Bad Calls - Pickleball Podcast

Are we actually fixing singles pickleball… or making it worse? This week on... Tennis Sucks? ...we dig into one of the most controversial ideas in pro pickleball right now: shrinking the singles court. Is it a smart way to slow the game down or just a band-aid for bigger equipment and rule issues? We’re joined by pickleball stat wizard Eric Tice to break down: - Why singles has become so serve-plu...

From leaked paddle deals and surprise signings to retirements, fines, and bold 2026 predictions, we break down everything shaking up the pro game. We talk Franklin’s big move, Nike rumors, who might leave the tour, why ball tech could be the next battleground, and what Major League Pickleball’s growth really means. Plus: live courtside chaos, bad predictions from the internet, and at least one tak...

Contracts get torn up, players wake up banned, and the pickleball world spirals. On this episode of Bad Calls, the crew breaks down the UPA contract controversy stemming from the Asia trip fallout, why some players were terminated while others weren’t, and what it all says about power, money, and control in pro pickleball. From paddle patent lawsuits and counterfeit gear to Daytona results, rising...

The guys break down MLP’s new partnership with Owl AI for automated line calling, recap all the chaos from the Lakeland PPA, including a parent delivering a wildly inappropriate threat, and dive into the biggest partnerships and rumors shaping 2026, from Rachel Rohrabacher joining forces with Catherine Parenteau to Nike whispers and Challenger Series shakeups. Plus: a pickleball Christmas movie, C...

The Johnson brothers rolled into Crescent Lake without a text… and immediately got the full Monday-night reality check. We also hit Worlds storylines, Chris Crouch’s breakout run, paddle-tech rumors (including the big one about Anna Leigh), wheelchair pickleball savants, and who’s really the best singles player in the world right now. Another chaotic one.

Graham and Luke start things off by absolutely dominating on the tennis court before jumping into a Vegas recap, the Lifetime Open, and whatever else comes up while roasting Travis for a full hour. There’s talk of crazy Uspensky hooks, minimum age drama, fines for contract breaches, and a little Anna Leigh vs Agassi debate that somehow turns into more strays for Travis.

Rising pro Jon Lucien pulls up to Bad Calls to talk back-to-back singles wins, why deception beats pace, and how a chess habit sharpens his reads. We argue Gen 1 vs Gen 4 paddles, recap the PPA Vintage Open with wood, and ask a simple question with a messy answer: who’s the best men’s doubles player right now? We also get into Malaysia Cup fan energy, MLP vs PPA for growth, Buccee's road ritu...

The Kawamoto sisters snag gold in Cincinnati and prove that they were severely underrated! We get into why their patient style works and how parity is catching up to the big teams. Paddles: the RPM is making noise, but UPA approval is still pending. We talk dwell time, pop, and why switching sticks mid-season can mess with your trajectory. Sacramento’s wooden-paddle event is next. After testing wo...

We’re back at Crescent Lake and it finally isn’t raining. Travis breaks down a grueling PPA Challenger weekend, the certification chaos that has paddles swapping mid-event, and why half the new sticks are failing tests. We talk lab tour intel, the missing deflection machine saga, roll-out courts in Vegas, and whether random crowd noise should ever be a hindrance. Graham floats a take that singles...

Andre Daescu just went full beast mode at MLP Finals in New York. He didn’t just win, he dominated. We’re talking flawless men’s play, carrying the Sliders, and even making Anna Leigh look human. So we had to ask… is Daescu officially the best men’s player in the world right now? We break down the finals weekend, debate the Ben vs. Andre argument, talk about the wild DreamBreaker drama, and even d...

This week we cover everything from rowdy Utah crowds heckling pros to why Dallas might have been the loudest MLP event ever. We get into why Ben Johns will dominate with a wooden paddle, who we think should be the top men’s doubles pairing, and whether pro pickleball players are actually making too much money.

