EPISODE · Jun 9, 2026 · 1H 9M
Targeting Ben Johns ON PURPOSE — And It's Working
from PicklePod · host The Dink Pickleball
Last week Zane called out Hayden Patriquin's Columbus performance. Hayden texted back one sentence — and then went 10-0 in St. Louis. We cover all of that, the Shock's total demolition of the Mad Drops, a deep dive on how to actually beat Ben Johns, and full MLP power rankings with a new segment: the James Ignatowich Terminated Team of the Week. 🪓 We also run a brand new age-based MLP draft (teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s — yes, all age groups must be represented), Nico recaps his wild weekend at the Bread & Butter Nerdy Tournament in Vero Beach (featuring Robert Slutzky playing right-handed and Doug dropping $420 checks), and we debate whether the pro pickleball world needs to stop glazing Ben Johns just for showing up. Plus: the dead spot problem is real, Nico's most awkward fan FaceTime, and another round of Guess My DUPR. 🗳️ Vote on our age draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z 📣 $500 Midwest Racket Sports Giveaway → www.giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com (ends June 10th!) 💊 Marekk Health → www.marekhealth.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🩺 ZocDoc → www.zocdoc.com/thedink Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:08 Nico’s experience at the Nerdy Tourney 5:06 Winner of the Nerdy Tourney 9:42 Drafting players from every decade 21:49 Nico’s funny story + Zane’s chill weekend 25:12 The Shock right the skip in home event 28:55 Hayden’s response to criticism 38:03 Ben Johns is the dad of MLP 40:48 Power + Tier Rankings 49:44 Terminated team of the week + paying for a roster spot 52:50 Trading bad bounces for bigger venues 59:59 Listener comments 1:02:11 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Last week Zane called out Hayden Patriquin's Columbus performance. Hayden texted back one sentence — and then went 10-0 in St. Louis. We cover all of that, the Shock's total demolition of the Mad Drops, a deep dive on how to actually beat Ben Johns, and full MLP power rankings with a new segment: the James Ignatowich Terminated Team of the Week. 🪓 We also run a brand new age-based MLP draft (teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s — yes, all age groups must be represented), Nico recaps his wild weekend at the Bread & Butter Nerdy Tournament in Vero Beach (featuring Robert Slutzky playing right-handed and Doug dropping $420 checks), and we debate whether the pro pickleball world needs to stop glazing Ben Johns just for showing up. Plus: the dead spot problem is real, Nico's most awkward fan FaceTime, and another round of Guess My DUPR. 🗳️ Vote on our age draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → https://www.discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z 📣 $500 Midwest Racket Sports Giveaway → www.giveaway.thedinkpickleball.com (ends June 10th!) 💊 Marekk Health → www.marekhealth.com | Code: THEDINK for 10% off 🩺 ZocDoc → www.zocdoc.com/thedink Be the first to try Zane's new course here: https://www.tzpickleball.com/ #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299 ------------------ Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify -Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG -Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi... -For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam -Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/ -Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball #pickleball #pickleballcourts ------------------ 0:00 Intro 1:08 Nico’s experience at the Nerdy Tourney 5:06 Winner of the Nerdy Tourney 9:42 Drafting players from every decade 21:49 Nico’s funny story + Zane’s chill weekend 25:12 The Shock right the skip in home event 28:55 Hayden’s response to criticism 38:03 Ben Johns is the dad of MLP 40:48 Power + Tier Rankings 49:44 Terminated team of the week + paying for a roster spot 52:50 Trading bad bounces for bigger venues 59:59 Listener comments 1:02:11 Guess my DUPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Targeting Ben Johns ON PURPOSE — And It's Working
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