Pickleball Fire Podcast

You know you have dedicated Pickleball players when they are on the court at 4 a.m. and they bring a portable generator to light up the courts. That's the group from Camp Pickleball who I talk to in this podcast about opening a 10-court indoor facility and how to play with and against lefties. Pickleball Fire Website

After 210 podcasts about Pickleball you might think I've covered every instructional technique possible. But today Ben Bicknese from the Pickle Haus in Chicago talks about how he teaches Pickleball from the feet up. Click Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries

I haven't recorded the podcast for a while. Still, today it is well worth listening to, as I am talking with Matt and Erin from the pickleball clinic, one of the largest Facebook groups and they put out some terrific video content. Still, I think what everybody will want to hear from them today is about speed-ups. We go into a deep dive on a topic. I really haven't talked a whole lot about it recently, but it's becoming more and more important to the game. 

In this episode, Lynn welcomes Adam Richards, from High Five Pickleball, to share his analysis and experiences of professional-level pickleball. They dive deep into the game's strategies, techniques, and trends. Get Your Free Ticket to the 2023 Pickleball Summit by clicking here!

In this episode, our host, Lynn, talks with Crystal Gallagher, a university student and passionate pickleball player from Connecticut, about the rapid growth of pickleball in the United States. You can complete Crystal's survey by going to https://pickleballfire.com/crystalGet Your Free Ticket to the 2023 Pickleball Summit by clicking here!

Do you want to know the optimal location for a third shot drop, where to hit the serve return, or which women's doubles player pro Anna Leigh should have as a partner? In this episode, you can get answers to all of these questions as I talk to Alex Spancake from Pickle Mart where we dive into data analytics and Pickleball. Get Your Free Ticket to the 2023 Pickleball Summit by clicking here!

Today, we explore the incredible connection between the mind and body to help you level up your pickleball game. Qigong Master Lee Holden is here to discuss how this ancient Chinese practice can improve your pickleball performance both physically and mentally. So, if you're looking for ways to get in the zone more often and unlock your true potential on the court, this episode is for you. 

Are you suffering from Pickleball elbow? A sore back or knees? Learn how to get rid of your nagging injuries and I talk with Dr. Sanjay Saint and Coach Jes Reynolds authors of Pickleball for Life.

I'm not sure how I did it, but I never took a physics class in all my years of schooling.  So I'm happy to have on the Pickleball Fire podcast today, Tom Meyer, who will explain the physics of the game in a way that I think we can all relate to.In this episode, we discuss:Where the sweet spot of a Pickleball paddle is really locatedHow far you should take your paddle back when hitting the ballWhy your Pickleball serve is slower than you thinkWhere you should hit the ball on the paddle to make it spin to the right and leftWhat Tom puts on the wall and bottom of his bed to improve his  reaction timeHow you should stand when you hit your serveClick Here to Sign up for the Free Miniseries on 3 Little Known Secrets to Play Your Best Pickleball Click Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries

Today on the Pickleball Fire podcast, I'm talking with sports psychologist, Jen Jacobs. We discuss positive thinking on the court, how to improve your confidence, and the importance of lacing up your shoes. Click Here to Sign up for the Free Miniseries on 3 Little Known Secrets to Play Your Best Pickleball Click Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries

It's been a few weeks since I recorded a podcast, but today I am talking with performance coach Dr. Michelle who works with athletes to improve their focus so they can win more games. We dig in deep to give you some tips on how multi-tasking impacts your game, to stay in the present, and improve your consistency.Click Here to Sign up for the Free Miniseries on 3 Little Known Secrets to Play Your Best Pickleball Click Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries

Curtis Reese, a fellow podcaster, is my guest today on the Pickleball Fire Podcast. It's all about instruction today as we talk about the three zones of the court along with the third shot and the lob, 

I can't believe it, but this is episode 200 of the Pickleball Fire podcast. I started the podcast in October 2020 during the worst of the pandemic when we were all stuck in our homes. I just needed something to do, and this really fit the bill. Over 2 years later here I am at number 200 and today I have, as my guest, pro Kevin Beeson. I had him on a couple of months ago and It was one of the most listened-to podcasts so I know you'll really enjoy this one.

You may have heard a lot about Major League Pickleball (MLP) recently with all of the well-known owners getting into the game. Well today I have on the podcast, one of the pros, Susanna Barr, who has been in every MLP season so far. So needless to say, we talk about MLP plus the fourth shot. 

