CourtReserve Unscripted with Ashley Owens

What does it actually take to build the largest pickleball tournament in the world from the ground up? Ashley sits down with Ben from US Open Pickleball and the National Pickleball Center to talk about the journey from acquiring the US Open four years ago to running a 60-court, 60,000-spectator event that treats amateurs like pros. They cover what most club operators miss when it comes to member r...

Mike Manzella, founder of ProServe Solutions, has spent the better part of his career figuring out what makes racquet sports clubs work. After more than two decades running clubs and a stint in corporate marketing and tech consulting, he went all in on building a business to help clubs do it better. In this Unscripted conversation with Ashley Owens, Mike talks about what clubs at every stage need...

In this episode, Ashley sits down with Michele Spahr, competitive pickleball player, USLPL correspondent and commentator, and co-host of "Mom, You're Embarrassing Me," for a conversation that's equal parts industry insight and human story. They get into the real drivers of player retention: lighting, wall color, beverage programs, open play competition, and the thing that tends t...

In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with Dayne Gingrich — Mental Performance Coach and Pickleball Pro — to dig into the mindset side of player development, what truly separates great coaches from average ones, and why most clubs are building their culture on the wrong foundation entirely. Dayne brings a perspective you rarely hear in the pickleball world — one shaped by years of high-level...

From player highlights to sponsor placements, court recording technology is opening up new possibilities for racquet sports facilities. In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with David Fox, Founder and CEO of Save My Play, to break down what their camera system does and how racquet sports clubs are putting it to work. Whether you're looking to improve the player experience, create content...

Mike Manzella, founder of ProServe Solutions, has spent the better part of his career figuring out what makes racquet sports clubs work. After more than two decades running clubs and a stint in corporate marketing and tech consulting, he went all in on building a business to help clubs do it better. In this Unscripted conversation with Ashley Owens, Mike talks about what clubs at every stage need...

What if success in sports wasn’t just about winning, but about character, leadership, and impact? In this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Brady Kellogg, Mountain Region Director at Positive Athlete, a free, nomination-based program celebrating high school student-athletes and coaches for character, leadership, and community impact. From tennis and pickleball to squash, badminton, and...

Crush Yard went live with CourtReserve's Public Booking feature and saw 200+ reservations in just a few weeks — with fuller courts, longer waitlists, and a measurable shift in how players book. In this episode, Ashley sits down with Evan Addington, Director of Pickleball at Crush Yard, to break down exactly how removing account-creation friction transformed court utilization across their Orlan...

Chris Olson has tested more pickleball paddles than most players will ever own — and they just keep coming. 🏓In this unscripted conversation, we sit down with Chris Olson, host of The Pickleball Studio Podcast and full-time paddle and gear reviewer, to talk about what it really takes to build a paddle review channel from scratch and where the racquet sport is headed.

In this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with David Mullins, CEO of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), to talk about the real forces reshaping college tennis — from enrollment declines and athletic department cuts to college-trained players making noise on the pro circuit. We caught up with David just before the inaugural ITA College Tennis Weekend powered by CourtReserve kicks o...

What if success in sports wasn’t just about winning, but about character, leadership, and impact? In this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Brady Kellogg, Mountain Region Director at Positive Athlete — a free, nomination-based program celebrating high school student-athletes and coaches for character, leadership, and community impact. From tennis and pickleball to squash, badminton, and...

What happens when you let players book a court or event in 60 seconds — with no account setup required? In this conversation, Christy Howden, Co-Owner & CEO of Wolverine Pickleball Club shares her real-world experience as a beta tester for CourtReserve's Public Booking feature and what it's meant for her clubs from day one. Here's what CourtReserve’s Public Booking feature delivere...

In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with RacquetX’s Marketing Director, Luca Giberti, and Director of Brand Strategy and Design, Mary Budwick, to go behind the scenes of RacquetX and talk about how the festival has grown into a must-attend event for players, brands, coaches, club operators, and sports technology partners. From rapid growth in sponsors and attendance to expanded on-court exp...

