Salty Pickles – A Pickleball Podcast

DRILLING SUCKS (THAT'S WHY IT WORKS) Nobody likes drilling. We would all rather just play games — and that is exactly the problem. So we put down the scorecards, grabbed a bucket of balls, and did the boring work nobody wants to do. Here is what humbled us, what actually helped, and why your game might need less playing and more drilling. 🏓

🧂 New episodes every other Sunday. Come for the podcast, stay for the rally.

🔗 FIND US

🌐 saltypicklespod.com

📸 Instagram: @saltypicklespod

💬 YOUR TURN: What is the one drill you know you should do but never actually do?

👍 Like, subscribe, and share with your doubles partner (or your former one… we don't judge)

#SaltyPicklesPod #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast

On our summer vacation in Ocean City, Maryland, we were transported back to high school while chatting about some recent pickleball experiences. We came to the conclusion that pickleball as adults is basically high school all over again. You’d think we’d have outgrown all the petty things teens deal with…but nope! Turns out we just traded the cafeteria for the pickleball court. 🏓

What happens when you sit down with a Hawaii-based coach, player, and all-around pickleball brain who also happens to coach his PPA-playing girlfriend? You talk about… pretty much everything.

Eland Tsubata joins us for one of those conversations that somehow manages to cover the entire pickleball world without feeling like we’re checking boxes. Coaching, competition, training, the mental side of the game, DUPR, what players actually need to improve, and the things we all tend to overthink on and off the court.

What we loved most is that Eland is incredibly knowledgeable without taking himself too seriously. He’s the kind of person you can actually talk pickleball with, not just talk at pickleball with.

It’s an honest, funny, surprisingly deep conversation about the game we all spend way too much time thinking about.

And maybe, just maybe, your pickleball problem isn’t actually pickleball. 👀

Dieu captained her summer league team to bronze. 🥉 Now we’re both heading into Fall Cross Club League… but not on the same team. 👀 We’re already disagreeing about what this league actually IS, so naturally we decided to make an entire episode about it. Team strategy. League drama. Captains. Competition. And, of course, the very real possibility of questionable line calls. 😬 Let the rivalry begin. 🧂 #SaltyPicklesPod

Season 2 is here… and yeah, we’ve got thoughts.

After a summer reset, we’re back on the mics talking about what’s changed, what hasn’t, and why pickleball still manages to be the most chaotic (and addicting) sport out there.

In this episode, we get into:

• Where we’ve been and what Season 2 is all about

• How our perspective on the game (and the community) has shifted over the past year

• The good, the bad, and the… slightly unhinged side of pickleball lately

• And of course, a few salty takes we’ve been holding onto

If you’ve been with us since the beginning, welcome back. If you’re new here, just know… we don’t sugarcoat much. 🎙️ Salty Pickles is where pickleball meets personality. Real conversations, real opinions, and the kind of court-side commentary you won’t hear anywhere else.

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💬 Drop a comment and tell us: What’s ONE thing that’s changed about pickleball for you this past year? 👍 Like, subscribe, and share with your doubles partner (or your former one… we don’t judge) #SaltyPicklesPod #Pickleball #PickleballPodcast #DUPR #PickleballLife

In this episode of Salty Pickles, we switch things up and react to the YouTube series Partners… but not in the way you’d expect. Instead of breaking down pro-level play, we couldn’t help but notice something way more interesting: the drama, the miscommunication, the pressure, the dynamics… it’s ALL the same stuff we deal with in rec play.

Turns out, it doesn’t matter if you’re on a pro court or at your local open play… pickleball is pickleball 😅

We talk through the moments that hit a little too close to home, compare pro vs rec experiences, and share some honest (and slightly salty) takes along the way.

If you’ve ever been frustrated with a partner, questioned decisions mid-game, or felt the emotional rollercoaster of doubles… this one’s for you.

Let us know in the comments: what’s the most relatable pickleball moment you’ve had?

Two Salty Pickles + Two Men = Mixed Talk, Dad Jokes Included

Big thanks to The Picklr in Centereach, NY for hosting us on court and making this episode happen. And shoutout to Kyle Watts and Rob Sarraga for joining us on the courts then jumping on the pod with us to defend ALL men on the pickleball courts. We put our guests on the spot with questions straight from our Instagram followers, like how they’d feel getting unsolicited advice from women on the court and whether they think men need to take the lead in mixed doubles just because they’re guys. Honest takes, a little heat, and plenty of laughs.

Got 15 minutes?

Tune in to Episode 17 of Salty Pickles where Dieu and Alexis dive into the DUPR reset and the numbers that have everyone in their heads.

Ever notice how games suddenly feel way more intense when DUPR is on the line? Like every rally matters just a little more… and somehow those 0.3 points feel like everything?

We’re breaking down our thoughts and how this could possibly be one of the most well-thought out marketing schemes ever.

Listen now and don’t let the numbers control your game 🏓

#saltypicklespod #dupedbydupr #podcastepisodedrop

This episode, we’re talking tournaments… and we’ve got a lot to say.

After playing in what honestly feels like a ridiculous amount of tournaments, we’ve experienced the best, the worst, and everything in between. Now that we’re hosting our own, we’re taking everything we’ve learned and putting it into action.

We get into what actually makes a tournament run well, the small details that make a big difference, and the mistakes that can throw everything off. Plus, we share some behind-the-scenes insight into what it’s really like trying to run a smooth event while keeping players happy.

Whether you’re a player, a host, or just curious about how it all works, this one gives you a real perspective.

In this episode of Salty Pickles, we investigate a serious problem: lefties. From awkward angles to moves that make zero sense to our right-handed brains, playing against lefties is pure chaos. We share salty stories, dramatic complaints, and fully reasonable excuses for every loss.

We share funny stories, salty moments, and try to figure out if it’s skill, strategy, or just lefty magic. If you’ve ever blamed a loss on someone being left-handed, this one’s for you. 🥒

Is it skill? Is it strategy? Or are they just built different? Either way… we’re blaming the left hand. 🥒