Everything But The Kitchen Dink Pickleball Podcast

This episode is a must‑listen if you want to seriously improve your pickleball mental game. We are joined by Professor Graham Jones and Dr Tara Jones, world‑class sport psychologists who have helped athletes at every level, including Olympic and World Champions, and now work with everyday pickleball players. Drawing on their book Gold Medal Pickleball Psychology: Master Your Mind, Raise Your Pickleball Game, they share practical to...

This week, we take you behind the scenes of our latest English Open warm-up tournament, from hotel dramas and perfect hash browns to the highs, frustrations and unexpected twists that unfolded on court. It’s a fun, honest and sometimes emotional episode, packed with laughs, banter and serious discussion about competition, limited court time, tournament organisation and the mental side of pickleball. We also share helpful advi...

What happens when a touring rock star swaps arena stages for the pickleball court—and then decides to reinvent the sport from the inside out? In this episode, Gordon G.G. Gebert, former keyboardist with rock legends like Ace Frehley, turns up the volume on his second act as the inventor of the Slam Master Pro training paddle, founder and commissioner of the Official NPL National Pickleball League, and President of the Pickleb...

Back from the Rota trip and straight into a scorching UK heatwave, the guys catch up on all the latest from the pickleball world, including the unreal experience of playing against the UK’s no. 1 male and female pairing. They also dive into team trials, Robert’s inclusion in the UK Premier Pickleball League — the top tier of pickleball in Britain — and first impressions of a stack of new paddles that have br...

Join us as we review the 2026 Reballution Cup in Rota, Spain, one of the biggest pickleball tournaments outside the USA and our second year covering this fantastic event. We talk through the standout matches, the atmosphere, the people who made the tournament memorable, and the result of the first-ever tournament meeting between the co-hosts in mixed doubles. We also dive into how the conditions affected play, with the heat and esp...

In this episode, we sit down with one of pickleball’s true pioneers, Melissa McCurley, the Hall of Famer, trailblazer, and behind-the-scenes force who helped shape the modern game. From her early life and military service to building the systems that powered tournament pickleball, breaking barriers in broadcast media, and helping grow the sport at every level, Melissa shares the story of how pickleball became not just a game,...

This week's episode features a deep dive into DUPR killer VAIR with founder Mike Barker, who discusses the frustrations that led him to create a new approach to ratings. We unpack what VAIR is, how it works, and why it was built to tackle some of the biggest issues in the sport, from sandbagging and bad matchups to the growing distrust around rating systems. There’s also plenty of debate about how VAIR compares with DUPR and ...

Rob and Andy return with another packed episode, starting with the usual catch-up before diving into Andy’s rough week of illness and antibiotics, and Robert’s hectic run of filming, travel and tryouts. From there, the lads break down the week's play with the usual tips & banter, and how one player literally helped save a life on court. There’s also a DUPR email exchange, all wrapped up with the usual humour, ...

Rob and Andy return with another packed episode, starting with injuries updates, a week of on court stories stories, and a new “let the magic happen” mindset as they talk through progression, drilling, and Robert’s tweener. They dive into some important news in the wider world of pickleball, and throw in plenty of court-side banter. It’s a lively episode full of insight, humour, and plenty for pickleball fan...

In this week's episode, Rob and Andy return with another packed episode, starting with a catch-up on this weeks on- court sessions, a surprise illegal serve, and what recordings are revealing about their games. They break down some no-nonsense drilling advice, debate lobs, drop serves and whether pickleball is getting smarter or just more chaotic, then dive into the latest DUPR updates, Andre Agassi’s defence of the sport, an...

Rob and Andy return after a missed week to catch up on illness, injury, and some much-needed court time before diving into a packed pickleball episode. They break down JOOLA’s major lawsuit against 11 paddle brands, unpack the eternal drive-or-drop debate, and explore the tactics of playing against lefties without losing the plot. There’s also thoughts on filming your own games to improve, and so much more — ...

In this week’s episode of Everything But The Kitchen Dink, Andy and Robert catch you up on lack of court time, before diving into the wild story of fraud that proves our sport’s boom really has gone mad. From there we tackle some of the biggest myths in pickleball & why blaming your partner probably isn’t the winning strategy you think it is—before talking tactics, mindset and so much more. We round...

In this week's Everything But The Kitchen Dink, Robert's new puppy is wreaking havoc on his pickleball game, while the boys finally visit a local(ish) purpose-built court that's got them buzzing about the sport's UK growth. They unpack the latest pickleball headlines, from PPA's fines for dodgy line calls cracking down on cheats, to a must-listen interview with a special guest revolutionizing the game via a thrilling new hybrid for...

This week on Everything But The Kitchen Dink, we unpack DUPR's explosive new paid rating reset—does it fix real problems or undermine the game's integrity?—before discussing the current top-selling paddle brands and models. We finally give our straight-talk review of the hot Six Zero Black Opal power paddle, plus loads more laughs, practical tips, and help for players at every level. Whether you're just starting ou...

This week on Everything But The Kitchen Dink, we’re back from our two-week holiday and full of fresh energy! We share our incredible pickleball experiences from Mexico and the USA, how those trips helped us rediscover our passion for the game after a tough spell both mentally and physically, and why we’re now more motivated than ever. It’s a jam-packed episode full of tips, laughs, and stories that’ll remind...