Sitting in the car a few minutes before a match and I keep thinking about how lucky we are around here. Michigan Pickleball runs way smoother than it has any right to, and I don’t think most people realize why. Things start on time, people know where to go, new players don’t feel lost, questions get answered, and when something weird pops up it gets handled without turning into a thing.

That doesn’t just happen because everyone magically behaves. It happens because someone is behind the scenes making it run, putting out little fires before they become big ones, and doing the stuff nobody sees but everybody benefits from. That person is Morn.

If you’ve been around anything connected to MPA, you’ve felt her impact whether you’ve talked to her for two minutes or twenty. She has this way of keeping everything organized without making it feel rigid, and she can keep it fair without making it feel like a courtroom. That’s a rare skill. A lot of people show up when it’s fun. Very few people show up consistently for the unglamorous parts that make the fun possible, like communication, logistics, follow-up, and all the tiny decisions that keep the vibe right.

Here’s what I’m really saying: all of us get to walk in, grab our paddles, and just play because Morn has already done the work to make sure the experience isn’t chaos. And that matters more than most people will ever notice, because when things are running well you don’t think about why. You just assume it’s normal. It’s not normal. It’s leadership.

Not because we’re suddenly going to stop popping balls up at the kitchen line, that part is probably staying, but because the people leading this thing actually care about the players. That’s the whole game.

So if you see Morn, tell her thanks. Quick, simple, genuine. It matters.

And if you’re not already in the Michigan Pickleball Association Facebook group, you’re missing updates, invites, and half the community chatter. Join here: Michigan Pickleball

0-0-2
-Dyl

“We packed the room. No scorecards. Just people.”

We traded court shoes for real shoes. The room went wall to wall in minutes.

No switching sides. No scoreboard. Just faces we usually only catch between games.

It felt different. Slower. Better. A night where the conversations did not have to stop at 0-0-2.

Happy Hour Recap Reel

Spot yourself? Share with a friend. Drop a 💚 in the comment section.

The Arrival

Out of gear. Into real life. The room filled fast.

Blair and Morn, The Room-Makers

Blair and Morn helped fill the room and lift the energy.
Proud to stand with you both and grateful for the community you spark.

You Clean Up Nice

“Wait, that is you.” became the line of the night.
No paddles. No visors. All smiles.

Conversations

Not squeezed between points. Not whispered at the net.
Real talks. Real laughs.

Raffle Baskets & Winner

Erika picked the baskets. Erika built the baskets.
The baskets built the buzz.

Sign The Giant Ball

One signature at a time. A new tradition was born.
Signed by the league as a THANK YOU to Morn & Blair

Gratitude, In Good Company

Nilda, Teisha, and Alicia kept the vibes high all night.
The screen said it best: big thanks to Blair and Morn from MPA for keeping the games going strong.

Hugs That Say More

The best part of this sport might be this.
Share with your hug buddy📲.

Laughs That Carried The Room

The kind of laugh that starts at one table and rolls across the room.
If you can hear these laughs. Drop a 😂 in the comment section.

GIANT Pickleball Signing

Find your autograph, then comment…

What This Night Proved

The best part of this sport is not always a rally. Sometimes it is a room full of people who care about the same thing. I walked out with a bigger family. That matters more than any win or loss.

Most of the best business I do starts as a conversation like this. If you ever have a real estate question - I’m your guy.

Want An Invite To The Next One?

Email me the word: NEXT by clicking here EMAIL DYLAN

For the folks who want every shot

Only click below if you plan to binge the whole album.
👉 Every Photo From The Event Full Screen Photos!

P.S. This is the same app I use when I market my seller’s listings. It makes everything easy to browse for potential house buyers.

📸Need a Full Size Original Photo?

Reply here with the photo number and I will send you the high-res file from Kris, my pro photographer who covered the event.

Quick note for new readers

If this post found you through a friend or one of our private groups, you can stick around for future Drops right here. It is mostly pickleball, always community, and sometimes real estate when you need it.

Already a loyal reader…invite your pickleball bestie or SHARE on your socials to help share the RARA Pickleball Love 💚

Share The Dyl Pickle Drop

The season wrapped. The league’s on break.
And me?

