Ian Barnett is Defining a New Look for UK Pickleball
By The Pickleball Weekly Editorial Team • Apr 1, 2026 • 9 min read
A player-built brand aiming to give the sport its own identity
ON COURTS ACROSS the United Kingdom, pickleball is growing quickly, moving from curiosity to picking up a paddle. New players are discovering the sport, clubs are forming, and communities are building around it. But as participation increases, one thing has lagged behind: identity.
Too often, players step onto the court wearing a mix of football kits, gym wear, or leftover apparel from other sports. Functional, yes. Purpose-built for pickleball, not quite.
That gap is exactly what Ian Barnett set out to address.
A self-described pickleball addict based in London, Barnett first discovered the sport in April 2023. By July, he was hooked. What began as a new pastime quickly evolved into something more deliberate. By 2025, he had registered DYNKZ Ltd., finalized designs, and committed to building a brand focused exclusively on pickleball.
“Pickleball in the UK is exploding,” Barnett says. “But if we’re honest, it has a bit of an image problem. The clothing is borrowed from other sports. The UK pickleball community deserves its own lane, its own label. So we’re building one.”
Designed in London and launching its first collection next week, DYNKZ is not entering the market as an extension of another sport. It is being built from within pickleball itself, with the goal of helping define how the sport presents itself as it grows.
Below is a conversation with Ian Barnett about the origin of DYNKZ, the opportunity in the UK market, and what it takes to build a brand in a rapidly evolving sport.
Q&A with Ian Barnett
Q: How did you first get into pickleball?
BARNETT: “I’ve always loved racket sports … squash, tennis, table tennis … but as I got older, time pressures and injuries meant I played less. A friend introduced me to pickleball and I was instantly hooked.
It’s no surprise the sport is growing so quickly in the UK and around the world. There’s something brilliant about improving at something in your 40s. It’s accessible to everyone: my parents play, my in‑laws play, my wife plays, my nephews play. Few sports bring people together the way pickleball does.”
Q: What is DYNKZ and how did it come about?
BARNETT: “From the moment I started playing, I knew pickleball would become a big part of my life. The sport, the people, the community. It’s special.
But pickleball still has an image gap at least in the UK. Among non‑players it’s ‘not a real sport,’ ‘for old people,’ ‘just an American thing.’ On court, players wear a mix of football shirts, running tops and tournament freebies. The sport deserves its own identity, and that’s what DYNKZ is here to build.
DYNKZ is a UK sports brand dedicated exclusively to pickleball, designed to raise the sport’s profile and give players an alternative to big US brands and novelty designs. We are proudly and unapologetically pickleball‑only.”
Q: What inspired the name and design?
BARNETT: “The dink is iconic in pickleball; simple to attempt, difficult to master, endlessly variable. The spelling reflects that variation and individuality. We’re not a general sports or padel brand. We’re pickleball through and through.
Also, my favorite band is The Kinks. The name rhymes, and I’ve always admired their style. Hopefully, a little of that spirit runs through DYNKZ, too.”
Q: There are already established US pickleball brands and broader athletic companies entering the space. What does DYNKZ do differently that you believe will resonate with players?
BARNETT: “Most brands entering pickleball are adapting. They’re bringing design language, products, and thinking from other sports.
We’re doing the opposite. DYNKZ is built specifically for pickleball from day one. You can tell when something wasn’t built for the sport — and a lot of what’s out there wasn’t.
We’re not interested in being another option in the category. We’re here to help define it. That means creating a distinct identity, a clear point of view, and something players can genuinely connect with.
Pickleball has its own rhythm, culture, and energy, and our design language starts there, not with tennis or gym wear. Pickleball isn’t a side category. It’s a global sport in its own right, and it deserves brands that treat it that way.”
“This is just the start. Be part of the journey.”—Ian Barnett. Founder of DYNKZ
Q: How is the UK pickleball scene different from the US, and how does that influence your approach to design and branding?
BARNETT: “The US has scale and momentum. Pickleball is already embedded in the culture there.
In the UK, we’re not there yet, which creates a different kind of opportunity. There’s still a chance to shape how the sport is perceived. Growth here is happening through clubs, community courts, and local organizers rather than large complexes, and that creates a different kind of culture.
That’s where DYNKZ sits. We’re not just responding to the sport. We’re helping define how it looks and feels as it grows internationally. If you get that right early, the impact lasts.”
