Here’s the ultimate mindset shift for anyone trying to break through a pickleball plateau: The "One-Thing" Rule. Instead of stepping onto the court stressing over the scoreboard or your DUPR rating, pick ONE specific mechanic to measure your success. For Fabian's gold-medal tournament prep, it was the split-step—making sure his…
WE ARE DALLAS BOUND! ✈️🤠 Fabian won GOLD and officially punched his ticket to the PPA World Championships! In this episode, we are taking you inside the emotional roller coaster of our recent tournament run at the Greatest Spectacle Qualifier. Fabian kicks things off with a raw, completely honest recap…
What actually makes a "good" partner? It isn't just a DUPR rating. In this episode, Rick Witsken and Fabian Rodriguez break down the intricate dance of pickleball partnerships. Rick shares his "Big Rick" philosophy on taking the middle, the importance of high EQ during timeouts, and why phrasing your suggestions…
In this episode, we sit down with Steve Hoy, a certified DUPR assessment coach at 3rd Shot Pickleball. Fabian opens up about his "Road to 4.0" which recently hit a massive speed bump—a 0-4 tournament finish that led to a literal identity crisis (and a fresh haircut). Rick provides a…
Move over, Swig—Nico the Lefty is sharing his personal secret for the ultimate low-cal Dirty Soda. It’s a pro-level Sonic Hack that gives you all the flavor without the sugar crash. The Official Build: ✅ Base: Route 44 Sprite Zero 🧊 ✅ The Mix: Blue Coconut Flavor (The "Ocean Water"…
In this episode we sit down with the man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere to take over your social media feed: Nico The Lefty. From leaving a high-level corporate strategy role at Intuit to becoming the co-host of the Picklepod with Zane Navratil, Nico breaks down the "overnight success"…
Welcome back to the studio! Rick and Fabian dive headfirst into the massive legal bombshell rocking the pickleball world: JOOLA has filed patent infringement lawsuits against 11 major brands. We break down the "Propulsion Core" controversy and discuss whether this is a move to protect innovation or an attempt to…
The decision that shocked the pickleball world. Isaac and Scott from Friday Pickleball reveal the high-stakes drama behind their brand's launch. Imagine being 20 minutes away from signing a life-changing contract with the industry leader, Selkirk, only to get a "cease and desist" style DM from a startup with bananas…
This isn’t a movie plot. Someone actually wore a wig and sunglasses to "play down" in a cash tournament. 🥸 The legend of Dom Eggring is officially the craziest thing to happen to at a local pickleball tournament. #pickleball #truecrime #fridaypickleball #scandal #tournament #pickleballtournament #dupr
What happens when you combine three guys from Kansas City making "dumb videos" with three Yale grads crushing e-commerce? You get Friday Pickleball, the fastest-growing (and funniest) brand in the game. We sat down with Isaac and Scott from Friday Pickleball to go behind the scenes of their meteoric rise.…
Get the story behind how Friday Pickleball got started. Full episode out now!
Behind the scenes of the 2026 1st Annual Spring Invitational at 3rd Shot Pickleball in Indianapolis, IN. We had over 280 players total! This 3 day tournament was a huge success, filled with lots of fun, laughs and competitiveness start to finish. Shot & Edited by: Thxmedia / https://www.thxedit.com Thank…
In this episode, we dive deep into the most controversial news in the sport: the DUPR Reset. Is it a necessary validation tool for the "boots on the ground" players, or is it just a $35 money grab? Rick shares a personal horror story of how winning a gold medal…
Are you plateauing because of your paddle, or because of your brain? 📉 In this episode of This Is Pickleball, we sit down with pro player, club owner, and former military linguist Susannah Barr to answer a hard question: Is your mindset weak? Susannah reveals her "Pickleball Grit" philosophy—a 77-day…
Heading to Naples for the Biggest Pickleball Party in the World? Don’t go unprepared. We’ve cut together the ultimate 10-minute masterclass featuring US Open President Ben Weinberger and Senior Pro Rick Witsken. This isn't just about the brackets—it's about how to actually survive and thrive in the most intense tournament…
The US Open is officially the BIGGEST pickleball party in the world! 🌎🔥 Ben Weinberger breaks down the mind-blowing lottery numbers for this year—with 7,126 entries for just 3,500 spots, the demand is through the roof! 🚀 From all 50 states and 53 countries, everyone wants a piece of the…
Ever wonder what it takes to organize 7,000 players, 500 pros, and 56,000 fans in a single week? Welcome Inside the Biggest Pickleball Party in the World. In this episode, we sit down with Ben Weinberger, President and Tournament Director of the US Open Pickleball Championships. Ben reveals the staggering…
Ever seen a pro player standing upright in the back of a moving convertible because they physically couldn't sit down? 🚙💨 Rick Witsken takes us back to a legendary gold medal match in Chicago where full-body cramps nearly ended it all. The secret weapon that got him back on court…
In this episode of This Is Pickleball we dive deep into the crossover between pro tennis and pro pickleball. Rick gives an exclusive "Uncle Rick" perspective on Ben Shelton’s recent Australian Open run and discusses the tactical evolution of the world’s best tennis players. But the real drama starts on…
How do you beat the most dominant force in the game when you’re down 9-4 in the third? According to Jackie and Jade Kawamoto, you stop trying to make the score "respectable" and you start fighting. 😤 The sisters pull back the curtain on the biggest upset of 2025. They…
Most people think you have to go "all-in" 24/7 to reach the top of the PPA Tour. Jackie and Jade Kawamoto are proving everyone wrong. By day, they’re working in Championships and Eligibility at the NCAA. By the weekend, they’re taking down the World #1s. 🥇 The secret? Their jobs…
Rick and I played Jackie and Jade Kawamoto... it did not end well.
