Smashing Plastic Podcast

16-Year-Old Pickleball Phenom Mackonner Dy on Chasing Pro Dreams

Meet Mackonner Dy, a 16-year-old junior pickleball player from Vancouver, BC, and one of Canada’s rising young talents in the sport. Already a Canadian National Champion and PPA Tour competitor, Mackonner is balancing homeschool, daily training, tournament travel, and a serious dream of going pro. In this Smashing Plastic Pickleball episode, Coach Tommy digs into Mackonner’s competitive mindset, pickleball drills, mental toughness, faith, family support, and what it really takes to level up on the court. Mackonner shares how he went from basketball and casual family pickleball to winning gold in his first tournament with his dad—and realizing pickleball could become his future. His journey has already taken him onto the professional stage, including a recent run to the Round of 16 in Men’s Pro Doubles at the PPA Texas Open with fellow Vancouver player Armaan Jiwa-Mawji, where they faced one of the top teams in the world. Known for his quick hands, creative shot-making, calm composure, and advanced court awareness, Mackonner represents the next generation of Canadian pickleball players pushing the sport forward. This episode also explores Mackonner’s development, from training through Vancouver weather to improving drops, building consistency, managing pressure at 10–7, and learning that there is no single magic shot or drill that makes a great player. He also shares the importance of family, including how pickleball began as a family activity and grew into a serious competitive pursuit. Packed with advice for junior pickleball players, competitive rec players, parents, coaches, and anyone chasing the next level, Mackonner’s story is a powerful look at discipline, hustle, faith, family support, and the future of pickleball.   Follow Mackonner: IG: https://www.instagram.com/mackonner_pb [https://www.instagram.com/mackonner_pb]  Sponsor: https://www.satoriintegrativehealth.com/pickleball-coaching.html [https://www.satoriintegrativehealth.com/pickleball-coaching.html]    Follow Smashing Plastic: FB: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic [https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic]  IG: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/ [https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/]

DUPR Ratings, Coach Ratings & Pickleball’s Biggest Problem: Accuracy

DUPR ratings are one of the hottest topics in pickleball, and this Smashing Plastic episode goes straight at the big question: how accurate is your DUPR rating, really? Tommy Welch sits down with Katie Nimitz of My Journey Pickleball and DUPR Coach to break down coach-assigned ratings, player development, DUPR reliability, club programming, and why your pickleball identity should never be wrapped up in a decimal point. Katie explains how DUPR Coach helps unrated pickleball players get into the rating system through educated, certified coaches while giving players a clearer path toward better games, better competition, and better long-term growth. Tommy and Katie also dig into the challenges clubs face with DUPR-locked events, ladder leagues, inaccurate ratings, and the tension between data, AI, coach judgment, and real-world pickleball variables. If you are a pickleball player frustrated by your rating, a coach trying to evaluate players accurately, or a club operator trying to build fair programming, this conversation is packed with perspective. The future of pickleball ratings is moving fast, and DUPR Coach is right in the middle of it.     Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:58 What Is DUPR Coach? 02:48 Why Pickleball Ratings Matter 04:42 The DUPR Accuracy Debate 06:11 Why Logging Matches Matters 08:57 Pickleball’s Rapid Growth 09:49 AI, Data & the Future of DUPR 14:14 Golf Handicap vs. Pickleball Ratings 15:56 Analytics and Coach-Assisted Ratings 16:20 Coach’s Tip: Nothing Replaces Data 18:42 Court Building & Resurfacing 20:01 DUPR-Gated Clubs and Ladder Leagues 22:56 Why Pickleball Clubs Need Better Programming 25:26 How Coaches Help Player Retention 26:09 You Can’t Make Every Player Happy 26:58 People First, Winning Matters 29:47 Who Should Become a DUPR Coach? 30:56 DUPR Coach Growth and Contact Info   Follow DUPR COACH: Website: https://www.myjourneypickleball.com/   Follow Smashing Plastic: FB: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic IG: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/

