From Early Sporting Roots to Shaping Pickleball’s Future
Introduction
In this virtual episode of the Smashing Plastic Podcast, host Coach Tommy sits down with “The Golden Boy” himself, Scott Golden, to explore his nine‑year journey in pickleball. From his athletic upbringing and career pivots to sponsorship triumphs and full‑time coaching, Scott shares candid insights into the evolution of the game, its burgeoning youth movement, and the mental strategies that separate good players from great ones.
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0:28 – 1:34 Introduction & Guest Welcome
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Highlights:
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Coach Tommy kicks off the live virtual podcast.
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Introduction of guest Scott Golden, aka “The Golden Boy.”
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Scott’s nine‑year pickleball tenure established, with a milestone coming in October 2025.
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Summary:
The episode opens with Coach Tommy greeting listeners and introducing Scott Golden, a veteran of nearly a decade in pickleball. Scott explains his nickname’s origins—coined by a fellow pro—and establishes the virtual format, setting a friendly tone for the in‑depth conversation ahead.
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1:34 – 2:54 First Connection & Early Pickleball Spark
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Highlights:
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Coach Tommy recounts reaching out to Scott in 2020.
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Anecdote of spotting Scott’s face on a paddle in Dick’s Sporting Goods.
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Discussion of Scott’s role in guiding Tommy to PPA events.
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Summary:
Tommy and Scott reminisce about their initial contact: Tommy, newly enthralled with pickleball in 2020, tracked down Scott after recognizing him on store merchandise. Scott’s early guidance, including recommending PPA tournaments, proved pivotal for Tommy’s own pickleball path.
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2:54 – 5:34 Athletic Roots & Life Before Pickleball
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Highlights:
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Scott’s childhood sports: whiffle ball, football, basketball, baseball.
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High‑school focus on baseball and football; landscape business at 23.
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Competitive flag football career earning up to $10,000 per event.
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Life upheaval: divorce papers in October 2016 led to pickleball discovery.
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Summary:
Scott traces his athletic foundation through myriad youth sports, leveraging a combination of natural talent and work ethic. After a 15‑year stint running a landscaping business and maintaining competitive flag football play, a personal crossroads in late 2016 propelled him toward pickleball—seizing the sport as a catalyst for personal reinvention.
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5:34 – 6:25 Sponsorship Journey & Golden Axe Paddle
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Highlights:
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Attendance at the April 2017 US Open: meeting manufacturers.
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Negotiation of a sponsorship deal for the “Golden Axe” signature paddle.
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Annual signing bonuses, royalties on paddle sales.
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Teaser: a new Golden Axe model launching summer 2025.
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Summary:
Just months after discovering pickleball, Scott leveraged his entrepreneurial savvy to secure a manufacturing partnership. The “Golden Axe” paddle became both a brand extension and revenue source, with a revamped model slated for release summer 2025—news Scott proudly debuts on the podcast.
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6:25 – 8:03 Transition to Coaching & Commentary
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Highlights:
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Began coaching part‑time to fund tournament travel.
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Earned certifications and balanced PPA pro events with commentary duties (2020–2022).
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Loss of commentary contract prompted full pivot to coaching.
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Summary:
Faced with the expense of pro competition, Scott dipped into coaching, earning credentials that led to commentary roles on the PPA tour. When that door closed, he channeled his skills entirely into coaching—a move that has defined his career since.
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8:03 – 10:22 Full‑Time Coaching with Level Up Camps
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Highlights:
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Joined Level Up Pickleball, ramping from one camp in late 2023 to 56 camps/year by mid 2025.
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Head pro responsibilities spanning Virginia, Philadelphia, and beyond.
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Thrill of meeting players aged 9 to 90 and fostering diverse connections.
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Summary:
Scott outlines his whirlwind schedule as a Level Up Pickleball head pro, traversing the country to lead camps. He emphasizes the sport’s unique intergenerational appeal, citing the joy of helping both nine‑year‑olds and ninety‑year‑olds elevate their games.