When thinking about improving your pickleball game, drilling is often the first thing that comes to mind. But we can do other things off the court to help our game. 

We all have our reasons as to why we play Pickleball. But Angela Gallafent's motivation is unique as she shares what drives her during today's episode of the Pickleball Fire podcast.  Be sure to listen to this inspiring story and find out what is really in her backpack. 

Sam Veal took to Pickleball very quickly but found there was something that bothered him about game. Not enough kids were playing this great sport so he founded the First Dink Foundation to teach kids life lessons through Pickleball. 

It happens to all of us when playing Pickleball. We hit a pop up and our opponent slams the ball at us. In this episode, I talk with certified pro Dan Levine about how to handle popups. Plus we speak about a new restaurant and Pickleball concept called Crush Yard.

I connected with Erin McHugh as we were both interviewed for a segment on Pickleball for CBS Saturday Morning. Erin is an author who wrote Pickleball Is Life, The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Obsession. The book covers everything you need to know about the game with a bit of humor and wisdom for new and experienced players.

Mo Nard and her three colleagues have written the ultimate reference book, at over 400 pages, on our sport called Pickleball for Dummies. So as you might imagine we have plenty to talk about in this episode including switching, an advanced strategy used in the game. 

This is one of those episodes where I went to write the show notes, and there were just so many great instructional tips for both beginning and advanced players. Teaching pro Greg Whitfield and I talk about what is the dining room shot, why the chip and catch is essential, and what is the number one mistake made in Pickleball. 

Amy Zaterman Seltzer has been near death two times and has beaten the odds to become a Pickleball player, competing in the Nationals. Her story is one of persistence and resilience and she shares what she had done to get on the court and play.

Sometimes on the court, you see players who appear so calm, and their game looks effortless. That describes teaching pro Mike Leigh, who recently wrote a book called Zen and the Art of Pickleball. Mike and I discuss both the mind and body in this episode as we talk about video analysis, proper mechanics, and the mental game.

Dick Johnson, who is now 82 years old, has so many pickleball accomplishments including being recently inducted into the Huntsman Senior Games Hall of fame. Dick has a great story. Plus he has some excellent tips on being offensive in Pickleball and we talk about how that helps your game.

I can not believe I have done almost 200 Pickleball Fire podcast episodes and have never talked about the grip in Pickleball. So today, I have Steven Schnitzer, and we're going to discuss the continental grip, western, and even the inverted backhand. 

Almost 4,000 Pickleball players are doing something you might not know about, but you could do in your area. Greg Mather from the Arizona Pickleball Players League explains team-based competition and why it is so much better than tournament play.https://pickleballfire.comClick Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries Has Pickleball Changed Your Life? Click Here to Share Your Story

One thing that is clear to me is that Pickleball players are becoming more and more interested in drilling to improve their game. I had a drill session just today, and I had 20 people show up. I expected four or five. In this episode, Kristie MacDonald talks about fun drills to help improve your game. Plus, she has a fantastic story about what Pickleball has done for her. Click Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries Has Pickleball Changed Your Life? Click Here to Share Your Story

I was recently asked to record a couple of minutes of audio of people on the Pickleball court. You could hear the unique sound of the ball against the paddle. But I also noticed how encouraging all the other players were and how much laughter there was. So it's appropriate today that I have on author Mike Brannon, who writes about the Joy of Pickleball in his second book. Click Here to Sign Up Here for the Free 3 Part Miniseries Has Pickleball Changed Your Life? Click Here to Share Your Story

Imagine living in a small fishing village in Mexico and being introduced to Pickleball when 3 Canadians needed a fourth player. From that point, Pickleball literally changed Emanuel Sanchez's life. Let's get to the intro so we can hear Emanuel's inspiring story.Has Pickleball Changed Your Life? Click Here to Share Your Story

I had a lot of fun interviewing Engage Pickleball instructor Kevin Beeson. He has some great one-liners which can help your Pickleball game plus he talked about how to stop hitting balls in the net.Has Pickleball Changed Your Life? Click Here to Share Your Story

Jen Lassandro and her doubles partner recently reached the podium in a senior pro event, upsetting a couple of the top teams. In today's episode she also talks about how to stage a big comeback, when to hit an Erne, and what you can learn from watching the pros play.

On the podcast, I talk with Pickleball pros about how to improve your game from a strategy and technique perspective. But I love talking to National Champion Brett Noel as he discusses how to get the right mental state to improve your game.