Resilience | Chris Singleton on Faith, Coaching, Culture & Overcoming Adversity

Coach Tommy brings bold Smashing Plastic energy to a powerful conversation with Chris Singleton on pickleball, baseball, faith, coaching, adversity, and leadership. This episode dives into sports culture, mental toughness, team chemistry, positive self-talk, and how athletes can respond to failure with resilience and purpose. Chris shares his journey from Goose Creek High School to Charleston Southern baseball, getting drafted by the Chicago Cubs, coaching young athletes, speaking to students, and using personal tragedy to inspire love, unity, and character. Together, Tommy and Chris unpack what makes great teams different: culture, accountability, encouragement, hunger, and the ability to handle adversity the right way. They also talk about the explosive growth of pickleball, why the sport’s community is so unique, how baseball and pickleball both teach life lessons, and why the words athletes use matter more than they realize. From faith in the book of James to bench lessons, late bloomers, overlooked players, and real leadership, this episode is packed with perspective for players, coaches, parents, and competitors. This Smashing Plastic episode is for anyone who cares about pickleball mindset, baseball development, youth sports culture, Christian leadership, team building, and learning how to win in life as much as in sports.   Follow Chris: Website: https://www.chrissingleton.com/ [https://www.chrissingleton.com/] IG: https://www.instagram.com/csingleton_2/ [https://www.instagram.com/csingleton_2/]   Follow Smashing Plastic: FB: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic [https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic] IG: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/ [https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/]

Jack Munro on Pro Pickleball, Youth Development & the APP Tour

Jack Munro joins the Smashing Plastic Podcast to talk about his rise in pro pickleball, what it takes to compete at the highest level, and where the sport is headed next. From becoming one of pickleball’s earliest young standouts to building Longhorn Pickleball at UT Austin and competing as one of the top players on the APP Tour, Jack shares his journey, mindset, and vision for the future of the game.   In this episode, Jack talks about the difference between the APP and PPA, why training environment matters so much for development, how youth pickleball and college pickleball are growing, and what players can do to improve faster. He also opens up about balancing pro pickleball, school, content creation, recovery, and long-term goals on and off the court.   This conversation is packed with insight for pickleball players, coaches, parents, and fans who want to better understand the modern pro game and where the next generation of talent is coming from. Whether you’re interested in strategy, mindset, junior pickleball, collegiate competition, or life as a pro athlete, this episode delivers a great inside look at one of pickleball’s rising stars.   Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Jack Munro 03:09 The Growth of Pickleball in Austin 06:00 Youth Pickleball: The Next Generation 09:03 The Art of Ambidextrous Play 11:54 Comparing APP and PPA Tours 14:59 Future Aspirations and Goals 17:59 Advice for Aspiring Players   Follow Jack: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejackmunro [https://www.instagram.com/thejackmunro] Website: https://www.jackmunropickleball.com/home [https://www.jackmunropickleball.com/home]   Follow Smashing Plastic: FB: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic [https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic] IG: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/ [https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/]

Pickleball Mindset Secrets: Jill Martin on Playing to Your Superpower

What separates good pickleball players from great ones? In this episode of Smashing Plastic, Coach Tommy sits down with Jill Martin (Pickleball Yogi) to break down the mental side of winning—confidence, partner communication, mixed doubles dynamics, and how to build your game around your true pickleball superpower. Jill shares powerful insights from her work with Dayne Gingrich, their book Pickleball Mindset, and her experience coaching players on how to compete with more clarity, resilience, and self-belief. From pre-match communication to handling pressure on court, this episode is packed with real strategy for tournament players, rec players, coaches, and anyone trying to level up their pickleball mindset. They also dive into women in pickleball, the need for more female coaches, how mixed doubles is its own game, and why bad coaching can be worse than no coaching. If you want to play freer, communicate better with your partner, and stop fighting against your natural style, this one delivers. In this episode: * How Jill approaches mindset and competition on the pickleball court * Why partner communication should happen before the match starts * Mixed doubles strategy and gender dynamics in pickleball * How to build confidence under pressure * Why you should build your game from your superpower * The biggest mistake new partnerships make * Coaching, fear, identity, and mental performance in pickleball Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Pickleball Mindset 01:09 The Competitor vs. Coach Mindset 02:22 Proving Yourself in Pickleball 04:04 Building Confidence on the Court 06:49 Empowering Women in Pickleball 07:27 Addressing Gender Dynamics in Coaching 10:52 Effective Communication on the Court 14:52 Navigating Mixed Partnerships 18:56 The Importance of Pre-Match Communication 25:15 Future Plans and Online Offerings 27:46 Final Tips for Improvement   Follow Jill Martin / Pickleball Yogi and learn more about her mindset work, clinics, and online training through PB Mindset.   Website [https://www.pbmindset.com/]    -   IG [https://www.instagram.com/pickleballyogi]    -   FB [https://www.facebook.com/Pickleballyogi] Follow Smashing Plastic: FB [https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic]  IG [https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic]