PicklePod

Latest Episodes:

A Foolproof Strategy to Beat the World's #1s Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

What will it take to beat the most dominant men’s team in the game? Zane Navratil thinks he has the answer. The guys go over the stand-out performances from San Clemente including the rise of Hurricane Tyra Black.

Equity and royalties are now being structured into paddle deals. How big should the pros' slice be in the pickleball pie? Send in your listener questions to support Stop Alzheimer’s Now.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

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Show Notes:

0:00 Intro

5:14 No memes of the week

9:05 The future of MLP

16:25 PPA San Clemente Recap Hurricane Season

23:11 How to beat the Johns bros

31:38 Mr Beast jumps in the chat & the pickleball brackets struggle

34:50 Issues with seeding

42:05 Tournament grind doesn’t end

50:40 Equity and open play etiquette

59:35 MLP New Rules - PicklePod Agents of Change

1:07:37 Rowdiness expected to make a comeback in San Clemente

1:09:40 A new Lea Jansen fueled by the haters

1:15:50 Tesi’s for the boys

1:18:59 Listner questions for Stop Alzheimer’s Now

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New Tech will End Sandbagging Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Description: MLPcreator Steve Kuhn joins PicklePod this week. Steve is addicted to growing the sport of pickleball domestically and internationally. On the pod he unveils new initiatives and projects that will get pickleball into schools, create more playing opportunities and end sandbagging once and for all. Don’t miss an all new episode with pickleball visionary Steve Kuhn.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/don...

Shop performance-driven comfort from Vuori https://vuoriclothing.com/thedink

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

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-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes:

0:00 Let’s get right into rally scoring

5:45 Pickleball Cares and pickleball politics

12:48 A global perspective on Pickleball

17:50 A billion players worldwide

29:30 Steve Kuhn Pickleball Ventures

32:10 The highest prize pool in stock options

43:19 Managing different opinions and investors

49:54 Steve Kuhn Snooker superfan

54:50 Bussin with the boys

1:02:51 A new version of DUPR is here

1:07:10 The end of sandbagging

1:18:30 Minor League Pickleball and MLPalooza

1:20:51 PickleMall in Kuhn’s Portfolio

1:28:10 Pickleball’s chance to enter NCAA and high school relevancy

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Podcast feuds & the best comeback of all time Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Description: Zane and Thomas address the mud that is being slung around the pickleball world. New podcasts and Twitter have provided a platform for players to defend themselves and point fingers and Zane says he’s “Here for it.” On the heels of an epic comeback from William Sobek, the guys debate the best comebacks of all time. Listener questions are answered in support of Stop Alzheimer’s Now.

Show Notes:

4:46 The new Tyler Loong pod

11:30 Dissecting the drama

18:00 Chasing clout or high school drama?

26:15 Pass/fail/pass on Tyler’s new paddle

28:25 Zane Affleck folklore

33:00 Betting announced in pickleball

36:01 NYC Open Sobek vs The Wolf and the best comebacks

44:12 No taps for you

50:38 Randall Emmett doc

55:49 Stop Alzheimer’s Now question submissions

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The New Pickleball Gold Rush May 25, 2023

Show notes

Break out your calculator and loafers because we’re talking pickleball finance. Companies are trying to break into the ball game, players are upping their media output and pickleball is taking over malls.

We’re back from a two week hiatus to cover everything happening in the world of pickleball.

To support Stop Alzheimers Now and submit your question for the pod visit: https://www.stopalzheimersnow.org/donate.html

Want to work in pickleball? Visit https://pickleballjobs.io/

Rep the latest in dink branded merch at https://repthedink.com/

------------------

Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify

-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/signup/

-Follow us on IG *@thedinkpickleball*

-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...

-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam

-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/

-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball

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Show Notes:

0:00 Cussin’ for a Cause

4:07 Meme of the week

9:08 Ranking Twitter personalities

18:27 Brands expanding into the ball game

23:37 PickleMall is a thing and it’s backed by Steve Kuhn

30:07 A strong Atlanta Open for the Mumbai Monster

33:30 The Jack Sock experiment: Good or Bad for the Sport

42:32 Pros can extend their reach with video

53:35 MLPalooza and a new team name for Zane

1:01:04 It’s all padel and pasta in Italy

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On-court antics are a gift and a curse w/ MLP Commissioner Brooks Wiley May 04, 2023

Show notes

MLP Commissioner Brooks Wiley stops by PicklePod on his podcast tour. Brooks and the Pickle Pro Labs team have been busy creating new standards for pickleball testing and he is here to update the fans. Brooks shares plans for future MLP updates including an MLP ball and VAR system. MLP San Clemente is just one month away and will now include a Super Final to determine the season one champion. Find out more in an all-new episode.

