Get ready for a wild ride into the world of pickleball with our friend and enthusiast, Francine Jewett. Francine shares her 12-year-long journey with the sport, from practicing in her garage in Green Bay to her active role today as co-founder of Pickleball Teamworks. Tune in to hear about her adventures on the court, post-game taco traditions, and how she organized hundreds of volunteers for the PPA Nationals in Brookhaven.
As we continue our chat, we delve into our own experiences with the sport and examine the rapid growth and evolution of pickleball. Prepare to be transported to the major tournaments held at Oasis in Dallas-Fort Worth, as we recount our exhilarating moments under pressure. From the largest tournament ever held to amusing tales about restroom accessibility during games, we've got a smorgasbord of pickleball stories for you.
In this engaging conversation, we'll also explore the unique facets of pickleball. We'll discuss everything from our favorite paddles to the strategy of layering skills in the game. Hear us out as we highlight women's doubles and the athleticism they showcase. We'll also discuss the positive and negative aspects of pickleball, including the rating system and the incredible community it has nurtured. So, strap in and get ready to immerse yourself in the exciting world of pickleball!
Francyne Jewett is a pickleball advocate, ambassador, coach, entrepreneur, volunteer and all-around good peeps. Shoutouts aplenty, if you’re tagged you are mentioned! Full episode available on all podcast platforms, video on YouTube.
Who are we? Check us out https://dink.pro/pages/press. All featured shirts now available! #MILP #pickleballanyone #pickliniseasy
#pickleballteamworks #Oasis #usapickleball #PaddlesUp #TCD #teambuilding #volunteer #PPA #Nationals #pickleball #pickleballaddict #tournament #coach #PPR #ambassador #MLP #dink #Vibe #APP
Special thanks to Crown Pickleball for their support and sponsorship! Don't waste money on balls that break, Crown pickleballs rarely crack, are more visible and have a higher spin rate than the competitors.
Use our link to receive a discount on your next purchase! https://crownpickleball.store/blazingpaddles
Have a suggestion for a guest or topic you'd like to see us address?
Hit me up at john@dink.pro or shout out on social:
Instagram
Twitter
Get ready for a wild ride into the world of pickleball with our friend and enthusiast, Francine Jewett. Francine shares her 12-year-long journey with the sport, from practicing in her garage in Green Bay to her active role today as co-founder of Pickleball Teamworks. Tune in to hear about her adventures on the court, post-game taco traditions, and how she organized hundreds of volunteers for the PPA Nationals in Brookhaven.
As we continue our chat, we delve into our own experiences with the sport and examine the rapid growth and evolution of pickleball. Prepare to be transported to the major tournaments held at Oasis in Dallas-Fort Worth, as we recount our exhilarating moments under pressure. From the largest tournament ever held to amusing tales about restroom accessibility during games, we've got a smorgasbord of pickleball stories for you.
In this engaging conversation, we'll also explore the unique facets of pickleball. We'll discuss everything from our favorite paddles to the strategy of layering skills in the game. Hear us out as we highlight women's doubles and the athleticism they showcase. We'll also discuss the positive and negative aspects of pickleball, including the rating system and the incredible community it has nurtured. So, strap in and get ready to immerse yourself in the exciting world of pickleball!
Francyne Jewett is a pickleball advocate, ambassador, coach, entrepreneur, volunteer and all-around good peeps. Shoutouts aplenty, if you’re tagged you are mentioned! Full episode available on all podcast platforms, video on YouTube.
Who are we? Check us out https://dink.pro/pages/press. All featured shirts now available! #MILP #pickleballanyone #pickliniseasy
#pickleballteamworks #Oasis #usapickleball #PaddlesUp #TCD #teambuilding #volunteer #PPA #Nationals #pickleball #pickleballaddict #tournament #coach #PPR #ambassador #MLP #dink #Vibe #APP
Special thanks to Crown Pickleball for their support and sponsorship! Don't waste money on balls that break, Crown pickleballs rarely crack, are more visible and have a higher spin rate than the competitors.
Use our link to receive a discount on your next purchase! https://crownpickleball.store/blazingpaddles
Have a suggestion for a guest or topic you'd like to see us address?
Hit me up at john@dink.pro or shout out on social:
Instagram
Twitter
It's fun because John likes to start in the middle. So I said this time let's start the beginning.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I got some pre-pod coaching. It was funny because I didn't ask for it, but I got it.
Speaker 3:Well, what else are wives for, I mean? And you said yes, dear right.
Speaker 2:I did. Then I said do you want to run the show?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm thinking Karen's probably like no, no, you do it, but we all know the truth.
Speaker 2:I just like to pick up what others can do better.
Speaker 1:I just like to make my stars superstars. Do you want to be here? Or do you want to be here?
Speaker 3:You're just thinking of your husband. You're just thinking of others.
Speaker 1:That's right, she's a giver. I'm a giver.
Speaker 2:Easy, big fella. Hey, welcome back everybody. Season one, episode five. Today we're lucky enough to talk with our buddy, Francine Jewett. And Francine, in addition to being co-founder of Pickleball Teamworks, regional director for USA Pickleball Coach and Principal of AAU Paddles Up Pickleball Club. We met her because she was heading up the effort for the volunteers at the nationals PPA nationals that were in Brookhaven last month, which, as you know, was just an unbelievable effort. So, throughout all that, she remains just the cheerful and nicest person, most cheerful and nicest person you'll want to meet, francine Jewett. We're going to have a great conversation with her. Stick around. So, francine, how's your week going so far?
Speaker 3:It is going really well had played this morning, for I think we played for like three hours. Oh my goodness, great group of ladies Wednesday mornings out at LB Houston. And we play really competitive, great games, you know, mixed around round Robin style and fun, fun group of ladies, and then we go have tacos Afterwards. So I mean that's a great day, that sounds like the best day ever, so where's?
Speaker 1:LB Houston.
Speaker 3:So it's yeah, it's over Dallas, kind of off of I guess Luna, maybe I just get in the car and go. There's like a golf course and a gun range and a really nice tennis center and they have just added beautiful new dedicated courts. So how many, how many people?
Speaker 1:They have.
Speaker 3:I believe they have eight and it would be surprised me if they bumped out to another set of courts on. You know a tennis court that's right next to them. You know what that is? I mean, that's incredible.
Speaker 1:We're here in Southlake. We were splitting, we have four courts that are not dedicated and now they're. You know they're building the first pickleball center but it's going to have nine courts and I mean it's almost like that's not enough.
Speaker 3:I mean probably when the project first started it was enough and now it's just it's blown past that yeah.
Speaker 2:You can't even. I think that somebody told us that would prevent them from being able to host a real tournament because there's just not enough courts anyway.
Speaker 3:I mean they could do a small something. But yeah, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:Now, how long? Let's kind of get your pickleball journey. I know that we, you know, we love to share our occasion, we're kind of pandemic picklers. And but how about yourself? When did you get into this? And then, when did you really get into this?
Speaker 3:So I've been playing pickleball for about 12 years Wow.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:I should be much better than I am 12 years.
Speaker 1:Are you from?
Speaker 3:here. No, I don't know. We've lived everywhere. I'm from San Diego originally.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, yeah, so this is actually the second time.
Speaker 3:No, we started in Green Bay, wisconsin. So about 12 years ago we moved from here. We actually lived in Rockwall, actually in the house across the street from the one we currently own, but we moved to Green Bay, wisconsin, and I had never lived any place cold, any place, with, you know, snow and crazy temperatures.
Speaker 2:I think it's cold.
Speaker 3:And it's. Yeah, listen, I know what negative 50 wind chill feels like and it's not good. It's not good, thanks. Yeah, I was there. And about the same time, my parents, who live north of Atlanta, moved to an active adult community and my mom said hey, you need to come down. Dad and I are playing this sport Everybody's going crazy about it and they had one court and I thought this will be great.
Speaker 3:Our kids, at the time of their ages, they wanted to be outside. They, you know, would ride bikes and play outside, and we didn't know how to play in snow, like that was just weird. So we had, you know, a garage with a heater in it. It's a heated garage, because that's what you do up there, I guess and so I set up a net and we just started playing in our garage, and it was more me than the kids. But, um, and then, ironically, our local um YMCA started with a court and a friend of mine who was a member of the Y said hey, they're starting this, that weird pickleball thing that you've been doing. And so I went over there and just started playing and, uh, but your question about when did I really get serious about it, was when we moved back to Texas. Our kids were, you know, one was in college and two were finishing up high school, and so I just went crazy for it, so crazy for it for about six years.
