16-year-old pickleball prodigy Julian Slive drops absolute gems in this episode of the Smashing Plastic Podcast — revealing the mindset, grind, and game-breaking shots that are turning heads in the pro scene.
From developing his two-hand roll and winning clutch points at 10-10, to his unshakable “play your game” mentality, Julian shares how he’s learning to win under pressure, chasing the dream through the APP tour, and proving that size doesn’t matter in pickleball — skill does.
We dive into:
His secret to that insane backhand roll
Why tennis players dominate pickleball
How to master pressure points like a pro
What parents should really do to support young players
The future of youth pickleball
Why you should ignore the critics and play YOUR game
Julian’s already one of the most exciting young talents in the sport — watch now before everyone else figures it out.
Follow Julian:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thatrightsideguy
