Ball Slapping

Dan Grant
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

The world’s most serious podcast about the world’s least serious sports. Ballslapping is THE podcast for anyone who’s ever slapped a ball and called it sport. Hosted by Dan Grant and a rotating crew of co-hosts, we dive into the gloriously weird world niche balls. We chat to champions, eccentrics, and total unknowns keeping these glorious games alive. If it involves smacking a ball with your hand, a racket or something improvised in a car park—we’re into it. It’s sweaty, silly, surprisingly moving, and absolutely slaps. New eps 2 weekly (unless we're playing). Sister YouTube & Ig = BallSlaps

  1. 13h ago

    Bishball - the next Spikeball?! | Ball Slapping Podcast

    This week on Ball Slapping, Dan Grant sits down with the founders of Bishball, one of Britain's newest and most exciting emerging sports.Combining fast reactions, teamwork and spectacular rallies, Bishball takes inspiration from games like Spikeball, Pickleball and Padel while creating its own unique identity. But where did the idea come from, and what does it take to invent an entirely new sport?We explore the story behind Bishball, from the first prototype through to product development, community building, and the ambitious vision of seeing the sport played in schools, clubs, parks and perhaps one day... the Olympic Games.Along the way we discuss the challenges of launching a new sport, designing equipment, building a brand, attracting players and creating a game that anyone can enjoy.Whether you're interested in new sports, entrepreneurship, product design, or simply love hearing passionate people chase ambitious ideas, this episode is packed with insight, humour and plenty of Bish Bash Bosh.In this episode:• How Bishball was invented• The inspiration behind the game• Designing the equipment• Building a new sport from scratch• Growing a sporting community• Schools, clubs and grassroots development• Olympic ambitions• Entrepreneurship and product development• The future of BishballSubscribe for bi-weekly conversations exploring the world's weirdest and most wonderful ball sports, meeting the people behind them and discovering the games you've never heard of... but probably should have.

    Bishball - the next Spikeball?! | Ball Slapping Podcast

  2. Jul 10

    The $$$ Behind a Premium Padel Club | From Courts To Coffee - inside Rulo | Ball Slapping Podcast

    This week on Ball Slapping, Dan Grant is joined by Jared Robinson and the team behind one of the UK's most exciting new premium indoor padel club. Tom and Louis are leading the development of Rulo, a brand-new indoor padel venue in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, designed from the ground up to deliver a world-class player experience. But what actually goes into creating a premium sports club?We dive into every detail, from court selection, lighting, flooring and booking systems to café design, coffee, changing rooms, soap, customer experience and the countless decisions that players never see. Along the way we discuss the rapid growth of padel in the UK, the opportunities and challenges facing new clubs, what makes a great leisure facility, and why attention to detail can make or break a venue. Whether you're a padel player, thinking of opening a sports facility, work in the leisure industry, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind ambitious projects, this episode offers a fascinating insight into building a premium sports club from scratch. In this episode: Building a premium indoor padel clubCourt design and installationClub layout and customer experienceThe business of padelLeisure industry insightsCoffee, cafés and hospitalityBooking systems and operationsGrowing padel in the UKRulo Padel ClubFan questions and behind-the-scenes stories Subscribe for fortnightly conversations exploring the world's weirdest and most wonderful ball sports, the people behind them, and the stories you won't hear anywhere else.

    The $$$ Behind a Premium Padel Club | From Courts To Coffee - inside Rulo | Ball Slapping Podcast

  3. Jun 19

    Why Squash Failed and Padel Exploded | Roxy Keshavarz | Ball Slapping Podcast

    🎾 Why is squash declining while padel is booming? In this episode of the Ball Slapping Podcast, Dan Grant and Jared Robinson sit down with former professional squash player and padel industry leader Roxy Keshavarz. Roxy reveals how she reached a world ranking of 125 in squash, why her dad stopped her playing for a year because she was already beating her brother, and the bizarre story of being sponsored by a milk company complete with a milk moustache photoshoot. The conversation explores: ✅ The rise and decline of squash ✅ Why racketball (Squash 57) deserves more attention ✅ How padel captured a new generation of players ✅ Building and operating successful padel clubs ✅ Lessons from Padel4All, Rocket Padel and Padel Hub ✅ Women in sport and the challenges facing female participation ✅ Why community matters more than facilities ✅ The future of padel in the UK Whether you're a squash player, padel addict, club owner, coach, or simply curious about the fastest-growing racket sport in the world, this episode is packed with insights, stories and plenty of laughs. 🎧 Listen now and don't forget to subscribe for more conversations from the world of weird, wonderful and ball-slapping sports.

    Why Squash Failed and Padel Exploded | Roxy Keshavarz | Ball Slapping Podcast

  4. Jun 4

    Why This Padel Club Is ALWAYS Full - The Secret Behind UK Padel's Success | Ball Slapping Podcast with Phil Cornhill

    🎾 Why do some padel clubs thrive while others struggle? In this episode of the Ball Slapping Podcast, Daniel Grant and Jared Robinson sit down with Phil Cornhill, Director of Clubs at UK Padel, to uncover what really makes a successful padel club. From two courts in a car park to one of the UK's busiest padel communities, Phil shares how UK Padel has built an environment where players keep coming back, ratings actually work, and community comes before ego. We discuss: ✅ How Phil discovered padel after squash ✅ Why padel is growing so quickly in the UK ✅ Building a club culture people genuinely want to be part of ✅ The problem with elitism in padel ✅ Why ratings systems cause so much controversy ✅ Open matches, social play and player development ✅ The future of UK Padel clubs ✅ Singles courts, community building and growing participation Whether you're a padel player, club owner, coach or simply curious about the sport's explosive growth, this episode is packed with insights. 🎾 Subscribe to Ball Slaps for more padel, racket sports and niche sports stories. #Padel #UKPadel #PadelTennis #BallSlaps #PhilCornhill #JaredRobinson #PadelCommunity #PadelClub #RacketSports #SportsPodcast