Speaker 2:It's crazy for about six years and um now, and for people who don't know, we're talking to Francine Jewett, who you also have a business that's pickleball related, so we did when did that first start.
Speaker 3:Well, that's our. That's the latest pickleball adventure that, um, I'm on, uh, just really a few months ago, my friend Melissa and Pedro's and I we've done tons of events together, team building events. We've done tournaments together. We've, um, you know, raised money for things together. We work with kids. We I do a lot of stuff in, melissa does as well and we thought, why aren't we monetizing this? Let's, let's get into this team building, uh stuff, and it's, we've had a great response to it. We're going to hit it really hard in 2024. Um, you know, our, our lives have gotten very busy, mine especially this past year and so, yeah, it's been, it's, we've gotten great reception from it and that's how we got to meet you guys. We got, you know, out there at chicken and pickle, at the dink drink and demo and bought the cool shirt and got to be friends there Best friend Me and I love pickleball.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, so going back cause you're I mean sounds like you're really good right.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm 12 years.
Speaker 3:I only wish I had. I wish I had 12 years. I'm a four. Oh, I mean, come on, I am decent, but you know.
Speaker 1:I'm working on it. I'm working on it, but I mean I was like I wish I had 12 years under my belt and I'm so excited to like see kids get in this. Did your kids ever pick it back up Like I mean, I know you were serious, but yeah, no, not so much.
Speaker 3:They and their young adults now, although our daughter, who I'll have to say now, is my favorite at this moment because she and her fiance they just moved out to California and they're playing like three or four times a week, so they are currently my favorite kids. No, I encouraged my kids to get it started at their college. I was like I will come out, I will, I will teach, I will, I will help you get a program started. And they just, you know, you know how kids are yeah, that's okay, mom.
Speaker 2:Thanks mom, we did the exact same thing, but you know what?
Speaker 1:You know what is our favorite thing? When I look on life 360 and I go, cooper's playing pickleball so excited about the pickleball course, you know, I zoom in. I'm like he's playing pickleball.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, it's such a good feeling.
Speaker 1:Yeah, jack, after being home for Thanksgiving took some extra paddles back so he can take that out to Lubbock and play with his buddies. But I really think that. I think it's so funny how the sport went from. Not funny, it's just. It speaks to the sport itself that the median age when we started first our playing, our neighbors said you guys are too young to play pickleball. Yeah because they they right. They've seen it in Florida and it was. It was an old people now like what's the median age Like? 30?, 39?, oh?
Speaker 3:yeah, there's so many, there's so many groups. I don't know if you guys have met Taylor Mason. She started a Dallas pickleball league and she has got a group of like 20, 30 year olds, like a giant group of kids who kids are kids, but they're playing this sport and they are. I mean, if I had had that life in my 20s and 30s, I mean it would have been just amazing. They're all just getting out there, they're playing the sport, they're socializing, they're, you know, having drinks afterwards and parties at the end of their seasons and you know it's just wow. That would have been amazing in my 20s and 30s.
Speaker 1:I think it's the beautiful thing of COVID. Really the most beautiful thing that came out of COVID was was pickleball and the growth of it, and I can't wait to see what these kids getting into pickleball. It's going to change the game. I mean our kids haven't picked up a racket in paddle. I mean paddle. Sorry, jack hasn't picked up a paddle since we went to Tahoe a couple months ago and he was home for Thanksgiving. We went out with the boys and this kid I mean he, he was there were shots. I couldn't even. I mean, I mean I'm playing every day.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they're just natural athletes. I mean, I have zero athletic ability. So in fact, when I first started playing the sport and competing a little bit, my parents and sisters were like, um, you don't do sports. And I'm like, I know you guys, but this sport is so fun, even I can do it, and you know just just my basic for it Inclusive all shapes, sizes, ages, genders, I mean I.
Speaker 2:you can go out there and look at your opponent and you better not think you know the outcome just by looking at your opponent.
Speaker 3:How many times have you done that? I mean a million. Yeah, totally yes.
Speaker 2:When Karen and I we did a camp once and you know we were like the young bucks down there we're thinking we're pretty cool At our age being the young bucks. Gotta give you a clue.
Speaker 1:Old. Everyone was. This is, mind you. This was in 2020. 2020. 2020.
Speaker 2:Okay, and these, these 70 year olds kicked our ass. I mean just, and I mean, didn't break a sweat. They're doing the little lob from the kitchen. They do the crop, the severe angled danks. You're like we know nothing. We know nothing, that's what it's. I love it. I mean, I love it I grew up playing everything and it's thought. It's so hard to get really good at this sport. It drives me, so it's very hard. It's easy to learn, then it's really hard to get good.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean you hear that everywhere. And these, these athletes, these professional athletes now, who are putting the time and the energy you know before, you know I knew some pros when they were first starting and you know it was their side hustle, it was their side gig, and now they're like this is what they do. They train, they have coaches, they have agents, they have all the things that you know real athletes do.
Speaker 2:Oh my God. And do you keep up with pro stuff? Don't you keep up with the pro leagues?
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what I was going to ask, Like it's in.
Speaker 2:So you're aware of all the drama going on right now with PPA and MLP and the salary cuts and all this kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but let me ask you this Do you do the people that you play pickleball at follow it?
Speaker 3:Um, some of them do and some of them don't. You know which is. It just depends which is kind of. Another great aspect of this sport is the friend group. You know that we all have is so big that you know, within that friend group you've got the people who are like all in and, you know, super invested. And I mean I'm friends with Courtney Johnson. I'm totally throwing a shameless plug out there. You know she's the director of initiating for MLP, yeah, yeah, she's right in that whole world and you know so. We have her on the one extreme who is a hundred thousand percent invested. And then we have friends who are also best friends with us. But you know they're like, oh wait, who? They don't know who the pros are, they don't understand the tours and the. You know the drama.
Speaker 2:They're like people get paid to do this, yeah, I know. Yeah, we were. We came out because, like six months ago I think six, maybe eight months ago we knew nothing about the program either. We just loved it because of the recreation, and I think Karen went to the Texas Open when it was here out by you.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Because you said you're in Rockwall right. Yes so you got the great Oasis out there. I wish it was. Yeah, oh man.
Speaker 3:It's so great, come on out. Also I have three empty bedrooms. We are empty nesters and you just come out, spend the night. We'll have a few margaritas. You don't even have to drive home. Oh, really great.
Speaker 2:You realize we're recording this right, so we've. I know.
Speaker 3:Listen, I do. I say this to everybody because it is so great to play out in that, you know, in that space.
Speaker 2:Oh man 42 dedicated courts.
Speaker 3:It's just, it's fabulous, it's unbelievable.
Speaker 2:And the Oasis we're talking about for those of you who aren't around here is the premier pickleball location in Dalsford Worth area, I'd say. No doubts. That's where they host the major pro tournaments, and Karen went to the Texas Open there and it was like you could walk right up to the pros and just say hi to them and they were given tickets away. And this time we go to the Texas Open and it was like truck pole versus Super Bowl.
Speaker 1:I mean, it was like a C Within six months, like it wasn't even I don't think they were both Texas Open. What I mean is like one were they couldn't get people out there, so they were giving tickets away.
Speaker 1:six months later and I told John I went out there because he couldn't go. So I went out there with a friend and I was like John, there were no, there's no security. I'm like walking up to the players, I can get pictures. You know, I'm not that kind of person, so I don't do it, but we're doing it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I was.
Speaker 1:John, that's John's job and I was like there's this, this the way this sport is going. There's no way this is going to continue like this. It's going to be different, and within six months we go to another one. And it was. You had to check a ticket and you pay for it, and you paid to be in the to see the pros play, whereas we were. They were giving away six months.
