One More Game Podcast Episode 47: Don't Let Perfect Ruin Good

 

Back on the Court: Abby and Matt Brandenberger Return to Pickleball Podcast After Long Hiatus

The hosts of popular pickleball podcast 1 More Game chat about life, laughs, and the game they love in candid conversation.

After a three week break, one of pickleball's favorite couples has returned to the microphone. Abby and Matt Brandenberger, hosts of the popular 1 More Game podcast, are back with new episodes after a brief hiatus due to their jam-packed schedules. In their signature candid, unfiltered style, the duo covered a range of topics in their latest show, from Abby's hilarious late night fall to insights on improving the third shot drop, and even big news about the growth of pickleball. Through it all, their witty banter and unmistakable chemistry brought a smile to listeners' faces. 00:11 Abby and Matt explain their long break from podcasting The episode kicks off with Matt joking about how their "faithful listeners" must be dwindling after going three weeks without a new show. Abby quips that they're probably down to seven listeners now. In all seriousness, the two explain that life had just gotten extremely hectic between volleyball season, their daughters' activities, and major transitions in Matt's career. Now that club volleyball has started, taking over from school volleyball season, their schedule is finally allowing them to resume a regular podcast recording cadence. Even if it's just every other week for now, Matt says he's hoping they can get back into more of a rhythm. 02:16 Abby shows off new MLP shirt from finally playing with pros A highlight while they were off the air was Abby finally getting to play pickleball with two legends of the sport - Jackie and Jade Kawamoto. She proudly shows off her new "DC" shirt, representing MLP (Major League Pickleball). Though Abby and Matt didn't play doubles together against Jackie and Jade, Abby describes the memorable night out beforehand sharing some beers with the pros. She shares her impression that Jackie seemed to be holding back while they were playing, demonstrating her reputation as an incredible player. 04:22 Matt tells crazy story about dramatic late night fall Leave it to Matt and Abby to find humor even in accidents and injuries. Matt launches into a hilarious play-by-play of taking a dramatic tumble in their bedroom late at night. He describes the scene of their pitch black room, carrying a laundry basket upstairs after a long day, and not seeing a large box on the floor. Matt exclaims "I think I'm going to die!" before falling head over heels, waking up some of their daughters. Abby says she laughed so hard she couldn't breathe. Matt's neck was sore for days after, but they continue getting laughs out of reenacting his loud crash and somersault into bed. 08:36 The Dink Newsletter 3rd shot drop article inspires new strategy Transitioning to some pickleball strategy talk, Abby brings up a recent issue of The Dink newsletter she read, which had an interesting article about the third shot drop. This is a shot she and Matt discuss a lot, since it's so crucial in pickleball for controlling the point. Based on some tips from the article, they recently changed up their typical positioning strategy. Now instead of Matt taking most third shots, even if they're hit behind him, Abby is moving over more to hit third shot drops. This enables Matt to prowl and move around better to poach shots. They explain how allowing the stronger player to be more mobile and cover the court works better than sticking to defined positions. It's a continuous process of adjusting strategies and not relying on the same thing every time. 11:01 Don't try to hit the perfect third, just keep it descending Abby highlights another helpful tip from The Dink article about not trying to be perfect on every third shot. She admits her tendency is to want to place it exactly right in the kitchen. However, the article advised just focusing on keeping the ball descending as it goes over the net, without worrying about perfection. Matt agrees, saying "don't let perfect ruin good" is a great mantra. It's better to leave a ball a little high and play it out, rather than hitting the net. 15:06 Abby and Matt dive into opposing mentalities Debating differences in their competitive mentalities leads to an amusing philosophical discussion. Abby requests that Matt stop being so hard on himself when he makes mistakes. She doesn't like seeing opponents feed off frustration. Matt argues he just holds himself to a very high standard, like not missing easy third shot drops. Abby thinks he undervalues himself, while Matt believes she is too quick to excuse mistakes. Neither sees eye to eye, so they agree to keep working through this mental game divide. 20:08 Apple Watch pickleball data shows growth Shifting gears, Abby shares Apple Watch stats published in The Dink showing pickleball surpassing tennis in popularity. The average pickleball workout was longer than tennis and had higher female participation. Matt questions though whether the average heart rates captured paint an accurate picture. He speculates pickleball involves more intermittent intense sprints compared to tennis's steadier pace. They agree more data would be needed to assess true workout intensity. 24:18 Study shows pickleball reduces depression Another fascinating stat highlighted pickleball's mental health benefits. Pickleball players were found 60% less likely to show signs of depression than tennis players. Abby and Matt emphasize the sport's inclusiveness and ability to transcend age and skill levels. As avid players and advocates, they enthusiastically embrace any evidence showing how pickleball boosts moods along with physical activity. The combination makes it simply the greatest sport around. 30:22 Local stats show huge pickleball potential Abby shares her extensive research into their local area's demographics to analyze the market for their new Ace Pickleball Club. With around 400,000 people in their county, she estimates a conservative 12,000 play pickleball regularly based on national participation data. Out of those 12,000 estimated players, they would only need about 10%, or 1,200 people, to sign up for memberships at the new facility. Hearing how many people actively play in their region gives them confidence about demand, although they acknowledge costs are still a factor. 35:06 Construction updates on new Fort Wayne ACE location Approaching the opening of Ace Pickleball Club in Fort Wayne, Abby provides status updates on the construction progress. The fence posts are up, office space will be ready soon, and they are eager to eventually record podcasts on location once the environment is less noisy. She also plugs their Ace Pickleball Fort Wayne Facebook page and YouTube channel, which has behind-the-scenes videos chronicling the journey to build the club. 36:00 Facebook and YouTube channels showcase behind the scenes Abby goes into more detail about the "reality series" videos created by Nick Henney, which capture sneak peeks of the work happening to get Ace Pickleball Fort Wayne ready for its grand debut. The first few videos focus on owners TK Herman and Sky Howard, illuminating the business side of launching this ambitious new venture. Abby expects to be featured in upcoming episodes, sharing her perspective on the staff and operations planning. 37:09 What We Love: cozy season During their recurring "What We Love" segment, Abby professes her enjoyment of fall's cozy vibe. She embraces sweater weather, sweatpants, quilts, and ever-present fireplace flames. Even though Matt doesn't share her year-round affinity for roaring fires, he agrees fall and football make for a perfect pairing. As their favorite time of year, the hosts delight in autumn's arrival. It's a reminder to find small joys amid busy schedules. Plus, Matt's 45th birthday approaches in November, so extra reasons to celebrate the season abound.

