This week in Five Dink Friday:

💥 The Inside-Out Overhead that Molly used to murder me
⚡ The Forehand Flick and when to actually use it
💞 Mixed Doubles: Marriage Edition (who can relate?)
🛠️ How often should you replace your paddle?
🎃 Pickleball Halloween Inspo + one epic carved pumpkin

Let’s get to it!

beehiiv started with newsletters. Now, they’re reimagining the entire content economy.

On November 13, beehiiv’s biggest updates ever are dropping at the Winter Release Event.

For the people shaping the next generation of content, community, and media, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

RSVP for the Winter Release →

I just found a killer new shot I have to drill.

Why? Because I got absolutely wrecked Monday night in mixed league by a woman named Molly.

She’s a former volleyball player who now coaches at the high school level—and it shows.

As an outside hitter, she’s got ridiculous overheads: precision, placement, and power.
Every time we popped one up, she pounced. You couldn’t even read it.

And now I know why.

It’s the inside-out overhead—and it’s pure deception.

How to hit it:
1️⃣ Set up like a normal overhead (paddle up, shoulders turned).
2️⃣ As the ball approaches, open the paddle face and turn it left.
3️⃣ Instead of hitting down, swipe across the ball—left to right.
4️⃣ Snap the wrist on contact.

Looks simple. Feels evil.

I’m usually good at reading where players are going—but Molly’s disguise got me every time.

That’s the beauty of deception.

At higher levels, opponents get almost everything back.
That’s when disguise becomes your secret weapon.
Make them think you’re going one way… then go the other.

So yeah, this one’s officially on the drill list.
The ever-growing drill list.
Because lately, I’ve been too busy playing instead of practicing.

I know, I know—where are my priorities?
I may not be getting better, but hey… I’m having fun.

Your turn: be honest—drilling lately or all play?
Am I the only one skipping practice for league nights?
Hit reply and tell me your philosophy on drill vs. play.
I’m looking for justification and moral support. 😉

Last week, I shared a great height hack for knowing when to tap, roll, or flick.
If you missed it, you can revisit it here (it’s section 2).

So you can imagine my excitement when I came across this killer tutorial that breaks down exactly how to drill the forehand flick.

The coach walks through the progression so clearly you can see exactly how to build control, acceleration, and timing.

🎥 Watch the tutorial

Then someone in the comments asked the perfect question:
When should you actually use it?

The coach’s reply was solid:

👉 Out of the air on net-height or slightly below balls when you’re reaching in on a dead dink.
👉 Off the bounce for speed-ups or those dipping “drip” shots from the transition zone.
👉 Basically, any time you can accelerate through the ball while keeping it low and unreadable.

Simple. Sneaky. And seriously effective.

Now officially on my drill list (which, let’s be honest, is starting to look like a Costco receipt).

Friday Pickleball dropped a hilarious reel this week
that many couples who’ve played together
will feel in their soul.

You’ve got to watch it…
It’s comedy gold.

I’ve written before about how the only person I ever get mentally frustrated with is my husband, Lance.

Probably because we drill together, so in my head, I think we should play better together.

But if we’re losing? It’s hard for me to have fun.
I hate losing.

I don’t mind it as much when I’m playing with someone less experienced, or when we’re getting smoked by 5.0s.

But when Lance and I lose to people we should beat? It bugs me.

So I’ve had to reframe what “winning” means.
Now, winning just means everyone’s having fun.

By that definition, I’m winning a lot more these days…
but yeah—I still hate losing. 😉

🗳️ Poll time:

Tuesday night during league, someone asked,
“So… how often do you replace your paddle?”

Confession: I almost never buy paddles.
I just wait for CRBN to send me a new one.

They sent me the TruFoam a couple of months ago,
and wow—immediate upgrade: crisper drives, heavier spin, more control.

Two months later, that “new paddle magic” already feels faded.
If I were shelling out $300 every time,
I’d probably play mine until it disintegrated.
Frugal queen energy.

Then—because the pickleball gods have a sense of humor—
I stumbled on a Reddit thread asking the exact same question.

Turns out, the comments were surprisingly insightful.
Here’s what real players notice and why they finally cave and swap:

• The grit wears down. Less bite, less dip, more slip.
• The core softens. Dead spots, weird rebounds, and off sounds creep in.
• Grips and edges age. They don’t break—just get that tired, seen-some-things look.
• Outdoor courts chew faces. Dirt and debris speed up the wear.

• Heavy hitters: every 2–3 months if you’re pounding topspin 20–25 hours a week.
• Regular players (4–6x/week): about 3–6 months before the magic fades.
• Moderate play: 6–12 months feels right.
• Team “’til it snaps”: multiple years if you don’t mind losing spin.
• Budget crew: rotate two cheaper paddles so each lasts about a year.

Most players say the wow lasts for about 15–20 hours.
After that, it’s still solid—just not chef’s kiss.
That totally tracks with my TruFoam experience.

• Clean the face: wipe with a damp microfiber, then dry. Keeps the grit biting.
• Pick your courts wisely: use an older “beater” paddle on rough outdoor surfaces.
(Like basketball shoes—you don’t wear your indoor pair outside. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?)
• Know the signs: if your thirds start sailing or your spin disappears,
it’s probably not you. It’s the paddle.

Fresh grit matters. I feel it when I switch.
And honestly, paddles are a worthy expense if you love testing the latest and greatest.

I just got lucky. Paddle brands send me gear now and then because of this newsletter—
and because you all actually read it.

If I were buying them myself,
I’d probably still be swinging the $279 paddle I started with two years ago.

So really—thanks for reading and supporting Five Dink Friday.
You’re quietly fueling my paddle habit.

And hey—if you’ve cracked the code on keeping your paddle alive longer,
hit reply and share your secrets. I’m taking notes.

I went hunting for pickleball Halloween costume ideas on Amazon
and, honestly, the selection was thin.

Basically, your options are:

But the best inspiration came in a Kitchen Facebook Group thread full of player-made costume ideas. A few favorites:

Check out the full thread here for ideas (and a good laugh): The Kitchen Costume Ideas.

And if you end up doing something pickleball-themed, please hit reply and send photos — I’ll share my favorites in next week’s edition.

Oh, and hey — if you’re carving pumpkins this week,
see if you can’t top this:

That’s it for this week’s Five Dink Friday!

If you learned something new, laughed, or at least found one drill you actually want to try, forward this to your favorite pickleball pal. Let’s keep growing the Five Dink Friday fam—one laugh, lob, and newsletter at a time.

And hey, if someone sent this to you, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s drop.

Until next week—dink smarter, laugh louder, and for the love of pickleball… get out there and drill.

—Janelle

P.S. If you carve any pickleball pumpkins or rock a pickleball-themed Halloween costume, I want photographic evidence. Please. It’ll make excellent content for my next newsletter.