Speaker 3:Yeah, trying to fill the seats. Yeah, that's how fast it's moved. So we were part of at Oasis. The Texas Open was kind of a local tournament run by an ambassador who she no longer lives here in Texas, but but then PPA got involved several years ago. So so I've seen it from the first iteration, when PPA was doing it in conjunction with a local ambassador, to now what it's going to be and they have booked Oasis for 2024 for the Texas Open.
Speaker 3:I think it's like end of May, I think, and just to see that iteration to to now, it's unbelievable unbelievable.
Speaker 1:It really is, I feel like. Well, first of all we didn't. I mean, we we started. We caught on to like the PPA and started following that a little bit, you know, because you're, once you get to a certain level, you start to hear the names and then you want to watch the videos. That does help you get better, I think. And so then we were like oh and we, you know we recognize some of the pros and stuff, but MLP was kind of in the shadow that we felt like.
Speaker 1:And then in fact, when it kind of I don't remember what you did, john, but but we were like all PPA all the way right. We didn't, we had no idea really about what MLP, because it's just not as as publicized. I guess You're thinking it's like it's not a team sport.
Speaker 2:You know there's no team in this, but then how are?
Speaker 3:they going to make that work, yeah.
Speaker 1:Right. But then our club did an MLP style tournament and it was the funniest thing ever and now we've added it is so fun, and now we've added MLP type formats to our playing formats that we, that you, can sign up for on Saturdays and Sundays.
Speaker 3:I love that. I love that it can be so diverse. Yeah, the only problem with the format is that for unathletic folks such as the singles part, the dream breaker part, just it's just it kills.
Speaker 2:it's just Karen Teller about your dream breaker. Experience Teller, it's horrible.
Speaker 1:It's the worst thing on the planet. It was the scariest thing. I I okay. First of all, I was an alternate. I wasn't supposed to play in the tournament right, so Friday.
Speaker 1:I'm doing all the club stuff, setting things up and thinking, okay, I got easy street, I don't have to play. I'm watching John out there on his team and he's nervous as all get out and you know his little mighty team was fighting. Then I wake up on Saturday morning to a call from our the founder of the club, going guess who's playing today. And I'm like no, I'm not.
Speaker 1:No, I'm not and I'm like oh my gosh and and I'm going I have to go and play with the team that I thought was going to win the whole thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, oh, no pressure, no pressure.
Speaker 1:None. So I get on the team and we, they were like so encouraging. They were like, oh my gosh, you're so good, this is great, you know well. We get into a dream baker situation and, for whatever reason, the captain puts me third instead of fourth and I'm like why is he doing that?
Speaker 2:And and so they, you know it comes down to game point and they don't close it out and guess who has to go in?
Speaker 1:me and I think we were. It was like what, 20 to 16 or something like that. All I had to do was get one point. Yeah, my mouth went dry. My hands were shaking, I served the ball out, lost a point. Oh my God, it was so bad. My hands were shaking so like I couldn't even. It was awful I didn't win, we lost and we were eliminated because of me.
Speaker 3:No, listen, that things happen and that's okay that. That reminds me of two different things. One, the first time I played at the national tournament same thing I'd never competed, like you know, local tournaments or international my mouth dried up, I was like my heart's but I'm like this happening, like I had no idea what was happening. And you know, after the first couple of points then we were okay, but my partner and I both were just like, just like so, so nervous. But I kind of have a similar, similar MLP story. We did it with a group of friends. Our team was Fear the Mullet.
Speaker 1:We all had mullets because one of the guys our team.
Speaker 3:I don't know if you know Cole, he's a mullet.
Speaker 1:Cole and a girl.
Speaker 3:And it came down to you know, yeah, yeah, yeah, he's a great guy. And so it came down to Dreambreaker and I was so uncomfortable I was like muttering on the sideline, like I'm uncomfortable, I don't want to do this Like I don't know how to do this.
Speaker 3:And so I got in the first couple of whatever the first round. I think they probably put me in fourth or I don't know. When they put what they put me in. I was not paying attention, I was so out of my head and I didn't get any points that first time I was in. Well, eventually it got down to me as the last point like this this was it, this was the point. I freaking got the point and, thank goodness, and it was against my very good friend Erica, and we just went crazy and we're screaming and laughing and so I'll never let her forget that, because that's not me. And yet I just played in another MLP with a group of ladies a couple of weekends ago. I think I got two singles points. The whole day it was just and everything was a dream breaker. So it's not my game. I don't like it.
Speaker 1:I'm glad yours ended like that. I mean, I have lived, I have relived that moment so many times and beat myself up and because it was like that was the moment and I but it's making me a better player Like I'm having to fight through, I thought I told John I said I had PTSD, it's from it.
Speaker 2:Well, she's got the yips too.
Speaker 1:Well, I had the serving yips too, oh God. You know why that's the worst, because I've never done TCD and you know, do you do net and TCD?
Speaker 3:I only do TCD, no.
Speaker 1:I don't Okay.
Speaker 2:What does TCD stand for? A hundred people.
Speaker 1:Tech says I don't know.
Speaker 3:Tennis competitors of Dallas there you go Tennis competitors of Dallas and a couple of years ago they added they did a pilot season of pickleball league and actually my. I put together a team, we participated in the pilot season and then I actually became director for the first two years. Oh nice yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, another leg of Francine's pickleball story.
Speaker 3:I told you, john, I've done a lot of things. So so you have played TCD, and was that like your first, like competitive type? No, no, so I played net.
Speaker 1:I'd never had an experience with TCD until this season. Okay, I ended up on two T. I was on four leagues, two net, two TCD. So, but the balls are different. We've always played with Franklin's and I never realized that a ball could make a difference until all of a sudden I'm playing with this durable and I have a bounce serve.
Speaker 3:And bounce is different.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it can change shape, and I wasn't prepared for it. I had not thought about my serve in over a year. I was like good thing, I don't think you have to think about my serve.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:All of a sudden, I had to think about my serve and I started to.
Speaker 3:Because it got into your head about that particular ball type. So I apologize because as the lead director, I picked a little fast for you.
Speaker 1:Well, you know what? Honestly, and now that I hear the pros complaining about the Franklin, I'm like, oh, that makes sense, yeah, and so I'm getting it back. I mean, I'm getting my serve back and my confidence back, but boy, Well, and now the league.
Speaker 3:There's an option, you have an option. I think it's actually. There's a new rule coming out for spring season where it can be either the Franklinx or the Durif Asfori, so yeah, Well, the bottom line is I can't let a ball mess me up like that, and that's the lesson. So I mean there's all sorts of resources, for if you have the Ips I mean you just let your subconscious take over you can go online and find books and resources to get over that.
Speaker 1:But it happens. I haven't done that.
Speaker 2:I think you need to do primal scream therapy.
Speaker 1:No, this is what I do now. No, this is what I do now. I say separate from the outcome, separate or different.
Speaker 3:Oh, that's a good idea Separate from the outcome. Well, and instead of a drop serve, do a volley serve. Just work on your volley serve.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's a heart teller.
Speaker 3:Yeah, just do a volley serve you got this.
Speaker 1:Come on, I'm going to fight, you see the pain in her face.
Speaker 2:I know, I know. Just thinking about it.
Speaker 3:Your shoulders are stretching up Because it was so it through my confidence so much.
Speaker 1:But that's I think it's good for in a sport and to have those downs that it shows you, you know, do you have grit or not, like, do you walk away at that point or do you fight through? And I'm fighting through because I love this game.
Speaker 3:Well, and that's what this sport does for us, right? I mean, we get put in our place by 85 year old with, you know, knee braces, and you know we're like, oh wait, maybe I have work to do, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and maybe I'll be playing when I'm 85. Isn't that awesome.
Speaker 3:Well, of course, we are Like.
Speaker 1:I'm hoping that's not questionable.
Speaker 3:I played with people in their 90s, so you know I'm yeah, that's awesome, yeah, awesome.
Speaker 2:Did you take them out? Did your body bag them?
Speaker 3:I mean, that was, that was six years ago. That was the beginning of when I was starting to really put some time into it. I'm pretty sure he put me in my place. I didn't know yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, the crown jewel of everything that's been going on around here. Of course, you know we remember the timing was great because we did Oktoberfest, which was a hoot.
Speaker 3:But right after that.
