Welcome to this week’s edition of the it Phils right podcast it’s Robin stone stone is here thank the good Lord we are going to talk about a lot of things particularly his good looks his incredible commentary his exceptional GM ability we are going to talk about some tip of the week which is Fort.
Positioning during third shots for the player hitting the shot and the player hitting the shots partner so really good stuff here and a little bit of a sell Kirk Red Rock open recap a light real light let’s go because you know why why cuz it feels right it feels right legendary ladies and gents before we hop into the show I do want to talk to you a.
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You’re interested in getting a net of your own go to ck.com collectionn Nets and we’ll link to that in the show notes you you can also find this link in the description of the show but let’s jump into this week’s episode of it feels right with Robin Stone I don’t know if you saw it but I I had to I went uh so we used to call it like.
When you just would go like in college to the bar by yourself it would always you would just call it oh so you went psycho solo to the bar um I had to go psycho solo on the Pod last week and I I will say it went 30 minutes minutes and it was 30 minutes of me just talking to myself and it was you know I would say as a as.
A typical person I’m not I wouldn’t I don’t think many people describe me much as a talker per se even though I have a podcast and we do this podcast they would they wouldn’t they wouldn’t I I don’t think so I don’t think so like in in general like if I’m out like in public I wouldn’t say like oh you can never get that guy to shut up so talking.
For 30 minutes straight yeah yeah that yeah we we are different in that respect so to talk 30 minutes straight without much of a pause just like looking at myself on this computer talking and kind of droning on was a challenge Adam so I am glad that I’m talking to you and not just myself yeah I had a little travel there.
After that sun Championship Sunday so it didn’t quite make our Monday morning time slot so did you did you at least talk about me at all bring me up in any way shape or form talked about you um talked about tips I I droned on about results um I almost fell asleep with my own voice but it was uh yeah I’m GNA keep those to a minimum those aren’t.
Very fun and the reason we do this podcast is because it’s fun and we are gonna it’s more fun with you here well thank you Robert I appreciate that yeah I’ve done a couple me myself and I solo uh com AR and you know we already discussed me being a talker but it is it’s yeah it’s not as fun you don’t.
Have someone to piggy back off off of Bounce things off of it’s just it’s just you out there you in the streets and that’s a tough place to be sometimes unless you do the world’s shortest pickleball podcast like Maddie pickles does and then then it’s fine because then it’s just uh you’re boom boom boom done but a 30 minute go was.
Aggressive yeah that pick he’s he’s deep in the game I always see him on Twitter he’s uh just playing some 40 points and with the furry dog on the court that’s all I that’s all I know yeah I like you know Matty pickles is one name I like little kitchy who’s Little kitchy Tim klitsch no Maddie I just think that’s a it’s a.
More app name little kitchy CU people don’t know he’s he’s a clitch oh I I don’t know I didn’t know he was a klitsch no he’s uh he’s Tim kitch’s son oh I didn’t know that at all I always see I always see Tim klitch Tim klitsch in the videos just destroying these poor kids just angle it just like hitting.
Shots just so they can get to it so he can continue to move them back and forth uh you know that’s that’s pretty quality stuff there and that’s what it that that that that that screams pickle ball in a lot of ways where the old man is just carving up the youngsters so uh I appreciate the little Clips on on Twitter I think that would be like a.
Really good YouTube channel is like having call it like a real like I want like a 75 plus year old kind of Senior Pro type guy or a gal that goes to like public parks and like and plays dudes with their shirts off like Frat Boys and just toys with them I would watch that and then also talk I would watch that for hours on end so if anybody wants to.
Pursue that at the age of 75 I will I will support it I will watch it I might even come and be there for it you might be one of those shirtless frat voice is at the park maybe no okay all right gotcha maybe uh maybe maybe uh did you do anything exciting this weekend I am up in Bristol Tennessee uh it’s I like I like the joke about it.
With malen It’s like because you know when I’m not here traveling I am in Pon ofra Beach and it’s a condo there which you can walk to the beach it’s a it’s like a 20 minute walk to the beach probably 15 minute and so that’s that’s our beach house and then I’m in a little Studio unit up here that they put me in um and.
This is the mountain house so we have a beach house and a mountain house I say you this is a 350 foot mountain house but hey it’s not about size yes that’s right that’s a technicality you have a mountain place and you have a beach place and that is a lot of respect to you for that uh you’re reasonbly close.
To me it’s like five hours yeah not not too far we got to get you over here for uh I so I help out at a facility up here that’s actually hosting a PPA in August um in Bristol Tennessee it’s called the Bristol Sportsplex they are they have six indoor courts right now three tennis courts it’s a cool facility they have a really fantastic gym upstairs they have.
A Salt Room a infrared sauna they’ve got a banging Bar and Grill and they are building on the outside kind of in conjunction with the City of Bristol it’s kind of it’s a privately owned place but they’re also City’s the city and the private business are working together to create this really great outdoor facility which is.
Going to have a six Stadium Court um it’s gonna have like a stage because Bristol Tennessee is the birthplace of country music and gonna host a lot of just cool events here the pbaa is going to be here going to try to get a bunch of tournaments here in 2025 so yeah I come up here I help out kind of with the with the strategy side and getting this.
Place up and cranking and it’s been a lot of fun but yeah menen came up this past weekend and we kind of played a lot of picky we went on some walks explored the mountains a little bit and it’s it’s just a good place it’s a good place and we have I mean we have Greg da visiting this weekend for a clinic that we’re hosting here and I don’t think I don’t.
Quite think that Bristol Tennessee is ready for Greg do but he’s coming anyway so man I tell you what he is Slim and shm Greg Dow he has he has tightened it up and must be doing a little offc Court work because I saw the man I couldn’t even believe it he was he looks like he’s in good shape he does and you know what I have watched him play a little.
