Building the World's Biggest Pickleball Event | Ben Weinberger from the US Open Pickleball

Building the World's Biggest Pickleball Event | Ben Weinberger from the US Open Pickleball

What does it actually take to build the largest pickleball tournament in the world from the ground up?Ashley sits down with Ben from US Open Pickleball and the National Pickleball Center to talk about the journey from acquiring the US Open four years ago to running a 60-court, 60,000-spectator event that treats amateurs like pros.They cover what most club operators miss when it comes to member retention, why community beats courts every single time, how collegiate and youth pickleball is quietly reshaping the sport, and what the wave of investment in pickleball in 2026 actually means for the future of recreational play.Whether you run a 4-court club or a 40-court facility, there's something in this conversation for you.Topics covered:Building the amateur experience from day oneWhat the National Pickleball Center does differentlyKeeping members engaged beyond open playThe rise of collegiate and high school pickleballWhere the sport is headed in the next 2 to 3 years. Visit their website here https://www.usopenpickleball.com/event-guide/schedule

Mike Manzella on Growing Racquet Clubs, Instructor Shortages, and Soft Skills | Unscripted

Mike Manzella, founder of ProServe Solutions, has spent the better part of his career figuring out what makes racquet sports clubs work. After more than two decades running clubs and a stint in corporate marketing and tech consulting, he went all in on building a business to help clubs do it better. In this Unscripted conversation with Ashley Owens, Mike talks about what clubs at every stage need to be thinking about, from filling courts in year one to maximizing profit density at a mature facility. He also gets into the staffing challenges facing the industry, why he hires for character over credentials, and what he thinks clubs need to do right now to stay competitive.What’s Covered: Mike Manzella is the founder of ProServe Solutions and spent 20+ years running and operating tennis and pickleball clubs before transitioning into corporate marketing and tech consulting.After missing the racket sport industry, he launched ProServe Solutions about nine months ago and has been working with clubs full time ever since.Even well-established clubs are still operating on pen and paper or disconnected systems, and a big part of his work is helping operators understand what technology can actually do for them.He reframes the AI conversation with legacy-minded operators by calling it digital transformation instead, since the term AI carries negative connotations for some.It's YOUR club's season growing! Schedule a demo with us here and see how we can grow your club- https://courtreserve.com/schedule-a-call/Learn more about ProServe here https://proservesolutions.info/

Pickleball Community, Saturation & What Makes Clubs Last | Michele Spahr, Podcast Host & USLPL Corr.

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Michele Spahr, competitive pickleball player, USLPL correspondent and commentator, and co-host of "Mom, You're Embarrassing Me," for a conversation that's equal parts industry insight and human story.They get into the real drivers of player retention: lighting, wall color, beverage programs, open play competition, and the thing that tends to outweigh all of it — whether people feel welcome when they walk in. Michele has been inside enough facilities to know the difference, and she doesn't hold back.The conversation also tackles the tension a lot of operators are feeling right now. Courts are opening faster than player bases are growing. Some clubs are thriving. Others aren't making it. What's the gap? (Hint: it has less to do with the build-out than most people think.)Woven through all of it is a story about pickleball as more than a sport. Michele manages Multiple Sclerosis and has leaned on the pickleball community through some of her hardest seasons. She and her daughter Jordan built "Mom, You're Embarrassing Me" out of that experience — and it's become a platform where pro players and everyday people show up honestly.Topics covered:✅ What traveling players notice — and remember — about the facilities they visit✅ Training for high-pressure tournaments like the US Open✅ Living with MS and using pickleball as a grounding tool✅ Building a podcast with your daughter and growing a brand around it✅ The USLPL: Michele's role as correspondent and commentator for the 35+, 50+, and 60+ pro league✅ Court saturation, club closures, and what it takes to stay competitive✅ Why community outlasts aesthetics every time✅ How CourtReserve helps traveling players manage multiple clubs in one placeIf you run a pickleball facility and want an unfiltered read on what players are actually looking for, this is a great place to start.Check out the Mom, You're Embarrassing Me podcast here: www.youtube.com/@MYEMpodcast Learn more about CourtReserve: courtreserve.com/

Elevating Pickleball Coaching Through Mental Performance | Dayne Gingrich, Pickleball Pro

In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with Dayne Gingrich — Mental Performance Coach and Pickleball Pro — to dig into the mindset side of player development, what truly separates great coaches from average ones, and why most clubs are building their culture on the wrong foundation entirely.Dayne brings a perspective you rarely hear in the pickleball world — one shaped by years of high-level competition, mental performance training, and a coaching philosophy built around each player's unique strengths. If you run a club or coach pickleball for a living, this one is worth your full attention.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ Why the rating system is quietly draining the joy out of pickleball for most players✅ How to protect your love of the game — and why rest and recovery matter more than most players think✅ Why pickleball is easier to go pro in than tennis right now — and how that's shaping the next generation✅ What's holding pickleball coaching back — and why certifications alone don't make someone a great coach✅ Why great coaches teach from a player's superpowers, not their weaknesses✅ The number one job of any coach in any lesson (hint: it has nothing to do with fixing a shot)✅ Why 1:4 is the only coach-to-student ratio worth defending in a clinic setting✅ Why your staff — not your members — is the real driver of a healthy club culture✅ How pickleball going global is about to introduce completely new styles of play the sport has never seenSubscribe for more Unscripted conversations with the coaches, operators, and players shaping the future of racquet sports.Learn more about Dayne Gingrich's coaching programs and clinics: coachdayne.com Learn more about CourtReserve: courtreserve.com

AI Video Recording, Club Monetization & Racquet Sports Tech | David Fox, CEO of Save My Play

From player highlights to sponsor placements, court recording technology is opening up new possibilities for racquet sports facilities.In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with David Fox, Founder and CEO of Save My Play, to break down what their camera system does and how racquet sports clubs are putting it to work.Whether you're looking to improve the player experience, create content for social media, or build out a sponsorship program, court recording is a topic worth understanding. David walks us through how Save My Play approaches installation, AI features, monetization, and what's on the roadmap.What You'll Learn:✅ Why Save My Play prioritizes easy installation — no contractor, no wiring, setup in minutes✅ How their CourtReserve integration lets players pre-schedule recordings before they arrive✅ What clubs are charging for recorded footage (pickleball: $5–$10/hr) and how cameras can support additional revenue✅ How AI gesture recognition automatically creates highlight clips courtside — no editing required✅ Why multi-angle instant replay is gaining traction at modern facilities✅ What's coming next: real-time AI features, security monitoring, and automatic camera misalignment alerts✅ How facilities are managing custom sponsor overlays directly in the admin panelPro Tip for Club Operators:Pair Save My Play with CourtReserve's Public Booking feature to give players a modern, connected experience. Players can browse open courts and events, book, pay, and schedule their match recording — all before they arrive.Resources and Links: Read more about the Save My Play x Court Reserve Integration: https://courtreserve.com/announcing-save-my-play-integration/ Explore CourtReserve’s NEW Public Booking feature: https://courtreserve.com/public-booking/ Learn more about CourtReserve: https://courtreserve.com/