Summary: Abby and Matt continue to perfectly balance humor and heartfelt honesty, discussing family, careers, health, and of course, their shared passion for pickleball. After a long wait, it's wonderful to have One More Game back. This fun, thoughtful couple truly lights up the world of pickleball podcasting.

YouTube Time Code List

1. 00:11 Abby and Matt are back after a 3 week break from the podcast due to busy schedules.
2. 02:16 Abby's New MLP shirt and she finally got to play pickleball with pros Jackie and Jade Kawamoto
3. 04:22 Matt tells a hilarious story about falling down hard after tripping over a large box in their dark bedroom.
4. 08:36 The Dink Newsletter 3rd shot drop article. Matt and Abby discuss a new strategy.
5. 11:01 Don't try to hit the perfect third shot drop, just focus on keeping it descending as it crosses the net. Don't let perfect ruin good.
6. 15:06 Abby and Matt discuss their philosophical discussion on the way home
7. 20:08 Apple Watch data shows pickleball surpassed tennis in popularity based on tracked US activity
8. 24:18 Pickleball was found to reduce feelings of depression 60% compared to tennis at 51%.
9. 30:22 Stats from the Fort Wayne area. There are estimated to be around 12,000 people that play pickleball players in their county, plenty of market for the ACE Pickleball Club.
10. 35:06 Construction updates on the new Ace Pickleball Club coming soon to Fort Wayne.
11. 36:00 Ace Pickleball Club Facebook Page, Nick Henney's behind the scenes videos on YouTube
12. 37:09 What We Love - Cozy Season