This is Pickleball

How to Find the Perfect Pickleball Partner

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 as "we" instead of "you" can be the difference between a gold medal and a blowout. We also recap a wild weekend in the PPA, featuring the "Tama Time" phenomenon—a 15-year-old surfer from Hawaii who just put the pro circuit on notice. Rick shares a major personal announcement about his return to the Indy Drivers, and Fabian gears up for his "Revenge Tour 2026." From deep-dive strategy on singles serving to the upcoming Summer Series at Third Shot Pickleball, this episode is packed with the insights you need to level up your game. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Subscribe 00:59 Upcoming Events Rundown 01:27 Interclub Combine Details 03:17 Indoor vs Outdoor Debate 04:41 Third Shot Summer Series 08:21 Citywide and Fall Events 10:19 Fabian Tournament Updates 12:44 Rick Returns to CSP 14:59 CSP Format and Expansion 18:03 PPA Finals Recap 24:18 Mixed Doubles Recap 25:06 Tama Time Breakout 27:16 New Blood Rising 28:45 Partnerships Docuseries 30:20 Finding The Right Fit 32:58 Partner EQ And Trust 35:31 Strategy With New Partners 37:41 Communication On Court 41:22 Mixed Dynamics And Timeouts 43:15 How To Find Partners 46:23 Mixed Vs Gender Doubles 48:06 Singles Tournament Tips 51:34 Closing Shoutouts

The DUPR Reset: Why Your Rating is Tanking & How to Fix It

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—an 0-4 tournament finish that led to a literal identity crisis (and a fresh haircut). Rick provides a masterclass on player accountability, explaining why focusing on the process rather than the result is the only way to escape the "quicksand" of a downward spiral. We then dive deep into the controversial world of DUPR ratings. Steve Hoy breaks down the "Reliability Score," why your rating might tank even after a win, and the myths surrounding playing lower-rated opponents. Plus, we explore "Moneyball" tactics in the Indiana Pickleball League and get a high-level coaching tip on how to deaden the ball against "bangers." Whether you're obsessed with your rating or just want to win your local league, this episode is packed with the data and discipline you need. Key Takeaways: Self-Correction via Video: You aren't playing how you think you are. Watching your raw footage is the only way to bridge the gap between perception and reality. The DUPR Reliability Factor: A low reliability score makes your rating volatile. If you haven't played in a while, one bad match can cause a massive "tank" in your numbers. The "No Swing" Reset: To handle high-velocity speed-ups, keep the paddle closed, don't swing, and use a grip pressure of about 3 out of 10 to deaden the ball into the kitchen. Process over Result: Obsessing over your DUPR identifies "who you are" too much. Focus on performance metrics (consistency, resets, balance) and the rating will follow. League Strategy: Utilizing data and "Moneyball" analytics on opponents is becoming the new standard for winning competitive team pickleball. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:37 Meet Steve Hoy 01:51 Fabian Tournament Reality Check 03:41 Process Over Results 05:43 Redemption and Mindset 07:31 Indiana Pickleball League Talk 10:21 Community and Sportsmanship 11:57 Moneyball Captain Strategy 14:28 DUPR Certification Setup 16:02 What DUPR Is 17:58 DUPR Myths and Reliability 20:36 When Ratings Tank 22:25 Ratings as a Gatekeeper 22:56 Rating Gates Frustration 23:40 Why Clubs Enforce DUPR 26:05 Mindset Over Ratings 29:34 Coach Assessments Limits 32:16 Algorithm Shifts Brackets 35:51 When To Move Up 38:45 Tip Of The Week 42:18 League Combine Details 44:37 Sponsors And Wrap Up

Nico The Lefty: How to Make $10k/Month in Pickleball (Without Going Pro)

Nico The Lefty is everywhere. In less than a year, he went from a corporate strategy role at Intuit to becoming one of the most recognizable (and polarizing) voices in the sport as the co-host of the Picklepod. But how did it happen so fast? In this episode, Fabian Rodriguez sits down with Nico to peel back the curtain on the "Nico The Lefty" persona. They dive deep into the business of being a creator, including the exact breakdown of how Nico hit a $10,000 month through affiliate marketing and authentic brand partnerships. Nico also addresses the "Industry Plant" rumors, his ongoing "beef" with Jimmy Miller, and why he thinks the first year of playing pickleball is actually the most fun you'll ever have. In this episode, we discuss: * The 100-Day Sprint: The "all-in" strategy Nico used to quit his job and build a brand. * The Creator Economy: Why views are a vanity metric and where the real money is made. * Hot Takes: Dealing with trolls, the Lea Jansen "Rec Play" controversy, and the strategy behind the Nasty Nelson. * The "Statue" Meta: Why Nico refuses to bend his knees and how he uses fast hands to bait his opponents. Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Nico the Lefty 01:35 Industry Plant Origins 03:19 From Utah to Pickleball 06:16 Valencia Bros Era 08:50 Hot Takes to Pickle Pod 12:38 Pickle Pod 2.0 Vision 16:44 Beyond Going Pro 18:51 Finding Your Niche 23:18 Going All In on Content 27:45 100 Days No Misses 29:48 First 10K Month Breakdown 31:09 Affiliate Paddles and RPM 33:46 Authentic Affiliate Picks 35:44 UGC and Brand Outreach 37:59 Views vs Real Revenue 40:53 Viral Fears and Community 41:54 Handling Trolls and Hate 50:54 Leah Jansen Rec Debate 54:58 Viral Hits and Nasty Nelson 57:52 Dirty Soda and Home Club 01:00:33 Why I Dont Bend Knees