I’m still rocking the boot.

No drills.
No games.
No hero sprints to the kitchen line.

Just rest. Recovery. And watching from the sidelines with a mix of frustration and focus.

Everyone keeps asking—
“You playing next session?”
“You back in?”

Truth is…not yet.
But I’m still here. Still in it. Still part of this thing we’re all building together.

Last week at RARA 102 with Blair & Morn reminded me that being “in the game” doesn’t always mean having a paddle in your hand.

📆 This Friday, I’m sharing what happened when the paddles were down—but the people showed up.

It’s the most fun I’ve had off the court yet.

Can’t wait to show you.

—Still in the game, just healing🦶

p.s. 📩 Know someone who’s missing the court (or the crew)? Forward this their way or share it with your pickleball group — I’d love to have them in the fam.

Last night we traded court shoes for real shoes...
and I have to say - some of you were almost unrecognizable without your paddles and visors. 😄

Click for the update 👉 Pro Photos & Videos In The Article

Over 40 players and friends packed the room.
There was food. Drinks (*not DINKS*). Big laughs.
Raffle winners. Gag gifts (pickle jars for 4th place just out of medal contention)
And even a giant pickleball getting autographed for Blair and Morn.

But the best part?

Conversations.

Actual ones.
Not squeezed between points or whispered at the net.
Real talks - the kind we never get during league nights with everyone spread across different courts.

Selfishly?
I grew my pickleball family a little bigger last night. 💚
And that means more to me than any win-loss record.

🧺 Huge shoutout to Erika for pulling off the raffle baskets.
led them. Nailed every detail.
If you walked out with one, you know how good they were.

🎤 Thanks to Blair and Morn for bringing the crew and pretending not to be pickleball celebrities for one night…

📸 Pro photos are coming next weeks drop, along with a full recap and a few highlight moments you won’t want to miss.

For now, enjoy this quick collage from my phone…
yes, it includes a selfie or two.

🗣️ If you were there, hit reply and tell me your favorite moment.
🎯 If you weren’t... mark your calendar for the next one.
See you back on the court soon.

Grateful for this crew and the chance to bring everyone together
-Dylan 🥒🟢

p.s. 📲 If this night meant something to you, drop a comment or share this with your pickleball bestie.

It wasn’t the kitchen. It wasn’t the serve. But my foot still paid the price.

This week I broke one of the biggest rules in pickleball.

No, not stepping in the kitchen.
(Not serving too high, either.)
Worse.

I showed up to the court with zero warm-up…
after spending 8 hours sitting at a desk.

By point three, my calves were screaming,
my foot was tight,
and my brain was still in current home sales statistics.

Lesson learned:
Warm up your body if you want your game to move forward.

This sport’s teaching me more than strategy.
It’s teaching me respect for the process.

🦶Foot: “We’re not doing this again.”
🤨Me: “Fair enough.

Some of you were close.
Some of you were... bold.

And one of you?

Was almost dead-on.

🧠 The challenge: Guess how many pickleballs are produced every year.

🎁 The prize: A $25 gift card you’d actually use (no logo'd swag, no gimmicks).

We had guesses from the curious, the calculated, and the just-for-laughs crowd.

But the person who guessed 550 million and took the W?

Thanks to everyone who jumped in. You made this dumb/brilliant idea actually fun.

And if you were way off? Don’t worry...

Most people wildly underestimate numbers — whether it's how many pickleballs get made or how much house they can really afford.

Appreciate the guesses, the shares, the comments, and the crew we're building here.

More challenges coming.
More gear reviews.
More real stories from the court.

Stay sharp.
And stay subscribed.

—Dyl Pickle Realtor 🥒🟢

I’m in deep.
This week, I hit the court 4 times.

And I’m not talking about just showing up.
I’m watching strategy breakdowns like it’s game film.
I’m getting to the court early to stretch, warm up, and lock in.
I’m learning rules and tactics that three weeks ago might as well have been quantum physics.

This game has me hooked…
and this week, it showed.

🥇 Twice for league play.

Session 1: I landed right in the middle of the court.
We were only a few points from taking it.
It was tight. It was sweaty. It was war.