Speaker 2:November was the nationals PPA national championships and we had been fortunate enough to have met you earlier, like you mentioned, at the chicken and pickle, which, by the way, I've worked with a lot of people on the east coast. They think I'm joking every time I say there's a place called chicken and pickle. It makes it sound like such a bunch of hillbillies out there.
Speaker 3:They're going to know There'll be a chicken and pickle right down the street from any minute. No, just wait.
Speaker 2:But you had told us that you were actually you were managing the volunteer effort that was going to be at the PPA and, of course, being pickleball junkies, we're like, yeah, we want to do it, we want to do it. Yeah, that had to be a Herculean effort on the best of circumstances, but, considering the weather and everything that they were dealing with, first of all, I mean, let me back up. How did you get to be point person for the volunteer effort for the PPA nationals? Because that was amazing.
Speaker 3:So well I had. I had been familiar with with PPA just because I had known them, since they were, you know, really just starting the the tour, so I had become friendly with some of them. I'm also the regional director for USA Pickleball for the mid-south region of of the organization, so we are in charge of all of the ambassadors for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, so I was very familiar with USA Pickleball side of things and we had just run our regional tournament back last May and so I actually got asked by both organizations to be the volunteer coordinator for the event and I wanted to say no but I said yes, yeah, I said yes and I am glad I did it. It was last year was just I keep saying last year because I'm ready for 2023 to be over but this past year was just tough, just all the things, and that that event was was. It was crazy. I mean just the largest pickleball tournament and I had been to nationals before and national.
Speaker 3:The national tournament is actually USA Pickleball tournament, the governing body of our sport. But PPA had a partnership with USA Pickleball this year, which is the first time they've done it. Plus, they moved it from out of Indian Wells out in California to Brookhaven and Dallas. So you know it was the first time there was a joint venture and the first time they wanted to have. You know, the initial goal was like 5,000 players in. It ended up with about 3,500, which is still the largest pickleball tournament ever.
Speaker 2:It was crazy. I mean, that was the, the amount of people and I mean they, it was all first class to. We were like taking Teslas from the parking lot and stuff like that. It was amazing.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, doesn't everybody take a Tesla for the Everybody does, right? I mean, they dropped you right off at your car.
Speaker 1:That was pretty cool. I mean, there were some things that could have been done better, but that's interesting to know. So you're saying that USA Pickleball ran nationals solely until the yes, they're the originator of the national championship.
Speaker 3:Yes, so I don't understand.
Speaker 1:We know there's USA Pickleball and we know, MLP and we know, we know PPA, we know the MLP PPA situation, but Kind of so. Ok, there's also.
Speaker 3:There's also another tour APP. I don't know if you're familiar with that one, yeah, yeah, so there's a lot of different organizations, so I don't know, I don't understand the different APP.
Speaker 2:I hate to say that if somebody's listening and going, I'm on APP no no, no, no, no, I don't.
Speaker 3:You know, the talent is incredible. There are people who prefer the APP because of the way it's run, and by people I mean amateurs and pros, right, and there are people who are diehard. You know, ppa fans USA Pickleball is kind of their, their sort of their. The pickle balls for everybody. And as the governing body of the sport, you know they want everybody to be successful MLP, app, ppa, what about? And some of the smaller tours to WPT.
Speaker 1:That's what I was going to ask about yeah, the APA, there's tons of smaller ones.
Speaker 2:Is it still open?
Speaker 3:So that's so back to two Texas Opens ago, is that right? Yeah, two Texas Opens ago they launched Vibe. During the tournament at Oasis, mark Cuban came in, we all bought the really cool vibe sweatshirts. It was going to be awesome. And then, and then all of a sudden, oh, mlp was going to partner with Vibe or PPA and and then they were going to be able to do that. And then Vibe went away. So, yeah, that Vibe is not, is not around. It's now, I guess, mlp, but I don't the way the sport changes every five seconds and until I see it like a signed contract and it's like put out there, I you know, you just can't know really, till the check clears to, apparently because of these players.
Speaker 2:It's. It's crazy. I mean, I've it's become. I cannot believe how the drama going on in pickleball right now for a sport that is Like so niche that not too many people knew about now it's a pro sport. You got these leagues that are. You got competing billionaires. You have this, this horrible thing, where the players are now being asked to take like a 40 I think 41% pay cut or something like that yeah it's.
Speaker 2:You know, you knew those contracts for were really Bad. I mean, it was like I don't know, it's like me with my dad's credit card when I was a freshman.
Speaker 3:I hope they didn't pre-spend all of that, you know, I hope they were smart.
Speaker 2:Oh kidding, no kidding.
Speaker 3:You hope, but they're kids. I mean they're. You know their kids are aged, so you hope that they didn't. You know, go buy the Tesla or whatever to start right, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I've been listening to podcasts and someone yeah, we won't name names, but I think that they're taking. It seems like they're taking they. They had nationals. I don't think everything went exactly how they wanted it to go. Oh like with this whole and that they're going wait a minute, but I mean their private equity back now, which John lives in that world and that's a whole different animal. It's almost like kind of like you create a big hype to get the investment and then whoa, you know.
Speaker 3:And then figure out the details later. I got to the details and you look at the hood. To me doesn't seem like the best way to do things. But you know, what do I know?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I gotta say this too, because I don't want to forget this little tidbit about the volunteer effort when we were listening to there's another podcast I don't know, we're listening to other pickleball podcasts now and it's the one that Jilly B has and they were doing winners and losers of the of the nationals. You know what were the winners, what were the loser? And one of the winners was those cool, badass t-shirts that you gave us all, because I still wear mine. I mean, how many times you get a shirt at a give? That's a giveaway that you actually wear again. Those things are awesome. I love them.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, there's a thing that we had bathroom access.
Speaker 3:I'll just say that well, don't tell anybody that. Well, so in all the planning I mean the I don't know was six months of planning for the national tournament. You know we were told, oh, the shirts for volunteers, they're gonna be. I had requested like a bright Color. I wanted to be able to look out over the venue and see where everybody was Like, oh, we're gonna do light blue. And you guys probably got that email from me that was like, oh, here's the shirts, this is what we're gonna have for the shirts, yeah.
Speaker 3:So I get there and I'm and somebody says, oh, all your volunteer shirts are there. And I'm like, okay, great, I open it up. I'm like, oh, they're pink. They were. They were like they were like Heathered red or something, was the official. But I was like, oh, these are great. And everybody went crazy over them and they were nice shirts, they were free fly. They were, you know, really nice shirts. They faded a little on the logo, but you know that's okay. But I have to tell you that I see those shirts now and I have PTSD.
Speaker 2:I'm like how many people did you end up having to get for?
Speaker 3:we had. We had 560 volunteers sign up.
Speaker 2:Over the horse because they had ML. Did you do the MLP part as well?
Speaker 3:No, that was a completely separate event. Yeah, okay. So from the beginning, when, when we got the, the sign up, the pickleball desk, which is what we used to register volunteers once that went live, people went crazy over it. You know, they wanted the good jobs, they wanted championship court, they wanted VIP area, they wanted that. But honestly, there were people that were just signing up for everything.
Speaker 3:I had a guy email me and he said I booked my hotel. I use coming in from I don't know California or Arizona or something. I booked my hotel for the entire time. I'm gonna sign up for all the jobs. And this is like the first couple of days and like wow, that's awesome. And then it just, you know, it just kept. It just kept snowballing. And, yeah, 560 volunteers and we had some really neat partnerships. Smu Got involved, so we got some students from SMU to come out and help. And then the Dallas Sports Commission, which was a big contributor, and I don't know all the details, I just know this is where we got a bunch of our volunteers, but Dallas Sports Commission pushed it out to a lot, of, a lot of their folks and these are these are people who are just Just in the area, not pickleball players, who just volunteer for sports, sporting events, and I met the coolest people that way that we're needed and I mean they're gonna start playing pickleball now.
Speaker 1:But yeah, there's so many people that we talked to. I mean I'm, I talk about pickleball. Wherever I go, all it wears pickleball stuff. Yeah, it's like my, we call it my uniform. Yeah, and it will go out to dinner. I'll be like should I get out of my uniform, john? It's like why.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you're right, I start now. It's like who doesn't want to wear leggings and a shirt every day?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but we thought it allows. I love talking to people. Well, first of all, like when I first started talking to people two years ago, they go what pickleball? Now people go, oh yeah, I've heard of that, or they started to play, or I've played it once or whatever you know, but two years ago literally everyone I talked to didn't had never heard of it.
