MLP Austin - Flash Stay Unbeaten, Rule Changes, Standings, and More

Oh yea rane really let him have it. Screaming about an opponent error rather than her own good play. Got him good!

I agree that one shouldn’t be able to challenge a let or any other infraction, real or not, after you play through a point.

I think that was a let ball, although I completely agree that it is silly that they can wait til they lose the point and then challenge, they should have to immediately stop play and challenge.

I thought the ball that you guys got the tech on was in as well. Close, but too close to call out.

Congrats to Julian and Lauren!

Question: John Kew mentioned the PPA is looking at 3 balls to replace the VULCAN. Lifetime ball, probably the Franklin 40 and another one, unknown...any inside info on the 3rd ball being considered?
John has a very interesting new podcast about pickleballs and I love the idea of slowing the ball down with more holes.

annnnndiaaaamo

"i love to see it too" She really Raned on his yaaaaa parade. Talk about a stomp move

Love the C but ... the C goes on the front of the jersey, not the back. This way the officials can tell who is and is not the captain when they are face to face with a player. On that front, MLP really needs a rule to the effect that only the Captain and/or the Coach can speak to the officials. It's a shit show when 10 people are all around the ref lobbying their position. Looks bush league IMO. And like most other sports, when refs are huddling/discussing issues they should walk to the middle and send all players away. Regarding serves hitting the net the USAP rule should be used where it is "play on" provided it lands in the receiving box. After playing for 3-4 years with this rule I've only seen 2 balls that became clean winners after hitting the net. No need to bring in the "was it or was it not a let" judgement call.

The call you asked about, I believe, was out. I'm not sure about the one you said the refs got right, the video quality is too awful to tell. PPA/MLP replays look like old Charlie Chaplin movies. Good luck figuring out whether the serve was a let, even for posterity’s sake.

The challenges were terrible, how can anyone confirm or overrule based on the blurry videos shown? I think the first dream breaker challenge ball was in, but the second ball challenged wasn’t at all clear.

That second ball was in. No way Dizon say space

Great recap of a fun MLP w/e! Kudos on your clutch Ws in mens and mixed vs Ranchers on your home turf, Zane. I loved having both Lea and Fed commentating...though Fed tried to hook one, even from the booth!

I think any call (or lack of a call) by the ref should be challengeable after the rally as a separate deal from the regular challenges of players' calls. I feel like any mistake by the refs should be correctable without having to risk the rally before even playing it out. I realize that players want to keep the pace up, without too many delays, but Pickleball has _ way too many bad calls that are not corrected. I mean, Chris Callie, in his "Sorry Not Sorry" podcast/YT videos has a segment every week called "hooks of the week" where he shows rallies that went to the wrong side because of a bad call and he never has a shortage of rallies to show. That's bad for the sport, imo.

I think in a 3-0 match, teams should be able to play their bench players in the second mixed game, it would be interesting to give them some playing time and would make an otherwise inconsequential game mean something.

The Smash will never win with Sara on their team. It's 2 guaranteed losses every single match

The 2025 draft, and the exlansion of more teams into the premier league has completely botched MLP. Some teams are completely stacked i.e. Shock and Flash and others are significantly lower on the totem pole. It's why we now have teams undefeated and other teams with barely any wins. It just makes it less fun to watch.

I love what you do with covering the sport, I hope to see pickleball grow more and more thanks to people like you!

Who was the most impressive player this weekend?