Ben Johns gets traded to the Mad Drops… and the league kind of melted down. Was it collusion? Was it smart business? Depends on who you ask. We break down the shady-looking deal, the $400K+ price tag, and what it means for MLP's top teams. Oh—and did someone really offer $25K to throw a Challenger match? Yep. That too. Plus:  – The Shock vs Flash rivalry heats up  – Tyra takes a tumble  – AJ...

We’re back from New York and we’ve got stories. The venue didn't smell great, one of us might be kidnapped by now, and someone definitely ordered Domino’s in NYC. We talk DreamBreakers, Collin Johns dominating Challenger, Sam Querry entering the chat, and yeah… someone stole Rachel's Labubu. This one’s all over the place, but that’s kinda the point.

We break down Travis’ intentional hook at PPA San Clemente. Yes, it was on purpose, and no, he’s not sorry. Plus: new Smash teammates and more Labubu controversy.

A $50,000 fine made the news this week, we break down what happened, why it matters, and whether the punishment fits the moment. Then it’s on to MLP Austin and Daytona: the wins and the rise (and stumble) of some surprising teams. The Florida Smash made their debut in the new format — we’ve got a full recap, plus thoughts on what’s clicking, what’s not, and why rally scoring just isn’t bringing th...

New jerseys, big heads, and even bigger drama. The Bad Calls crew is on-site at the Racket Club of St. Pete, where they break down Florida Smash’s new look (and unexpected OnlyFans followers), recap a chaotic Atlanta event, and unpack everything from Anna Bright’s sideline stares to a new ball that’s quietly transforming singles. Plus: CJ Klinger’s breakout, Nelson-level drama at the U.S. Open, an...

Hayden Padugruin joins the pod to break down the most talked-about moment of the MLP season—his courtside clash with Anna Leigh Waters. From what was said and why, to how things escalated and what he wishes he’d done differently, Hayden gives his unfiltered side of the story. We talk chirping, double standards, apologies, and whether this kind of fire is good—or bad—for the sport. No PR spin. Just...

What happens when a tennis legend becomes your pickleball student? In this episode, the guys break down playing with Andre Agassi, who’s now texting them midweek to ask about off-arm mechanics. We dive into Agassi’s upcoming U.S. Open debut with Anna Leigh Waters (yep, that’s happening), which teams might actually give them trouble, and why the whole thing might blow the roof off ticket sales. Als...

In this special episode of Bad Calls, we sit down with tennis legend Andre Agassi to talk about how pickleball unexpectedly reignited his competitive spirit, reshaped his daily life, and gave him a new sense of purpose. Agassi opens up about: •How he discovered pickleball during lockdown •Why it became more than just a hobby •His honest thoughts on the sport’s growth, culture, and competitive ceil...

What's next for Catherine & Rachel? Can we see a revenge tour for the new pair? We break it down in a special episode.

This week on Bad Calls , we break down an awkward panel at RacquetX — where execs got a little heated. Also in this episode: • Luz paddle controversy • Utah tournament recap: wind, wild momentum shifts, and a mixed gold for Dekel & Paris • Challenger Series vs APP – which one’s the real path to pro? • Discord drama at 3AM over paddle handles 👉 Like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts: Should t...

Is trash talk dying in pickleball? Are hand battles officially over thanks to paddle technology? And who the hell is Lucien Goins, and how did he just take down Ben Johns?! In this episode of Bad Calls, Travis and Graham break down the wildest storylines from the Cape Coral and Texas Open tournaments—wind-induced chaos, paddle controversies, and major upsets. We dive deep into why some top teams a...

Travis and Graham talk through the MLP draft process and how they picked the players for the Florida Smash. They also react to the new premier team rosters, with some winners & some losers.

Not a fantastic weekend for Travis in Mesa - he tests the newest paddle challenge rule in his mixed doubles game. Plus, Graham walks us through the incoming rule for player stealing in major league pickleball.

Say goodbye to rally scoring and hello to 6 player rosters for premier teams. Graham and Travis get into the details of the changes and what it'll mean for the league.