In this episode of Pickleball Problems, Mark talks strategy and decision-making related to the third shot. Should you drop it? Drive it? Lob it? Something else? Mentioned in this show: Selkirk Sport Pickleball Coaching International
Feb 19, 2025•13 min•Ep. 94
We're back, BABY! After a little bit of a break the pod is back in full force! And what better way to start off the new year than by talking about how you can start the point and get a big advantage right off the drop! Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International
Feb 03, 2025•15 min•Ep. 93
We asked our followers for the best pickleball advice they've been given -- and wow, there was a lot! Here's the first installment in a series of shows where we hear that advice and Mark gives his take. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Apr 10, 2024•12 min•Ep. 92
In this episode of the show we look at different grips and evaluate the pros and cons of each. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Feb 27, 2024•18 min•Ep. 91
In this episode of Pickleball Problems, Mark brings his friend to play pickleball for the first time. Things are going great until "Bob" shows up and decides he wants to be the star of the show. Hear what he does and how Mark and his friend give Bob a taste of his own medicine. Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk
Feb 21, 2024•16 min•Ep. 90
Are you new to pickleball? Or are you an experienced player who wants to get better? In this episode, Mark discusses three skills you should pay attention to. Also mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk
Dec 15, 2023•10 min•Ep. 89
In Episode 88, Mark Renneson shares insights from his recent coaching trip to China. Amidst the pressure of respect, he turns clashes in teaching styles into a journey of growth. Despite initial formality, professionalism brings sincerity, creating a positive, uplifting atmosphere. This episode, live from the airport, unfolds the unique dynamics of Pickleball coaching in China.
Nov 24, 2023•8 min•Ep. 88
We were at the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships in Dallas Texas. Here are a few things we noticed from the pros. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Nov 20, 2023•8 min•Ep. 87
Whether you're a seasoned coach or a novice instructor, one thing remains constant: the importance of making pickleball lessons fun. While technical skill development and understanding strategy are essential, injecting an element of fun into the learning process can be the difference between average lessons and great ones. Let’s talk about why it is crucial that pickleball lessons prioritize fun. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV...
Sep 29, 2023•15 min•Ep. 86
Are you tired of losing to hard hitters? In this episode of Pickleball Problems Mark gives you four practical things you can do right away to face off against those bangers! Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Sep 15, 2023•10 min•Ep. 85
Pickleball is a game and games should be fun. But what if it could be more than that? What if pickleball could save your life? Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV Join Mark in Turks and Caicos Dec 2-9, 2023
Aug 02, 2023•6 min•Ep. 84
Are your pickleball lessons active enough? What can get people doing more? What are some time traps that will suck the fun out of your sessions. In Part 3 of our series on Quality Standards in Coaching, we look at Active Participation. The Quality Standards framework is used as part of Canada’s instructor certification course delivered collaboratively between Pickleball Canada and Tennis Canada. It was developed by Wayne Elderton, one of Canada’s foremost coaching experts. Mentioned in the show:...
Jul 10, 2023•17 min•Ep. 83
Does your Pickleball coach care? How can you tell? In the first episode of a six part series, Mark Renneson introduces something called the Quality Standards. This framework is used as part of Canada’s instructor certification course delivered collaboratively between Pickleball Canada and Tennis Canada. It was developed by Wayne Elderton, one of Canada’s foremost coaching experts. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV Join Mark in Turks and Caicos Dec 2-9, 2023...
Jul 03, 2023•9 min•Ep. 82
If you are like most people before you start playing a game, you hit some balls with your partner or opponents; probably a bunch of dinks, maybe a few volleys and smashes, some forehands and backhands from the back of the court, and possibly some drops and lobs. But how deliberate is your warm-up, really? How focused are you during it? Again, if you're like most people, the answer is probably not very. You probably hit a few balls casually back and forth, maybe even while having a conversation. ...
May 26, 2023•17 min•Ep. 81
Have you ever left a lesson feeling like a superstar, only to find yourself struggling to apply your new skills in a real game? It can be frustrating, demoralizing and even embarrassing. But fear not, because there might just be a simple yet crucial mistake lurking in your coaching experience: the lack of context. In this episode of Pickleball Problems, we delve into the importance of contextualizing skills in pickleball and explore how it can make all the difference in your game – and the game ...
