NML Pickleball Podcast Recap: Paddle Drama and Video Game Laughs
Progressive draws, paddle testing changes, and silly video games: just another week in the wild world of professional pickleball
1. Progressive Draw Takes Center Stage (2:28)
The recent PPA/USAP Nationals Championship implemented a "progressive draw" tournament format, where pros played multiple matches across different events each day. Hosts Chris and Jeremy mostly approved, with Chris saying, "I'm a pro progressive draw guy." He enjoyed getting to "focus then on those early round matchups," which fans rarely see under normal tournament scheduling.
However, Chris notes the format may "make[] it hard for the up and coming pros" who have day jobs outside of pickleball. The unpredictable schedule and long event commitment pose "a tough hill to climb" for athletes trying to break in. Jeremy agrees "barrier to entry is probably the biggest issue." Though established players urge, "go full-time pickleball," Chris argues we may "actually underestimate" how difficult that choice is for many aspiring pros.
2. Center Court Shadows Disrupt Play (13:29)
Center court at Nationals suffered from intense sunlight and shadows disrupting play at times—an unfortunately common issue in pickleball. "They got to figure out that center court situation," Jeremy urged, regarding the haphazard structures that never seem to provide consistent shade on these showcase courts.
Chris agreed it looked "very amateurish," especially when commentators constantly note the solar interference mid-match. Jeremy pushed the PPA and MLP to finally "figure that out at some point, since shadows uniquely impact pickleball so much." No fan enjoys watching their favorite pro struggle simply because of uneven lighting.
3. Collin Johns the Warrior Plays Through Injury (16:57)
In their men's doubles National Championship match, Collin Johns took a ball straight to the forehead and collapsed in apparent agony. After a 15-minute injury timeout, he went on to win a tight match with his brother, Ben. The hosts scoffed at Collin's dramatic reaction, with Chris saying "I literally started laughing out loud" when he first saw Johns writhing on the court.
Jeremy dismissed it as another example of Collin's embarrassing "injury timeout" antics: "It's so funny because whenever he gets hit by a ball in the face it's like the worst thing in the world." Chris noted that Collin behaving as if "his limbs should still work" even after such a traumatic blow. While players deserve injury precaution, the hosts implied Collin may have milked this stoppage to slow opponent momentum.
4. Staksrud-Koller Altercation Leads to Police (16:57)
In an infamous incident following the National Championships, Federico Staksrud got into a physical confrontation with AJ Koller.
Chris condemned Staksrud's behavior while acknowledging "Koller in the wrong" as well. Jeremy colorfully summarized: "You can't be calling any women [that word]".The hosts agreed AJ deserved punishment, but were unsatisfied with the PPA's typically "silent" handling of disciplinary issues.
5. Future of Indoor Pickleball Worries Some (22:43)
With proposals circulating to move more pro tournaments indoors, world #1 Ben Johns' struggles on indoor courts have raised some eyebrows. Ben admits having issues with his eyesight adjusting to indoor lighting conditions. Chris sympathizes with Johns' claim, but asks "how much of a real thing is [it] when you're not Ben?"
Jeremy wonders if Ben can "cater the whole world around" his apparent disadvantage indoors as the sport gravitates in that direction. Though they currently "avoid every indoor tournament," both hosts doubt Ben can keep dodging indoor play if it becomes prominent on the pro schedule. "I'm not entirely convinced that [the vision issues are] that real of an issue," Jeremy says. They agree fans will learn more if Ben is forced into more indoor tournaments ahead.
6. 2.6 Million People Watched Nationals (?), Says PPA (25:44)
The PPA recently boasted Nationals viewership reached a combined 2.6 million people across ESPN, Tennis Channel, and other outlets. However, hosts Chris and Jeremy put little stock in these vague numbers that paint an inflated picture.
Chris argues the major networks "get viewership numbers no matter what time you put anything on," so raw totals mean little without context. Jeremy feels the PPA repeatedly throws out impressive-sounding figures with questionable "what any of it actually means" in terms of real impact or audience engagement. Though optimistic about the sport's growth, the hosts discourage putting too much weight on inflated reports designed primarily for headlines.