Speaker 3:And then now it's like you know, people have heard of it, or they've played, and or you know, or I'm encouraging them to play and bugging them incessantly, which is what I did too for the longest time, and I just I got just, you know, beat down like a pickleball. Oh, it's stupid. Or oh, here we go pickle Francine's. Here we're just gonna talk about pickleball, you know, or whatever. And so now these same friends will send me a hot you know, drew Brees is playing pickleball again. No, sure lock. No, kidding, sure lock. Oh, now it's legitimate. So now I'm so crazy.
Speaker 1:You know? Did you see the video from John McEnroe About the noise like this new owl?
Speaker 3:Yes, in fact, I just ordered the owl paddles. We got an ambassador discount and I had a chance to play with them. They're is it cool.
Speaker 1:Okay, here's my problem. I'm glad to hear that, but I'm not that people are mad about the noise, because this is the thing.
Speaker 3:I'm mad because we have a.
Speaker 1:We're close to that. There's people that live next to the baseball fields. Baseball is not exactly quiet when you hit a home run in the ball, and I'm Crazy like why are they picking on pickleball?
Speaker 1:I really think it's tennis hater, tennis players who hate pickleball, and they better just get on board because and they're mad about their courts being taken. But guess what? You know, there's a, there's right across. Where are they're building our new pickleball courts? They have 18 Dedicated tennis courts. Do you know how many? How many? How? The majority of the time they sit open.
Speaker 3:All the time, all the time but we're fighting to get on pickleball courts.
Speaker 1:So here's the thing that I want to say to all the people that are mad about the sound of pickleball. One You're mad about people having fun to. You're mad about people exercising. Three you're mad about people coming together and creating community and, and you know, getting exercise and finding friendships. And you know it's just there's, there's no negatives to feel I need to do a disclaimer here.
Speaker 2:The opinion is expressed by Karen.
Speaker 3:Like it. So, okay, a couple of, a couple of quick things. The first one is, yes, I got to play with the prototype for the owl paddle and, yes, it plays amazing, like shockingly good, like Surprisingly good, so wow.
Speaker 2:That could be the second.
Speaker 3:Thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I mean it is for for, for areas where noise mitigation is an issue, like when it needs to be taken care of. That's that's gonna be, you know, that's I game changer, and there's also going to be a ball that they're hoping to helps. You know, with the sound as well, this owl paddle. So there's a certain like whatever the normal decibels, I'm just say decibels I don't know if that's the right word so decibels of a regular paddle and ball hitting is up here and the owl is less than half of that.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, so it's a huge, a huge sound difference and then and it plays well, so is it weird though when you're hitting it and you don't hear the sound, it doesn't seem weird.
Speaker 2:No, no, no See when I hear pickleball, I'm like, it's like music right.
Speaker 1:Christmas music. I'm like, it's like where are they playing?
Speaker 3:Let's go.
Speaker 1:We took the kids to Tahoe before they left us. We became empty nesters and we looked online to find a place where we could play pickleball and there was one like less than a mile from where we were staying. We're like, yes, you know, so we pull up and we park and I'm like I don't hear it, I'm like, oh no, what if they don't have pickleball? And we're walking and then all of a sudden I go, I hear it.
Speaker 3:I went and helped at the National Convention for Recreation and Parks Departments and you know it's giant. What is it? The K, bailey, hutchinson's and then our Dallas, I mean it's just this giant and I walk in. I was like wow, this place is big. And I'm like I wonder where it's going to be. And I'm like, oh wait, I hear it. And I just be like oh, that's great.
Speaker 3:And then your other point to you know, people complaining about sound and it seems like it's kind of a tennis thing is. You know we've all been. For those of us that played a long time we've been the butt of the jokes, we've been the, you know, red Hooded Step Child. We've been like at Oasis. I had a friend who was a tennis member there. She was usually going to talk to the director about maybe doing some pickleball over there. I'm like, yeah, that'd be great. We have some outdoor places to play and rock ball, which we didn't have at the time.
Speaker 3:So the kid we were like just out of college, young kid, who's like, yeah, I just seen it as a way to bring money and I'm like we can get $5 drop in fee from everybody that comes to play. So I go out there with my piece of chalk, you know, or my blue tape, and I we just I go to the very far corner and hope we wouldn't bother anybody. The looks we'd get from the tennis players. I mean it was just. And then we got permission to paint them. So I went out there with my little roller in my paint and a group of tennis ladies were walking by.
Speaker 3:I mean I'm literally out there in the heat of the summer like rolling it, and this lady, these tennis leaders, are going what are you doing? And I'm like I'm painting pickleball courts. And another local tennis pro from a different club was coming by and going what are you doing? I'm like I'm painting pickleball courts. And he's like, oh yeah, that's that's, that's ridiculous. I'm like, okay, bye, have a good day, have a good day. And now we've got 42 dedicated courts. We have some of the biggest tournaments. I mean it's just it's funny, it's it it? I think we're definitely becoming more legitimate. It's just funny to see that progression from one extreme to the other.
Speaker 2:The minute you said in a group of tennis ladies, I was like, oh, this is going to be bad.
Speaker 1:So I didn't come from the tennis world so I'm like, but I'm getting exposed to it because they're all coming over, you know pickleball. And I've been so lucky I landed with a great group of ladies that I mean that that are amazing. This is my first season doing women's pickleball leagues.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I was hesitant at first, just because women in general, like they, tend to eat each other and like yeah.
Speaker 3:I'm scared of them, I know, I know.
Speaker 1:So I was a little bit hesitant, but then I was like I went in and dip my toe in and then I slowly, you know, and then today we had our Christmas pickleball and I'm like love these ladies, right.
Speaker 3:So I was really lucky, but boy howdy.
Speaker 1:I'll tell you what. You go out there and you play.
Speaker 3:There were some few that yeah, there were a few that you meet at the beginning and I was like I don't like that. They're not nice, they're not, don't they understand our sport? And it's interesting because the ones who stuck with it, they've they've assimilated to our culture, they get it now. They're still competitive, still want to play, but have loosened up the you know whatever that weird tennis vibe is.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I mean, if we're the two courts that we have to fight for, there's two public courts right across the street and they've got them marked off for tennis and pickleball, so you can have four pickleball courts and we'll get up there sometimes and there'll be two people playing singles. They're not even playing, they're just, you know, just hitting the ball back and forth and they're staying out there, while there's 18 dedicated courts down the hill that they could play on. They're doing it just to be spiteful and we've got like 12 people waiting to get on there.
Speaker 3:So be nice to this people. We're coming to get your courts. We're taking over all the courts.
Speaker 1:See, this is where they hate us.
Speaker 3:Well, you know, and there's room for everybody. There really is. I mean you guys have probably seen all of the new facility. I mean you know it's, yeah, it's all like you've got that new facility coming, some of the indoor facilities that are happening Dallas indoor pickleball, pickleball kingdom we're enclosing eight courts at Oasis. You know, yeah, so there's, there's just it's it's going crazy and there is space for everybody, both tennis and pickleball people. So, and thankfully, the growth now of the courts pickleball courts is keeping up with the demand.
Speaker 1:Well, it's not here yet, Like we really don't. I mean it's it's Move to.
Speaker 3:Rockwall. Move to Rockwall.
Speaker 1:I know You're empty nesters.
Speaker 3:Don't worry about kids in school.
Speaker 2:Serious.
Speaker 3:Right, yeah, we have a we have a Costco and we have a Target. And we're getting no, but we're supposed to be getting an H-E-B and a Ikea.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, the H-E-B is legit, the central market I know.
Speaker 1:But oh why what's H-E-B?
Speaker 3:I've never been, I've heard, it's fabulous.
Speaker 1:It's very it's very bougie, it's very bougie. Yeah, it's got the vegetables and that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3:I think we were supposed to get a sprouts too. But is sprouts good enough or I don't?
Speaker 2:know We've got sprouts here too, but I don't know that I've ever been in it. Have you hun?
