Hosts Alex Crum and Kevin Dong return to the mic to break down what it truly takes to train like a professional pickleball player—and why the financial landscape of pro pickleball may be due for a reset. From daily routines and mental discipline to the realities of prize money and sponsorships, the hosts take a hard look at the current state of the sport and what separates weekend warriors from the world’s elite players.
Later in the show, they welcome Jacob Smith, Director of High School and Collegiate Pickleball for DUPR, to explore the future of pickleball at the collegiate level. Jacob explains how DUPR is shaping the competitive format for college events, what it will take to make pickleball an NCAA-sanctioned sport, and which universities are setting the standard right now. It’s a candid and forward-looking discussion about the next generation of players and the infrastructure that could propel pickleball into the collegiate mainstream.
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00:00 - Intro
03:40 - Training Like a Pro
11:50 - Prize Money on the Pro Tours
29:25 - Midwest Sports
30:35 - DUPR's Jacob Smith Interview
31:10 - Best College Pickleball Clubs
33:00 - The Rise of Pickleball Facilities on Campuses
35:05 - The Format of Collegiate Pickleball Events
37:45 - Path to Becoming an NCAA Sanctioned Sport
40:20 - Goals for DUPR in the College Space
42:05 - Competitive Landscape of College Pickleball
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