Q: You’ve mentioned giving pickleball its own identity. What does that look like visually and culturally, and how should players feel when they wear DYNKZ?
BARNETT: “Right now, a lot of pickleball still borrows its visual identity from other sports. That’s exactly what we’re here to change.
DYNKZ is bold, clean, and intentional, designed to be instantly recognizable on court. We’re building a visual language that feels modern and unmistakably pickleball.
But more importantly, it’s about how it makes players feel. Wearing DYNKZ should feel like backing the sport properly, not treating it as a secondary activity. It’s about pride, confidence, and being part of something that feels current.”
Q: Do you see DYNKZ primarily as performance apparel, lifestyle wear, or a blend of both?
BARNETT: “Performance is the entry point. That’s where credibility comes from. But the ambition is much bigger than that. Pickleball is becoming part of people’s identity, not just something they play for an hour.
So over time, DYNKZ will expand into lifestyle, not as an add-on, but as a natural extension of the culture around the sport.”
Q: What has been the biggest challenge so far in launching DYNKZ?
BARNETT: “The biggest challenge has been resisting the easy route. It would be simple to follow what other brands are doing, similar designs, similar positioning, or going multi-sport, but that doesn’t build anything lasting.
We’ve been deliberate about creating something that feels genuinely different, even if that takes longer. Building something original requires patience, especially when shortcuts are everywhere. If you want to define a category, you can’t just replicate it.”
Q: Pickleball is known for its community. How do you plan to build that sense of connection into the DYNKZ brand?
BARNETT: “You can’t fake community, especially in a sport like pickleball. I’m on court regularly, speaking directly with players, understanding what they want and where the sport is heading. That connection is built in from the start.
Community isn’t a campaign for us. It’s ingrained. As we grow, we want to actively support clubs, grassroots development, and youth participation, particularly in the UK. If the sport grows, the brand grows. It’s that simple.”
Q: When does the brand go live?
BARNETT: “We go live on April 14. We’re excited to launch with UK Pickleball Shop and can’t wait for players to experience the collection.
Our launch collection features two performance pieces developed with input from friends and family. It matters to me that we build this responsibly. Our shirts are made using recycled materials, and we’re developing our ESG approach with more to share later this year.”
Q: You mentioned recycled materials and ESG development. How important is sustainability to the future of DYNKZ?
BARNETT: “It’s fundamental. Not as a marketing angle, but as part of how the business is built. We’re making conscious decisions around materials, supporting organizations like Pickleball England, and developing initiatives like our English Oak tree program.
If pickleball grows the way we all expect, brands have a responsibility to grow with it responsibly. There’s an opportunity to build this brand properly from day one, and that includes how it impacts the wider environment and community.”
Q: Where can players buy DYNKZ clothing?
BARNETT: “We’ve partnered with the UK Pickleball Shop, and the debut DYNKZ collection will be available exclusively through their online store.”
Q: What would you say to other players who are thinking about turning their passion for pickleball into a business?
BARNETT: “Be clear on why you exist, because the space is getting crowded quickly. There’s a big difference between starting a brand and building one that actually stands for something. Listen to advice, but trust your instinct. If you don’t have a clear identity and a purpose, it’s very difficult to make an impact.”
Q: Where do you see DYNKZ in three to five years, and what role do you want it to play in shaping pickleball culture in the UK and beyond?
BARNETT: “We want DYNKZ to be one of the brands that helped define modern pickleball. Not just in the UK, but globally, influencing how the sport looks, feels, and presents itself. There’s a real opportunity to combine the heritage of British design with the energy of a rapidly growing sport.
If we do this right, DYNKZ won’t just follow the culture. It will help shape it. This is just the beginning for us
Shaping What Comes Next
DYNKZ officially launches on next week on April 14 through the UK Pickleball Shop, marking the first step in what Barnett sees as a much larger movement.
In a sport still defining its identity in the UK, the opportunity is not just to participate in its growth, but to shape it. For Barnett, that means building something that reflects the energy, culture, and community of pickleball itself.
And if the sport continues on its current trajectory, brands like DYNKZ may not just follow the rise of pickleball in the UK. They may help define it.
The Pickleball Editorial Team produces in-depth reporting and cover features that examine the sport’s growth, innovation, competition, and culture. With contributors who understand both the strategy of the game and the forces shaping its future, the team is committed to telling the full story of modern pickleball.
Read the full magazine issue! Click below, then click on the X in the lower bar to enjoy a full screen view!
