Claim OwnershipBad Calls - Pickleball Podcast
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Description
Bad Calls is where pickleball talk meets questionable judgment. Hosted by Graham D’Amico and Travis Rettenmaier—co-owners of Major League Pickleball’s Florida Smash and self-proclaimed experts in bad decisions—this show is a mix of unfiltered takes, trash talk, and whatever else comes to mind between games.
Travis is a top PPA pro and a former pro tennis player, which gives him just enough confidence to think he knows what he’s talking about. Graham? Well, he’s got opinions.
Recorded at Crescent Lake Park in St. Pete, Florida, these are the courts where we first learned the game, talked way too much smack, and fell in love with the sport. If you love pickleball but don’t take yourself too seriously, welcome to the party.
90 Episodes
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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 rituals, and why doubles takes longer to “solve.” Jon shares his partner plans, a perfect SAT flex, and th...
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 wood, we explain why points feel more strategic and why some spin-heavy players could struggle. The...
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 training should drop way down once you break through, and we kick around what that means for play...
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 dive into some spicy team roster rumors for next season. Plus, we share some behind the scenes sto...
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 Kohler is lob-core now – Travis fails the paddle test (again) – And we rate...
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 the juice. We also get into the latest gear (including a surprisingly good butt cap), some questi...
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, and the Smash’s MLP return. Oh—and did we mention Carlos Alcaraz? Let’s go.
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 the raw version, straight from the source.
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. Also in this episode: MLP Orlando predictions and team chaos rankingsA surprisingly smart take from ...
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 ceiling •Playing (and drilling) with Steffi •His investment in the future of pickleball through DUPR...
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 the pros and amateurs use the same paddles? And what would YOU have named the Hogs?
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 are struggling, why Tyra Black might be the fastest player in the sport, and whether playing with...
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.
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