Pickleball For All

In this rapid-fire episode of Pickleball For All, host Jeff Brune puts resident pickleball expert Cooper Weseli on the spot with some of the sport’s hottest debates. Should players invest in lessons before buying an expensive paddle? How often should a paddle be replaced? And has modern paddle technology made the game too fast and power-driven? Jeff and Cooper also discuss whether open play truly...

Everyone has a pickleball origin story—and most begin with a friend, a borrowed paddle, and an unexpected addiction to the game. In this episode of Pickleball For All, Jeff and Cooper share how they went from skeptical first-timers to passionate players, tournament competitors, and leaders in the local pickleball community. They reflect on getting humbled by experienced players, progressing from c...

On this episode of Pickleball for All, we sit down with Kirk Brotherton, head coach of the pickleball program at Southeast Missouri State University, to explore the explosive growth of collegiate pickleball. From club teams to scholarship opportunities, colleges across the country are embracing one of America's fastest-growing sports. Kirk shares how programs are being built, the challenges school...

What happens when pickleball becomes more than just a game? In this episode, Beth Gibson shares how pickleball is transforming lives for individuals with Down syndrome through adaptive sports, confidence-building, and community connection. What started with her son’s love for tennis has grown into one of the nation’s fastest-growing adaptive sports programs, with chapters across the country helpin...

Discover the strategic edge in pickleball with hosts Jeff and Cooper as they explore the critical first five points of a game. Learn how to read your opponent’s tendencies, interpret ball return patterns, and spot emotional signals to gain a competitive advantage. This episode reveals tactics like testing shot types and understanding court positioning, turning each point into a mental chess match....

What happens when tennis meets pickleball… and then throws out half the rules? In this episode, Jeff and Cooper dive into the fast-rising game of TYPTI (T-Y-P-T-I)—a unique hybrid played on a pickleball court with rackets, foam balls, and a whole lot of unexpected twists. From silent rallies and wild spin to using any part of your body to keep a point alive, TYPTI flips traditional racket sports o...

What separates a solid 3.5 player from a confident 4.0 competitor? In this episode, Jeff and Cooper break down the real differences—from pace control and patience to purposeful shot placement and footwork that never stops moving. They dive into common mistakes intermediate players make, how to think ahead during points, and why winning in pickleball is more about strategy than power. If you’ve eve...

In this episode of Pickleball for All, Jeff and Cooper break down one of the most overlooked parts of the game—the ball. From the trusted Franklin X40 to newer options like the Dura and Lifetime, they dive into how different balls impact speed, consistency, durability, and overall gameplay. They also clear up the confusion between indoor vs. outdoor balls, why it matters more than you think, and w...

Can you actually buy a better pickleball game, or is it all about skill? In this episode of Pickleball for All, Jeff & Cooper tackle the debate over whether paddle technology really makes a difference. They break down what actually matters when choosing a paddle—including sweet spot, balance, weight, grip size, and surface texture—and explain why the most expensive paddle isn’t always the best...

Everything is… DUPR! Jeff and Cooper break down the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) system — what it is, how you get one, and why it matters if you want to compete. In this episode: How to establish your first rating What separates a 3.0 from a 4.5+ player How the new DUPR “forecast” feature works The pros and cons of ratings in competitive play Whether you're just playing for fun or ch...

In this episode, we break down the key differences between indoor and outdoor pickleball — and why it can feel like two completely different games. We cover: How wind changes strategy and shot selection Why temperature affects ball compression and bounce The impact of humidity on spin and paddle control Lighting, depth perception, and visual adjustments The mental game of adapting to unpredictable...

Lobbers. Lobsters. The Lob Brigade. Whatever you call them—if you play pickleball, you’ve faced them and felt the frustration. In this episode of Pickleball for All, we break down one of the most annoying styles in the game: the constant lob. Cooper explains why lobs cause so much trouble—panic, bad positioning, missed communication—and shares practical ways to defend against them. From recognizin...

In this episode of Pickleball for All, we tackle one of the most relatable (and frustrating) opponents in the game: the banger. Cooper breaks down what defines a banger, why that style is so effective at the amateur level, and how modern paddle technology has changed the pace of play. We dive into practical strategies like proper paddle positioning, grip strength, blocking vs. swinging, and when r...

Jeff Brune and resident expert Cooper dive into everything tournament pickleball. Cooper breaks down the MLP format, DUPR ratings, tournament prep, strategy, nutrition, and how tournament play differs from rec games. They also discuss reading opponents, communication with partners, overcoming tournament nerves, and who should (and shouldn’t) jump into competitive play. Plus, details on the upcomin...

In Episode 2 of Pickleball For All, Jeff Brune is joined by The Pickleball Factory Director of Pickleball Cooper Weseli to break down the most common mistakes recreational players make on the court — including playing too fast, skipping the dink game, avoiding the backhand, and not drilling enough. From slowing the game down to learning when not to finish a shot, this episode is packed with practi...

In our inaugural episode, Pickleball Factory President Jeff Brune kicks things off with the story of how the Factory came to life — from renovating a 64,000-square-foot building into a 14-court indoor facility, to welcoming nearly 6,000 players from 29 different states in our very first year. Jeff walks through why pickleball's rapid growth inspired the creation of the Pickleball Factory, how the...