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10:22 – 14:00 Demographics & Youth Growth
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Highlights:
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Pickleball’s past stigma as an “old‑person sport” rooted in retirement communities.
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COVID‑19 spurred massive participation, especially among 18–25‑year‑olds.
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Projection: sustained growth over the next decade, driven by scholarships and Olympic aspirations.
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Summary:
Scott dispels misconceptions that pickleball is solely the domain of seniors, highlighting a seismic demographic shift post‑pandemic. With college programs, scholarships, and looming Olympic inclusion on the horizon, the sport is poised for an unprecedented youth influx, reshaping its professional and grassroots landscape.
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14:00 – 17:20 Professional Landscape & Young Talent
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Highlights:
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Average PPA tour age hovers around 19.
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Spotlight on top young pros: Matt Wright, Jay Devilliers, Tyson McGuffin.
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Anecdote: Anna Leigh Waters winning and trading in vehicles for an RV and G‑Wagon at 18.
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Summary:
Scott notes the pro tour’s youthful skew, where rising stars in their late teens and early twenties command the spotlight. He cites Anna Leigh Waters’s remarkable sponsorship rewards—vehicles exchanged for a luxury RV—as emblematic of the sport’s escalating financial stakes for emerging talent.
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17:20 – 21:10 Court Infrastructure & Accessibility Challenges
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Highlights:
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Affordability: paddles and public courts cost a fraction of other sports’ gear and facilities.
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Bottleneck: limited court time for youth amid adult memberships.
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Solutions: after‑school programs, private club allocations, large public venues (e.g., 43‑court complexes).
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Summary:
While pickleball’s low‑cost entry fosters inclusivity, Scott warns of looming court‑time scarcity as demand surges. He proposes creative scheduling in schools and clubs, as well as the emergence of multi‑court “gold‑standard” venues, to ensure the next generation gains consistent access.
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21:10 – 24:09 Evolution of the Game & Technology
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Highlights:
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Comparison: 2016’s slow‑motion pro matches vs. today’s lightning‑fast exchanges.
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Influence of players like Quang Duong, Gabe Tardio, Ben Johns on hand‑speed and attack style.
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Paddle tech progression: $100–$75 paddles in 2016 vs. today’s high‑performance models.
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Summary:
Scott reflects on pickleball’s technical revolution, where modern pros leverage explosive hand‑speed and advanced paddle materials to redefine shotmaking. From midcourt drives to aerial volleys, the game’s pace has intensified, demanding that players adapt their training to keep up.
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24:09 – 29:07 Coaching Tip: Mental Approach & Slow Down
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Highlights:
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“Deer in the headlights” syndrome: common rush and tension among players.
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Key tip: relax, slow the game pace, focus on breathing.
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Mental mastery exemplified by Ben Johns’s “blank slate” mindset before crunch points.
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Summary:
Emphasizing psychology over technique, Scott advises players to ease grip tension and embrace a measured tempo. He lauds Ben Johns’s ability to clear his mind under pressure—a mental reset that Scott now teaches at his camps to enhance both performance and enjoyment.
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29:07 – 34:44 Closing Remarks & Future Projects
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Highlights:
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Scott’s social: GoldenBoyPickleball on Instagram and Facebook.
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Announcement: co‑authoring Tao of Pickleball, releasing April 2026 via Triumph Books.
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Invitation for live, in‑person podcasts and coaching clinics.
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Summary:
Wrapping up, Scott shares how fans can connect with him online and announces his forthcoming book, Tao of Pickleball, blending mental‑discipline insights with technical instruction. Coach Tommy teases future collaborations, hinting at live recordings and on‑court demos.