Picky he’s playing some good picky and he’s moving really well which I think has been a problem like I don’t think there’s anybody that I’ve hit more Slow Roll drops on for clean winners than I have Greg da so and in the cookie yeah I don’t know if that’s possible anymore because he’s looking slender lean quick he’s just uh.
You know he’s going to be your prototypical pickle ball player at 6’4 and lean and I wouldn’t say Dynamic and explosive But I either he’s leaned it up so out ladies what uh did you say assault room what is ass Salt Room that’s uh yeah I it’s a salt room so I don’t I don’t quite know but I have used it and.
I’ve absorb the salt I’ve absorbed the salt I felt it it’s uh it actually is a little intense in terms of you walk in it’s got some nice ambient lighting it’s got a wall a straight wall of Himalayan salt blocks which you know those pink salt blocks but that’s not the kicker the kicker is you look to the right as you.
Walk in on kind of like hanging on the wall is this little filter thing and to get The Salt Room started you got to you basically dump this pharmaceutical grade salt into this little filter it goes in does its little thing you go into the room you sit down like you just sit you sit in there and there’s four chairs you can go in there and chat with somebody.
You go in there do a little work read write whatever you want to do and it gets like hazy in there cuz the salt’s filtering in and kind of like a through the room I I don’t know it’s supposed to help with like your immune system allergies sinus salt bath maybe a little bit of anom salt bath a little bit okay last question robber I got one more for.
You yeah hit me in infer an what is that yeaha idea it’s a s with lasers I think I don’t know oh so we got no steam we got no steam there’s no steam there’s no steam but it gets it gets very hot um but you don’t get as much of like the pure sweat that you do with the with the steam sauna.
But it’s supposed to the lasers are supposed to help with stuff allegedly okay it’s cooking you from the inside I don’t know like people keep trying to tell me what it does I just know it makes me sweat I like being hot for a little period of time and you it feels like it does something and and yeah it’s but people swear by it.
I I I will continue to do it because it’s nice there you go it’s shortterm stress is good for you rob whether that’s heat or cold shortterm long-term stress very bad shortterm stress good so that’s that’s my tip of the day uh right there that’s a that’s a that’s a that’s a layered one too that covers a lot of ground in a lot of different areas life.
Yeah uh well Robert I had a i i i scrolled through a little bit of social media this morning and uh we we had a we had the classic bash the commentators post so uh I I oh yeah oh yeah so uh it’s just Yeah it’s you’re you’re you are not immune from that no matter what uh if you are uh uh in in the public eye it’s it’s.
Tough to win and I I don’t like seeing of course granted it’s my self plenty I don’t like seeing my colleagues get ripped apart on social media it’s a little bit sad a lone tear rolls down my cheek you know yeah who’s getting who’s getting ripped well it’s just a a mix it’s it’s usually a mix I don’t think the keyboard.
Warriors discriminate It’s usually the play byplay though right because they have a little bit of a less intimate knowledge of pickle ball and I think that’s that’s that’s a fair statement they do they do this voice and and weave and oh another third shot dropped by Colin John’s um like it’s that it’s like the it’s like the produced the produced.
Voice versus just like your natural voice and I think people don’t like that yeah I I think that that seems to be a recurring theme and there there there is those Di hards and those pickle ball purists that uh you know they if if you if you say something incorrect about the game of pickle they’re they’re going to let you know about it and they’re not.
Going to be thrilled with that so uh yeah I just wanted to say that that’s that’s yeah that’s it’s it’s sad a little bit but we can use it for good entertainment because I think that is um that is that’s always fun especially like comments about yourself I know whatever like people always people will.
Always say stupid stuff whether it’s what you did in a match how you played how you like the decisions you made and obviously it’s always very easy to say that from watching a stream and behind a keyboard when you’re not actually on the court playing right it’s a lot harder to to make snap decisions in the moment whe in any sport that you’re playing and.
It’s always easy to make judgments from behind a TV or a computer stream or whatever but also the same in commentary like you see it like you you know this is kind of like your new frontier of like you dialed in pickle and you’re trying to dial in commentary and get better at that and improve and hone that craft and it’s not so easy but what is.
Fun is people being mean and then also reading like we should have a segment where we read these comments and like post them on the screen of what they’re saying and that’s not a bad that’s not bad actually uh I remember they used yeah on on a late night talk show they used to have celebrities reading tweets or or like social media.
Posts about them and that that that was pretty funny and I mean in In fairness I think it does kind of get bundled in with being in the public eye so it it’s it’s technically part of the job to get ripped on you know because yeah most people work at in their office behind closed doors maybe they they they work in accounting you get a number you you.
Get a number that’s the right answer there’s there’s no right answer in commentary and I think it goes the same way for the players too uh now granted the players are making more money than we are so maybe they should be ripped on more than the commentators I don’t know but I I do think that regardless if you like it or not if you were in the public.
Ey you you kind of you kind of have to take it to some degree even though it does hurt your heart just a little bit yep it’s it goes back to one of my yeah one of my favorite quotes I don’t know if and MLP owner I don’t know if she’s still an MLP owner is bernee Brown still an owner in an MLP team I haven’t heard her I haven’t heard her name pop up but.
There’s so many that maybe she just got passed by uh uh but I know she was she was super involved with like organizing calls early on um her and James Blake I don’t know what the status is now or if um yeah or what that look like when all of the stuff is going down and they were trying to align with the PPA in Dundon but she has a yeah she has just a great.
Quote on actually it’s not even her I don’t think it’s her quote it’s it’s like Roosevelt or somebody but it’s the man in the arena quote and it’s like yeah anybody that’s in the public eye like you said that’s actually doing stuff um easy to rip on but they’re the ones that are actually doing stuff there you go I I was maybe.
