The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast

Why do so many pickleball players miss routine shots they know they should be making? In this episode, Josh and Elliott count down their Top 5 biggest reasons players miss shots, sharing the most common mistakes they see in players from beginner through advanced levels. From timing and contact point to footwork, swing mechanics, and consistency, each reason includes practical coaching tips and sim...

What should you do when your pickleball partner refuses to move up to the kitchen line? It's one of the most common frustrations in recreational pickleball, and it's a situation that creates all kinds of questions about strategy, communication, improvement, and winning. In this episode, Josh and Elliott tackle the issue from multiple angles, discussing everything from helping a hesitant partner ga...

Most pickleball players assume a two-handed backhand is required to reach the 4.0+ level. In this episode, Josh and Elliott challenge that idea by breaking the game down into the four phases of pickleball: returns, transition, dinking, and hands battles. You'll learn where a two-handed backhand matters, where it doesn't, and why some top players have succeeded without relying heavily on one. We al...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh and Elliott break down one of the most frustrating experiences in pickleball: getting stuck in the transition zone and never quite making it to the kitchen. If you’ve ever hit a great third shot drop, started moving forward, and still somehow felt caught halfway, this episode gives you a clear, actionable framework to fix it. They separa...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh is joined by high-level player and coach Tim Ahlersmeyer to break down one of the most frustrating situations in pickleball: feeling like you should be able to carry your partner—but still losing anyway. They unpack the "one ball" reality that limits your influence over a point and dive deep into the tactical manual for maximizing your t...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh sits down with Cody Sivan, founder of the Brickwall Pro Series, to break down a reality most aspiring pros don’t fully understand yet—the true cost of chasing professional pickleball. From entry fees to travel, lodging, and weekly tournament commitments, they unpack why the traditional path can quietly turn into a $20,000–$30,000 annual...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh and Elliott tackle the tactical nuances of winning volley battles, identifying specifically why many players lose the hand battle the moment they speed the ball up. You’ll learn how to identify the "chicken wing" and "extended" target zones that actually win points, rather than hitting into your opponent's sweet spots. From there, they p...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh and Elliott kick things off with some classic trash talk—breaking down the unwritten rules of chirping, when it actually gives you a competitive edge, and when it just makes you look like a 3.0 with a loud mouth. From there, they dive into one of the most debated topics in pickleball: drive vs. drop. You’ll learn how to recognize the rig...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh and Elliott break down the strategy of crashing the kitchen and how to read your partner’s third shot to apply maximum pressure without getting burned. You’ll learn how to identify a winning ball trajectory, how to use "threat detection" to anticipate your opponent's next move, and why playing for presence—rather than just staying back—i...

In this episode, Josh and Elliott dive deep into the physical and mental demands of leveling up in pickleball. Elliott shares his struggle with a lingering piriformis injury, leading into a masterclass from Josh on the exact dynamic warm-up and cool-down routines used to stay on the court. We also break down the "Pro" mindset: why your performance drops in tournaments, how to use visualization to...

In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh and Elliott break down how to neutralize "bangers" and stop getting overwhelmed by pace. You’ll learn the "shoulder high, let it fly" rule for identifying out balls, how to improve your fourth-ball volleys, and why playing to improve—rather than just to win—is the only way to consistently beat power players. They also dive into the "gree...

Welcome to the debut episode of the Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast! Join hosts Joshua Mackens and Elliott Kindred as they break down the fastest ways to level up your game, from the 2.0 beginner level all the way to the 5.0 and even pro ranks. In this episode, Josh and Elliott tackle the common mistakes that keep players stuck in "rec play" and share the specific drills that actually translate to...