February was action packed! First, I filled in for the mullet man, Tyson McGuffin, at the PPA Desert Ridge Open. It was fun to play with new partners James Ignatowich and Catherine Parenteau!
Next, Jenny and I celebrated Valentine’s Day and her birthday. Then, Jenny went home to Wisconsin for Miss America’s homecoming (Miss Wisconsin won Miss America!) and I went back to Arizona for like the 10th time this year. I had solid runs with Jade Kawamoto and Rafa Hewett in Mesa, but not quite strong enough to medal.
We both returned home, and almost immediately headed on a quick trip to Denver for some winter fun!
I’m stoked to announce a new partnership with More Than Energy! MTE is a dynamic wellness shot formulated to boost mood, melt stress, and energize while supporting better sleep at night. I love it because it helps me achieve a state of relaxed concentration on the court: I’m not too pumped up and I’m not too chill. It’s a happy medium! If you are looking to take your training to the next level or just looking for a healthy boost (or both), I think you might like what MTE is doing. Their 11 whole ingredients provide natural and healthy energy, and the cool thing is, it’s formulated to be taken regularly, so benefits can actually accumulate over time.
MTE is only available online. My newsletter readers can save 15% by using the code ZANEPICKLE!
Give MTE a try and follow them on Instagram @get_mte
I had two reads this month:
Serve to Win by Novak Djokovic. I was curious how Novak Djokovic emerged as the tennis player that I consider to be the greatest of all time (Sorry to any Fed or Nadal fans!). The majority of the book centers around his dietary changes (he’s now completely gluten-free), but he also explains how certain meditation and breathing exercises have helped him focus more completely on the court. It’s a quick and easy read with some decent takeaways.
The MVP Machine by Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik. Now this one was interesting. I’m not much of a baseball fan, but The MVP Machine is a fascinating read for numbers people like me! The book focuses on how certain baseball players and teams have used analytics to improve. You may be thinking: isn’t that the same thing as Moneyball? Yes and no. While Moneyball focused on identifying players and metrics that were undervalued, the MVP Machine focuses on using analytics to make substantial improvements in player development. My main takeaway from this book is that while some people think that a player’s potential is fixed, it’s not. Anybody can use analytics to determine what they need to improve in their game and take steps to get better. The Pickleball potential is limitless!
The Zane Navratil signature ProXR paddle has finally dropped! I say finally, but I think it’s really impressive how quickly we were able to make it happen, given that I signed on with them last November!
It’s available now at ProXRPickleball.com, and it’ll be available for sale on my website next month!
I’ve joined the podcast scene!
Thomas Shields and I have teamed up to bring you the new edition of PicklePod, presented by The Dink.
This is going to be the best pickleball podcast in the game, so be sure to listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Everyone talks about recovery, but not much about warm-up or activation. Here are my top 3 musts for your Pickleball warm-up:
- Butterfly Hip Thrusts
- Donkey Kicks
- Squats
So this was pretty cool!
I autographed 500 cards for Leaf Trading Cards, and they sold out immediately.
They’re now available second hand on eBay!
DUPR has introduced the first ever collegiate pickleball circuit! Throughout 2023, there will be 12 regional events as well as team and individual National Championships. I’m excited to follow my alma mater, UW-Whitewater, as they compete in these tournaments. It’s awesome to see DUPR growing the sport on so many levels!
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