Thinking of something a little more philosophical but that was perfect that was simple to the point well theot much more philosophical so okay I thought now what’s the quote okay no no no that’s Rob’s that’s Rob’s version of the quote we’re doing stuff oh okay yeah we’re we’re we’re doing stuff I’m just K yeah that’s right and and and as I said it’s.
Baked into the job but here’s just just a couple things that you know myself and my colleagues are are kind of going through through this this commentary process so it’s a pretty tight squeeze in terms of time uh I I watch some of these other sports like baseball they’re just telling a story you know have all this open time it is very difficult.
Especially with certain players in terms of their pace of play and how quickly they’re going point to point yeah fed feder Rico feder Rico when he’s winning is is a relax fed I love Yeah Yeah Katherine Pento too but I mean I’m talking like I am coming up with ideas and maybe only like 20% of them are time sensitive.
Enough so I’m like coming up with ideas of things to say and then just having to scrap them depending on like where the ball goes in between points or or if the ball knocks off the tape and goes to the side of the Court over by the ref maybe or the video board then maybe I can actually say something more significant but if it doesn’t sometimes I just have.
To eat it or or cut off my thought early so not talking during the point which is pretty difficult when you’re constantly doing that throughout the day not a hot especially oh yeah I mean I wouldn’t say that’s a hot take I mean that’s just what’s happening and I don’t always do no I said I’ve got a hot take on this kind of subject and bring it bring it I.
Think so all of this talk about not commentating or talking during the point all came from when Dave Weinbach was doing all the commentary and and correct not only did people not want him to talk during the point but they also didn’t want him to talk before or after the point that’s a.
Fair statement too so maybe we’re getting a little too cleared away with it huh yes I think talking during the point is absolutely fine I think it’s what is not fine is talking during points that are critical I think talking during points that are you know 312 absolutely okay but you know 991 nah let’s let’s watch and we can talk we can.
Talk we can talk in a little bit but I I I I hear you on the on the pace and the and how how quick you have to get in the the tidbits but I don’t think yeah I think we’re getting carried away with it I think we can talk during points and if people don’t like it the same way people don’t like football commentary just turn it down you know yeah and yeah I mean if.
I’m also I think it’s probably what you’re saying during the point if you start a really good thought and it leaks over towards the to halfway through the point or during the point whatever but if I’m you know just saying inside in forehand for the 918th time of the weekend describing the action then I could probably squash that and not say.
That during the point but I I I’m with you on timing as well I’ve been you know it’s not I’ve been trying to be a little or even having some in between points silen late in those points when it’s 10 n 1010 like you’re talking about her in a big moment uh you you know it’s it’s a tough balance but I I I I like that and uh I think early on as you were.
Mentioning or or maybe a match that’s a little stale uh you know talking during the point a couple of times is probably not an issue but some people just really really hate it like really hate it and will bash no matter what so yeah uh that’s that’s with anything honestly but I would say I would like I would be curious on you know what what you guys.
Think let us know in the comments below and if you haven’t already please like And subscribe it helps us keep the podcast rolling helps uh cerk who is hosting the show helps um helps helps us grow subscribers and followers and lets us keep doing this so appreciate you and just to be clear with Dave wbach I like Dave a lot I one of my one of the more.
Entertaining matches I’ve watched this year was the Senior Pro was a senior Pro men’s at uh at the US Open if you guys haven’t watched that watch it all tops of Genius Rick Witkin the grunting uh it it’s it’s it was one of the more entertaining matches I’ve watched this year and I think is a.
National Treasure he needs to be protected at all costs I think I think senior Senior Pro pickable and I’ve always said it and people have have thought I was just bashing on senior Pro I just always wanted it separate from regular Pro I just didn’t like the intertwining of you know one pro match on stream one Senior Pro match on stream.
It was bad for everybody it extended days to be really long I love the fact that senior Pros have their own platform now and have npl and and are still getting you know live stream coverage at the US Open because I really had a blast watching it so I think yeah I’m just misunderstood Adam I’m just so so okay so I’m so you are so you’re the guy that.
Doesn’t like to talk very much is that is that where we’re we’re bringing that back up from the beginning of the Pod because you just you you’ve gone for it a couple times since then and I I mean I’m not upset with you at all for it that’s kind of what we’re here for but I just wanted to clarify what you had mentioned at the beginning of the.
Podcast that you’re just not a talker you’re not a talker if I if I’m in a public scenario with oneon-one I can yeah you just bring it out of me thank you you just you just make me feel whole you you’re easy to talk to you are so welcoming and inviting that I feel comfortable and that’s not on me that’s on you and that’s a all credit to you.
Adam oh thank you so much Robert but I actually would that was good that you said uh leave a couple comments uh about some commentary preferences I am completely okay uh if you mixed in something I do well and then you bash me right after I I would love there to be some balance there but if you just want to rip on me that’s that’s fine too and.
I also we will next week that’s right but I I also think that it’s a bit of I was talking about this kind of describing Pablo and fed who have played their last tournament together they’ve had some nice runs but they’re breaking up and they’re looking for a new partners I’m sure they already have their new partners established but.
I think it’s similar in commentary as well it’s things that don’t bother you early in the relationship uh or the first handful of times that you hear a commentator if you’ve heard them for the 82th hour even the things that you liked early on start to bother you so I I think uh you know I I I shouldn’t really say this.
Considering it’s my job but having a hair more variety we’re mixing in a different person uh maybe like a rob pasid you who was at this last tournament on grand stand and I think he was on Championship Court a bit too but having just you know a couple different shifts or uh you know taking a tournament off if you’re the lead.
Commentator every so often I think probably freshens the product and freshens uh kind of what uh people think of your style and how you do it because let’s be clear if you’re doing a a progression draw and you’re doing Championship Sunday that could be 25 hours in the same weekend of you talking about pi ball and the same players and.