May 18, 2023•11 min•Ep. 80
If you want to play good pickleball it’s important that you know what is true. For example, it is useful to know that the distance your ball travels is related to the height, speed and spin you put on it. But it is also important to know about what’s not true— and pickleball sure has its fair share of myths. Let’s explore a few of them... Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV Join Mark in Turks and Caicos Dec 2-9, 2023...
May 05, 2023•10 min•Ep. 79
If you have watched any high-quality pickleball lately, there's a pretty good chance you've seen players hit backhands with two hands. And we're not just talking about driving the ball from the baseline or hitting a return of serve. We're talking about when players are near the net and hitting dinks. What's up with this? Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV Join Mark in Turks and Caicos Dec 2-9, 2023...
Mar 25, 2023•11 min•Ep. 78
Pickleball is lots of fun, but there are a few things that we sometimes try to ignore. On this episode of Pickleball Problems, we look at some hard truths we ought to wrestle with. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV Join Mark in Turks and Caicos Dec 2-9, 2023
Mar 07, 2023•9 min•Ep. 77
Being able to handle spin is a critical pickleball skill. In this episode of the show, we look at some quick tips you can apply to be better at defeating the spin master. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV Join Mark in Turks and Caicos Dec 2-9, 2023 Read the article here...
Feb 17, 2023•14 min•Ep. 76
One thing that separates levels of player is their ability to finish the point when they have the chance. While it is great to work hard during a rally, the most satisfying moment is the payoff -- when you finish the point with a put-away. In this episode of Pickleball Problems, Mark Renneson gives you tips to be better at that. Mentioned in the show: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV...
Feb 09, 2023•13 min•Ep. 75
The continental grip is dead — or at the very least, it’s on life-support. For years we have been advocating for the continental to be used in a range of different pickleball situations but most especially when up near the non-volley zone. But as pickleball has evolved, so has our perspective. This article is about why we are saying goodbye to the continental grip. Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV...
Feb 02, 2023•17 min•Ep. 74
Has your pickleball game hit a wall? Do you want to get better but find your game has stalled? In this episode of Pickleball Problems professional coach Mark Renneson discusses 5 reasons you may be stuck: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Jan 29, 2023•13 min•Ep. 73
Have you ever wondered what it is that makes the best pickleball players so, well, good? Professional pickleball coach Mark Renneson has compiled a quick little list to help you out. Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Jan 17, 2023•14 min•Ep. 72
A listener asks how she can help a pickleball player who can only ever seem to hit the ball fast. Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Jan 12, 2023•11 min•Ep. 71
One of the first things new players learn in pickleball is that they should try to return serve deep. Never mind that most people misunderstand why a deep return can be effective , it has become virtually axiomatic in most pickleball circles that you try to push your opponents as far behind the baseline as possible. While deep return can be in effective tool, Mark Renneson's think there is good evidence to suggest a short return of serve can be as good or even better. Mentioned in this episode W...
Jan 03, 2023•9 min•Ep. 70
If you are a pickleball player there is a good chance that you hate hitting backhands. On this episode of Pickleball Problems, host Mark Renneson gives you three easy tips to make your backhands better! Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV
Dec 22, 2022•10 min•Ep. 69
In this episode of Pickleball Problems Mark Renneson talks about why some coaches are great and others are so-so (hint: it's not about what they know) Mentioned in this episode Pickleball Coaching International Track It Hub Selkirk TV
Nov 29, 2022•12 min•Ep. 68
Recently Stephen Colbert hosted a celebrity pickleball tournament that was shown on CBS during prime time. It was a fundraiser for Comic Relief. Many people in the pickleball world were not happy about the silliness of the whole thing. They took issue with the low skill level of the players and the mockery. In this episode of the show, Mark Renneson puts things in a different perspective. Mentioned in the show: PICKLED Comic Relief Pickleball Coaching International Selkirk TV...
Nov 21, 2022•11 min•Ep. 67
Good pickleball requires good strategy. In this episode of the show, Mark discusses some of the most common strategy errors people make on the pickleball court. Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Pickleball Lesson Plans Selkirk TV
Nov 11, 2022•15 min•Ep. 66
How should you deal with a bad call when playing a pickleball match? Live from 2022 Nationals, Mark Renneson talks about some problems and solutions. Mentioned in this episode: Pickleball Coaching International Third Shot Sports Instagram
Nov 06, 2022•12 min•Ep. 65