7. PPA Changes Paddle Testing Standards Mid-Tournament (27:50)
In a bizarre development during last weekend's PPA Hertz Cup, the organization directed third-party tester Pickle Pro Labs to suddenly alter their paddle defections testing standards. They lowered the allowable margin from 50 to 42 after, as Chris bluntly states, "too many paddles were failing."
Jeremy alleges "it sounds like sponsor and/or player driven" pressure, rather than data-based decision-making, forced the PPA's hand here. Chris calls the reversal "absolutely comical," given the PPA's attempted PR rollout of independent Pickle Pro testing meant to align with MLP standards. Instead, they quietly changed procedures mid-event specifically to let more paddles (or rather, sponsors' paddles) pass. It's another transparency and integrity hit for the PPA.
8. Johns Brothers Lose (?), Fueling Doubts (39:30)
Reigning National Champs and world #1 ranked team Ben Johns and Colin Johns crashed out of the Hertz Cup in a stunning second round upset. Granted anomaly losses happen, but Jeremy sees inconsistency as a growing concern: "We know probably a couple times a year we're gonna see this from them."
So while the hosts acknowledge worrying signs in these random Johns implosions, they recognize the overwhelming record shows Ben and Collin still dominant when focused.
9. JW and Dylan’s Streak Marches On (43:40)
Dominant doubles team JW Johnson and Dylan Frazier continued their awe-inspiring consistency by reaching a seventh straight PPA final and ninth final in ten total tournaments this year. Chris labeled it "pretty damn good," while Jeremy called the results "ridiculous."
However, Jeremy critiqued that "they allow the John's Brothers to kind of set a lot of the patterns in those matchups" when they face off. He urged JW and Dylan to "figure out ways to initiate more" on their own terms if they want to actually overcome the Johns Brothers stranglehold. Chris sees slow progress in JW mixing in more aggression, but admits it may come down to a "mental question" of truly believing they can win.
10. Garnett v. Alshon: Who Gets Better? (47:24)
With young breakout stars Connor Garnett and Christian Alshon gaining steam this year, the hosts debated who projects better long-term if picking one player to build around.
Jeremy goes with lefty Garnett for his versatility playing singles and doubles on that side. But Chris tabs Christian "because I think you still like it's really valuable having what Christian provides on the right with what he can do in mix." Though conceding Garnett's higher ceiling in singles and doubles, Chris thinks Alshon's elite mixing ability makes him a slightly more valuable commodity overall.
11. Girlfriend Corner: PPA Video Game Laughable (49:15)
In a special "girlfriend corner" segment with podcast producer Alyssa, the crew dove into the embarrassing-looking PPA Tour video game due out this winter. Alyssa reported shock at seeing preview clips, saying "it looks like something you would see on the GameCube back in like 2010."
Chris yearned wistfully for a polished product using "Just Dance" style motion tracking technology to better approximate real play. Alyssa simply doesn't understand the target demographic: "who are you going to get a game and you don't know anything about it and you're like oh pickleball is cool." Jeremy challenges Alyssa to a virtual duel; she playfully alleges the game discs might get "lost in the mail" before that happens.
In Summary...
Chris and Jeremy covered various hot topics around professional pickleball, from praising young stars like Garnett to slamming silly PPA publicity ploys. The progressive draw debate, eye-rolling video game release, and especially the controversial mid-tournament paddle testing reversal displayed the occasional incompetence and favoritism holding the sport back. Still, moments like the unprecedented consistency from Dylan and JW's remarkable winning stretch prove world class talent continually pushing pickleball forward.
Above all, this sport struggles most with an integrity deficit as governing forces value self-interest over transparency. The podcast hosts hit these issues head on. And if that honesty also means roasting Colin Johns' laughable injury theatrics or the PPA's 2.6 million mythical viewers, then so be it. The NML guys tell it like it is—the pickleball world is crazy, but someone has to help make sense of it all.
YouTube Time Code List
2:28 Progressive Draw Takes
12:03 Center Court Shadows
13:29 Collin Johns the Warrior
16:57 Staksrud-Koller Altercation
22:43 Future of Indoor Pickleball
25:44 2.6 Million People Watched Nationals
27:50 PPA Changes Paddle Testing Standards
39:30 Johns Brothers Lose
43:40 JW and Dylan’s Streak
47:24 Garnett v. Alshon
49:15 Girlfriend Corner: PPA Video Game
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