That can get stale even if you’re good at I think you’re absolutely right and I think people also get desensitized to your greatness I think they just get accustomed to having incredibly high-end commentary week in and week out and I think the people lose appreciation for what you actually bring to the table so I think yeah taking a week off and then.
Coming back the following week people are like oh my god dude that’s uh that’s that’s what he does that’s what we’ve been missing this past week and thank God he’s back I I think that that was a good general statement not talking about any specifically Rob well done and that’s you I know I I figured that you were but I think that that is more for.
Anyone as opposed to me as well but I thank you for those kind words uh Robert as always uh you said something similar with the GM coing type situation I’m not so sure I fully agree with you with everything you said but it warmed my heart to the nth degree and thank you once again I um I call it how I see it and and I think the people are itching.
To get you back in the commentary Booth after this past weekend well they only have to wait a couple weeks I’m doing PPA uh Atlanta after the uh the MLP so MLP I’m only doing coaching uh so I’m doing no comment for the MLPs but I’m going to be doing quite a few for the PPA uh for the summer and the rest of the year course.
So uh hope you like it if you don’t uh I’m probably going to be in there for at least 2024 so you’re just going to have to who would you compare yourself to in the commentary game if we were looking at other sports would you say you’re Vern Lundquist oh God I I know who Vern lanquist is I.
Haven’t watched as much sport as I used to aggressively in my teenage and 20s teenage years and uh 20s so uh I’m not sure who I would compare myself to I just think Vern’s the go uh is there anyone else that says twig twig and berries on on the broadcast that’s one of my favorites I I say t too uh courtesy of you you’ve really you’ve.
Really you know opened my world to Twig and berries it is super fun uh no he wouldn’t he wouldn’t say that but I I he’s I would say he’s just like the goat of commentary um maybe you’re like a John Madden maybe you are um what about Johnny Mack I like Johnny.
Mack yeah I think that’s a fair that’s a fair one absolutely I think who I want you to be and maybe who I want to be when I get into the commentary game is the most legendary play-by-play guy of all time no this is he’s he’s a huge Homer he was he was the ug um he did ug commentary for forever.
Passed away Larry mson the great Larry mson he just had some of the most iconic calls in I want to say college football history but uh as a Georgia fan I would say that but he he just had stuff like you know we were playing Tennessee and Knoxville and of course winning and it came down to like the last second um pass to pass to get a touch down for the.
Win he he says stuff like he stepped on his face with a hobell boot and broke his nose like just random like says random stuff like that but was just like the ultimate homer so biased and I think I just love that right it’s like yeah that’s you I’m that that’s who I want to be Goa uh Vern lanquist is the old guy.
That’s I think he just did his final yeah just his final Masters like oh you know who else I think you could be Chris Fowler dude because he does he is he has variety he can do he can do a tennis major he’s epic at college football he’s well-rounded just like you are Adam like you know baseball in and out you were you do fantasy B.
You you are Moneyball essentially so you could do baseball com you could do baseball commentary you could do pickle ball you could do poker you could do tennis what and that’s why I think you might be Chris fer because what can you not do thanks for buttering me up because I’m about to get bashed in the comments.
For all the garbage commentary I do so this is nice to for you to build me up before before the the Warriors take me down uh this is this is lovely stuff and we had a great moment at the beer City open last year we had a great moment together on the mic uh we were it was uh Dylan Frasier Dove on the concrete and we had a nice line you were talking.
About how we we don’t we don’t dive on the concrete and I go Dylan does it was I mean that’s that’s magic that’s magic so I I’m oh wait for we hit the road together or what yes yes that’s right there there’s a little bit of Buzz about doing a Manning cast style which is a more laid forever.
Uh sure yes yes so Dave would like to do that I would like to do that with him and I would like to do that with you and just have a more laidback possibly on grand stand bring a couple people in players have some stories talk over points aggress ly because I’m not allowed to do that on Championship court.
That sounds pretty interesting I think that’s what it should be sure like I don’t if we need official broadcast on Championship Court sure for for whatever if the if the I think it’s I still think pickle ball should try to be different then and there’s another third shot drop yeah like who cares that sounds like me thank.
Robert you would never that me like I said in I you can only say inside inside in forand 118 times a weekend you could only say it so much I’m just pouring a little cold through coffee right now need some thesaurus work hey yeah you hey get that caffeine where I mean you’re probably at 250 milligrams right now let’s get that up.
To four we need it manast man haven’t thrown the I haven’t throwing the football in a decade man throwing pig skin with uh with M the past couple days she’s got a she’s got an arm that didn’t look like P it’s certainly not pig look like pig skin.
Rubber looked like R to me uh Blue Water Beach not quite sure where that’s at or if it’s even real but well well Robert we’re on 30 minutes of rambling about whatever which I respect and I’m glad that we have but maybe we shift over and move on to the tip of the day so yeah on my on my ramble last week.
So solo psycho solo I talked about force and the importance of them and how they’re not talked about enough and people can you can you can make a whole career off Force if you uh if you’re able to keep people back um especially nowadays when serves are so big and it’s more common than ever to not get to the kitchen line on your fourth.
Because you got to be fast so what do we want to where do we want to go from here Adam so uh I think we talk a little bit about thirds and as the player hitting them and as the partner watching their uh their partner hit the third just a little bit about court positioning and.
How much real estate you should take in given situations okay so for me of course I have when you hit the ball especially as a bit of a higher level but even the lower levels as well you can read that situation very well so you can track the ball with your own eyes and you have the feel of hitting the shot also uh so I.
Think it’s much easier when you are hitting it to take the the the appropriate realistic um when your partner is hitting the third I really like to be slightly staggered I like to be a couple feet in front of my partner who’s hitting a third whether it’s a drive or a drop and that way I’m in optimal position.
