Even Santa Plays Pickleball

GM, this is Daily Dinkers. Only 20 days till Christmas...

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Pickleball Under the Lights 💡

• 😂 The Easy Ones Are Usually the Hard Ones

• APP Announces New Pro Team Competition 🎾

Let’s get right into it!

Pickleball Under the Lights 💡

The State Farm 2023 APP U.S. Indoor Championships brought pickleball excitement to Chicago's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Unlike the usual outdoor setting, this time players showcased their style indoors. 

Some of the best moments of the weekend included Riley Bohnert's impressive weekend and the successful debut of new partnerships like Mario Barrientos and Anderson Scarpa. Daescu, the most decorated APP pro of 2023, ended the year on a high note with gold in men's pro singles. Lily DeHeart, at just 8 years old, made history as the youngest person to win gold at the APP Tour.

As the tournament wrapped up, even Santa Claus took a break from Holiday activities to catch some of the action. With the 2023 Tour coming to a close, fans are looking forward to the 2024 season, starting with the APP U.S. Collegiate Championships and Midwest Open on January 3rd, followed by the APP Punta Gorda Open on January 17th.

😂 The Easy Ones Are Usually the Hard Ones

This great rally by these four pickleball players ends when one player gets a little too confident…

APP Announces New Pro Team Competition 🎾

Big news for pickleball fans: the APP has announced its first-ever team-based pro competition, set to debut in 2024. The new format will be featured at five APP Tour events, offering singles, doubles, and mixed doubles play in a single-day showdown. Pros will be competing for a slice of the impressive $100,000 prize pool.

Ken Herrmann, the founder of APP, expressed his enthusiasm, stating: "We are committed to growing the game, and adding a format that players love to a tournament environment that sets the standard for pickleball events is yet another reason why we're the place to be for the best in pickleball." 

The team competition is part of APP's plan to enhance the pickleball experience in 2024, joining a lineup that already includes international team events like the APP Atlantic Cup and divisions catering to older players aged 50 and above.

Pickleball Meme Of The Day