Bad Calls - Pickleball Podcast
Bad Calls is where pickleball talk meets questionable judgment. Hosted by Graham D’Amico and Travis Rettenmaier—co-owners of Major League Pickleball’s Florida Smash and self-proclaimed experts in bad decisions—this show is a mix of unfiltered takes, trash talk, and whatever else comes to mind between games.
Travis is a top PPA pro and a former pro tennis player, which gives him just enough confidence to think he knows what he’s talking about. Graham? Well, he’s got opinions.
Recorded at Crescent Lake Park in St. Pete, Florida, these are the courts where we first learned the game, talked way too much smack, and fell in love with the sport. If you love pickleball but don’t take yourself too seriously, welcome to the party.
Podcasting since 2022 • 89 episodes
Bad Calls - Pickleball Podcast
Latest Episodes
Roasting Travis While Recapping Vegas and MLP Cup
Graham and Luke start things off by absolutely dominating on the tennis court before jumping into a Vegas recap, the Lifetime Open, and whatever else comes up while roasting Travis for a full hour.There’s talk of crazy Uspensky hooks, mi...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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38:47
John Lucian Goins: The Chess Brain Taking Over Pickleball
Rising pro Jon Lucien pulls up to Bad Calls to talk back-to-back singles wins, why deception beats pace, and how a chess habit sharpens his reads. We argue Gen 1 vs Gen 4 paddles, recap the PPA Vintage Open with wood, and ask a simple question ...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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41:23
Wooden Paddles Made Pickleball… Better?!
The Kawamoto sisters snag gold in Cincinnati and prove that they were severely underrated! We get into why their patient style works and how parity is catching up to the big teams.Paddles: the RPM is making noise, but UPA approval is sti...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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28:25
Are Pros Softer Than Tennis Players? Hindrance Chaos and Line-Call Cheating
We’re back at Crescent Lake and it finally isn’t raining. Travis breaks down a grueling PPA Challenger weekend, the certification chaos that has paddles swapping mid-event, and why half the new sticks are failing tests. We talk lab tour intel, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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42:48
Andre Daescu the Best Men’s Player in the World
Andre Daescu just went full beast mode at MLP Finals in New York. He didn’t just win, he dominated. We’re talking flawless men’s play, carrying the Sliders, and even making Anna Leigh look human. So we had to ask… is Daescu officially the best ...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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38:36