To gauge the trajectory of the shop okay I think it’s easier to do that if I’m a couple feet in front of my partner now they hit a terrible shot I I can I can hop back and bail back to the Baseline they hit an okay shot I can hold my ground take a step or two forward they hit a good shot I can get all the way in and that’s kind of how I think about it.
And how I like to read the trajectory of my own and my partner’s shot and and I I think it’s extremely important because there’s situations for everything holding backing up taking one step forward to incrementally get to the kitchen line or just get all the way there which is clearly the best case scenario I think dude even at the pro.
Level I get it’s one of my biggest frustrations um when playing uh it it happens mostly in mixed I suppose when I am hitting a third uh oh is AJ let’s let’s get a AJ appearance if he’s if oh yeah AJ come on bring it in here prop just for a second I hate to break up your thought it was I know you were it was going to.
Be Earth shattering stuff Robert but let’s just get a little quick little AJ come here to me we come here you oh we B this sucker right here hey there little angel hey buddy that’s Robert hey buddy hey I can’t wait to see you what’s happening yeah did you know you’re named after AJ that’s what I tell them every day AJ.
Not Coler uh yeah he’s uh Robert we’re gonna we’re gonna do that uh randomly until he Embraces you with an aggressive 82 teeth now smile uh usually stares at people for a good several minutes before he opens up so we’re going to work towards that anyway continue your thought on this thir shot.
When I am hitting the third and so I think you made a good point Adam I think not enough people watch your watch their Partners third and trajectory and and then make a split decision on whether to whether to move forward and put pressure on their fourth or whether to move back and put yourself in a better position for a.
Fifth and what I don’t think people look at is also the return right because I know if I’m hitting the third I know off of their return whether or not I’m going to hit a good third my third is if it’s it’s typically based on the return on whether I’m going to hit a good one or not and if it’s like sitting up a little.
Bit and kind of three quarter Court I know I’m G to hit a pretty good roll drop and my opponent probably doesn’t off of that return so as I’m hitting it and I know if it’s hting up and I can get under it and I’m in good good position I just say go because they’re not going and I think maybe that takes more chemistry and.
Takes more time on court with somebody um but I think it’s a good it’s a good way to do it is um say go because there’s nothing worse than knowing you’re going to hit a nice roll drop that’s going to be dipping at their toes and your partner’s back with you you know what I mean and I that happens all the time and I’m like I’m like why am I.
Still saying go why am I still saying go just crash just do it yeah absolutely and I think I think with those roll drops uh specifically get some reward for your risk you know those roll drops are lovely they’re wonderful uh and they can be consistent but they’re hair more risky than some of those more floaty.
Drops so if you’re you’re your if your guy misses it he misses it but if he doesn’t you’re probably going to get a a weak reply and also with that penetrating deep return sure players can hit nice drops off of that but we’re we’re talking about a huge percentage difference we’re like maybe you’re going to hit a great drop when you’re behind.
The Baseline on your back foot 15 20% of the time so that’s a pretty reasonable hold situation and if you’re three quarter Court stepping into it that could be 85 or 90% situation so you better use those kind of predetermined percentages to adjust your Port positioning uh don’t just have the same reaction to the same returns um so so uh.
I think that that’s a good note and then also the last piece of information is reading your opponent’s paddle Court positioning uh their body posture when they’re at the kitchen line so you re you read the return then you read the quality of yours or your uh partner’s third shot and then once you have a read on that third shot you start looking at.
Your opponents and all these little bits and pieces of information allow you to take the proper amount of real estate whether that’s the shebang or whether that’s holding and defending or whether that is is going to the midc court to know that you’re going to be in a good position for a fifth so that you can get to the the kitchen line on the next fall.
And another thought just came to mind and I’m thinking of times where my partner is kind of stuck back when we’re in a position to uh move forward and be aggressive and I think one of those scenarios is let’s say let’s say I’m on the left I’m serving I’m serving uh to the person on the left and they’re unwinding the stack.
That person’s typically gonna return down the line to give themselves enough time to to unwind the stack and get to the right side of the court and cover their position one of my favorite shots and I’m I don’t know why more people don’t do this or practice this but it’s it was my favorite thing to do in tennis when I played.
Tennis my coaches would always say like you watch Rob warm up and I played Just for context I played number one at UNC Asheville uh singles and doubles and had winning records so I wasn’t terrible but I wasn’t I wasn’t like a one of the you know I wasn’t a great tennis player by any stretch of the imagination but I was decent but I would play junk tennis like.
Coaches would always say like if you watch Rob warm up you probably think he’s like the seven or eight guy on the team like I play Trash tennis I I would slice short bring people to the bring people to the net I’d hit stupid passing shots I hit Top Spin lobs I just played junk like I wasn’t I I by any stretch of the imagination looking at me I look.
Terrible but I would win I would had good volleys I would sering volley randomly had a good kick serve but and Tennis I would stay very tight to the Baseline I would not get pushed back I wouldn’t be like this big grinder I would take everything on the rise I would I would short hop stuff I would just like own the.
Baseline and on this serve where I’m serving in pickle ball from the left to the left and they’re unwinding the stack and my let’s call it mix and my mix Partners on the right they’re returning down the line I want to take that ball because I want to take it on the rise oh good save I want to take it on the rise and I want to take it and roll it hard.
Crosscourt but my my partner often times since I’m coming to the right they just kind of go to the right and back up a little bit rather than rather than pushing straight ahead if that makes sense but I think that taking it on the rise like that’s a that’s a thing in pickleball that I haven’t seen that much of right now where people are really.
