Playmaker Pickleball

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...

  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...

One phenomenon I’ll never understand is when someone does something a certain way, fails, repeats it the exact same way, and then gets frustrated when they fail again. This mindset shows up all the time in pickleball. If you hit a shot into the net, out, or simply somewhere you didn’t intend, why would you attempt the same shot the same way again and expect a different result? If you're going to try it again, something has to change. Maybe you need to drop your paddle tip and come over the ball more. Maybe you need to bend your knees or follow through better. Small adjustments can make a big difference. Which brings us to a key question: How do you consistently execute shots that help you win more matches? A lot of people know the answer to this question, but don't necessarily want to acknowledge it. The answer is you have to practice these shots over and over again. You do this by drilling.   The number of balls you can hit drilling versus just playing rec games is incredi...

This blog is a continuation of Choosing the Perfect Paddle for You Part 1. If you haven't read that blog you can read it here.    This blog is all about twistweight and swingweight —two paddle specs that are often overlooked but, in my opinion, are even more important than static weight (which we’ll also touch on briefly). According to The Picklr, swingweight is defined as "how heavy a pickleball paddle feels when you swing it." Twistweight , on the other hand, "is about how resistant the pickleball paddle is to rotation when the ball is hit off-center on the paddle face." In simple terms: Swing weight affects your hand speed and maneuverability. Twistweight determines how stable the paddle feels on off-center hits. Wider paddles generally have higher twistweight and lower swingweight , making them more stable and easier to maneuver. Elongated (narrower) paddles usually have lower twistweight and higher swingweight , offering more reach and pow...

Fun lesson today with some great people! This group came ready to focus on strategy, and we dove right in. One of the biggest takeaways from the session was this: while there are traditional patterns and tactics in pickleball, real strategy comes from understanding who you're playing. What do your opponents do well—and just as importantly, what don’t they? Do they struggle with backhands? Are they stronger in the soft game or fast exchanges? Are they quick on their feet? Would a well-placed lob be effective? There’s no single formula for winning points in pickleball. Success comes from reading your opponents and tailoring your strategy to beat them . If you know your opponents beforehand, great—start building your game plan early. If you don’t, use the first few points to test things out: Drive the third and see how they handle pace. Dink to their backhand or to the middle and see how solid they are. Try a lob and observe their footwork and reaction. Every shot give...

Choosing the perfect pickleball paddle is one of the most important decisions you can make to level up your game—but with so many options, where do you start? This post is Part 1 of a three-part series designed to help you find the paddle that fits your play style. We’ll kick things off by breaking down paddle shape—how it affects control, power, and quickness at the kitchen—and I’ll share my personal experience with each type. In this blog, we’ll explore other key features like paddle thickness, handle length, and face material to give you a complete guide to picking the right paddle with confidence. One of the best places to start when choosing a pickleball paddle is figuring out which shape suits your game. Currently, there are four primary paddle shapes: Widebody, Hybrid, Elongated, and Extra Elongated. Widebody Widebody paddles are typically no more than 16 inches long and at least 8 inches wide. This is the shape I currently use and one I’ve really grown to love. Back in what ...

A lot of coaches and players approach drilling and playing with the mindset of avoiding mistakes at all costs . From the very beginning, players are often taught that mistakes are bad—and that the best players simply don't make them. While it’s true that professionals make fewer mistakes than amateurs, they didn’t get there by playing it safe or shying away from failure. In fact, that mindset is not only inaccurate—it’s counterproductive . It’s detrimental to player development.  I’ve seen so many players—especially at the lower levels— pass up opportunities to attack . They leave speed-ups untouched or turn clear put-away chances into passive shots that simply “get the ball over.” I’ll be honest: I used to do the same thing when I was first starting out. So when I ask these players why they didn’t take the shot, nine times out of ten they say the same thing : “I was afraid I’d hit it in the net.” Let me be clear—I would much rather a player go for the attack and miss tha...

In this blog, I’ll be ranking the top five small paddle companies in pickleball. These up-and-coming Brands have grown in popularity thanks to their impressive balance of affordability and performance. I’ll admit—I have strong opinions when it comes to small paddle companies, so this list might spark some disagreement. But I stand by my picks and won’t shy away from sharing my honest perspective. #5: Reload  Kicking off the list at number five is one of the most innovative brands in pickleball—Reload. Unlike traditional paddle companies, Reload markets itself as a paddle system rather than just a paddle. They’re the only brand currently offering replaceable top sheets, allowing players to restore spin performance without buying an entirely new paddle. While Reload earns points for creativity and value, it lands at number five because of its limited offerings—there's currently only one paddle shape and no Gen 3 core technology. If spin is your top priority, Reload is worth a seri...

