Pros & Money, Worlds Mindset & DUPR Drama

Rick and Fabian are back at Third Shot Pickleball, where the show started a year ago, and both are headed to Dallas. Rick previews the Champion Series Pickleball Championships: his Indy team picked Coachella as its first-round opponent, Houston has gone undefeated all season, and he tells the story of last year's finals, when Seattle's cowbells were stolen and the opponents took the good seats. He also explains why he thinks playing for the paycheck is "a dangerous perspective" for a senior pro, even as Tour Wars contracts and agents made pickleball money real.

Then it's Worlds prep for amateurs. Rick explains his strong-voice vs. weak-voice approach to mental toughness, why visualization works, and why you sometimes take a step back before you get better. The guys also debate DUPR's new search limits, and Rick explains why he turned down six mixed partners for Nationals. Rick's Tips closes the episode with a full breakdown of blocking at the net: paddle up, grip at a five, a wide lunge base, and a drill you can run tomorrow.

🏓 Save 10% on an Aireo Cyclone Paddle! Use code FABIAN10
🏓 Save 15% on an RPM Paddle! Use code FABIAN15

Key Takeaways

Money isn't the motivator for Rick. He doesn't know the Nationals payout and calls a senior pro making the game their living "a dangerous perspective." Fabian adds that the same pressure can hurt young players trying to make rent.

Houston is the team to beat at the CSP Championships. They're undefeated at 16-0 across four weekends, and Indy lost to them 7-5. Rick still says the field is wide open because matchups and team pressure lead to upsets.

Toughness means no excuses. Wind, rain delays and a bad overrule are what weak-minded players blame. Rick wants amateurs to lean on their training, visualize the night before and an hour before play, and judge themselves on process over outcome.

DUPR is one measure, not the whole picture. Losing in your bracket at Worlds doesn't mean you aren't that level, because you might have run into ex-college tennis players with no tournament history. Rick checks a partner's DUPR, how reliable it is, and who they lost to and beat.

Blocking fundamentals: start with your paddle up (paddle down is "absolutely taboo" against bangers), keep elbows in, set grip pressure to five out of five, keep the wrist neutral to slightly closed, and lunge to widen your base. Aim at their feet or between your opponents.

Timestamps:
00:00 One year of This is Pickleball at Third Shot
02:06 CSP Championships: Indy picks Coachella
03:48 CSP season recap & championship format
06:14 Do pros think about the money?
09:16 Championship favorites: undefeated Houston
13:56 Sudden death at 10-all & an epic comeback
15:27 Gamesmanship: stolen cowbells & seat grabs
16:59 Worlds prep & Kristen hits 4.0
19:55 Mental toughness: no excuses
22:52 Why you regress before you progress
27:32 Partners, disciplines & process over outcome
28:51 The DUPR Plus debate
32:53 Don't let DUPR define your Worlds
34:09 Dallas plans & CSP awards night
35:18 Rick's Tips: blocking at the net
39:21 A drill to practice blocks
40:26 Dinkmas in December & Indiana Pickleball League