Taking a nice forehand early off the bounce and rolling it and pushing it and you can do that now but people are letting letting it bounce come up and that’s that’s giving your opponent time to get over there I haven’t seen as many short hop rols like that but it’s it’s super possible and more advanced obviously but for those of you at home.
If you start working on the short hop roll you’re going to take a lot of time away from your opponents and pickle ball is all is all about taking away space and taking away time it’s it’s the same as hitting it hard Robert hitting the ball with Pace taking the time away exact same thing so I do uh think that this is.
A not maybe not a special skill set but a tough shot to execute but if you have it I think that there is an insane amount of benefit and Robert I think we’re the same person I play Tennessee exact same way I would I would serve and stay back I would ship and charge I would I would take shots take shots on the rise I was often returning five or.
Six feet inside the Baseline uh so uh and I do think that that kind of allc Court game strategy translates very nicely to pickle ball so uh I I think that you were probably a better tennis player than me I was very okay but not not bad uh but I do like that that skill set transitions over uh to pickle ball I think it’s a very drillable shot just.
Have um have balls coming to you straight down the line on the forehand side and just work on moving from the left side of the Court like the preserving position and and shuffling over hitting a forehand Dipper cross scored on the rise it’s a it’s a super drillable shot and it’s so valuable.
And and I like what you said about the right side Player Court positioning when you do that almost everyone goes back if you got a studly left side guy who’s trying to create something with that short hop roll or a big drive go a little further off to the right or go forward at an angle to the right so that you can crash back to the middle of the.
Cors and be aggressive because how many times do we see an earth shattering drive at a ton of miles per hour one inch over the net and they just awkwardly bump the ball but no one’s there to poach it so the the point goes back to neutral so no if you got an alpha if you got an alpha over there and you’re a right side player and they’re.
Just driving the heck out of the ball and rolling drops with aggression and jamming up their opponents and and creating weak replies you better better be to the kitchen line to to pick some of that stuff off or you’re or you’re just hitting risky shot because the what happens typically in that scenario Adam is let’s say I take that short hop I.
Take a crosscourt I’m following it right because I I’m I’m following that and I’m covering my side of the court I’m cover I’m you know I’m taking that angle in to cover the left and I have to watch line because they can still volley there and put it there but what happens typically is that person will try to pick it up and they’ll bunt it like you said back.
Crosscourt but my partner is still back or slower to get to the line than I am and that nice drive goes to waste because they weren’t coming up so it’s uh yeah partner positioning especially on thds is incredibly critical and I think that was a that was a great tip to bring up but I I would expect I would expect.
Nothing less from you based on your knowledge of the game and based on your commentary ability your coaching ability what you’ve done for the heart eights as a GM and Major League pickle ball it’s uh yeah I don’t know why I’m even man I’m expected you’re exp know why I’ve been surprised by the by the tip of the day you know.
You’re expecting this chat to be brutal on me thank keep keep keep fluffing me up Robert uh also Robert I’m just saying I I think that uh some of the skills that you bring to the table from an analytical perspective and uh understanding the game might fit nicely uh with a with a major league pickle ball team or or possibly something along.
Those lines so uh you’re going to toot my horn I’m going to yours as well you know if I I’m I’m a I’m mercenary I’m available for contract I’m you know I work in the private sector I’m available at any time there you go uh and Robert we we did have a little pickle ball this past weekend at the cirk Red Rock open maybe.
We do just a light recap of some of the enjoyable uh storylines and quality play that of course was in St George Utah I would like to say I want to give a compliment right now and this one’s not to you sadly Adam but one thing that I’ve really liked following is pickleball.com especially like when I’m looking at doing the show and looking at.
The Recaps of the weekend going to Tournament results it’s just structured very nicely um I what I also like is that with one click during a tournament I can instead of going to brackets and clicking draws and results and navigating that whole nonsense I can just go to pickleball.com and I see the ticker at the top that shows all the.
Scores and the results of what’s Happening that day and like what I also really like is seeing the times of when the next match is going to play so I just think pickleball.com has been really really good and useful in respect to following matches and tournaments that are going on and um yeah that’s a just a shout out to pickleball.com and.
And how how solid it’s been you know using that because one thing we’ve missed for a long time is good is good user interface and UI and ux on on pickle ball software and websites and it’s been money but so yeah just shout out there but going into some of the results we’ve got the women’s doubles uh women’s doubles final Leia.
Jansen Tina piznik straight straight game victory over kie Smith and Anna brigh 1 s and seven yeah I mean I mean kind of kind of wild I mean they uh I mean even starting in in the round of 16 uh you know maybe not total household names but Cass hog and Martina franova they beat 111 114 then they beat.
Millie rain and Zoe Wong 11012 and then Lena piga and Tammy IMR which have been playing well lately one and five and then 111 117 117 on Sunday that’s a pretty dang SM smoth uh through the draw and I know we’re we’re missing a handful of names in some of these tournaments because there’s four in a row but that’s really well done from.
From Leia jansson and Tina piznik uh to to really just handle everyone with yeah and and Leia played the before that gold medal match and women’s doubles Leia played the singles final on the women’s side against Mary Brasa won the first game ended up dropping it in three U and a really fun match to watch um Mary and Leia both played fantastic Mary Mary’s.
Backand is filthy on the dead run she kind of hooks it and is able to hook it down the line where it’s like it looks like it’s the trajectory is going wide and hooks right back in the line um she just played fantastic Leia was dealing with some blood sugar stuff which you know as a type 1 diabetic I I’m always so impressed with.
Um with how deep she goes in these events and how how big of a toll that must be on her body so big big props to Leia on kind of regrouping after that singles match and and handling the handling the dubs yeah I I agree completely and that’s actually one of the slivers of uh time that I did watch was.