Speaker 1:No, it's, it's kind of I don't know, but you know you just it's like I can't go to. I go to Tom Thumb If I go to Kroger. It just doesn't feel the same, Like I'm just a Tom. Thumb girl. I'm a home depot girl. I'm not a Lowe's girl.
Speaker 3:You just get used to what you are.
Speaker 1:I'm a target, not a Walmart. Yeah. I don't know, you just have your things you know yeah. Yeah. So let me ask you this, Do you so? John and I almost got pickled, divorced and there's very few couples that play together and we fought through and and Good for you.
Speaker 2:I'm glad we did. I'm glad we did, but it was rough.
Speaker 1:It was not going to be good for you and seeing, and now, what about you?
Speaker 3:So, um, my husband is an ex professional athlete. He played baseball and so he was like pickleball is stupid, it's just a ball sport. I can do it, I can do whatever. And he did play, he would play. He doesn't have a lot of time. Um, like John, he's in that private equity world. You know he's, he's it works a lot of different um organizations around the country and so he's not home very often. So when he's home he wants to play golf and that's fine, he goes and plays golf, I go play pickleball.
Speaker 3:We have a competed in one, two tournaments together and we will never do that again. It's his. I say a lot of words and he says practically zero words and his level of competition and like fierceness is like off the charts. But he all, it's all inside here. My level is like at a healthy did I say that at a healthy level of competition and I say all the words. So it just doesn't work, it just it's not, it didn't work for us and it and it never will and that. But that's okay. I have a mixed partner. He and I've been playing together for a couple years where we're gonna start playing four, five next year, racking. Wow, it's gonna be tough for a long time but it's fine and you know, just for my husband and I it just it didn't work. So I'm glad you guys worked out. I know a lot of couples who play together and they're so nice to each other and they're so like we're not.
Speaker 3:Encouraging, and you know, and some people take that personally and you know, and I don't take it personally, it's just I know it's not, it's it's more not fun for Earl than it is for me. So we just, you know, go our separate ways well we.
Speaker 1:so what happened? We played in it, and it was at the Texas Open, where I didn't play good Mm-hmm and because she was totally expecting me to shit the bed. Yeah, and we go out there and I shot the bed, oh, and I play more than him because he, you know, he's got his job and right and I'm more and I wanted to compete like at a high level and we were the reason we didn't get Pickled of horses because we said, okay, we'll give up to this tournament date, right because I said I said if you don't want to compete, I want to, and so if you don't want to, that's fine, but I have to go find another partner.
Speaker 1:He's like I don't like that. And I'm like, well, then you need to step up. So then he, yeah, said, okay, I'll step up, right, because I want to play and I want to play with you. I'm like, fine, then we go out there, we play the first tournament. We got a bronze. We were like, okay, we could do this. Then we got out there and you know, I shit the bed. And then I was like gosh, I wouldn't want to lose with anyone else. And then, but then you know I know, and it's so sweet.
Speaker 3:I love you honey but we did play this last.
Speaker 2:Sunday and I wanted to kill him. Did you hear me.
Speaker 1:I said we played this last Sunday and I wanted to kill him because I was like, oh, you can't like, you know. So it's gonna be a up-and-down thing, I think. And yeah, you know, but I got to think long term About everything my yeah, when you're old.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you got it, you got a stick it. You got a stick in there for the, for the 401k and, yeah, security and and all that. And I, my question is, who gets the cloud in a divorce like that's always our discussion, like we can't get divorced. Who gets the cloud? Like how do we separate the cloud and all the stuff, our digital stuff?
Speaker 2:We think about that. You know what that's too much trouble, that's enough to stay.
Speaker 3:I know that's why we just yeah, we're just like now, we're just sick of it out. It's just easier.
Speaker 2:Karen mentioned the chatter Christmas party today. And, honey, what did you have at your Christmas party?
Speaker 1:this one of our girls in our, in our pickleball, she's the hostess with most us literally went. I mean, she had chefs come in and cook us crepes and I'm not talking like crepes, like with berries in them. They were like you could get your cheese and your meat and you're never had anything like this, with this like very.
Speaker 1:Drizzle sauce and whatever. And then she had a. She had a massage therapist. Come now. So John, she invited John over. There are neighbors right. So they invited. She invited John over. John goes I'm sorry I have to work, says someday we can have money for crepe.
Speaker 2:Get into that sweet, sweet crepe money.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah that we need crepe level of money. Sounds like she might have come from the tennis world, or no? No?
Speaker 1:I was gonna say it myself. It's good. I was gonna say it sounds like she came from the tennis world, but ironically she didn't know. It's funny is that we they were who we started playing pickleball with. We started playing pickleball in the street. Yeah because so it was during COVID, the first time we played. We played in a parking lot because they took down the nets at the tennis courts, I know so yeah and then we started playing with them.
Speaker 1:We chalked it off in the street and put up net up, and when cars would come, we roll the net off and put the net back. We play with kids. We play for hours. Yeah and I think that's kind of what John still has in his head like as the funnest thing that ever has been in pickleball, and and, and it's probably me, because I just want to compete like I've never been good at a sport before, like I am this.
Speaker 1:Yeah like this is. This is a thing, this is what I want to do all the way till I die, like I want to die on a pickleball court.
Speaker 3:I feel like we're twins. I think we're sisters from another mister. I feel like this is the same same same I. I Absolutely the understand what you're saying. Yeah, yeah, it's. It's the best sport ever.
Speaker 1:I think so and I I'm really encouraged to see you know how it's grown it, how the youth are getting involved and and Hopefully this is, you know, the end of the the sitting the look down generation and sitting there gaming for hours and hours and they're out there doing something that keeps them outside and socializing and yeah, I think it probably it probably kept us sane during Covid, because it was like, what are you gonna do?
Speaker 2:and I had, just by a lark, had ordered a Set probably two months before the world shut down, because I saw some people playing it. I had no idea. I was like what is that? It looked kind of cool because they were having a firefight. I was like what is that? Yeah, the guy goes Well, that's pickleball. I was like that is pickleball.
Speaker 3:Right and.
Speaker 2:Karen, of course, thought oh, here's John again, mr Impulse by put it in the corner of the garage where it sat for two months until the world shut down. I'm like, come on, we're gonna, we're gonna go set this thing up in the parking lot, and it was. We still have a picture that first day we played. It's like March something, 2020, and there we became the pandemic picklers, and that was. That was the start of love it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's, and that's the origin story for so many people now playing the sport. It's, it's, it's like you said, it's the best thing that came out of that.
Speaker 2:It wild how this sport, and of all sports, just.
Speaker 3:Here's the thing I think. In my opinion, it was always going this way. It was gonna get there eventually.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:I Just think COVID boosted it that much you know very quickly. And and then all these symptoms of that quick growth, or showing the noise, the, you know, in fighting with the other athletes, the, the in fighting with the leagues, or you know, whatever that was happening there, you know, I think it's just a symptom of that very, very, very fast, explosive growth.
Speaker 2:That's so true. I mean it is. It's like you know you're seeing growing paint, right. And we're doing it in a hurry, probably a lot quicker than they had planned. I mean, the number one player in the world, 16 years old. So I mean the game is gonna is gonna change and I don't know. Being out there at the PPA when we were volunteers and actually getting to see the pros, we were lucky enough to get working the yeah, what were we calling the pro?
Speaker 2:club Pro lounge yeah which was cool, of course. One day I got, because I'm pretty massive, I'm pretty huge guy.
Speaker 3:You're pretty. No, that's why we put you there. We put you down at the bottom of the stairs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we put you down there at the bottom of the staircase and I found out what country club members hate more than anything being told they can't come in their own country club.
Speaker 3:It's funny because I had asked my husband. I'm like what in Brookhaven members again, I think about this tournament taking over their entire facility, and my husband, who's Huge in the golf, is like you golf tournaments do it all the time.
Speaker 2:It's just part of you know, part of the process. It totally is, and they Remember going to golf tournaments all the time where people like that, but you're always gonna have the people go. Well, what am I paying my dues for?