Session 2: I walked off with a perfect score.
Didn’t drop a game.
Didn’t even realize it until I saw the sheet and thought
Wait… what?!

🎯 Midweek hit different.

Night session with Blair, Morn, and Kim.

You already know how I feel about Blair and Morn…
what they’ve done for my game and the fast friendship we’ve built.

But Kim?
She won first place in one of the RARA leagues last spring.

Back then, I was just a sub.
But this week, she treated me like I belonged.

She gave me tips.
Encouragement.

And then she dropped this on me:

That one’s staying with me for a long time.

🧠 And then there was Thursday.

My first open play.
(Full Drop coming soon on that night.)

But here’s the preview:
I was humbled.
By the players.
By the pace.
By the invitation from Blair and Morn.

I may have learned more that night than in all my league sessions combined…(at least something different)

💼 And here’s the kicker…

Even with all this?

✅ I closed deals.
✅ I coached clients.
✅ I stayed in the game off the court too.

This doesn’t work unless your calendar works.
Systems. Discipline. Structure.
That’s how I make room to do both.

I didn’t try to fit pickleball into my life.
I built my life to include it.

🟢Want to hit the court or talk real estate — I'm game.🏡

Pick the court or the coffee shop. I’m good with both.
—Dyl Pickle Realtor🥒🟢

Week two of RARA 101, Morn looked right at me and said:

“Wanna sub in the league?”

I barely knew the rules.

Was I ready?
Would I play terrible?
What if I stepped in the kitchen every other point? 😂

But I said yes.

Nervous. Underqualified. Fully unsure.
Still, I showed up.

That night I realized something:
Growth doesn’t wait for you to feel ready.
It happens when you say yes.

🥒🟢 Thinking about a move on or off the court?
I’m here when you are.

The snow was sideways.
It was 39 degrees. Wind chill in the low 30s. And I was outside...playing pickleball.

Technically, I was learning to play. My very first night of RARA 101.

Class ended, but I wasn’t ready to leave. Blair, Morn, and I stood around for nearly an hour talking about paddles, spin, and how this game grabs people by the collar. I was soaked. Freezing. And completely hooked.

So I did what any rational adult would do:

He gave me a few to look at. I picked the one that felt right - the Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro 14mm.

Didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew I needed one of my own. That little plastic wrapped piece of gear?

It wasn’t just a paddle.
It was a commitment.

The next time I played, I felt it instantly: control. Spin. Confidence. Even the sound of the ball coming off my paddle felt better.

The loaners we used in class were fine. But this one?

This one was mine.
(And yeah, I liked how it looked too.)

It reminded me a lot of real estate.
You want to win?
Set a goal. Make a move.
Invest in the right tools. Period.

That paddle hasn’t left my bag.
In fact, I bought a backup.
Re-gripped it.
Named it.
And yes... more than once...

I’ve slept with it.
(You’ll see what I mean in an upcoming post.)

When I brought it home that night, my daughter Elena — who hadn't even stepped on a real court yet — looked at it and said:

She was right.

Big trouble.
And I’m all in.

I’ve got a challenge for you:

👉 How many pickleballs do you think are produced every year?

Closest guess gets a $25 gift card you’ll actually use. No gimmicks. No cheap swag. Just something solid as a thank-you for playing along.

✅ How to enter:

1. Subscribe to The Dyl Pickle Drop. If you’re reading this in your inbox already, you’re good. If you’re not, hit the button so you can win.

   Subscribe now

2. Drop your guess in the comments. One number. No math degree required.

3. Want a second entry? Share this post with a pickleball friend. If they subscribe and mention your name in their comment, you both get an extra guess.

   Send this to a friend or share on your socials for an extra guess!

   Share

🗓 When’s the deadline?

Contest ends Monday, July 14th at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Winner will be announced right here in a follow-up post. You’ll know if you win. And you might still get roasted if your guess is way off.

🎁 What’s the prize?

A $25 custom gift card. Amazon, Target, Home Dept…etc. You click a link. You get the goods. Simple.

Why am I doing this?

Because it’s fun. Because I’m building a crew of cool pickleball people. And yeah, if someone ever needs real estate help, that’s what I do when I’m not testing insoles or drinking too much Bulletproof coffee.

