Dinking Out Loud Pickleball Hut

With recent rule changes, refereeing is not an easy job. There are so many rules to remember and as our guest today describes it, you have to have them at your fingertips without a second thought. In today’s episode, our guest is the incredible referee, Dereck Prince. 
Dereck is a former table tennis, badminton, and tennis player turned “pickleball addict.” He is also a data analyst, IPTPA Certified Teaching Professional, USAPA Certified Referee, and USAPA Registered Pickleball Referee Trainer. His passion for the game and skills as a referee have landed him for two years as the referee of gold medal matches at the US Open. 
Today, Dereck and I discuss his experience as a referee, some of the 2021 rule changes, and he offers tips to players like you who are playing recreationally or considering a tournament. This will certainly not be the last time I have Dereck on the show so stay tuned for more from today’s knowledgeable guest.
Show Notes:

[1:32] - Dereck shares his background in sports and through these sports he found that later he already had the foundations for pickleball.
[2:27] - His entry into pickleball was an amusing experience as Dereck found a new rec center near his home.
[3:31] - After going to a pickleball class in 2017, Dereck describes himself as an all-around pickleball addict now.
[4:40] - Dereck describes how he decided he wanted to referee.
[6:14] - Dereck shares a humorous story of his first refereeing experience. His mistakes motivated him to learn more and eventually seek certification.
[7:35] - Something a lot of people don’t know is that Dereck failed the certification test the first time he took it.
[9:20] - In 2019, Dereck reffed the US Open in gold medal matches. He describes it as a little nerve-wracking, but he did well and was asked to ref again just last month for the 2021 US Open.
[11:17] - Dereck explains how he learned of the honor of reffing gold medal matches.
[13:11] - “It’s never the same. It could be the same players but situations always arise that challenge you to have to scurry your brain for the applicable rule and apply it there on the spot.” - Dereck Prince
[14:01] - Knowing all the rules at a moment’s notice is a challenge because Trey points out that rules change in this game often.
[15:06] - Trey and Dereck discuss drop serves and the provisional rule change to allow anyone to use it. 
[16:37] - Referees have to closely watch serves and Dereck compares some of the serves to those in tennis and why they are not all allowed.
[17:58] - Footfalls on the kitchen line still continue to b

What is it like to play in a pickleball tournament? So many players stay away from playing in a tournament, but today’s guest explains how even a novice player can benefit from them.
In this episode of Dinking Out Loud, we have Lucy Kitcher, a pickleball pro since 2017. In addition to competing in tournaments herself, Lucy has experience organizing tournaments all over the country, but her passion is organizing all-inclusive and surprisingly affordable pickleball trips. These trips are fabulous opportunities for players to improve their skills, travel, and have a blast learning from a pro.
Listen on to find out more about the benefits of tournaments and how to take advantage of a Lucy Kitcher pickleball trip.
Show Notes:

[1:13] - Lucy shares her beginning of playing pickleball about 5 years ago. She checked out the sport and never put the paddle down.
[1:55] - Starting her first tournament and finding success, Lucy took a sabbatical from her teaching job to focus on pickleball.
[3:14] - LucyKitcher.com is now up and running for tournaments, resources, trips, and a contact form to reach Lucy.
[4:38] - In the beginning, pickleball started out as a hobby and a way to take great trips with friends. But as Lucy started playing with better players and it grew her desire to compete in higher levels.
[6:27] - A lot of players who decide to play in a tournament, play down a level for better chances at winning. For Lucy, she says she would rather play against better players and not win than not giving it a shot.
[7:32] - During the pandemic isolation last year, Lucy set up a net in her living room and created daily tips for players while they dealt with being stuck at home.
[9:16] - Lucy started in 2017 hosting trips. The key to making them successful is that they are affordable. Lucy describes what’s included in the price.
[11:02] - A lot of people have said that she should raise her prices, but Lucy’s goal is to give players an affordable way to improve their skills.
[11:31] - Lucy describes a typical day on a trip including how she divided groups.
[12:22] - There were several trips that had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but Lucy shares that she started them back up in November and has had one each month since.
[13:10] - These trips sell out very quickly. If you are interested in booking one, you can find the details on Lucy’s website.
[14:32] - Lucy describes the work involved in being a tournament organizer.
[15:48] - Although a lot of work, Lucy say

What kind of paddle do you use? For most of us, we are probably using the off-the-shelf paddle that we picked up at the store without a lot of thought. But did you know that the right equipment in pickleball is not a one size fits all? Paddle playability is an overlooked part of the game. Not a lot of players are very well educated about the materials their paddles are made from and the difference the shape of the paddle can make on your gameplay.
That’s why I asked Jack Kasarjian and John Grantuskas on for today’s episode on Paddle Playability. Jack is the founder of Third Shot Drop Custom Pickleball Paddles whose mission is to make you a better player by getting the right equipment in your hands. John is a court ambassador in the Mid-Atlantic region for Third Shot Drop who does demos with players of all skill levels to show the benefits of custom paddles.
Show Notes:

[1:17] - The mission of Third Shot Drop is to make you a better player by getting the right equipment in your hands that was made for you. Not a one size fits all.
[2:13] - Jack shares how he was inspired to create Third Shot Drop and how pickleball paddles were very commercialized.
[3:01] - Jack also has a custom baseball equipment company as well, but discovered that custom pickleball equipment is much more difficult to develop.
[4:25] - Pickleball is the only sport that players are using off the shelf, one-size-fits-all paddles. All other sports are using equipment that fits each athlete.
[6:40] - The core materials are 75% of the way the paddle performs. The surface materials are just fine tuning that core.
[7:10] - Jack describes some different types of core materials and how they compare to each other.
[8:49] - There are 18 different combinations of paddle materials. Jack describes a few of the combinations and what kinds of players choose each kind.
[10:12] - Jack recommends heavier paddles and explains why this is.
[11:48] - The shape of the paddle should be determined by the type of player you are. What shape is the best for how you play? Jack gives examples of how the shape of the paddle changes your game.
[13:23] - John describes the process of trying various materials to determine the perfect combination for each player.
[16:09] - John also explains that in the paddle demos, they also find the correct grip size for each player.
[17:05] - It is not uncommon for players to change their style of gameplay and skill level over time. This could influence the perfect paddle as well.
[18:40] - Depending on how often you play, your average paddle lasts about 8 to 12 months. After

Welcome to Dinking Out Loud! I am your host, Trey Sizemore, and this podcast’s mission is to help you play the best pickleball of your life. I have been hooked on pickleball for three years now and am passionate about learning from the best. This podcast is all about hearing from the experts and to apply what we learn in each episode to make a positive difference in our game. You can expect guests who are top players, coaches, referees, and other professionals in the world of pickleball. Let’s get started
Links and Resources:

Pickleball Hut

Mental Toughness 
Interview with Jeaney Garcia on mental toughness and positive mindset for Pickleball