    Why This Padel Club Is ALWAYS Full - The Secret Behind UK Padel's Success | Ball Slapping Podcast with Phil Cornhill

  5. May 1

    Thought Padel Was a Joke… Then Became Top 10 in the UK | Ball Slapping Podcast with Jared Robinson

    Padel is exploding across the UK and Europe… but why is everyone suddenly obsessed? In this episode of Ball Slapping, we’re joined by Jared Robinson, former UK Top 10 padel player, coach, and founder of AllCourtPadel. From dismissing padel as a “tennis-lite joke” to becoming one of the best players in the country, Jared breaks down what makes the sport so addictive.Don't forget to watch the sister video: https://youtu.be/L9bU05HQcT4?si=HUc2OZro_UdZRlAI We get into: Why padel is growing faster than almost any sport in the worldThe key differences between padel, tennis, and squashHow to actually improve your game (and stop smashing it into the back wall…)The tactics that separate beginners from top playersWhy Spain is miles ahead of everyone elseWhether padel is a fad… or here to stayPlus: Jared’s journey from Sweden to the UK, his playing style (ridiculous slice + angles), and what’s next for padel in Britain. 🎾 Follow Jared: @allcourtpadel🌍 Padel holidays & coaching (coming soon…) If you’ve ever picked up a padel racket, this one will hit home.

    Thought Padel Was a Joke… Then Became Top 10 in the UK | Ball Slapping Podcast with Jared Robinson

  6. Apr 3

    From Policy to Pickleball: The Reality of UK Sport | Ball Slapping Podcast with Alex Cole

    What does it actually take to grow sport in the UK?In this episode, I sit down with Alex Cole, who went from dreaming of leading Sport England at 15 to working inside the system itself. We get into grassroots sport, funding, bureaucracy, participation, and why some of the best ideas struggle to get off the ground.We also cover:How Sport England really works behind the scenesWhy grassroots sport is harder than it looksThe rise of new sports like pickleballWhy modern lifestyles are changing how people engage with sportThe balance between structure and freedom in coachingAnd of course…The story of a 30-yard goal at Fratton Park that may never stop being mentioned.This is a brilliant insight into the system, but also a reminder that sport at its best is simple: people, movement, and moments that stick.

    From Policy to Pickleball: The Reality of UK Sport | Ball Slapping Podcast with Alex Cole

  7. Feb 27

    From the White House Lawn to the Beach: Inside Hoover Ball with Quentin Hick | Ball Slapping Podcast

    What do you get when you mix a U.S. President, a bad back, and a medicine ball? Hoover Ball. In this episode I sit down with Quentin Hick, President of Hoov Nation, to unpack one of the most underrated and surprisingly intense sports on the planet. Originally created for President Herbert Hoover to keep him fit on the White House lawn, Hoover Ball has evolved into a full-blown beach court spectacle built around throwing heavy medicine balls over a net.We talk: • The history of Hoover Ball • Why it was invented • How it’s played today • The physical demands • The community behind Hoov Nation • And why it feels more like a movement than just a sport It’s explosive. It’s social. It’s deceptively brutal. And honestly? It looks like a ridiculous amount of fun. If you love niche sports, community driven movements, or presidential oddities, this one’s for you. Subscribe for more deep dives into the world’s most fascinating sports.

    From the White House Lawn to the Beach: Inside Hoover Ball with Quentin Hick | Ball Slapping Podcast

  8. Feb 6

    From Garden Idea to Global Sport: The Touch Tennis Story with Rashid Ahmad | Ball Slapping Podcast

    In this episode of Ball Slapping, we sit down with Rashid Ahmad, founder of Touchtennis, to unpack how a simple idea in his garden turned into a fast-growing global sport.We talk about where Touchtennis came from, why it resonates with players of all ages, and what happens when you strip a sport back to its essentials. Rashid shares the design philosophy behind smaller courts, lighter rackets, and faster rallies, and why accessibility, fun, and skill development matter more than tradition. If you’ve watched our WTF is Touchtennis video, this episode goes deeper: the inspiration, the resistance, the moments it nearly didn’t work, and why Touchtennis might be a blueprint for how new sports should be built.

    From Garden Idea to Global Sport: The Touch Tennis Story with Rashid Ahmad | Ball Slapping Podcast
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About

The world’s most serious podcast about the world’s least serious sports. Ballslapping is THE podcast for anyone who’s ever slapped a ball and called it sport. Hosted by Dan Grant and a rotating crew of co-hosts, we dive into the gloriously weird world niche balls. We chat to champions, eccentrics, and total unknowns keeping these glorious games alive. If it involves smacking a ball with your hand, a racket or something improvised in a car park—we’re into it. It’s sweaty, silly, surprisingly moving, and absolutely slaps. New eps 2 weekly (unless we're playing). Sister YouTube & Ig = BallSlaps

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Grant
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dan Grant
  • Show Website
    Ball Slapping

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