Looking to combine your love of pickleball with unforgettable travel experiences? In this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Gary Zins, Founder of Pickleball Travel, to explore the fast-growing world of pickleball vacations, cruises, destination resorts, and international tournament experiences. Gary shares how he built a niche travel agency focused entirely on pickleball — helping playe...

Racquet sports leagues and tournaments are changing fast — and the clubs that modernize their programming are seeing higher participation, stronger member engagement, and more revenue. In this episode of CourtReserve Unscripted, Ashley Owens, Co-Founder of CourtReserve, sits down with Mark Tenney, Founder of Swish, to break down what’s working right now in pickleball league programming, tournament...

Padel is booming worldwide, but does that mean it’s right for every club? And how does it really compare to pickleball and tennis from a business and operations standpoint? In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with Ben Nichols, Founder & CEO of Padel 22, a global PR and marketing agency dedicated to the growth of padel and racquet sports. Joining us from the UK, Ben shares a grounded, gl...

In this episode of Unscripted, we sit down with RacquetX’s Marketing Director, Luca Giberti, and Director of Brand Strategy and Design, Mary Budwick, to go behind the scenes of RacquetX and talk about how the festival has grown into a must-attend event for players, brands, coaches, club operators, and sports technology partners. From rapid growth in sponsors and attendance to expanded on-court exp...

What makes racquet clubs unforgettable? It’s memorable, high-impact experiences that build community and drive engagement. In this in-depth conversation, Ashley from CourtReserve sits down with Chris Bouza, CEO & Founder of Pickleball Pros, to break down how clubs are using professional pickleball players, clinics, exhibitions, and custom events to create standout experiences that engage membe...

In this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Joni Hannah, Executive Director of RSPA Mid-Atlantic, to discuss what’s ahead for racquet sports professionals in 2026 and beyond. Joni shares how the USPTA’s transition to the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) reflects the evolution of today’s multi-sport landscape, including tennis, pickleball, platform tennis, and padel. The con...

What does the future of racket sports really look like for coaches, club operators, and industry leaders? In this episode of CourtReserve Unscripted, we’re joined by Shaun Boyce, CEO of the American Racket Sports Association (ARA), Co-Founder of GoTennis, and Host of the GoTennis Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation on how tennis, pickleball, and multi-sport careers are evolving — and what clu...

In this episode of CourtReserve Unscripted, Ashley Owens talks with Jack Davis, former University of Washington NCAA tennis player and Portfolio Operations Manager at (CourtReserve investment partner) Mainsail Partners (https://mainsailpartners.com/team-member/jack-davis/), about the real path from junior tennis to college competition — and what today’s tennis and pickleball boom means for clubs,...

In this episode, Ashley chats with Jonathan Fralick, VP of Racquet Sports at Invited — one of the largest owners and operators of private clubs in the U.S.— to talk about all things pickleball, tennis, and the fast-evolving landscape of racquet sports. Jonathan shares how Invited grew from 7 pickleball courts to 400+ in four years through building and converting courts, why pickleball now takes up...

In this episode of Unscripted, Ashley sits down with Club Pickleball USA and Club Mastermind Founder Devan Egan to break down what’s actually happening in the pickleball club business. They dig into the uncomfortable truth behind recent club closures, the revenue mistakes new operators keep repeating, and the models that help thriving facilities scale sustainably. If you’re opening a pickleball fa...

In this episode, we sit down with Whitney Wofford, Senior Director of External Engagement at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), for an inside look at the upcoming ITA Coaches Convention in Tempe, Arizona. Whitney walks through what college coaches and programs can expect at this year’s event — from on-court training to education sessions, networking opportunities, and how the ITA suppor...

The business of pickleball is booming — and so is the need for better club management. In this episode, CourtReserve’s Ashley Owens sits down with Josh from the International Association of Pickleball & Padel Facilities to talk about how the game has evolved from neighborhood courts to global facilities — and what’s next for the industry. They dive deep into: How pickleball transformed CourtRe...