Speaker 3:I think yeah, don't ask you like, dude, I'm a volunteer, I don't even live here, what is happening? But also I need to shout out to you guys Thank you so much for helping me get a big handful of volunteers. You guys were so sweet to to put that out there and it was fun to meet and some of the folks you guys brought over and I Appreciate it. I appreciate you guys stepping up and, you know, having fun with us for a couple of days.
Speaker 1:Anything that we could do to help. And and that's the beauty again, too, of a community like this I mean our club. We just opened up membership. Remember I told you we had over 1300 members. We just opened up the other day, we were only open for four days and we jumped over 1500 people. So, and but that it was all that community, so the South Lake powder club, this community of people. You know, when I put it out there, you know I was getting Calls and and checks and yeah how can I help out?
Speaker 1:and they really all enjoyed it so much. I mean they I got so many things afterwards.
Speaker 1:Yeah they just wanted to be involved and it for many of them, I think it was their first exposure to PPA and I think that the PPA should recognize the value of clubs like ours, because that that these, I will tell you, the majority of people that we play with Don't follow PPA, they don't follow MLP, they don't even know what they are, just like we were a year ago or six months ago, and it's in their best interest to to, I think, to embrace these communities that have come, because to me, look, pickleball is a, it's a.
Speaker 2:Work activity.
Speaker 3:It's like a she's gonna dump you. John, you better be somewhere.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like it springs from a local. Yeah local thing, right, it is it very much so.
Speaker 3:And then it also kind of expands in different weird ways that you never expected to right right?
Speaker 1:Oh, and I was gonna make one more comment. Do you think that the owl paddle? How much decibels would there be between the owl paddle and in a lee waters paddle?
Speaker 3:Oh God, I don't even know. She is just a phenom.
Speaker 1:I don't know. Have you heard the drama around her paddle?
Speaker 3:Oh, I Try not to get too much and listen. I'm not a podcast listener, I really do. I love to read stuff. I don't really want to listen to stuff like I. You know, even on social media I'll see. Oh, here's a link to blah blah like nope, I want to see the news article, I don't read it. So I don't listen to a whole lot of podcast, unless I'm on a long Car trip.
Speaker 1:So I don't.
Speaker 3:I'm gonna like is this gonna be a replay? It's gonna be like cast air, cast up to all the TVs and it's gonna just be playing all the time fantastic.
Speaker 1:What's your paddle that you play with regularly?
Speaker 3:I've been playing with the cellkirk for a really long time actually since. Shout out to Tyson McGuffin I did a clinic with him and yeah, and we know yeah, and I just became a cellkirk girl. But yeah, I played with the power air I Um S2. Okay, okay, so I have, I have ping pong grip and then so I that short handle is, is you know what I like? And I need all the help I can get on power, because I don't have it.
Speaker 1:So I didn't know that was a ping pong grip.
Speaker 2:Yeah, with a finger that's helped.
Speaker 1:That's what.
Speaker 2:I do yeah.
Speaker 3:You have a ping pong. See, we're all twins, we are the same person.
Speaker 1:We need to move closer.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I suggest here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it sounds much better than here. I'll tell you that.
Speaker 2:Hey, Francine, you want to hear my quick little pickleball story because I'm a lefty, I'm a natural lefty.
Speaker 3:Oh, wow, okay.
Speaker 2:Playing at the chicken and pickle one day. Shot reached real quick tore my bicep.
Speaker 3:The whole thing rolled up Like oh shit, so I learned to play right handed.
Speaker 2:So I started to become a righty and actually got pretty good and then tore that one too.
Speaker 3:Well, you're so big and buff those, just pop in, they're just popping everywhere, yeah.
Speaker 1:They're big to stay together.
Speaker 3:So now are you back to a lefty?
Speaker 2:I went back to the right, which is weird, but I can hit it I can hit it harder with my left, but I'm more consistent with the right and, as we all know, in pickleball the unforced errors are the killer.
Speaker 2:You got to be consistent. So Karen prefers that I play with the right, but I will switch to left. I still serve with my left hand. Every now and then I'll switch to left just to hit a drive and people will kind of they do a double take. But from what I hear, that's going to be the future is probably ambidextrous. Players are going to be out there just doing all this, but why not?
Speaker 3:I mean it's, it's just Did you play other sports or do other things like right left, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Bad at left handed, right left handed, eat left handed but throw right handed. I'm just going to mix it up.
Speaker 3:Yeah, our son's kind of the same way. He some sports he does as a lefty, some as a righty, and he writes with a lefty. Yeah, it's very interesting.
Speaker 2:It is we're very interesting people. I have two more things to say.
Speaker 1:So one I realized that I'm a great defensive player, I'll keep the ball in play, and so John has to put it away, like that's. That's kind of like where we have to get. So he's got to learn more poaching and more how to like take that center, yeah. But the other thing I wanted to say, and so I don't know, that's what we need, that's like our next layer that we need to work on. But and that's what I think about pickleball is like every time, like you have to layer the skills on. You can't take it all on at once, right?
Speaker 1:So just concentrate on one thing and then you know. And so our learning curve because we didn't come from tennis is going to be a lot longer, but I think we're learning pickleball the correct way, so we don't have to unlearn anything, like some of the ladies that come from tennis have to unlearn things that they learned in tennis. And then the second thing I'm going to say about pickleball and I want your thoughts on this is like how awesome of a sport is this that it highlights women? I mean, think about it. The women's doubles are almost more fun to watch. What do you mean?
Speaker 3:almost. I prefer watching women's doubles. They pull the trigger faster. Their, their, their firefights, their hand battles are just so much more fun to watch. Yeah, to me like okay, keep cross-court dinking guys, let's go.
Speaker 1:You know like come on let's get so.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I agree that, yeah, and and they're, yeah, it's just awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and like you don't have soccer, do they have cross gender? You know soccer, you know no, do they have it in? No, yeah, do they have it in the NFL? No, Do they have it like this? Is that's the beautiful thing?
Speaker 3:Another thing about pickleball.
Speaker 1:I love pickleball.
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, I love pickleball. Man, I love pickleball.
Speaker 2:She says this all like we'll be somewhere and she'll go. You know what I love about pickleball? I'm like what I don't know.
Speaker 3:Your kids should start a little bit what mom loves about pickleball and like, keep a running list of everything what's not to love. I mean, let's think about this for a second. Is there anything about this sport that we don't like? Oh, I know what mine is. Okay, go ahead, you guys. First One thing that you don't like about this sport.
Speaker 2:One thing that I don't like about the sport Wow.
Speaker 3:Okay, I'm going to tell mine Mine's nothing Is the rating system.
Speaker 1:It's just messed up, mass up.
Speaker 2:Huge. I would say sandbagging is what I would say UTPR is major messed up.
Speaker 3:Dupre, I think, is a little bit more accurate. But we've also got the world pickleball ratings and we have the UTR now I think I mean there's just all these different things and you know, none of them are great, but where you see that the most is a national tournament or a sanctioned tournament, because for sanctioned tournaments you have to play your UTPR, or sanctioned by USA pickleball and you know, if that's the case I can play women's 3-0. And I'm not going to do that, Like I'm just not going to do that.
Speaker 2:But people who I've had to play against some 5-0 players, and it was hard I heard something this is yesterday too, and this is why I do listen to podcasts because of my commute but they were talking about, in this recent tournament, the winners of 3-5 golds. Whatever this latest tournament was, san Clemente, I think for the not the pros, but the amateur level the winners of the 3-5 brackets had duper ratings of 5.2. How does that? How does that? Even I mean it's ridiculous. Why would you want to do that? Why I don't get it so sandbagging definitely for me.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, I mean, it's a problem. It's just a problem and you know, you can just play on sanctioned tournaments and then that problem kind of goes away. Or there's people also who know how to manage their ratings Well, like I don't know who has time for that Really.
Speaker 2:I don't have time to manage that. I'm not going to do that.
Speaker 3:I want to play very comfortable at 4-0, won lots of medals at 4-0. Not sure I'd be bragging, but no, I've won enough medals at 4-0 that I'm comfortable there. Now I have to push outside of my comfort zone. I'm going to try to play 4-5 and get killed for probably the first two years of it. But oh, maybe I can get to the 55 plus age bracket by 30.
Speaker 2:There you go.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but it's just that, that's my one. That's my one. You know thing I don't like.
