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Welp It's Been A Minute: When to be aggressive

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Welp, it’s been a minute. Life’s been busy, but my pickleball grind definitely hasn’t slowed down—especially in mixed doubles. Since coming back from injury, my mindset on the game has shifted a bit. I’ve always been a big believer in playing aggressively and taking calculated risks. But I’ve also realized you have to be smart about when to lean into that strategy. It shouldn’t be the strategy you force no matter what; it should be the strategy you default to when the match calls for it. I know the pickleball traditionalists are probably saying, “Well, no duh,” but hear me out. I still think testing your opponents early—drives, speed-ups, seeing how they handle pace—is a fantastic way to gather information. Those first few exchanges tell you almost everything you need to know. If your opponents struggle with speed, keep attacking. If they handle it well, then shift into a more patient game. But the keyword is patient —not passive, not conservative. At lower levels, playing safe a...
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Warrior Blucore by Diadem: Full Review from a Long-Time Rep

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Back in my early days of playing pickleball, I was determined to become a brand rep. I’ve always been a gear junkie —growing up skiing, I was fascinated by anyone who represented a company. That passion naturally followed me into pickleball. I filled out ambassador applications for various brands, but Diadem was one of the only companies that actually reached out to me. That made the decision easy: I proudly became a Diadem Rep and started playing with the original Diadem Warrior as my daily driver. The original Warrior was unlike anything else on the market at the time. While most companies were releasing paddles in 14mm or 16mm thicknesses, Diadem was the first to introduce a 19mm paddle , breaking new ground in both design and feel. It was also very heavy,  weighing in at 8.5+ ounces with a swingweight of 127, which is extremely high by any standard. A friend of mine jokingly called it “The Club.” Eventually, Diadem released the Warrior V2 , which became my go-to paddle for an...
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Specialist vs. Generalist: Which Wins in Pickleball?

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In my opinion, there are two main ways to become a great player: Be the best at one thing. Be really good at everything. At first glance, both seem like solid goals. But if you ask me, option two is the more reliable and sustainable path —being well-rounded. Let’s talk about option one first: being the best at one thing. This can absolutely work—if you can consistently dominate a specific skill, like having elite hand speed at the net, then that one skill can carry you far. For example, if you win 90% of your firefights, you should try to turn every point into a firefight. Why wouldn’t you? You’re playing to your strength and forcing others to play your game. However, unless your name is Ben Johns, you're eventually going to run into someone with equal—or even superior—skills. That’s why it’s in your best interest to have a wide variety of shots and strategies at your disposal. The more tools you have, the more likely you are to find the clearest path to victory. This ...
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Why the Fourth Shot Matters More Than You Think

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Pickleball players and coaches often put a huge emphasis on the third shot—serve, return, and then the all-important drop or drive. It's a popular topic, and for good reason. But what rarely gets talked about is the fourth shot —the ball played immediately after the third shot. Whether it's a counter to a drive or a response to a drop, the fourth shot can actually be one of the most important weapons in your arsenal. When you are about to hit a fourth shot, you and your partner should be established at the kitchen line. If you aren't, refer to my previous blog .  There are several smart options for how to handle the fourth shot , and your choice depends entirely on the type of third shot you receive: 1. If you receive a third shot drop into the kitchen: Dink it cross-court. This is often the safest and smartest response, especially if your opponent hits a solid drop and you’re unsure of a better option. It keeps you on point and resets the rally. Or Attack a hig...
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Punish the Passive: How to Exploit Poor Positioning in Pickleball

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This past weekend, I was at my friend Bonnie’s mixed doubles tournament at the 3.25–3.5 level. They went 6–0 and won the whole thing—no one even came close to beating them. Safe to say, it might be time for them to move up to 3.75 or even 4.0. But while watching that level of play, one thing kept standing out—something I see over and over again as both a coach and a player: the returning team’s built-in advantage is being completely overlooked. Pickleball is literally designed to favor the returning team in point construction. Even though they can’t score, they’re handed a golden opportunity—one player is already at the kitchen, and the returner simply needs to hit a solid return and charge up to join their partner. Meanwhile, the serving team is stuck behind the baseline, trying to fight their way forward. Yet somehow, that advantage keeps going to waste. So here’s the challenge—and the opportunity—for the serving team: if the returner doesn’t come up to the kitchen, don’t let them o...
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The Power of Nerves and the Love of the Game: Johnson Ranch Mindset Mixer Recap

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Last Friday, my drill partner and I attended a "Mindset Mixer" hosted by the authors of Pickleball Mindset—Dayne Gingrich, a senior pro, and Jill Martin—at Johnson Ranch Sports Club, about forty minutes from where I live. I had high expectations going in, and it was very good. The event opened with a "Challenge the Pro" court, where people could line up and play a couple of points against Dayne and another senior pro. It was somewhat obvious the pros were lightening up a bit, but it was still fun to watch, and to be honest, a little bit tough to watch too. As an injured player, not being able to play with them left me a bit envious.  They beat everyone, but had quite the challenge when an emerging pro mixed doubles team showed up. They were close, at match point for the youngsters, before the senior pros were able to fend them off. They then led a Q and A session, which I thought was really interesting, even though I felt somewhat unprepared because I didn't hav...
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Playmaker Pickleball x Diadem: A Partnership Years in the Making

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  Exciting News! The past few months being sidelined with an injury haven’t been easy, but they've given me time to refocus, dive deeper into coaching, and launch my blog: Playmaker Pickleball . Out of this unexpected break came an incredible opportunity—I'm proud to officially announce that I’ve signed on as a Content Creator with Diadem Pickleball! This partnership is especially meaningful to me. The Diadem Warrior was one of my first real tournament paddles and my main paddle for nearly two years. Diadem has always been at the forefront of innovation, being one of the first to incorporate EVA foam into paddle cores, changing the game in feel, power, and performance. I’m excited to share exclusive Diadem content across my Instagram, Facebook, and my blog: 👉 playmakerpickleball.blogspot.com And if you’re looking to upgrade your gear, use code "Playmaker" for 10% off your next purchase at diademsports.com ! Let’s go! 💥 #PlaymakerPickleball #TeamDiadem #Picklebal...
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