Has Professional Pickleball Grown Too Fast? Lee Whitwell on Line Calls, Cheating and the Pro Game

Has Professional Pickleball Grown Too Fast? Lee Whitwell on Line Calls, Cheating and the Pro Game

Professional pickleball has more money, more prize purses and more attention than ever. But has the infrastructure beneath the sport kept pace? Lee Whitwell joins Chris Beaumont to discuss the growing crisis around honour-system line calls and why she believes blaming referees misses the real problem. The conversation moves from questionable calls and player reputations into the deeper weaknesses surrounding the professional game, including video reviews, referee support, drug testing, player governance and the way controversy is packaged for social media. They also explore how behaviour at the top filters into recreational pickleball, where a player desperate to win can ruin the very environment that brings others back each week. Topics include: • Why disputed calls are becoming harder to ignore • Whether referees are being placed in impossible positions • Why pickleball may have invested in players before infrastructure • The risks of turning cheating and confrontation into content • How professional behaviour affects recreational culture • Why technology can support honesty but cannot replace it This is a wider discussion about credibility, culture and what kind of professional sport pickleball wants to become. Listen to the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.

Bob Winskowicz: Why Pickleball’s Next Performance Revolution May Start With Your Feet

Bob Winskowicz: Why Pickleball’s Next Performance Revolution May Start With Your Feet In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, Chris Beaumont is joined by Bob Winskowicz, founder and CEO of SQAIRZ, to explore one of the most overlooked areas of pickleball performance: footwear. Pickleball players spend countless hours analysing paddles, technique, strategy and training, but Bob believes the sport has largely ignored the foundation underneath every movement: the connection between the player and the court. Drawing on his background in golf, baseball and sports performance, Bob explains why balance, stability and ground force production are central to playing better and staying healthier. He shares the story behind SQAIRZ’s move into pickleball, the research behind its court shoes and why he believes traditional footwear design has not fully addressed the demands of a sport built around explosive lateral movement. In this wide-ranging conversation, Chris and Bob discuss: • Why pickleball movement creates unique footwear challenges • Why balance and stability matter as much as power • How the shape of a shoe can influence performance • The relationship between footwear and injury prevention • Competing against global sportswear giants as a specialist brand • The future of performance technology in pickleball and beyond Bob also reveals how the company’s thinking extends beyond sport, with the same principles of balance and stability being applied to everyday movement and reducing fall risk later in life. Is footwear the next major equipment conversation in pickleball? Listen to find out why the battle for better performance may begin before the paddle ever touches the ball. The World Pickleball Podcast brings you conversations with the players, coaches, innovators and decision-makers shaping the global game.

How Your Feet Are Deciding Pickleball Performance Before You Notice

Most pickleball injuries do not start with a single moment. They build slowly, often unnoticed, in the background of regular play. In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, we speak with Laina Gossman, founder of Soul Insole, about the biomechanics of foot health and why it matters far more than most players realise. We explore how small imbalances in the feet can lead to common pickleball injuries such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles strain, and knee discomfort, and why returning athletes are particularly vulnerable when they step back into competitive movement. Laina also explains the difference between rigid orthotics and softer support systems, and how foot stability can influence not just injury prevention, but performance, balance, and efficiency on court. This is a conversation about movement, recovery, and the hidden foundation of how players perform. Whether you are a beginner or competing at a high level, this episode challenges how you think about every step you take on court. Check out soulinsole.com to see their range of exceptional orthotics.

Zoey Weil on MLP Trades, the Body Bag Debate, Paddle Technology & Pro Pickleball's Future

Professional pickleball player Zoey Weil joins Chris Beaumont on the World Pickleball Podcast for an honest discussion about some of the biggest talking points in the sport. Rather than revisiting her tennis background, Zoey gives her views on where professional pickleball is heading and tackles the biggest debates from the past month. In this episode we discuss: * The rapid growth of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball * What really defines a professional pickleball player? * The body bag debate and where the line should be drawn * Sportsmanship versus winning at the highest level * Young teenagers competing against established professionals * Paddle technology, power paddles and whether some should be restricted * Player safety after the MLP scoreboard incident * Rollout courts, bad bounces and tournament conditions * Lifetime vs Franklin pickleballs * MLP trades, team chemistry and the changing league landscape * What the future of professional pickleball could look like Zoey shares thoughtful, balanced opinions on many of the biggest issues currently facing the sport, offering a fascinating insight into life on the professional tour. 🎙️ Subscribe to the World Pickleball Podcast for weekly interviews with the biggest names in pickleball, breaking news, analysis and conversations from across the global game.

Connor Garnett: Investment Banking, Twoey Nation and Why Pickleball Never Stops Evolving

In this week's World Pickleball Podcast, Chris Beaumont sits down with one of the game's most analytical and innovative players, Connor Garnett. Connor's route into professional pickleball is anything but conventional. Before becoming one of the PPA Tour's leading competitors, he worked in investment banking, carefully weighing up the financial realities before deciding to pursue pickleball full-time. The conversation goes far beyond his playing career. Connor explains why every professional player is effectively running a small business, how he built the Twoey Nation brand around his trademark two-handed backhand, and why balancing business opportunities with elite performance is one of the sport's biggest modern challenges. The pair also explore how professional pickleball continues to evolve at remarkable speed, from the rise of young stars such as Tamashiro "Tama" Kaburaki to the tactical arms race that sees new shots constantly appear before opponents find ways to counter them. Along the way, Connor shares stories from hitting with Novak Djokovic at the US Open, discusses why Asia, Europe and North America are beginning to develop distinct playing styles, and explains why pickleball's different balls could eventually become the equivalent of tennis playing on different surfaces. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why Connor left investment banking for professional pickleball * The business reality of being a modern professional player * Building the Twoey Nation brand * The origins of his famous two-handed backhand * What hitting with Novak Djokovic taught him * Why junior players are changing the sport * The tactical evolution of professional pickleball * How different balls and regions are creating different styles of play * Why creativity is becoming pickleball's greatest competitive advantage Whether you're a competitive player, coach or simply fascinated by where the sport is heading, this is an insightful conversation with one of pickleball's sharpest minds. Subscribe to the World Pickleball Podcast for weekly conversations with the people shaping the global game.