'The Dink' Gives Pickleball the Movie Treatment—and Its Gear Choices Are Surprisingly Legit
From Selkirk paddles to court-ready shoes.
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HOLLYWOOD HAS BROUGHT golf, soccer, and other increasingly popular sports to the screen. Now, pickleball gets its turn with The Dink, which just premiered on Apple TV.
The movie features Jake Johnson as Dusty “Da Hammer” Boyd, a formerly promising young tennis pro who now teaches youth tennis at the country club his dad (Ed Harris) operates. Yes ago, his father lost trust in Dusty when he lost to Andy Roddick, and his fledgling career went off the rails. The country club is in the midst of a battle between tennis and pickleball, and Dusty eventually picks the latter thanks to a companionship (and non-start romantic attempt) with Candace (Mary Steenburgen). We also get appearances from Ben Stiller and Andy Roddick (as himself).
“The Dink” does deliver some laughs, but what got me intrigued was whether their choices of pickleball gear (from paddles to shoes to bags and more) were worthy or not. I did some gear spotting while viewing, and suffice to say the costume, styling, and props crews did a solid job of sourcing top notch picks for the movie. Here’s 10 pieces of pickleball gear I spotted that are worthy of playing with yourself.
Dusty’s pickleball shoes, the Reebok Nano Court Sport, are great for tennis as well. While our crew of pickleball testers hasn’t worn this exact pair, the Nano trainer series and Nano golf shoes are all solid offerings that offer serious performance and durability. So we’re guessing these are in the same ilk, and we’ve got them on our list now to test ourselves.
Read More: Best Pickleball Shoes
Selkirk Sport LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit - Epic
Selkirk Sport LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit - Epic
The Selkirk LUXX Control Air is actually our best overall pickleball paddle, so the movie crew nailed this one on the head. Candace, the seasoned pickleball player that becomes Dusty’s partner and teaches him the ins-and-outs, plays with the LUXX Control Air and clearly knows what she’s doing. We love this paddle because it creates zero drag, offers a generous sweet spot, and really allows for precise shots.
Read More: Best Pickleball Paddles
Laurel Canyon Tennis Club Crochet Polo
Laurel Canyon Tennis Club Crochet Polo
The L.A.-based brand Lauren Canyon Tennis Club struck gold when Jake Johnson found this polo while researching the Dusty character. And as such, the brand actually has quite a few pieces in the movie. This Crochet Polo is a standout of the film though, giving off just enough of a vintage vibe while still fitting in. While cotton is never our first rec in performance wear, it’s hard to deny the vibe this shirt brings to the court.
Yeti Yonder Water Bottle With Yonder Chug Cap
Yeti Yonder Water Bottle With Yonder Chug Cap
Turns out, Candace knows her gear. The Yeti Yonder Bottle has been our best overall pick for a couple years now, and is the water bottle I use daily. It’s lightweight but not a cheap plastic that’ll dent and the chug cap provides the optimal amount of water (as well as not needing a special cleaning brush like straw caps).
Read More: Best Water Bottles
Joola "Da Hammer" Perseus Astral Pickleball Paddle
In the movie, Dusty plays with a Joola Perseus Astral Paddle, and Joola put together this little collab version of the same paddle just with “The Dink” graphics. The Perseus is an elongated shape with a longer handle that moves the sweet spot a little higher up the face. The durable Astral tech brings a carbon fiber sand-blasted surface that helps create predictable contact.
Babolat Tennis Racquet Cover with Shoulder Strap
Babolat Tennis Racquet Cover with Shoulder Strap
Sure, this is a tennis racquet cover, but Dusty is a lifelong tennis player. We noticed this offering from Babolat hanging in Dusty’s house on a coat hanger.
Wilson Blaze Pro 13 Paddle
Wilson Blaze Pro 13 Paddle
I won’t offer any spoilers, but Andy Roddick does play some pickleball in “The Dink” and there might even be an opportunity for Dusty to avenge his early pro loss to Roddick. In the movie, Roddick uses this Blaze Pro 13 with a hybrid face of carbon fiber and fiberglass, which helps to maximize power and generate spin.
This isn’t Candace’s exact bag, that would be the Selkirk Pro Line Tour Bag in this color (but that’s sold out everywhere). Selkirk’s bags are solid and get the job done for the court.
Adidas GameCourt 3 All Court Tennis Shoes
Adidas GameCourt 3 All Court Tennis Shoes
This is pretty similar to the pair Roddick wears on the pickleball court (it might just not be the exact coloring or model version). These All Courts offer great breathability with mesh panel uppers and a TPU heel clip for increased stability.
I’m assuming that Dust is wearing the best AirPods in the Pro 3. And that would make sense because we believe they’re the best do-it-all workout earbuds. The fit is improved from the Pro 2, battery life is pretty good, controls are intuitive and responsive, and the IP54 rating means they can handle sweat.
Read More: Best Workout Headphones
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear, tech, running shoes, and more. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He holds a B.A. in Sport Management and is a Certified Beer Server, having previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
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