Those big up toline two-handed backends on the run from Mary brush at the end of game three and that that was that literally was the difference uh where where I think it was it was at least two if not three or four in that kind of clutch section of the of the match so uh yeah I agree and of course yeah and I I can only imagine I mean pickle ball is.
Hard if you’re dealing with anything mentally or physically uh you gota you got to shoot some respect to Leia Jansen who my goodness beat Georgia Johnson 114 110 in the semifinals and then you mentioned uh Mary Rashia 119 in the gold medal match this was quite a score line too for the bronze as klin Christian beats Georgia Johnson 711 1210 10 1210.
So a lot of parody in the men’s game uh some of these ladies are stepping up too uh and I’m excited to see some of the not necessarily newcomers but new faces on Championship Sunday once CP and Anna leue uh come back and are in the mix also and if we can you know see a few more upsets on the L side just in terms of new faces we had Alex trong who.
Who made the move from the AP to PPA ml uh with an exclusive contract this year and I believe she grabbed her first medal taking taking bronze and mix with Conor Garnett which is a huge result for her um yeah uh that’s that’s a big win uh mixed you had what was the mixed result Ben and Eda took it right uh you had uh yeah Ben and Eda in a really.
Unfortunately the game’s got a little more locks signed as that progressed in the gold medal match it was four games 1412 for Anna and James in game one and then 117 118 111 for Eda and Ben in the gold medal match so uh pretty pretty doozy of of a game one uh but uh not comfortable but fairly easy in gamees two three and four uh for Ben and Eda.
Who have a lot of comfort with each other and then you did mention the Alex strong and Connor Garnett over Martina franova Andre deu 119 119 in the bronze medal match so uh yeah no that’s that that’s that’s good stuff uh for for those teams and yeah it’s it’s I don’t care if there’s a couple players not there you get it in a.
BBA tournament you’re doing pretty good so nice job for Alex strong uh to to sneak in that Veron uh yeah she she she’s gonna be in the I mean she’s gonna be there you talked about the exclusive contract so it’ll kind of be interesting to see who she ends up partnering with and if she can have any any more deep runs as you know she is a she’s a little.
Person she’s a little player but she’s very young so I think there’s a lot of age related upside there if she can uh you know kind of improve the physicality a little bit with with some strength uh she’s got a pretty good bit of power for for and obviously still still super young and a lot of upside and um yeah I think we’ll only we’ll only get better.
And good competitor she’s she’s pretty dialed and I think I think she can bring some more positivity on court obviously you know I can relate to this um I’m the same way just you want to win so badly that sometimes the negativity leaks in and it it goes over your to your partner a little bit so I think once she’s able to to kind of dial that end she’s going.
To have even more success but yeah great weekend great result on the on the men’s double side you had Andre and Gabe playing Dylan and Jade up Andre and Gabe took out the John’s with a a third game pickle which don’t know if that’s happened but I watched that third game and um yes John’s were incredibly frustrated uh Gabe Gabe played very.
Aggressive they all paid off um his if his attacks are on he’s gonna he’s gonna take it to anybody I don’t care who it is um and then in this in this and the gold match they were not on and he pressed a little bit in game one they they lost 13-11 and he was super patient um games two and three he was he was ripping balls trying to speed up off the.
Bounce and it wasn’t paying off he was missing a lot of them so you know you kind of you kind of live and die by that speed up and sometimes it’s going to pay off and you’re going to get a huge win and other times especially against Dylan and JB it seems like it seems like they are they’ve played quite a bit and I don’t think they’re ever going to be.
Favored in that and they’re going to lose they lost this one in straight games and I think Dillan a JB’s hands are just too solid yeah really good and and they know I mean Gabe’s known for sure he just aggressively goes high and hard a decent amount with his attacks but he also has some slippery deceptive stuff and that.
None of that is going to be fooling Dylan and JW who have played like you know two ,000 Plus hours on court with Gabe tardio so with their hand speed and their skills and their familiarity with Gabe that’s a really tough matchup for him and he he’s a young buck too we just talked about Alex Shong so you know when you’re playing your buddies and a two.
Guys that you have a ton of respect for that’s not the easiest hurdle to overcome uh as well so uh yeah I agree but I mean they I mean they beat they beat Conor Garnett and Christian Alshon incredibly good team they beat F Rico statured in Pablo tez 115 113 and then of course beat the johns with a a game three pickle that’s that’s quite a run.
Uh for those two mentioned fed and pob uh La their last tournament together I that the result doesn’t surprise me a ton um condition I watched I watched that match conditions were utterly insane out there uh the win looked incredibly aggressive the you know fed actually called The Ref over and and wanted to check on windeed to to stop.
Playing and they just they kept playing but Adam I’m not going to go into it today because I think I’ve gone into a lot but Endor pickle ball because I don’t think there’s any wind inside unless like windows are open or there’s a garage that’s open or like if there’s those big fans above that are spinning really fast like a tornado but.
I think mostly indoors there’s not WI and I think if you don’t have wind you have pretty high quality pickle ball and you don’t have these issues of of you know players running down and whiffing balls and and I think you have high quality stuff and to my knowledge I don’t think there’s any sun inside either but um maybe if there’s a glass.
Roof or something you might have some sun and some glare but I don’t think there’s too many glass roofs out there um I think indoor pickle ball pretty much doesn’t have a sun and usually the light is pretty solid you can see pretty good and the the lights don’t get in your eyes that badly and like I said I don’t think there’s any sun so no sun no.
Wind in doors um seems like a seems like a pretty good place to play this game of pickle ball um so you know I guess we’ll have to wait and see to see if there’s more indoor tournaments and indoor pickle ball maybe maybe not who knows but you know I think those are some pretty valid points and I stand by them that might be your might be your.