This is The Dyl Pickle Drop. No algorithms. No fluff. Just real people, good stories, and sometimes a stupid face on a pile of pickleballs.

👇 Drop your guess. Then go tell a pickleball friend. Let’s see who nails it.

—Dyl Pickle Realtor🥒🟢

This is Part 2 of the story that started with a ballerina-style spin and ended with me hobbling out of league night. (CLICK HERE for Part 1)

Three weeks. That’s how long I was off the court. Sounds short, unless you’re addicted to pickleball.

Day one after urgent care, I stared at my stiff flat shoe like it was a punishment. I was fitted with a post-op shoe and told to order an ankle orthotic stabilizer. I couldn’t drive with the boot, which meant no “quick dinks” or league-side hangs. Mentally, that was the hardest part.

But I didn’t just sit around.

I started walking a few miles per day. Light lifting. And I reevaluated everything, from my shoes to my foot mechanics. I realized my size 12’s were too loose for lateral play. I dropped to 11.5, and suddenly I had the stability I didn’t even know I was missing.

On top of that, I added a metatarsal sleeve, an ankle stabilizer that straps under my foot, and kept a close eye on recovery tools I’d ignored before.

I’ve got reviews and opinions coming, everything from foot soaks to insoles to compression gear.

There’s a reason some of this gear is overpriced, and there’s a reason I’m still using it anyway.

But this story wasn’t just about gear. It was about missing something I loved, and what that time off taught me.

I missed the rhythm. The community. The mental switch that flips every time you step on the court.

I missed that version of me that only shows up paddle in hand.

And yeah, I was also missing court time I’d scheduled for my one-on-one coaching with Blair and Morn. Those were supposed to be my breakthrough sessions, and I had to cancel them…for now.

They are the founders of The Michigan Pickleball Association?
JOIN HERE it’s FREE

So when it was finally time to come back, I didn’t go full send. I eased in. I showed up taped, sleeved, braced, and grateful.

Was I ready? Not fully.

But I was better. More aware. And a little more humble.

That pirouette was the dumbest move I’ve ever made on a court.

But it gave me a smarter game.

And now I’m back, still a little sore, still slightly ridiculous, and somehow… even more committed.

And yeah, the video of “the move” exists. I haven’t posted it yet…but you’ll see it soon.

This is The Dyl Pickle Drop. And this is what recovery looks like when you’re serious about the game, and the long haul.

This is the story of how one overly dramatic pivot took me off the pickleball court for three weeks... and nearly cost me my shot at leveling up for the second half of summer league. (CLICK HERE for Part 2)

Let’s rewind.

Three weeks ago, I woke up in Cedar Point. Elena Dinker and I were wrapping up our annual rollercoaster pilgrimage. We'd clocked over eight miles the day before. Oddly enough, my foot which had been nagging for months felt great. I even joked about how walking fixed it.

The next stop? A high-stakes real estate photo shoot for a new listing. Not just any listing. This client is also a hardcore pickleball player more on that story later, including how one on-court connection helped me land my best listing of the year.

That shoot turned into a five-hour marathon. By the time we wrapped, Elena and I were racing against freeway closures and rush hour traffic just to make it to the courts.

No warm-up. No downtime. Just five hours of driving, a full day of work, and now… game time. Elena was excited to debut the giant plush pickle she won at Cedar Point — our new mascot. I was just trying to get my shoes on fast enough to make it to the court.

That night, I was matched up with a fun crew: Sam, Rosa (who I’ve known since 101), and Bianca. Halfway through the first game, Sam sent me a nasty shot. I responded with something…unconventional.

A pirouette. A full-on, ballerina-style spin move. Not exactly sanctioned by the MPA.

Not a member of The Michigan Pickleball Association? JOIN HERE it’s FREE

That spin lit up the outside of my left foot, exactly where it had been whispering pain for months. This time, it screamed. A 9 out of 10 on the pain scale.

Still, I limped it off. Won that 1st match with Bianca as my partner. Then played two more league games. Lost both - shocker. Zero mobility. Still in pain. And because addiction is real, I stayed for two or three more leisurely games.

