Alex Crum and Kevin Dong open this week’s episode of Cracked Paddles with some big personal and pickleball news—Kevin’s wedding weekend and their reactions to the Major League Pickleball Championship.

They dive into the latest in paddle talk before sitting down with special guest Bryson Alexander from Midwest Sports. Bryson shares his journey with MWS, how they prioritize products and brands, what players should look for when demoing paddles, and why the new Cracked Paddles partnership is an exciting next step. He also gives a sneak peek at what’s on the horizon for Midwest Sports.

To wrap things up, Kevin previews his run at the APP Chicago event, while Alex looks ahead to the Vegas Open and a packed schedule of upcoming tournaments.

Check out today's episode on YouTube by clicking here.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 - Intro

This week on Cracked Paddles, hosts Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are joined by Zane Navratil for a wide-ranging conversation that spans both the court and the content world. Zane reflects on his new role as president of the Pro Player Council, recaps the action and atmosphere from the Dallas MLP event, and shares insights into his approach to creating pickleball content. The group also looks ahead at their personal goals within the sport and offers advice for aspiring content creators looking to break into the pickleball scene.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 - Intro

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong break down the debut of the new Lifetime pickleballs being used on tour — how they feel, how they play, and what impact they might have on the pro game. Plus, Alex shares his own results from the Bristol PPA event, including key takeaways, memorable matches, and what’s next on his competitive calendar.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 - Intro

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with DUPR CEO Tito Machado to unpack the biggest change in pickleball ratings history. In this episode of Cracked Paddles, Tito breaks down DUPR's revamped algorithm—what’s changed, why it matters, and how it impacts players at every level. It’s no longer just about wins and losses. From rally scoring adjustments to performance-weighted matches, we dive deep into the math and the mission behind the update.

Whether you’re a casual rec player or a tournament grinder, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 – Intro 05:20 – What was the motivation for updating the algorithm? 07:30 – What are the changes that were made? 13:15 – Midwest Sports 15:45– Moving up in a loss vs going down in a win 18:00 – Removing the third decimal point 20:30 – Beating expectations 28:30 - Will top pros see a deflation due to early rounds? 32:40 - Match data decay 37:15 - The more data the better 40:40 - How will infrequent players be affected? 45:35 - Striving for accuracy 51:20 - What to look forward to

This week on Cracked Paddles, Alex Crum and Kevin Dong sit down with Chris Patrick—COO and General Counsel of the PPA Tour—for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at professional pickleball’s biggest stage. Chris shares his unique journey from the legal world to the pickleball court, the evolution of the PPA’s new player compensation model, and what it’s really like managing the sport’s rising stars.

The guys dig into how the tour is balancing business growth with player satisfaction, what the priorities are heading into 2025, and how the PPA plans to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape. Whether you’re a casual fan or deep in the pickleball weeds, this is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of the pro game.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 – Intro

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are back for Episode 8 of Cracked Paddles, diving into a packed week in the world of pickleball. The guys open with thoughts on the PPA’s surprising decision to terminate Quang Duong’s contract and what it signals for the tour moving forward. They preview the upcoming St. Louis event at Chaifetz Arena, break down AC’s latest show in New York, and share the drill of the week to sharpen your game.

But the main event? A heated debate on the latest DUPR algorithm update—whether it’s a step in the right direction or a misstep that could harm competitive balance. If you care about rankings, competition, and the future of pickleball, this is a discussion you won’t want to miss.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 – Intro

Alex Crum makes it official — he's joining the PPA professional pickleball tour. In this episode, Alex and Kevin break down their matches at the Rochester PPA Challenger, reflect on what went right (and wrong), and celebrate a major milestone: the first official sponsor of Cracked Paddles, Midwest Sports. Kevin also recaps his run at the APP Newport Beach Open, and the hosts preview what’s next on their pickleball calendars.

Midwest Sports

If you play pickleball, you’ve gotta check out Midwest Pickleball—they’re part of Midwest Racquet Sports, a trusted name in the game for over 30 years. Whether you're just getting started or already a court regular, they’ve got one of the biggest selections of paddles, shoes, and gear from all the top brands.

Need help choosing? Their team actually knows the sport and can help you find the perfect fit. Plus—fast shipping, easy returns, and a paddle demo program if you want to test before you commit. And they are offering our listeners a special offer. Use code CP15 to get 15% off your order today at midwestracquetsports.com. Gear up, game on.

00:00 – Intro

Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are joined by the breakout star of the Select Medical Orange County Cup, Rafael Lenhard, who shocked the pickleball world by defeating world No. 1 Ben Johns. They break down Rafael’s mindset during the upset, the adjustments he’s made for rally scoring, and how he’s approaching competition differently after the biggest win of his career. The conversation also covers his thoughts on competitive rhythm, recent double bounce controversies, and the role cross training has played in his development.

00:00 - Intro

In this episode of Cracked Paddles, Alex and Kevin sit down with Matt Manasse—coach, broadcaster, and on-air talent at Pickleball TV—for a wide-ranging conversation about the sport’s evolution, media growth, and off-court drama. Matt shares his thoughts on what makes pickleball such an attractive product for sponsors, how he prepares for a day on the job at Pickleball TV, and some of the tour's most compelling behind-the-scenes stories. He also reflects on coaching tennis stars, playing with celebrities, and the coolest places the game has taken him.

Before the interview, the hosts kick off the episode with updates from their own world, including Alex’s new single “Anna Bright” and details from the music video shoot at the Louisville Zoo. They also recap Alex’s recent tournament in San Clemente, introduce a new recurring segment called “Drill of the Week,” and preview the upcoming PPA Challenger event in Rochester.

All episodes are available in video format on the Cracked Paddles YouTube channel. To watch this episode, click here.

Episode Bookmarks:

On this episode of Cracked Paddles, Alex Crum and Kevin Dong are joined by DUPR CEO Tito Machado for a wide-ranging conversation about the role of data in the present — and future — of pickleball. Tito breaks down the origins of DUPR and how it’s grown into the sport’s most trusted rating system, while also offering insight into how players can climb the ranks and what actually goes into the calculation of your score.

The conversation dives into how your playing style and choice of partner can impact performance, why chemistry matters more than power, and how top players adjust their game depending on who’s across the net — and who’s beside them. Tito also gives a glimpse into DUPR’s future, from fueling international growth to how player data could shape pickleball gambling markets in years to come.

This episode is available on the Cracked Paddles YouTube channel. You can watch by clicking here.