Hottest take ever on this show no son or wi to my knowledge I’m okay with being wrong on that may if somebody shows me a facility where there’s sun and wind fine I’m okay being wrong but um that’s just yeah it’s I haven’t seen it yet there you have it uh right about that that one hour mark Robert uh anything else you would like to talk.
About no I think I think I think I would like to hear what the listeners and the viewers have to think about everything we’ve talked about today specifically Adam Stone and what your belief is on him I I’ve shared my beliefs of Adam Stone today I think we’re lucky to have him in the world of pickle bow on this podcast in the.
Commentary Booth as the best GM of the heartaches in the game um yeah I’m excited to see his career developed from here I’m excited to I’m excited to see if ESPN calls soon um but yeah let us know your thoughts there you go until next week Adam where you will be right alongside me again because I’m not doing psycho.
Solo anymore we’ll talk to you then
Dive into episode 57 of the It Feels Right Podcast with Rob Nunnery and Adam Stone as they explore a wide array of topics! From Rob’s hilarious “psycho solo” show adventure to Adam’s weekend shenanigans, join them on a journey through their recent escapades and experiences. Discover their thoughts on commentary criticism and the importance of variety in pickleball match commentary. Learn valuable tips on court positioning for third shots and strategies for reading shot trajectories. Plus, get an insider’s look at recent pickleball tournaments, including a recap of the Selkirk Red Rock Open and standout performances from players like Lea Jansen, Alix Truong, and Andrei Daescu 💥
Don’t miss out on this entertaining and informative episode of the It Feels Right Podcast! 📺 🏓
Timestamps:
0:00 – It Feels Right Podcast Episode 57 Introduction 🎬
2:08 – Rob recorded a “psycho solo” show last week 😆
6:23 – Rob’s Weekend 😎
8:43 – Greg Dow 😍
9:50 – Salt room🧂
11:14 – Infrared sauna📍
12:31 – Criticism of commentators 🎙️
16:20 – Easy to criticize anyone in the public eye 👀
21:46 – Senior pro pickleball 🏓
24:10 – Mixing up commentators 💿
27:11 – Who is Adam like in other sports 🤔
32:54 – Tip of the day: court position on 3rds 3️⃣
40:22 – Rob played “junk tennis” 🎾
46:37 – Selkirk Red Rock Open 🏓
45:54 – pickleball.com 💯
56:39 – Indoor pickleball tournaments 🏟️
#Pickleball #PickleballHighlights #PickleballLessons #SelkirkTV
initial thoughts to the section about public critique on pickleball commentary, yes, I think it is way overblown (by the chatters). there are certain things I like and dislike about commentary but think it is kind of more of an art than a science (in terms of skills and content). I have enjoyed when they have new pro's doing guest commentary (for variety and insight; for ex Querrey and Roddy). the thing which I feel like sadly lost as a result of the public critique is sometimes the person doing commentary becomes so self conscious that they mute down their personality, which seems unfortunate… I do not have the personality to do commentary and so feel like I should not critique it overly but maybe people should study good commentators like Vin Scully and figure out what made people love him (although no one can copy another commentator and be good)… sorry for the rant, I've gotten so tired over the last few years of how horrible youtube and discord chat has been to commentators… I'm sure none of the pickleball commentators makes a full time living off of that role… I have to return to this video to listen to the rest of the content (thanks for doing a senior pros section)… "Senior Picklers who Trash Talk" could be the channel for the 75+ year group that Nunnery would watch. lol
Completely agree with Rob here. Talk during the point! Make the boring dinking patterns informative!
i say drop the IT FEELS RIGHT bc it makes no sense
Most important comment-thoughts on Adam Stone….. great commentator (in my book Conner Garnet can be home town hero anywhere he has resided😂😉), has an adorable son, ESPN pickleball announcer-oh yeah baby! See you next time!
I think Adam generally does a great job and that people who complain about commentating are some of the saddest saps out there. Pickleball is tricky not only for the reasons y'all mentioned but also because, with how fast the sport is growing, you can't assume as much about the audience's knowledge level about rules, strategies, or the players (history, styles, etc). I've always thought Adam does a good job tailoring commentary to make it accessible and enjoyable a reasonably casual fan.
I also agree that the easiest way to keep things fresh would be to have a rotating few commentators or guests. Many people are used to watching sports with a much bigger ecosystem of voices chiming in so they take that variety for granted.
Keep up the good work! 🙏💪
I love listening to Adam as well as Dave Fleming, but it was refreshing having Rob Cassidy.I thought he did a great job.
My favorite commentator is Adam. His voice is easy to listen to and his knowledge is by far better than the others. I enjoy some of the players who join the broadcast because of their insights. Listening to Michelle is really tough. How many times does she need to tell us how great Ben and ALW are. Or Jack Sock's tennis accomplishments…over and over. Tell us once but not constantly. Fleming is ok but some of the stuff he says is just corny. We know he loves Collin Johns who happens to be a really good commentator. Kyle McKenzie was very good. Dave Benz is good. Just not Meesh, please.
Stone, you just keep doing what you’re doing. I appreciate you.
I like Adam's commentary, Fleming is usually on point when he isn't being too much of a carnival barker, and the pros are fun to have when they are between matches, I like Colin's critical analysis of both good and bad play, and Adam could do more critical commentary on good vs poor shot selection/strategy without worrying about being politically correct. Like other televised sports I would also like to see some stats durning breaks like unforced errors shown by team and player. Also, would like to be able to hear the players chatter, probably be very entertaining.
Infared Sauna's are NOT lasers! I've have one and use it 3-4 times a week. Does not get as hot as steam, but the heat goes deeper into the body's tissues. Check Andrew Hubberman or Rhonda Patricks talks on the topic.
Commentating and Analysis are different. Color commentators seem to try and be witty after each comment. Metaphor after metaphor using analogies gets old to me. Rob Cassidy did a good job in the booth I thought.