DinkyBalls: Where Pickleball Personality Is the Main Event
You’re Not Just a Player— You’re a DinkyBall
Have you ever really watched the players on the court, like really watched the players? Nobody plays the same way. There’s the loud-and-proud smasher who thinks every rally deserves fireworks. The zen dinker who looks like they’re meditating between points. The trash-talker who chirps after every win. And then there are the “legends” who’ve been playing since before you were born (and will happily tell you about it).
Back when they owned Pickles Indoor Pickleball Club, New England’s first dedicated indoor pickleball venue, Lisa and Dustin DeMeritt noticed it all — loud, proud, quirky, and everything in between. Pickles wasn’t just a place to play; it was a living, breathing pickleball circus. Players of every age, background, and skill level showed up, and somehow it just worked.
But Lisa and Dustin saw something even bigger: the personalities.
“After years behind the counter, watching matches, chatting between games, getting to know hundreds of players, we started to see something special. Everyone had a unique style. A personality that showed up with every serve, lob, and laugh.”
Those “characters” weren’t just playing the game. They were the game.
From Courts to Characters
After selling Pickles in 2024, Lisa and Dustin could’ve called it a day. Instead, they doubled down on what made pickleball magic. Enter DinkyBalls — a brand that puts pickleball personas front and center.
Think of it like this: pickleball meets Saturday morning cartoons. Each design, each character, each piece of merch is a tribute to the player types you see every time you step on the court.
Are you a Banger who can’t resist the kill shot?
A Joy who’s just happy to be out there?
Or maybe a full-on Whacko, completely pickleball obsessed?
DinkyBalls says: Embrace it. Own it. Wear it.
Their Motto: Be You. The World Will Adjust.
At the heart of DinkyBalls is a simple idea — pickleball is better when everyone shows up exactly as they are. No mold, no pressure, no need to take yourself too seriously. Bring your game, your quirks, your energy, and the rest will fall into place.
“What started as observation became celebration. We just gave those characters names and a little flair, so players could wear them like a badge of honor. To play their way. To own their awesomeness. To be themselves.”
And just like Pickles, it’s inclusive. DinkyBalls isn’t about who’s the best player — it’s about belonging, connecting, and celebrating the fun, chaos, and the weird little community that makes pickleball so addictive.
Why It Works
Pickleball keeps exploding, but what really hooks people isn’t just the dinks and drives. It’s the community. The characters. The stories.
DinkyBalls gets that. It’s not just merch—it’s a wink, a nod, a reminder that pickleball is at its best when it’s a little ridiculous, a little over-the-top, and a whole lot of fun.
Closing Rally
So the next time you’re on the court and notice the guy who grunts like a pro tennis player, or the lady who tells jokes between serves, or the kid who cheers like they just won Wimbledon — remember: that’s what pickleball is all about.
And thanks to Lisa and Dustin, those personalities now have a place to live off the court too. Welcome to DinkyBalls: where your pickleball alter ego isn’t just noticed — it’s celebrated.