The next morning, I hit urgent care. Bonus: they had X-rays on site. The nurse asked how it happened. I said “pickleball,” and of course she plays too. Her early read: not broken, but probably a severe strain.

I hadn’t had an X-ray in decades. Elena sat nearby cracking jokes about amputation and how my old foot could now be my practice partner. When the scans came back: negative. Just a bad sprain on the 5th metatarsal. They fitted me with a stiff post-op shoe and told me to get a stabilizer boot.

Two weeks off court minimum.

Here’s the kicker…I had just received a Father’s Day gift form my better half of private coaching from Blair and Morn. The plan was to use that league break to sharpen everything: footwork, shot selection, grip changes. Real one-on-one stuff. That plan was now on ice.

I’ll share what came next in Part 2 — how I rehabbed, the gear that helped, and what I learned grinding through recovery. I’ve got opinions on everything from ankle braces to why I dropped half a shoe size. That post is coming.

And yes, I’ve got the pirouette on video. That drop is coming too.

We’ll also start talking more about what I’m doing off the court — recovery, maintenance, training, and everything else I’ve added to the stack to keep improving.

This is The Dyl Pickle Drop. And this is what it looks like when a spin move takes you out — but doesn’t keep you down.

🦶 My foot’s almost healed.
I’ll share the full story of how it happened (and how I’m coming back stronger) soon.

It’s been a long few weeks off the court…but the comeback is close.

✏️ What was your last pickleball injury?
How long were you out for?

Tap comment and share yours, I'm collecting war stories😎

I still remember the first time Blair called me up in front of the 101 class.

It was a random Thursday night. One of those evenings where you're not even sure why you showed up. Tired legs. Too much going on. A paddle that felt heavier than usual. But I was there. And apparently, that mattered.

“Dylan, come help me demo this next drill,” Blair said casually, like it wasn’t a big deal.

But for me? It was.

It was validation. A little jolt of pride I didn’t know I needed. Someone who’d been playing for decades saw something in me, a guy barely a few weeks into this thing.

I wasn’t perfect. I fumbled a return. Nearly tripped on a stray ball. Probably looked more like an awkward Labrador than a seasoned player. But it didn’t matter. I was in the front. Helping. Learning. Visible.

⸻

And it’s worth mentioning while Blair might be the one at the front leading the drills, none of this happens without Morn. She’s always there too. Steady, supportive, and sharp as ever. Watching her support Blair while quietly commanding respect of her own...it’s a reminder that partnership doesn’t always mean being center stage. Sometimes, it’s the presence just behind the spotlight that makes the whole thing work.

⸻

That feeling of being seen and trusted is something I’ve carried into other parts of my life too.

Especially real estate.

See, when someone picks me to guide them through buying or selling a home, it’s a similar honor. They could have chosen anyone. But they picked me. And just like Blair did that night, I try to show up with patience, clarity, and a whole lot of care.

If you’ve ever been chosen to lead even if you didn’t feel ready remember: that choice means something. Lean into it.

If not, no hard feelings.

But don’t be surprised if you circle back later when you’re nosy and want to know how this all started 😉

Big thanks to anyone who's ever nudged me forward when I didn't even realize I was ready. That night was about pickleball but it echoed way beyond the court.

– Dylan

P.S. If we’ve ever shared a court or you’ve ever seen me flail through a drill with a smile…I’d love to hear about your first moment of being “picked.” Hit reply or message me. That stuff matters.

I didn’t stretch.
Didn’t hydrate.
Didn’t even eat.

Just showed up and played like I was in the finals at the Beer City Open 😎

Now I’m hobbling around like someone’s uncle after a bad pickup game.

Might turn this into a full Drop.
Worth it???

I didn’t show up to impress anyone.
I showed up because I needed to move, to sweat, to feel something again.

But it turns out, showing up is how everything started.

Blair and Morn have been playing this game longer than most of us even knew it existed.

They co-founded the Michigan Pickleball Association (click to join the community) back when it was just a blip on the map. Now run one of the most engaged pickleball communities in the state. Thousands of players. Weekly events. Pure momentum.

But none of that matters unless you show up.

