…
Slide middle with your backhand ready, not your forehand. Better body coverage. Less chest-jammed sadness.

2️⃣ Stop Being Reactive
Track the ball with your paddle tip. Be ready before the speed-up happens.

3️⃣ Punish Weak Returns
Big serve + weak return = aggressive topspin drop. Keep the pressure on.

4️⃣ Attack the Chest
Players expect forehand or backhand attacks. The chest is chaos.

5️⃣ Lob the Leaners
If they’re crowding the kitchen and leaning in… send it over their head.

6️⃣ Roll from Midcourt
From transition, roll with topspin instead of flicking with your wrist. More control. More options.

7️⃣ Protect Yourself from Partner Chaos
If your partner starts speeding up nonsense balls, back up and prepare for incoming nonsense.

Honestly, this was one of those videos where even if you only steal one tip, it’s worth watching.

You’re welcome.

I try not to be a control freak, unless I’m on the pickleball court. That is the one place where I want to have total control.

Can you put the ball where you want, and when you want? Can you move your opponents around like puppets? Can you be patient (self-control)?

That’s the game.

So when I saw this 7 Tips for More Control, I clicked immediately.

And while all seven were solid, two jumped out at me because they’re things I’m actively working on right now.

✋ Tip #1: Choke Up on the Paddle (But Use It Strategically)

This is one I’ve been experimenting with a lot.

When I’m at the baseline serving or driving, I don’t love being choked up too high on the handle.

Why?

Because I feel like I lose some whip.
Some topspin.
Some easy power.

So lately I’ve been doing this:

Baseline = lower grip
More leverage. More paddle speed.

As I move forward = progressively choke up

More control. Faster hands. Cleaner counters.

It’s been working really well.

⸻

👀 Tip #2: Watch the Ball All the Way to Contact

Simple advice.

Very hard to actually do.

We played outside the other day, and the wind was ripping.

Absolute chaos.

Balls were moving at the last second, changing direction, and causing multiple full-blown whiffs 😂

My partner Denise said:

“Wow… this really makes you keep your eye on the ball.”

She was right.

Because in normal conditions, I think a lot of us believe we’re watching the ball…

when really we’re using peripheral vision and assumptions.

We think we know where it’s going.

Until the wind humbles everyone.

And I know I’m guilty of not tracking it all the way to the paddle.

So this weekend, as I play, that’s gonna be my one focus:

See the paddle meet the ball
(unless I’m dealing with fast hands battles at the kitchen line… cuz there I’m totally reacting and relying on my reflexes and peripheral vision).

Why am I going to force myself to focus solely on watching the ball hit the paddle?

Because when I try to improve everything at once, I usually end up improving nothing.

I forget.
I get distracted.
I default back to habit.

But one clear intention?

That can change your game fast.

So this weekend, my focus is simple:

🎯 Watch the ball to contact.

I’ll report back on whether it’s life-changing or not 😉

⸻

🏓 The Other 5 Quick Tips from the Video

Since they were all good, here’s your cheat sheet:

• Keep the paddle out front
Less backswing, better awareness, cleaner contact.

• Get your feet set before contact
Balance creates control.

• Use a paddle that fits your game
Not everyone needs max power.

• Aim with the paddle face
Where it points matters more than where your eyes look.

• Stay in a strong, ready position
Paddle up, engaged, prepared.

⸻

🥒 What is the one thing you are going to focus on in your next game? Let me know how singular focus ends up working for you.

Of course, I clicked on a video called Top 5 Drills to Get to 5.0.

Because if there’s a shortcut to becoming a 5.0, I’d like it immediately 😂

Lately, Lance and I have had more time to drill, which has been great… but I noticed we keep falling into the same patterns.

And while reps are always useful, sometimes you need a new challenge.

That’s why I liked this video.

We already do drills #1, #2, and #5.

But #3 and #4 were new to me — and both are absolutely getting added into the next session.

⸻

🏓 The 5 Drills

I love drills like this because getting to the kitchen cleanly is still one of the biggest separators in level.

That’s it.

Which is brilliant because so many points are shaped by those first four balls.

Serve and return need depth.
The third and fourth need purpose.

Simple. Smart. Useful.

Your job: reset the ball, read the quality of your reset, and decide whether to move forward, hold, or back up.

This one will def improve the quality of my resets.

Overload the reaction speed… then regular exchanges feel easy.

⸻

🧠 My Real Takeaway

Drilling is one of the fastest ways to improve.

But I’ve noticed something about myself:

When Lance and I drill and make it into a points game, I care more about winning than developing.

So what do I do?

I revert to my safest patterns.
My trusted shots.
My proven strategies.

And sure… I get the satisfaction of the win.

But I’m not adding new weapons to my arsenal.

That’s the trap.

Sometimes the best use of court time isn’t proving what you already know.

It’s missing a bunch of new shots until they become weapons of mass destruction. 😉

That’s how you get better, faster.

⸻

🥒 SO, If You Drill This Week…

Try asking:

Am I training to win today… or training to level up later?

Those are not always the same thing.

One of my favorite things about pickleball happened this week.

A couple from Billings, Montana, reached out to The Kitchen while they were in town for a dog agility event.

Their question:

“Is there any 4.0+ play we can jump into?”

Now, normally, an easy answer.

But this weekend was the big Spring Fling tournament, so courts were packed, schedules were chaotic, and most players already had plans.

But I immediately thought:

I know what it feels like to be out of town… wanting to play pickleball… and wanting to play good pickleball.

So I thought:

Good karma. Let’s make it happen.

I told them to text me, grabbed a partner, and we set up games for Friday night.

And wow… it was FUN!

Strategic. Competitive. Smart.

We had such a good time that we ran it back on Sunday.

This time, with eight players, two courts, and another round of great games.

And that’s what I love most about this sport.

You can be anywhere.

A random city. A work trip. A dog show. Vacation.

And within a few texts or phone calls, you’re in meaningful games with people who feel like instant friends.

Now I’ve got an open invite to Billings, Montana, to play in a tournament with Pam, and the next time they are back in Utah, we’ll for sure be playing again.

Pickleball isn’t just good for your physical health…

It’s good for your mind.
It’s good for your social life.
And apparently… it’s very good for expanding the guest list at your funeral 😂

At this point, I’m pretty sure my number of pickleball friends will outnumber the people from my first 47 years of life.

So keep playing.
Keep inviting.
Keep growing the game.

And if you ever come through town looking for a good run…

Hit me up!

If this week’s edition made you want to book a drill session instead of “just playing games,” or book a trip so you can play pickleball with new peeps in a new place

…then my work here is done.

If this landed in your inbox via a friend, hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next drop:

Until next time…

Stay sharp.
Train on purpose.
Choose one thing and improve it.

And if they start leaning in… lob with confidence 😏

See you on the courts.

— Janelle 🏓✨

🥒 P.S. I couldn’t help myself… so I invented a new paddle this week. 🍳🏓

Introducing the BoomSkillet™
(also accepting votes for: The Fry Dink, Kitchen Weapon, Pan Banger, or The Boom Pan)

A pickleball paddle… that’s actually a frying pan.

Why?

Because I’m not just obsessed with pickleball—I’m equally obsessed with branding, marketing, and creating things people can’t ignore.

Outside of Five Dink Friday, I own a couple of businesses, build e-commerce brands, and teach how to become a Category One leader instead of a commodity nobody remembers.

Translation:
How to stand out.
How to get talked about.
How to make people choose you.

This fake product ad was something I created while teaching businesses how to make content that grabs attention and drives real leads.

If you own a business or are building a brand, and want the SOP I used to create this killer content, you can snag it here: