The Future Of Pickleball Might Belong To The Amateurs, And This Episode Explains Why

What happens when a Dallas pickleball duo suddenly finds themselves wearing St. Louis Shock colors? This week, we’re unpacking how we became part of the St. Louis Shock's Minor League Pickleball program while still serving as Dallas Flash ambassadors.  What starts as a “how did we get here?” story quickly turns into something bigger: a look at why pickleball’s next chapter may depend less on superstar pros and more on the amateurs who want a reason to care, a team to cheer for, and a place inside the sport as it grows. We also recap our first Major League Pickleball weekend in Dallas, where we played our first Minor League Pickleball event, from rally scoring and Dream Breakers to the surprising realization that your teammates' points can feel just as important as your own.  We’re joined by St. Louis Shock owner Rich Chaffetz, who shares why investing in pickleball means paying attention to the amateur player, and COO Andrew Haines, who walks us through how the Shock is building a nationwide “family” and a player experience that feels bigger than one tournament bracket. We also talk with pro Anna Bright about switching between Professional Pickleball Association play and team-based MLP, plus 13-year-old phenom Elsie Hendershot, the youngest player in MLP, on confidence, competition, and what it’s like to play at that level before most people have mastered parallel parking. We talk about:  The real-world differences between PPA, MLP, and MiLP How MILP gives amateur players a way to belong to something bigger than one tournament bracket What made the St. Louis Shock’s onboarding, communication, and team culture stand out right away  Why the Shock care less about having a 5.0 DUPR and more about bringing a “5.0 attitude” to the team The growing tension between elite competition, young players, and keeping pickleball fun  Casie’s new pet peeve involving excessive screaming after ordinary points  Between the matches, interviews, and sideline conversations, this episode reveals why connection and belonging remain at the heart of pickleball, even as the sport becomes bigger, faster, and more professional. Whether you're trying to make sense of the acronyms or curious about where pickleball is headed next, this conversation offers a front-row seat to the people and ideas shaping the sport's future. Pour something cold and press play. Cheers, Casie and Lauren Dinks on Tap Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us: Instagram: @dinksontap Facebook: @DinksonTap Website: dinksontap.com For those wanting to fortify their mental game on the court, check out Lauren’s Mental Caddie offerings on her website or book a Chemistry Call.  Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/ONTAP #honeylovepod Get 15% off OneSkin with the code ONTAP at https://www.oneskin.co/ONTAP #oneskinpod Interested in joining MiLP? Check out The Shock MiLP opportunity here: https://shockmilp.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices