Racquets Biz Podcast

From D1 Tennis to Pickleball Powerhouse: How Martina Kochli Is Shaping the Future of Indoor Facilities & Coaching Apps

In this episode of Racquets Biz, host Dominique Lemperle sits down with Martina Kochli, a former D1 tennis athlete turned top 15-ranked pickleball pro and now director of national partnerships and sponsorships for Dill Dinkers, one of the fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise groups in the United States. Martina shares a comprehensive inside look at the business behind modern pickleball, including: * What life is really like for today’s professional pickleball players — and why most still coach, teach, or run businesses to make it sustainable * The economic model behind profitable indoor facility development, including conservative lease strategy and court utilization benchmarks * Why Dill Dinkers plans strategic placement of 20–30 minute–spaced franchise facilities in Tampa and Lakeland * The rise of coaching travel businesses (70+ Pickleball Getaways trips) and instructional tech like Pickleball 360 * How equipment technology is changing the speed and strategy of the game * The industry shift from Director of Tennis to Director of Racquets in major clubs nationwide * Martina’s approach to balancing career expansion, multi-sport facility visioning, family, and continued involvement on court If you're in racquet sports management, facility development, or coaching and you want to stay ahead of where the sport is going—not where it’s been—subscribe to Racquets Biz now. New episodes drop monthly with insights from top operators and innovators shaping the industry.

Padel, Pickleball & The Future of Racquet Sports: A Deep Dive with Mark McMahon

Today’s guest is Mark McMahon, Founder and President of McMahon Careers. With more than 40 years in racquet sports—as a world-class competitor, tennis pro, director, USTA executive, and now industry-leading search consultant—Mark breaks down what’s truly driving the explosive growth of padel and pickleball, the essentials of community-building, and the business fundamentals every modern racquet sports director must master. Mark shares the evolution of his career from Melbourne to Boca Raton, his role in launching USTA’s national consulting initiative, and the story behind his highly respected Certified Racquet Sports Executive (CRSE) program. He also speaks directly to facility owners, directors, and first-time operators about avoiding burnout, hiring with clarity, and building sustainable club cultures. A must-listen for anyone shaping the future of racquet sports. Key Takeaways * Why community matters more than the sport itself * The truth about whether padel is a fad or the “next golf” * What new facility owners misunderstand about business planning and budgeting * Why mindset—not just skill set—defines great racquet leaders * How to compete with other leisure activities by creating “the third place” * The biggest misconceptions GMs have when hiring directors * What CRSE grads gain: strategic planning, budgeting, HR, leadership, and more Memorable Quote “The court sizes never change. It’s what happens in and around the courts that really makes the difference.” — Mark McMahon If you enjoyed this episode, follow Racquets Biz on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a rating, and share it with another racquet sports professional who would benefit from Mark’s insights.

Scaling Pickleball Across the Middle East: Community, Coaching, and Club Growth with Patrick Chucri

Patrick Chucri joins host Dominique Lemperle to unpack the rapid growth of pickleball in Dubai and across the Middle East. Patrick, former pro tennis player and founder of Pickler, shares how he transitioned from media investment to launching the region’s first dedicated pickleball club. In this episode, they discuss: * Why he pivoted from touch tennis to pickleball after only two weeks * How he built a thriving club in Dubai despite paddle’s dominance * What drives 2,200+ app users and 110 daily walk-ins at Pickler * Why community, coaching, and tech are essential to club success * Expansion plans across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond * What investors need to consider before entering the sport * The future of pickleball – Olympic visibility, university scholarships, and facility innovation Follow Patrick on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-chucri-784a5161/?originalSubdomain=ae] to explore collaboration or investment opportunities. Subscribe to Racquets Biz on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for weekly episodes exploring the business behind racket sports.

Player Retention Through Tech Innovation: How AI Is Transforming Racquet Clubs Worldwide

Pickleball is exploding. Padel is redefining racquet sports. Tennis is reinventing itself to stay relevant. But with rapid growth comes growing pains… conflicting rules, frustrated members, inconsistent player experiences. In this episode, Dominique speaks with Cassandra Toroian, CEO of Ruely.ai, a groundbreaking platform that uses AI to deliver instant, sport-specific rule clarification and enhanced gameplay support across tennis, padel, pickleball, golf, and more. Together, they unpack how: * AI is helping clubs eliminate disputes and build stronger community culture * Leadership decisions on court allocation and programming must be data-backed * Players and spectators adopt racquet sports faster when they're less intimidated * Multi-sport clubs can use technology to scale, differentiate, and retain members * The rise of pickleball and padel is reshaping tennis-focused facilities globally Whether you’re a club owner, racquet sport executive, coach, or investor, this conversation delivers strategic insight into racquets, leadership, AI, and the future of facility operations. Subscribe to stay ahead of industry shifts.

Conquer Padel’s Expansion Strategy and the Franchise Playbook Behind It

In this episode of Racquets Biz, host Dominique Lemperle sits down with Barry Falcon, Chief of Franchise Development at Conquer Padel Club. Barry brings more than twenty five years of experience in franchising and has built and sold multiple franchise businesses. He explains why Padel is poised to become the next major racket sport in the United States, how the sport compares to pickleball, and why the timing for investors could not be better. Barry shares his journey from New York to Los Angeles and finally to Atlanta, along with the sports that shaped his life. He describes the moment he recognized Padel’s explosive global growth and decided to partner with Conquer Padel. With a fully developed 400 page operations playbook, a strong executive team, and a growing pipeline of franchise territories, Conquer Padel is positioning itself as the leading Padel franchise brand in the country. Listeners will learn what makes a great franchisee, the red flags that keep candidates out of the system, and the operational decisions that help new clubs flourish. Barry explains staffing models, community building, member engagement, and why local market adaptation is essential. He also highlights the biggest mistakes emerging franchisors make and how to avoid them. Whether you are an investor, operator, or someone following the Padel boom, this conversation is packed with clear guidance on what it takes to build a profitable franchise in a fast growing sport.