• The Battle of the Paddle: How a Father-Daughter Duo Claimed Victory

  • Feb 27 2025
  • Length: 31 mins
  • Podcast

The Battle of the Paddle: How a Father-Daughter Duo Claimed Victory

  • Summary

  • The podcast features an interview with Chip and Mikala (via phone), a father-daughter pickleball team who recently won a tournament called the Battle of the Paddle. They discuss their individual journeys into the sport—Mikala began playing in 2023 after a spontaneous practice session with her father, while Chip started after knee replacement surgery in 2021 as a way to stay competitive without the high-impact demands of basketball. Despite living in different states (Tennessee and Ohio), they managed to practice together whenever Mikala visited.

    The duo shares insights about their tournament strategy, including exploiting opponents' weaknesses and maintaining mental fortitude when facing early deficits. They describe their kitchen control philosophy, emphasizing patient dinking to set up offensive opportunities rather than relying solely on power shots. Both players reveal what they're working to improve—Chip focuses on third-shot drops and varying his serves, while Mikala is developing her two-handed backhand and offensive capabilities. Their advice for recreational players looking to improve includes proper warm-up, dedicated drilling, and watching professional matches while enjoying the gradual process of skill development rather than rushing to achieve advanced ratings.

    Show More Show Less

What listeners say about The Battle of the Paddle: How a Father-Daughter Duo Claimed Victory

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.