Pickleball Fire Podcast
220 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 64 ratingsThe Pickleball Fire podcast brings you instructional tips, industry news, player profiles, and inspiring stories. https://pickleballfire.com
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Episodes
212: Strategies for Playing With and Against Lefties with Camp Pickleball
October 30, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBYou 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
211: Pickleball From the Feet Up with Pro Ben Bicknese from the Pickle Haus
September 11, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBAfter 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.
210: A Deep Dive into Speed Ups with Matt and Aaron from the Pickleball Clinic
August 14, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBI 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.
209: 3 Advanced Tips from Pro Pickleball Play with Certified Instructor Adam Richards
June 05, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBIn 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.
208: Exploring Pickleball's Rapid Growth with Crystal Gallagher
May 29, 2023 04:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn 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/crystal
207: Unlock the Secrets of Pickleball Pros: Data-Driven Insights with Alex Spancake
May 15, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBDo 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.
206: Qigong: The Pickleball Performance Booster with Master Lee Holden
May 01, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBToday, 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.
205: How to Get Rid of Your Nagging Injuries with Dr. Sanjay and Coach Jes
April 03, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBAre 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.
204: Understanding the Physics of Pickleball with Coach Tom Meyer
March 20, 2023 17:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBI'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 located How far you should take your paddle back when hitting the ball Why your Pickleball serve is slower than you think Where you should hit the ball on the pad...
203: How to Be Positive and Build Confidence in Pickleball with Dr. Jenn Jacobs
March 13, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBToday 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.
202: How to Stay in the Present to Increase Your Consistency in Pickleball with Dr. Michelle
March 06, 2023 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBIt'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.
201: The 3 Zones of Pickleball with Teaching Pro Curtis Reese
January 23, 2023 05:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBCurtis 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,
200: Improve Your Game Using Pickleball Metaphors with Pro Kevin Beeson
January 16, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBI 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.
199: Major League Pickleball and the 4th Shot with Pro Susannah Barr
January 09, 2023 05:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBYou 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.
198: The Best Exercise for Pickleball with Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike Ielmorini
January 02, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBWhen 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.
197: Playing Pickleball to Stay Alive with Angela Gallafent
December 26, 2022 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBWe 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.
196: Paddles Not Pistols with First Dink Foundation's Founder Sam Veal
December 19, 2022 05:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBSam 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.
195: The Dreaded Pop Up in Pickleball with Certified Pro Dan Levine
December 12, 2022 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBIt 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.
194: Pickleball is Life with Author Erin McHugh
December 05, 2022 05:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBI 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.
193: Strategic Switching with Pickleball for Dummies Author Mo Nard
November 28, 2022 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBMo 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.
192: The Dining Room Shot in Pickleball with Teaching Pro Gregg Whitfield
November 21, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBThis 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.
191: Winning Against the Odds with Amy Zaterman Seltzer
November 17, 2022 05:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBAmy 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.
190: How to Play Zen-Like Pickleball with Teaching Pro Mike Leigh
November 14, 2022 05:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBSometimes 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.
189: How Being More Offensive Can Help Your Game with National Champion Dick Johnson
November 07, 2022 05:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBDick 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.
188: Pros and Cons of Different Pickleball Grips with Steven Schnitzer
October 31, 2022 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBI 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.
187: Team-Based Pickleball Leagues with Greg Mather
October 24, 2022 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBAlmost 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.com
186: Fun Pickleball Drills to Improve Your Game with National Champion Kristie MacDonald
October 17, 2022 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBOne 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.
185: The Joy of Pickleball with Author Mike Branon
October 10, 2022 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBI 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.
184: Pickleball is My Life with Mexican National Champion Emanuel Sanchez
October 03, 2022 04:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBImagine 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.
183: How to Stop Hitting Balls in the Net with Pro Kevin Beeson
September 26, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBI 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.
182: 3 Tips to Improve Your Game with Senior Pro Jen Lassandro
September 19, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBJen 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.
181: Stop Playing Pickleball to Win with National Champion Brett Noel
September 12, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBOn 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.
180: Pickleball for All: Everything but the Kitchen Sink with Author Rachel Simon
September 05, 2022 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBNear 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.
179: The Next Generation of Pickleball with 16-Year-Old Pro Jayden Broderick
August 29, 2022 04:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBI 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.
178: How One Pickleball Player Became Pain Free with Turbo Darcy
August 22, 2022 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBDo 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.
177: How to Develop Fast Hands in Pickleball with Teaching Pro Phil Metz
August 15, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBPhil 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.
176: 3 Tips for how to Speed Recovery after Playing Pickleball with Senior Pro Tim Ringgold
August 08, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBIf 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.
175: The Pickleball Spin Serve: Will it will be Legal in 2023 with Morgan Evans
August 01, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBI 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.
174: Bend Your Knees Louise - A Pickleball Primer with Authors Jackie Freeman & Karen Worthy
July 28, 2022 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBBend 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.
173: How to Improve Your Ball Tracking with Vizual Edge's Zack Strock
July 25, 2022 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBWe 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.
172: How to Prevent Pickleball Injuries with Fitness Trainer Leslie Roberts
July 18, 2022 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBAs 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.
171: Finding Your Optimal Level of Intensity for Peak Pickleball Performance with Pro Julian Arnold
July 11, 2022 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.2 MBJulian 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.
170: How the Simple Act of Journaling Can Improve Your Pickleball Game with Jody Belsher
July 04, 2022 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBMost 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.
169: The U.S. Open Pickleball Championship with Terri Graham and Chris Evon
June 27, 2022 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBI 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.
168: Pickleball on Clay, Cruising and Quiet Paddles with Pro Nikki Roth
June 22, 2022 20:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBWe 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.
167: Using 3-2-1 to Improve Your Pickleball Game with CJ Johnson
June 20, 2022 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBWe 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.
166: 3 Tips on How to Neutralize Bangers with the Pickleball Pirates Keith Valentine
June 13, 2022 04:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBGrizzly 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.
165: Pickleball Strategy: Respect the X with Senior Pro Tony Roig
June 06, 2022 04:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBThe 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.
164: The Mind Body Connection in Pickleball with Senior Pro Mattias Johansson
May 30, 2022 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBYou 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.
163: How to Hit Four Types of Pickleball Volleys with Pro Dekel Bar
May 23, 2022 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBWhen 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.