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.
Bad Calls - Pickleball Podcast
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 with a messy answer: who’s the best men’s doubles player right now?
We also get into Malaysia Cup fan energy, MLP vs PPA for growth, Buccee's road rituals, and why doubles takes longer to “solve.” Jon shares his partner plans, a perfect SAT flex, and the strategy he uses to ice opponent momentum.
