
How to Judge if a Player is a Cheater
02/21/25 • 161 min
1 Listener
It's a full house on the PicklePod this week as we hear from four special guests. First up is Erik Tice who breaks down the Max Freeman contract situation and the surprising results of the MLP keep/drop exchange.
Then Zane goes off on how he judges if a player is a bad line caller or flat-out cheater.
Next up, John Kew gives us the update on the Ronbus Ripple listing and subsequent de-listing that had paddle fans scratching their heads.
Finally, the first international signed UPA players, Tom Evans and Helena Spiridis share their journey to pro pickleball and Tom breaks down his big win over Federico Staksrud.
Try out the shoes that are Zane-tested and Zane-approved, the new XRZ shoes from SQAIRZ https://sqairz.com/
Get your BioBalls at http://komodopickleball.com/ Let’s keep our courts green, one rally at a time.
Have your own pickleball glow-up with new apparel from MUEV https://muevbrand.com/
Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com
https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG
-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
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Erik Tice
0:00 What happened with Max Freeman contract?
5:04 Will Howells is in a unique situation
10:22 The Hustlers dropped their ENTIRE team
13:20 60% of players will change teams in 2025
15:05 Suprised by the Kate Fahey drop
18:30 How long to turn D1 tennis player into MLP player?
21:31 Federico Staksrud in paddle turmoil
28:28 New UPA-A targeting rule debate
35:30 Retaliation will also be punished
41:45 Zane landed a new shoe deal
48:56 Searching for the best player in NYC
52:19 Zane’s glow up is in session
55:18 Cheating - just cheating
1:00:48 Is cheating a byproduct of hot paddles
1:03:35 Jay and Fed weigh in on line calls
1:12:10 A malicious nasty nelson is a wild move
1:14:39 Did we go too hard on the Collin episode?
1:18:45 Max Freeman forced to drop top partners i.e. Ben
1:28:20 Zane got nasty nelsoned by Jack Sock
1:31:45 ALW got asked to prom picture
1:33:54 Pickleheads raised 2.5mm
1:37:30 Coincidental loss for Fed in Tucson with Adidas paddle
1:40:49 Hunter are Parris dominated Super Bowl Sunday Leo Meme
1:43:05 Andrei and Alshon looked dangerous in Tucson
1:46:25 Blind ranking backhand flicks
John Kew
1:50:50 John Kew digging up bones
1:53:25 Finally back to pickleball - What happened to the Ripple?
1:56:55 There are different versions of the Ripple that hit the market
2:02:00 What motivated USA Pickleball to test a second batch?
2:05:27 All approved paddles will also get PBCoR stamp
Tom Evans and Helena Spiridis
2:09:15 Say hello to Tom and Helena
2:15:20 Tom started getting results in 2023
2:18:55 Which pros were you intimidated by?
2:20:32 Where are pickleball hubs in Australia?
2:23:38 When are making the move to the US?
2:26:18 Top 3 players in Australia
2:28:26 Signed on with UPA and eligible for MLP
2:33:42 What are the biggest differences between U.S. and Aussie pickleball
2:35:30 Tom’s big win over Federico Staksrud
2:38:50 Guess my DUPR
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's a full house on the PicklePod this week as we hear from four special guests. First up is Erik Tice who breaks down the Max Freeman contract situation and the surprising results of the MLP keep/drop exchange.
Then Zane goes off on how he judges if a player is a bad line caller or flat-out cheater.
Next up, John Kew gives us the update on the Ronbus Ripple listing and subsequent de-listing that had paddle fans scratching their heads.
Finally, the first international signed UPA players, Tom Evans and Helena Spiridis share their journey to pro pickleball and Tom breaks down his big win over Federico Staksrud.
Try out the shoes that are Zane-tested and Zane-approved, the new XRZ shoes from SQAIRZ https://sqairz.com/
Get your BioBalls at http://komodopickleball.com/ Let’s keep our courts green, one rally at a time.
Have your own pickleball glow-up with new apparel from MUEV https://muevbrand.com/
Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com
https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG
-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
------------------
Erik Tice
0:00 What happened with Max Freeman contract?
5:04 Will Howells is in a unique situation
10:22 The Hustlers dropped their ENTIRE team
13:20 60% of players will change teams in 2025
15:05 Suprised by the Kate Fahey drop
18:30 How long to turn D1 tennis player into MLP player?
21:31 Federico Staksrud in paddle turmoil
28:28 New UPA-A targeting rule debate
35:30 Retaliation will also be punished
41:45 Zane landed a new shoe deal
48:56 Searching for the best player in NYC
52:19 Zane’s glow up is in session
55:18 Cheating - just cheating
1:00:48 Is cheating a byproduct of hot paddles
1:03:35 Jay and Fed weigh in on line calls
1:12:10 A malicious nasty nelson is a wild move
1:14:39 Did we go too hard on the Collin episode?
1:18:45 Max Freeman forced to drop top partners i.e. Ben
1:28:20 Zane got nasty nelsoned by Jack Sock
1:31:45 ALW got asked to prom picture
1:33:54 Pickleheads raised 2.5mm
1:37:30 Coincidental loss for Fed in Tucson with Adidas paddle
1:40:49 Hunter are Parris dominated Super Bowl Sunday Leo Meme
1:43:05 Andrei and Alshon looked dangerous in Tucson
1:46:25 Blind ranking backhand flicks
John Kew
1:50:50 John Kew digging up bones
1:53:25 Finally back to pickleball - What happened to the Ripple?
1:56:55 There are different versions of the Ripple that hit the market
2:02:00 What motivated USA Pickleball to test a second batch?
2:05:27 All approved paddles will also get PBCoR stamp
Tom Evans and Helena Spiridis
2:09:15 Say hello to Tom and Helena
2:15:20 Tom started getting results in 2023
2:18:55 Which pros were you intimidated by?