And when you do? You’ll see them out there. Still running drills, still remembering names, still cheering on beginners like they’re pros.

From day one, they were welcoming, patient, and wildly motivating.
Every single player in our class got encouragement. No judgment.

It was inspiring and honestly, kind of funny how much joy they brought to the game.

Even Uma, who’s now in her third full year under their wing, said it best:

I didn’t know any of that history on my first night.
I just knew this:
When I stepped onto those courts, they were already there.
Setting the tone. Showing up.

Blair and Morn weren’t just running a Pickleball For Newbies course.
They were running the show.
the quiet glue of a growing community powered by consistency, energy, and empathy.

The courts weren’t flashy.
The games weren’t perfect.

But they showed up.
Session after session. Week after week.

And that taught me something most real estate seminars never did:

I watched how they coached.
How they remembered names.
How they made even the nervous first-timers feel like they belonged.

That’s what made me keep coming back.

And the more I came back, the more I found rhythm.
Not just in my game,
but in my routine, my mindset, even my business.

It wasn’t about points or rankings.
It was about showing up.
Listening. Learning.

The rest?
That followed.

I’ve closed more real estate deals from this energy.
this habit of being present.
than from any billboard, cold call, or polished pitch.

If you want someone in your corner who actually shows up…
whether it’s on the court or curbside…
I’m already there.

p.s. In the photo is Blair & Morn (just after finishing a tough game) with my daughter and budding pickleball star, Elena Dinker holding our mascot

That first game at Borden Park?
Cold. Slushy.

I borrowed a paddle that felt like a school lunch tray.

And I was instantly hooked.

On the drive home, still sweating through my hoodie, I told myself:

1. Always show up early – Not just to stretch, but to connect. Relationships start before the warm-up.

2. Play with people better than me – I didn’t care about winning. I cared about leveling up.

3. Say YES more – To games, to invites, to new courts. That’s how doors open—in real estate and in life.

These weren’t just game rules—they were mindset shifts.

And looking back, they’ve shaped way more than just my serve.

Funny how one snowy night and a borrowed paddle set off a chain reaction—on the court and in my career.
I’ve followed those 3 rules into better games, stronger connections, and even a few real estate wins.

👀 Want in on how this plays out? Stick around—I’m just getting warmed up.

p.s. New here?

This is the kind of stuff I write about at The Dyl Pickle Drop — stories from the court with a Realtor’s twist.

I didn’t plan on becoming a pickleball guy.
It wasn’t some fitness goal.
It wasn’t part of a content strategy.

It was just a snowy night in Michigan, and I needed to move. To breathe. To get out of my own head.

I showed up at Borden Park in Rochester Hills for RARA Pickleball 101 with zero expectations and even less coordination.

But Blair and Morn💚 - who run the show here in Rochester Hills and founded the Michigan Pickleball Association (click to join the community) - welcomed me like I already belonged.

If it weren’t for them, it probably would’ve taken me months to fall in love with the game.

Instead, it happened that night.

I left with my heart racing, my paddle hand numb, and a weird sense that something had shifted.

🏡 I’ve been helping people navigate real estate for over two decades - turns out, it’s a lot like learning pickleball: it’s easier when someone shows you the court, the rules, and where to stand.

⸻

It wasn’t just the game - it was the energy.

The people. The laughter between points. The connection.

I couldn’t explain it then, but I knew I was going to keep coming back.

⸻

So that’s what this newsletter is.

Not pickleball tips.
Not real estate market noise.

Just real stories from the court and the closing table - and the stuff nobody talks about but everybody feels.

I’ve been in real estate for over 20 years, but I’ve never had a space like this to share what I actually think about business, life, relationships, mindset - and now, this game that’s somehow become part of all of it.

They say top 1% agents don’t play games — but clearly, I do 😉
If you ever need help making a move, I’m your guy.

⸻

If you’re into that - hit subscribe.

Subscribe now

If not, no hard feelings.

But don’t be surprised if you circle back later when you’re nosy and want to know how this all started 😉

Big thanks to Blair and Morn. This Drop wouldn’t exist without you.

– Dylan

p.s. If we’ve played together, you’re part of this story too.