[Verse 1 – Folk‑Rock]
Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar arpeggios, light cajón, harmonica flourishes
Vocals: Warm, earnest delivery
Beneath the sunrise on court I hear the echoing clap
Nine years strong, they call me Golden Boy, I’m stayin’ on the map
From whiffle ball in yard to flag football’s payday thrill
A divorce in October ’16 made pickle ball my skill
Landscape days to US Open craze, Golden Axe in hand
Sponsorship and royalties, a paddle born to stand
[Chorus – Folk‑Rock]
Instrumentation: Strummed electric guitar with gentle distortion, upright bass, brushes on snare
Vocals: Harmonized male and female refrain
Slow it down, breathe the sound, mind at blank slate sway
Relaxed grip, let tempo rip, win or lose we’ll play
Community sparks from age nine to ninety on display
Golden Boy, catch this joy, we sing your life today
[Verse 2 – 90’s Rap]
Instrumentation: Boom‑bap kick‑snare loop, muted horn stabs, bass synth
Vocals: Confident, rhythmic flow
Yo, started coaching part‑time, commentary grind, a pivot prime
PPA to camps at Level Up, fifty‑six in each climb
Watch the youth surge, eighteen‑to‑twenty‑five, new pros arise
Scholarships, college teams, Olympics dream’s in their eyes
Court time bottleneck, we dial in school slots and clubs
Venues sprout courts fast, big complexes full of hubs
Travel miles, meet the smiles, fifty states in my plan
Virginia dawn, Philly gyms, I’m coaching every clan
From nine‑year‑olds to ninety, every face a friend
Pickle’s pulse, global rush, it’s more than just a trend
[Bridge – Jazz]
Instrumentation: Muted trumpet, upright bass walking line, ride‑cymbal brushes, piano comping
Vocals: Scat improvisation
(Scat vocals over muted trumpet, soft brushes on snare)
Speed evolved, hands revolve, third shot drives take flight
Paddle tech, flex and tech, midcourt power all night
Jazz chords slide, bass glides, rhythmic syncopation
[Verse 3 – Folk‑Rock]
Instrumentation: Acoustic and clean electric guitars interlocking, light drum kit with rim clicks
Vocals: Reflective lead with subtle harmony
Ben Johns calm as cappuccino under pressure’s heat
Mental game, blank slate frame, heart and mind compete
Annalies ride in G‑Wagons, RV roads wide‑open roam
Book in ‘26, Tao of Pickleball, will guide you home
Court converted from backyard play to future’s chrome dome
[Chorus – Folk‑Rock]
Instrumentation & Vocals: Same as above, building to a climactic final refrain
Slow it down, breathe the sound, mind at blank slate sway
Relaxed grip, let tempo rip, win or lose we’ll play
From backyard game to global frame, your passion lights the way
Golden Boy, catch this joy, we sing your life today
In‑Depth Creation Article & Word Count
This song was crafted to weave together Scott Golden’s journey—starting with his early athletic roots, the life‑changing pivot to pickleball after personal upheaval, and his entrepreneurial triumphs with the Golden Axe paddle. The folk‑rock verses evoke the warm authenticity of those grassroots beginnings, while the 90’s rap section pays homage to his hustle: coaching, commentary, and youth development. The jazz bridge celebrates the sport’s technical evolution, from hand‑speed explosions to advanced paddle technology. Finally, the closing verse and chorus reflect on the mental‑game breakthroughs epitomized by players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters, and tease Scott’s upcoming Tao of Pickleball book.
Instrumentation was chosen to match each stylistic segment: acoustic textures and harmonica for folk warmth; boom‑bap beats and horn stabs for rap swagger; muted brass and walking bass for jazz sophistication. Vocal arrangements shift from earnest leads to tight harmonies and scat improvisation, emphasizing both communal celebration and individual mastery.
The lyrics total 311 words, fitting within the 300–350‑word target while touching on all major topics: nine‑year tenure, nickname origin, early sports, sponsorship and royalties, coaching transition, camp volume, youth demographic surge, court‑time challenges, game speed and tech, mental‑game focus, and future projects. This multi‑genre approach mirrors Scott’s diverse impact on pickleball’s past, present, and future.
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