Pickleball, Pageants & Pre-Game Jitters with Kenzie Welch

Pickleball, Pageants & Pre-Game Jitters with Kenzie Welch

Kenzie Welch joins Smashing Plastic for a powerful conversation about pickleball community, pageant preparation, music, competition, and handling pressure before the big moment. Filmed at PickleRage in North Charleston, South Carolina, this episode blends pickleball culture with Kenzie’s journey as Miss Lowcountry Teen and her mission to reduce stress through music. Coach Tommy sits down with Kenzie to talk about representing the Lowcountry, preparing for Miss South Carolina Teen, using music to manage stress, and why confidence and kindness can coexist in competition. Kenzie also shares how her “Healing Chord” initiative helps children use music as an outlet during difficult times, plus how athletes can use playlists, routines, and purpose to stay grounded before tournaments, games, or performances. In the middle of the episode, Noah Winningham joins from PickleRage to talk about the new indoor pickleball facility in North Charleston, including 13 indoor courts, clinics, open play, round robins, socials, memberships, birthday parties, and opportunities for beginners through advanced players. From pickleball training and tournament nerves to pageant prep, performance mindset, and Lowcountry pride, this episode is all about community, competition, and finding your rhythm on and off the court.   Follow Kenzie: IG: https://www.instagram.com/misslowcountrysteensc/ [https://www.instagram.com/misslowcountrysteensc/]    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/]

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/]