Speaker 2:Your husband is a golfer, he's probably real familiar with that too, because of the handicap system and golf with amateurs, some people, they love to pad that handicap and it's just, it's no good Just play your game, play your sport.
Speaker 1:One last question Favorite shot?
Speaker 2:Your favorite shot.
Speaker 3:Favorite shot. I don't want to give away my secret, just kidding, I didn't say it's just a best. Okay, I love a good inside out from the right hand side.
Speaker 2:I am trying to learn how to do that. What is? That so magic Just swinging like this that the angle goes to the right the other way, swing of my right. It looks like I'm hitting the left. It comes off the left.
Speaker 3:So sometimes. So I'm using so and I I get it a lot, especially when I'm playing mixed doubles because you know they're kind of coming at me a lot but and I'm always on the right hand side, my partner and I stack, so we full stack, and so I'm on the right hand side and I'll get a ball just perfect height where it looks like I'm going to cross court. Really, I just do an inside out and it goes out to the sideline and usually you know the opponent is tracking to their right and real, and then my ball goes to their left. So it's my favorite Is that like down the line.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it goes down the line, Okay got it.
Speaker 2:I mean, when you do it right, it's a wicked shot. It really is, it's such a good shot.
Speaker 3:Right, well, you know people are. You know people are. You know the fast reaction times, that it doesn't always work. You know I used to just hit it and be like, oh, that's an instant winner. But now people are reacting to it a little better. So, yeah, it's my favorite.
Speaker 2:Well, and I have one last thing to say, and we'll and we'll put a bow on it, but because our volunteers don't even know this shit, but we have a special surprise for all the volunteers that helped us at Octoberfest, and a lot of the same people that helped us with your tournament as well, and we're going to have a special kind of event for them that we haven't announced yet, but we want to invite you to come too, because I think it'd be a blast to get you there. And guess what the theme will be? It'll be pickleball.
Speaker 3:Really, are we going to play? Can we play a?
Speaker 2:little. We may be involved. Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 3:Are there crepes and massage therapists there we?
Speaker 2:don't have crepes on it just yet.
Speaker 3:No crepe money yet.
Speaker 2:So we want to. We must have you there, because I think it'd be a blast, and thank you. That was a great experience for us. I mean, it was two days and it was a long days, but we congratulations.
Speaker 3:I heard a lot of great things about that. I couldn't get out there, but I had to hear a lot of great things and I kind of follow along on social media, you guys, you know, I mean, you know what it takes to put on events and that's. Another great thing about volunteers is they see what actually goes on behind the scenes and then they're not just the I can't, you know, see this or I can't, my courts, my courts in too much Wanda or whatever. Like you have no idea all of the details that go into something like that.
Speaker 1:So, oh, yeah, One of our favorite events was the Special Olympians and that that proved, you know, that pickleball is for all. And you know that these two warriors that are, you know, special needs can get out there and play and you should have seen the crowd like watching them and cheering them on and I just, I loved it. We heard it was the talk of the October fest, so so cool, so excited.
Speaker 3:Dang, I wish that you know what I love about pickleball is to get to do cool events like these and yeah, I know that's my 2023 was too busy, so I had to. I couldn't do stuff like what you guys did, and so 2024 is going to be a much better year for me. I'm going to say yes to all the fun things and. I love to come out and help next, next year.
Speaker 2:You know, tell me what you need, and yeah, oh, we'll dip on that, though, because we already we talked to the city. They loved it. We're going to be doing it again, and less.
Speaker 3:Oh, good yeah.
Speaker 2:It'll be fun, and plus with your experience, I'm sure you'll have a hundred things. You could tell us that we could do better, but I'm just so, I'm so thankful that you hopped on with us. This was chock full pickleball goodies.
Speaker 3:Another reason I love pickleball.
Speaker 1:Another reason I love pickleball the people are the best the people I meet.
Speaker 3:It's the one thing. The rating system is the worst thing. The people are the best thing.
Speaker 1:The best thing? Yeah, look at us, we would never. You live in Rockwall.
Speaker 3:When would our lives?
Speaker 1:ever have crossed paths? Never and wasn't for pickleball. Prison, yeah, prison, yeah, after I murdered you, maybe yeah.
Speaker 3:Well, you guys would have a pickleball divorce and then a pickleball murder. You'd be on a D-line episode. They started out playing pickleball. They started out.
Speaker 1:It was just a friendly game.
Speaker 2:Yeah, keith Morrison could narrate it.
Speaker 1:Who knew such a fun sport would turn so dark?
Speaker 3:Keith Morrison play pickleball. We need to find that out because that would be fun.
Speaker 1:He needs to. Yeah, the sultry tones Bring some light in him.
Speaker 2:So I do want to let everybody know. In the show notes I'll have information about pickleball team works. I'll have any information that you want to share with us for people who might want to learn more. Oh, and we'll make sure that that's all highlighted in the show notes.
Speaker 1:Thank, you for that. Honey, do you have something to say? Yeah, I was going to say did we even let everyone know what team works? Was I think we talked about it, but yeah, we talked about it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we talked about it, yeah.
Speaker 3:So our pickleball team works. Yeah, so pickleball team works. My business partner, melissa, but Joe's and I, we offer team building events to companies through pickleball so we can, as an example, we might, do a three hour event with a group of employees, some who may know nothing about the sport, others who maybe are really good players of the sport, and we design and curate an event for them that you know builds on their, their strengths as players or their weaknesses, because they don't know how to play, and then we do some sort of team building activities or events or competition, you know which, whatever the client wants us to do. So it's been, it's been fun. My, my partner, melissa, is. She is so phenomenally creative and a really good pickleball player. To my specialty is beginners. I have been teaching beginners to play pickleball for years and years and years, and that's where my love is. So I work with a lot of beginners. She works with the, the newer players, and then between the two of us, we we come up with a really fun event.
Speaker 1:It is going to change employee engagement. I love what you're doing. That is the no better way to improve employee engagement than incorporating pickleball.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you can just do so much. Another reason to love pickleball, and one other thing that I forgot to mention because I do this with Melissa as well is we we actually have a junior team, we have a paddles up pickleball club, and so we get kids to come out to practice once a week and we fundraise, we raise money and we pay for their entry fees to tournaments and clinics and events and things like that. So that's, you know, that's kind of where. Where my heart is, too, is with is with the kids and the beginners I love. Those are my, those are my two groups that I love.
Speaker 1:Well, I can talk to you offline about that, because we're going to be doing some stuff, for I'm totally helpful.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm happy to help Pickleball. That's what I love about pickleball. I told you there were a lot of hats.
Speaker 2:You sound like my wife. I'm like good Lord, how do you, where do you find time? I mean it's, it's unbelievable. That's great though. I mean it takes that if you have the passion for it, I mean it's fantastic. So you definitely do, and thank you for broadening our our pickleball experience. We've gotten to meet people and do things directly from our relationship with you, so thank you for letting us be involved.
Speaker 3:Thank you guys for doing this. This has been really fun. I can let's do this every day. I can talk about pickleball every day Same.
Speaker 1:That's why we started the that's why we changed the podcast, because everything eventually ended up here.
Speaker 2:We, that's. I've been in human resources for 25 years. I had a blog, a podcast called HR hardball and Karen started co-hosting, but then every conversation would turn into pickleball and finally we're like we're just going what do we do? And so blazing blazing paddles was born. And then there we are.
Speaker 3:I love that. Well, I'm going to dive a little deeper on the podcast stuff and I'll listen to some stuff I'm going to. I'll get it in. I should have. I drove all the way out to LB Houston the way it said. It was an hour and 10 minute drive, so I should have popped in the podcast you should have. Well, the last couple have been really good.
Speaker 2:Well, all of them have been really good, but we've got a guy who started the college. It's going to have college championships. We have this pickleball clinic, these dudes up in New Jersey who are doing unbelievable things.
Speaker 1:There's some good lessons in that one. Yeah, yeah, listen to that one, okay.
Speaker 3:And this one, of course is probably going to break pretty much up to the record. It's going to be in the in the podcast Hall of Fame for sure.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much.
Speaker 3:Thank you guys. It was so fun. Have a great holiday season and let's, let's play next year, let's get it, let's get some stuff on the books. Bye guys, bye guys.