An often overlooked and underestimated shot in pickleball is the drive. Contrary to popular belief, the drive is just as essential as the drop or dink. If you’re not using it to create opportunities, you’re missing a key element of your offensive game. The drive isn’t just a power shot—it can be a versatile weapon used to apply pressure, force errors, and set up winning points in a variety of ways.  1. Test Your Opponent’s Ability to Handle Pace One of the best reasons to use a drive—especially early in a match—is to test your opponents. I often recommend using a third-shot drive right away when you’re unfamiliar with who you’re playing. Choose one player and drive the ball at them. If they handle it cleanly, try the other. If they struggle, keep targeting them until they prove they can adjust. Just like a drop, though, placement matters. A low, fast drive is ideal—high drives are easier to attack and more likely to go out if your opponent lets them go. 2. Create “Shake and Bake” ...

Bold Take: Dinking Isn't Dead — Lazy Dinking Is. Gone are the days when simply getting the ball over the net and into a safe spot was enough. Today’s players are more consistent, thanks to the emphasis on dinking from day one. But modern dinking isn’t just about survival — it’s about applying pressure. Players now use heavy topspin, sharp slices, and precise placement to force errors and create opportunities. The kitchen is no longer just a zone of neutrality or defense; it’s an offensive battlefield. While this has always been true at the highest levels, we’re now seeing this aggressive, intentional style of dinking filter down to 3.0 and 3.5 play — and it’s changing the game. Skill #1: Topspin Dinking Topspin is a game-changer at the kitchen line. Adding topspin to your dink gives it more pace, causes it to dip quickly, and makes it much tougher for your opponent to handle. When a topspin dink accelerates into the opponent’s paddle, it often causes the ball to pop up, setting y...

This might sound like a small thing to write a blog about, but I’m a firm believer in wearing a bucket hat during outdoor pickleball in the summer. I’m someone who constantly forgets to put on sunscreen, and the bucket hat has truly been a game-changer. The turning point came during a singles tournament the Friday before my brother’s wedding—I ended up with a brutal sunburn on my face that stuck around for the big day. That was my wake-up call. No matter how many reminders I gave myself, I just couldn’t consistently remember sunscreen. Enter the bucket hat. It’s practical, effective, and ever since I became a big Ryler DeHeart fan, I’ve found even more inspiration to wear one with pride. The bucket hat turned out to be the perfect solution. At first, I was skeptical—it seemed like it might be too heavy or cumbersome for athletic competition. But I quickly realized that wasn’t the case at all. I bought my first bucket hat while on vacation at Dinosaur National Monument and ended up usin...

I don’t think people fully realize how important arm positioning is—especially in the soft game. I was recently giving a lesson to a few friends, and it became clear just how much this detail can affect both drops and dinks. One of them—let’s call her Ella—has been struggling with paddle positioning for a while. She’s been trying to find the right balance between keeping her arms too stiff and holding them too close to her body, and it’s been hurting her consistency. It’s pretty well-known that keeping your arms too close to your body makes it hard to play consistently. Many coaches refer to this as “T-Rex arms.” In this position, you simply don’t have the coordination or control that comes with a more athletic arm posture. On the flip side, locking your arms straight removes the natural fluidity and finesse needed for soft shots. There needs to be a comfortable, natural bend in the arms to allow for optimal touch and responsiveness. Now, I could look back on this one day and feel diff...

The debate over which paddle is best will never end. Some players love experimenting with new gear, while others are fiercely loyal to their chosen brand. In this blog, we're narrowing the paddle space from the hundreds of models on the market to the five most common brands used by professionals. This isn’t a list of the best paddles for recreational players—nor is it necessarily a ranking of which brands offer the best performance for pros. When players decide to pursue a professional career, it's common for them to seek out paddle sponsorships. On the flip side, there are brands that don’t sponsor pros—either due to limited resources or lack of interest—which naturally shrinks the field of options for aspiring professionals. I know not everyone is going pro, but if you’re a pickleball nerd like me and watch a lot of PPA and MLP events, you probably find this stuff just as interesting as I do. This list highlights the five paddle brands you’ll see most often on the PPA and ...