JOOLA Sues 11 Brands, MLP Merger & The 4.0 Mindset

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 "buy the industry." From the merger of the NPL into the Championship Series Pickleball (CSP) to the new partnership with the MLP, the landscape of professional pickleball is shifting beneath our feet. On the court, Rick shares a masterclass in mindset, explaining why "Entitlement Aggression" is the #1 reason amateur players stall in their development. Learn how to "change gears" from offense to defense and get the final word on when stacking is a strategic win versus a confusing mess. Finally, we address the viral controversy surrounding Lea Jansen's comments on amateur celebrations—is showing intensity "Bush League," or is the community the heart of the game? Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:49 Pickleball Headlines 02:02 Indiana Pickleball League Launch 02:45 Format Clubs and Season 06:52 Growth Midwest Expansion Plans 07:44 NPL Rebrand Meets MLP 10:03 Chicago Dallas Event Details 11:14 RPM Paddle Ambassador Vlog 12:05 Road to 4 0 Tournaments 14:47 Mindset Smart Aggression 16:35 Stop the Soft Dinks 17:12 Offense to Neutral Mindset 17:59 Tournament Vlog Tease 18:34 Joola Patent Lawsuit 20:10 Innovation vs Copycats 24:12 Same Gear Tournament Idea 25:04 When to Stack 28:47 Lea Jansen's hot take Debate 32:59 Wrap Up and Promos

Friday Pickleball: Why We Said NO to Selkirk

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. The guys get transparent about the initial legal friction and tense first impressions that almost prevented their partnership from ever happening to the shocking decision to turn down a massive sponsorship deal from Selkirk, and talk about what it takes to bet on yourself in the "wild west" of the pickleball industry. We also dive deep into the gear war—discussing the development of the Aura Pro, why they're signing top pros like Rachel Rohrabacher and Kyle Koszuta, and the hilarious story of the "Dom Eggering" tournament scandal. Whether you're a gear nerd looking for the truth about paddle tech or a fan of the comedy skits that put these guys on the map, this episode is a masterclass in authenticity and entrepreneurship. 4. Key Takeaways The Power of Branding: Friday Pickleball started with goofy designs (bananas/falcons) to fill the "fun gap" in a market saturated with dry, instructional content. The Selkirk Pivot: The guys turned down substantial guaranteed money from Selkirk to maintain ownership and build a unique brand from the ground up. Legitimizing the Gear: Signing Rachel Rohrabacher and seeing the Aura Pro on Championship Sunday proved that "budget" paddles ($100 range) can compete at the highest professional level. Content is King: Their background in social media allows them to market paddles through entertainment rather than just "dry" reviews. The "Dom Eggring" Scandal: A hilarious and true story of a high-level player entering a tournament in a full wig and sunglasses disguise to bypass DUPR requirements. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:37 – The Origin Story: How Isaac, Scott, and Jake met in Kansas City. 02:47 – The "Falcon" Paddle: Humble beginnings and the Amazon gear era. 04:12 – Identifying the Gap: Why Pickleball needed "Fun" content.05:32 – Jake's Secret Weapon: The background in viral content creation. 07:37 – Turning Down Selkirk: The "Spicy" trademark DM and the big decision. 12:25 – Betting on Bananas: Joining forces with Yale e-commerce experts. 15:58 – The Power of Collaboration: Turning competitors into partners. 19:53 – Evolution of the Gear: From goofy designs to the Aura Pro. 21:30 – Testing 120 Prototypes: The science behind the Friday paddle. 27:11 – Signing Rachel Rohrabacher: Legitimatizing the brand on tour. 31:36 – The $100 Paddle on Championship Sunday: Crowds taking notice. 33:10 – The Kyle Koszuta (Pickleball Playbook) Connection. 34:55 – Signature Shots: Backhand flicks and mid-court speedups. 35:54 – The "Lost" Tape: The UFC fighter with zero hand-eye coordination. 38:11 – The "Dom Eggring" Scandal: The pro who played in a wig and sunglasses. 41:11 – Round Robin Nightmares: Playing Dylan Frazier as a 3.5. 43:30 – Closing: Where to find the Aura Pro (before it sells out!).