PicklePod: Tanking, Agassi vs ALW, and Owning Your Hooks w/Travis Rettenmaier
Pickleball pro Travis "the Rattlesnake" Rettenmaier is back on the PicklePod – on his birthday, in fact.
In the episode (click here to subscribe here), he gives us his usual hot take-y self discussing tanking in pro pickleball, male pros vs. Anna Leigh Waters in singles, and just owning your sh*t.
Let's get into it!
Who replaces Collin Johns?
Ben and Collin Johns are no longer the No. 1 men's doubles team in the world. Technically, they haven't been for a few tournaments. So, there has been a lot of talk lately about whether Ben should replace his older brother and bring in someone new to partner with.
Travis believes that Gabe Tardio is the best choice (he took his first PPA Tour gold this past weekend in Kansas City).
The main reason he gives is that the right side of doubles pickleball has evolved recently, and we are seeing more teams employ someone there who can generate offense and be more aggressive — which aren't strengths of Collin right now.
In his view, Gabe is "arguably the best right-side player in the world."
Should there be a fine for 'tanking'?
While there is no evidence that CJ was tanking in a recent MLP event, many have called into question the level of effort he and his brother put forth at MLP Salt Lake City.
In Rettenmaier's opinion, Collin (and anyone else who gets caught not trying) should be fined.
Jason Flamm
He explains that this is the way in tennis, and if pickleball wants to be legit, it needs to adopt the same approach. Hear what co-host Zane Navratil has to say about being on the court at the same time as Collin and Ben.
Battle of the sexes – who ya got?
In case you missed it, Ryan Sherry (a top 25 Men's Singles pro) was on a recent podcast and said he would expect to win three out of five games against the top female pro, Anna Leigh Waters.
Jason Flamm
Travis says this isn't even a debate – Ryan Sherry "is a pretty substantial favorite."
In Zane's opinion, it's about the matchup.
Do you think a top female pro could beat a top male pro in singles pickleball?
They later discuss if tennis legend Andre Agassi versus ALW would be a better match.
Powerful paddles don't work in anyone's hands
Are the new (more powerful) paddles good for the game?
In the Rattlesnake's opinion, "I don't think it's a benefit for anybody, or anything, and terrible for the pro game long term."
The Dink Media Team
He argues that:
- Power paddles prevent creativity
- Hands battles are less about speed and more about who has the poppiest paddle
- Power paddles remove the nuance and the craft from pickleball
Ultimately, he says, "Points were more fun."
Line calls are not going to get any better
"They are not going to get any better until they are 100 percent taken out of the hands of the individuals who make the calls," Travis says. "There are some very bad actors out there who have no shame and will cheat."
Zane follows up by saying, "I think pickleball is only going to see more and more cheating as we increase the money in the sport and the benefit of winning."
What is the answer?
Perhaps Close Call Replay – as discussed on a previous PicklePod:
Jason Flamm