2:20:32 Where are pickleball hubs in Australia?
2:23:38 When are making the move to the US?
2:26:18 Top 3 players in Australia
2:28:26 Signed on with UPA and eligible for MLP
2:33:42 What are the biggest differences between U.S. and Aussie pickleball
2:35:30 Tom’s big win over Federico Staksrud
2:38:50 Guess my DUPR
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode

"Can you stop body bagging Australians?" | Zane shocked by the state of pickleball in Australia
Zane went down under to compete in the first-ever PPA Australia Open. While on-site he sat down with PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe, and Australian pickleballers Joey Wild, Roos Van Reek, and Brendan Lee.
Listen to the leaders of the Australian pickleball movement explain how the game is rapidly growing in the country.
- Joey Wild explains how the tennis Australian Open has embraced pickleball despite most tennis tournaments resisting the sport.
- Connor Pardoe details how the United Pickleball Association is approaching international growth and navigating government restrictions in each country.
- Brendan Lee breaks down the emerging professional leagues and organizations trying to guide the sport in Australia.
Get your BioBalls at http://komodopickleball.com/ Let’s keep our courts green, one rally at a time.
Ditch the slip-n-slide and grab some 4on TotalGrip Spray. Find it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/4on-Total-Grip-Spray-Pickleball/dp/B0CDQSZ61M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2A2GTY0IXP720&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lApjO6QjNRWGEN536a4n4xOiruibPTkBAkb75FZX5dHxxFcOWb54K5Dk7rw2PPjjhMdCVWPe5RUlgnYS46GmNYjZ9n-snmPHQG-RqiQOip63yU9bUwqKnDz3o8BvRYsAKnkCUOyfhYVtpKpinHBkRM9I_0sAx-2Q7N2V349YiaDYgZ850wiwx5kIHaZMmP8mWtdWStcYbzr-BaCeSCF3UTcA-q-cf0F2sUB0NICnoYZyTqvSvzuQSR3QK77SUnVf.0Nq2fjcVYIAaS8ov0J7d8LaJjbEe562Do9CaWnluyFU&dib_tag=se&keywords=4on+totalgrip+spray&qid=1737993916&sprefix=4on%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1
Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com
https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG
-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
------------------
Connor Pardoe - PPA Tour CEO
0:00 Connor has some Australian roots
2:54 First international PPA Tour stop
6:38 How the PPA Tour is approaching Asia
8:25 What are the challenges with international events?
10:58 PPA Tour rolling out the Challenger Series
14:17 Why did Zane choose international partners?
Joey Wild - Australian Pro Player
16:38 The Aussie pro pickleball landscape NPL vs PPA
19 :35 The National Pickleball League model
22:05 Playing pickleball at the Australian Open
29:45 Tennis embracing pickleball
Roos Van Reek - Australian Pro Player
34:06 Roos is an Honorary Australian
37:43 Gap year turned pickleball pro
41:03 Would you move to the US to train?
44:13 What is pickleball like in China?
46:51 Who are your normal partners? + MLP Australia
Brendan Lee - Pickleball Australia Executive Officer
48:20 “We hope they all win” and Aussie rules
52:59 There are very few public-access tennis courts
56:52 Australia wasn’t ready for pro pickleball
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode

Controversial Calls, Targeting Rule Suspension, and Disrespect w/ World's No.1 Federico Staksrud
The king is in the building. Pickleball's No. 1 ranked singles and doubles player Federico Staksrud joins the pod.
We cover Fed's controversial semifinal loss to Hunter Johnson at the PPA Mesa Cup. Next we talk targeting and Fed explains how the rule was immediately suspended after the failed call on Hayden Patriquin.
Finally, the guys question if Fed receives the respect he deserves considering his No.1 ranking or he is stuck in the shadow of Ben Johns.
PSA: Pickleballs take 100 years to breakdown in a landfill. This new BioBallTM only takes 5 years, lasts 5x longer, and we loved it in our play tests. Please consider eco-friendly play with a ball that is just as good, lasts longer, and is the same exact price. Save 10% with code "THEDINK". https://komodopickleball.com/products/bioball?srsltid=AfmBOooBGMnny9yZ7LGDmm_kv2oPLvn3ZKbMUlJUXftTFVumY815CdJJ&sca_ref=8092923.JzF5RFN4VCnZ8y
Pickleball's #1 subscription box is here https://www.thedink.shop/
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
------------------
Like the ep? Do us a favor: subscribe to our channel and leave a review on Apple or Spotify
-Subscribe to our 'all things pickleball' *free e-newsletter* at https://www.thedink.beehiiv.com
https://www.instagram.com/thedinkpickleball/ -Follow us on IG
-Continue the convo in our private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedi...
-For everything else we do, visit https://linktr.ee/dinkfam
-Read more about Zane and subscribe to his newsletter at https://zanenavratilpickleball.com/
-Follow Zane on IG @zanenavratilpickleball
------------------
0:00 An empty tank for bronze medal matches
7:18 The new singles strategy is to stay back
11:14 Any hope for the drop serve?
12:00 Tempers flare in Fed vs Hunter Johnson semifinal
20:45 Do you regret the ‘Non-American’ comment?
23:23 You can’t challenge a challenge
28:57 What was the ‘medical timeout’ for? Who were you flipping off?
33:19 The first targeting call got reversed immediately
38:20 The poster boy of Adidas but using a JOOLA paddle
42:08 Any case for using a singles vs doubles paddle
44:42 ALW had an all-time performance
47:19 MLP announces ability to steal players
52:29 Did you get enough respect being the world’s no. 1 player?
58:30 Blind ranking 5 signature shots
1:01:02 The first paddle challenge of the year
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