Two Weeks, No Tournaments, All Heat

What’s up guys, it’s Jack!

Before we get into the recap, I gotta show some love to Ellesse. The brand I trust every time I step on the court. Their gear just hits different. It’s comfortable, clean, and made to move, whether I’m grinding it out in a match or doing training. I’ve been rocking Ellesse consistently, and it’s safe to say I’m not switching up anytime soon.

New Hobby Unlocked: Padel

The past couple of weeks might’ve been tournament-free, but they’ve been two of the most eventful and energizing weeks I’ve had in a long time. I stayed home, locked in on content, and most importantly, got to spend a lot of time with friends. I also discovered a new obsession: Padel.

I’ve been playing 2–3 times a week, and it is safe to say I’m hooked. What makes Padel different from pickleball? A lot. For starters, pickleball is way more beginner-friendly. You can pick it up with zero racket experience and have solid rallies from day one. That’s why it’s growing so fast: 7 or 70, you can jump in and have fun.

Padel’s a completely different beast. The court is surrounded by glass walls, which adds a whole new layer to the strategy. Think angles, rebounds, and geometry you don’t get in pickleball. It’s harder to learn, tougher to play, and way harder to master. But that’s exactly why I love it. A bonus though is it’s helped sharpen my overheads (righty and lefty), something I’ve been working on since I didn’t come from tennis.

Welcome to Fight Club

Then there was Fight Club at Urban Pickleball Club last Thursday... easily one of the coolest events I’ve ever been part of. Instead of prize money going to players, we gave $10,000 ALL to the viewers. That’s right, we made the experience all about fan engagement.

Here’s the rundown:

• The first 30 minutes was interactive live ball, audience members had gel blasters and were shooting at us while we played.

• Winners of the live ball got a chance to 1v2 me in rally scoring.

• Len and I played a game to 11 where the first half was kitchen-legal tennis rules, and the second half we played with upside-down paddles.

• Another game ended instantly if someone got body bagged.

• And then we closed it out with a dodgeball match, pros vs. volunteers from the crowd.

It was chaos in the best way. Inspired by UFC, Banana Ball, and Venice Beach pickup hoops, we made everyone stand court side, and the energy was unreal. Big shoutout to Brooks and Jay for helping bring it to life.

The Pros take The Cayman Islands

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to get invited to the Cayman Islands for a team exhibition with 15 other APP pros. The format was straight out of MLP with four teams, two guys and two girls per team, with pool play on day one and single elimination on day two.

I got drafted first overall, and I ran with a squad full of lefties: Ryler DeHeart, Amanda Hendry, and our one righty, Emelia Schmidt. Even though we didn’t win it all, the weekend was a blast on and off the court. We swam with stingrays, went snorkeling, had dinner on the beach, and got to experience the island beyond just the games.

Massive shoutout to Megan Fudge for running the event and keeping everything smooth. And props to the whole Cayman pickleball crew, they’re building something really special out there. Can’t wait to go back!

That’s a Wrap

These past two weeks reminded me that progress isn’t always about podiums or points. Sometimes, it’s just about chasing new passions, connecting with good people, and enjoying the ride, both on and off the court. Whether it was getting pelted with gel blasters at Fight Club or a boat day in the Cayman Islands, I’ve been reminded that the best moments often come when you're not taking things too seriously.

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”
This has stuck with me lately, and honestly, it’s what these past two weeks were all about.

Appreciate everyone who's been part of the journey. As always more to come.

— Jack Munro