Near the pandemic's beginning, Rachel Simon and her family were like many people: bored and looking for something to do at home. Then she found Pickleball and wrote about it in an article for the NY Times called Is Pickleball the Perfect Pandemic Pastime? I truly believe she helped fuel the explosive growth of the game, and now she has written a book Pickleball for All: Everything but the Kitchen Sink.

I believe Jayden Broderick is the only teenager I have spoken with on the Pickleball Fire podcast, other than Anna Leigh Waters, who was 14 at the time. Jayden is now 16 but just picked up a paddle two years ago and is now competing against the professionals in singles and having success.

Do you have a drawer full of wraps for your knee, ankle or other body part? I know I do so I wanted to hear how Pickleball player Turbo Darcy was able to toss those in the trash and be pain free on the court.

Phil Metz does not play Pickleball competitively, but he does teach with one of the best-known professionals in the game, Simone Jardim. Today Phil talks about the importance of paddle position in developing fast hands. 

If you play a lot of Pickleball, you will want to listen to this podcast. Senior pro Tim Ringgold explains how to recover faster after playing and what to do on your days off from the game.

I don't usually have breaking news on the Pickleball Fire podcast. But I interviewed Morgan Evans and he has an update on the spin serve and what's going to happen in 2023. As you know, there was a lot of controversy in 2022 about the spin serve. Zane Navratil's chainsaw serve was, we'll call it outlawed, while the Morgan Evans spin serve was not. 

Bend your knees Louise, step back Jack. I love how this short rhymes can help your Pickleball game. Authors Jackie Freeman & Karen Worthy have brought them to life in a Pickleball primer for children of all ages and grandparents of course.

We often practice shots such as the third shot drop or forehand roll. But have you considered what you can do to improve your ability to track the ball? Zack Strock from Vizual Edge gives us some tips on how to do just this.

As professional Pickleball becomes more competitive, athletes are doing everything they can to maximize their performance. And personal fitness trainer Leslie Roberts has just the right credentials to help some of the top pros. In this episode, we talk about her work with Pickleball players of all levels and what we can do to prevent injury on the court.

Julian Arnold considers himself a jokester when not playing Pickleball. But on the court, this professional is known for his fiery personality. So in this episode, we talk about the importance of finding the right intensity level for peak performance on the Pickleball court.

Most of us just get on the courts and want to play the game. But have you considered writing things down to improve your Pickleball performance? Jody Belsher, the author of the Pickleball Workbook, discusses what to include in your tournament checklist and the scientifically proven benefits of journaling.

I have been working on getting more women on the Pickleball Fire podcast. And today I have Chris Evon and Terri Graham who in 2015 left their jobs at Wilson Sporting Goods and founded the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship. Click here to get your free ticket to the virtual Pickleball Summit June 26-29, 2022

We cover a lot of ground today talking with pro Nikki Roth about quiet Pickleball paddles, playing on clay, and indoor courts on a cruise ship.Click here to get your free ticket to the virtual Pickleball Summit June 26-29, 2022

We all have one. It is called the inner critic, and it hurts our Pickleball game. So, CJ Johnson is here to talk about how a technique called 3-2-1 can help silence your inner critic. We also discuss the upcoming Pickleball Summit, which is free to attend if you have a ticket that you can get by going to  The Pickleball Summit.

Grizzly bears, tutus, and seesaws. Is this really a Pickleball podcast? I am here with Keith Valentine of the Pickleball pirates and we discuss all of those things plus how to neutralize bangers.

The last time I had Tony Roig on the Pickleball Fire podcast, we didn't have a chance to talk about respect the X.  But that is such a great strategy so we go deep into today along with some information on the upcoming virtual Pickleball Summit. 

You might be surprised to know that the number one senior pro-Mattias Johansson, is wrapped up like a mummy when he plays due to many injuries. So you might wonder how he made it to the number one rating in singles. In this episode, we cover just that as he talks about the mind-body connection, and you will also be surprised at how many miles he logs during a tournament.

When Dekel Bar first started playing Pickleball, he did not think he would become too serious about the game after competing in pro tennis. However, he is one of the top players in the sport plus he is involved in two Pickleball business ventures.  In this episode, Dekel and I discuss all of that plus we go deep on how to hit four types of volleys.

We all have our reasons why we play Pickleball and author Larry Blundred is no different. However, he takes the sport a step further by writing books about Pickleball to salute both the community and his late wife. Let's get to the intro so you can hear from Larry and learn about the critters in his book.