Show Notes:

0:00 Getting down in the dirt - Meme of the week

6:07 Updates from the Commissioner

11:29 Creating new methods for paddle testing

16:31 The new MLP ball

19:45 Getting ready MLP San Clemente - VAR, Championship Court

24:11 The first blue card in MLP history

27:30 Tyson McGuffin calls out DJ’s antics

32:15 Finding a way to make pickleball look cool

43:03 Twitter is taking over the pickleball conversation

50:55 Red Rock paddle testing results

53:10 Pickleball conspiracy theories - policing amateurs

1:00:06 Rule changes and the Wild West Tournament

1:06:15 Minor League Pickleball and the Super Finals

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Fines, ejections and Pickleball’s WWE play Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

The first on-site DQ for paddle delamination, pickleball pro flips the bird to courtside heckler and a new rebel will sell you a juiced-up paddle. We thought we could get away with taking a week off but there is too much happening in the world of pickleball. We cover the Newport Beach Shootout, US Open, and results from the infamous Red Rock Open paddle challenge.

Show Notes:

0:00 Twitter’s MVPs

3:55 Meme of the week

7:35 Mr. Bean meme

10:40 One stream for all the pickleball drama

12:35 Altaf men’s win

13:07 US Open pro results

16:18 The drama-filled Newport Beach Shootout

18:46 Ben and Collin lose to Newell and Locklear

21:09 One singles tournament per month

24:48 Six paddles exceed the limits during MLP testing

29:43 The challenge results from PPA Red Rock Open

34:35 What happened with the Ansboury DQ

42:53 Lea Jansen’s response to Red Rock results

47:37 The guy juicing paddles

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The 33yo Hedge Fund Manager Pulling the Strings in Pro Pickleball Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Owner of the SoCal Hard Eights, Tim Parks, joins the PicklePod. Tim’s insights into MLP financials, sports betting, and building a sports league are shaping the way the game is played. Tim is willing to debate anyone on the merits of rally scoring and brings a unique take to the conventional wisdom of MLP draft strategy. Quite possibly the best episode yet.

Show Notes:

0:00 The 'no-due diligence' era

4:50 Always wanted to be a GM

8:30 The best podcast in pickleball

15:25 The billion-dollar businesses surrounding pickleball

22:10 Tim invests in The Dink

26:07 How MLP can build a moat

33:32 Let’s talk about gambling

42:32 Extranalities and the Paragon of Virtue

48:30 Tim’s first pro pickleball experience

56:33 The cold war between PPA and MLP

1:07:43 Dispelling the myths about rally scoring

1:17:04 The Monte Carlo simulation

1:21:34 Convince me to add the shot clock

1:24:23 Coach Anna Bright allowed on court

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Ben Johns goes deep on all the latest drama in pickleball Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

Time to check in with pickleball GOAT Ben Johns. Ben went on Twitter to address the paddle delamination issue and started a fire. He goes deeper into how to test for delamination and why power is a problem. We touch on all the controversies facing the pro game including white paddles, match schedules, and rule changes. Ben even provides a history lesson on some of Pickleball’s OG’s. You can’t miss this episode with Pickleball’s top dog.

Show Notes:

3:02 The tweet that starts the delamination fire

7:20 How the deflection test really works

12:11 Somewhere between a wooden paddle and tennis racquet

19:19 US Open rule change

24:14 An ultrasonic test could be the solution for delamination

31:04 The pickleball OG’s

37:01 What does a top player look like 10 years from now?

41:12 Riley Newman’s unique style may be helping and hurting

45:00 Ben will not be playing pickleball in 2033

50:07 The right-side player will be left-handed in the future

56:30 James Ignatowich’s quick ascension

1:00:30 Ben’s close alignment with the PPA Tour and MLP feelings

1:07:14 Who The 5’s should have picked last in the draft

1:12:00 White paddle sh*t

1:17:45 Pro players wait to speak out - Seeking more transparency

1:25:54 Let’s schedule and promote big matches

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‘Cheating’ is rampant, unwinding the latest paddle drama w/ Lea Jansen Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Description: It’s been said before. It will be said again. Pickleball is the wild west right now. Between PEDs and paddle delamination, there seems to be cheating happening every weekend. Lea Jansen joins the pod to share her unabashed thoughts on the matter

Show Notes:

0:00 Twitter fingers Jansen

3:30 We need drug testing

7:12 Delamination Abundant in Utah

11:02 Lea vs Salome Saga

17:12 The YouTube chat and being authentic

24:16 “Quit whining and figure out your own game”

28:20 Testing for a delaminated paddle

32:40 What off site testing means

35:22 Does delamination benefit you in doubles?

40:54 If you’re the league do you love the controversy

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Which Pickleball Pro Pissed in the Planter? Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

Description: Zane and Thomas burn through pickleball’s hottest stories of the week. First up, they respond to Lea Jansen’s take on singles. Then a juicy letter from a host in Daytona is making its way through the picklesphere. Can we chalk it up to growing pains? Zane shares his takes on the inaugural Pickleball Slam. There’s still a chance for you to get on the pod, jump in the comments and make your case.

Show Notes:

0:00 Lea thinks singles are a thing of the past

8:01 Zane college tennis crossover into pickleball

15:30 Dunking in the comments

20:22 The famous Medium article ‘Grow Up Pickleball’

37:43 The APP Tour’s sit-and-wait strategy opens the door for new players

46:00 Big Papa Jimmy has a way with words

50:25 The Pickleball Slam had entertainment value, not just a hit n giggle

57:05 Jack Sock might be the ultimate tennis crossover athlete

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