We consider ourselves super fans of pro pickleball and wanted to see the pros in person. So we booked a short trip to see for ourselves!
Benjamin B
As a two letter varsity football player at Dartmouth college, Benjamin learned what it takes to compete at a high level. He uses the same approach towards improving at pickleball, emphasizing footwork as the foundation that facilitates success. Starting in 4U boys soccer, he's coached Jett's teams for 6 seasons, as well as two seasons of little league.
The one thing he took away from all the training he received from AYSO and Little League is that young players hate drills and they hate standing in line. Creative games emphasize certain skills and put the kids in a position to improve and succeed. You'll see this philosophy play out in the Pickleball Games for Kids playlist. Academically, Benjamin majored in Engineering, which he leans on heavily to evaluate pickleball equipment. He's spearheaded many testing regimens during his career, including mechanical testing CDMA receivers to mil specs while working at Lockheed Sanders. Later on in his career, he lead an effort to characterize a new video cabling standard while at semiconductor startup Pixelworks. This background in engineering testing shines in the pickleball testing, using empirical data to determine ball quality.
![](https://joysofpickleball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/benjamin-pickleball.webp)
Best Kid’s Pickleball Paddles
Picking the right paddle for your child can determine how successful they will be on the court. If the paddle is too large, they will have a difficult time dealing with the weight and grip size to swing efficiently.
Luckily there are several pickleball paddles designed for everyone from toddlers to preteens.
Best Pickleball Shoes for Big & Tall Men 2023
If you’re a heavier guy there are special considerations when choosing your shoes for pickleball.
Many court shoes have very firm soles, which is great for changing directions. A harder sole also usually doesn’t wear as fast. But the firmer the sole, the more jarring it will be for your ankles, knees, hips, and even your back.
Here’s my journey attempting to find the best pickleball shoe for big and tall men.