I guess it’s pretty redundant to say that this month was busy because they’re all busy. I’d rather be busy than bored! At the beginning of the month, Jenny and I took a quick trip to the Texas wine country (yeah, that’s actually a thing). Murray enjoyed himself!
The following weekend was the Red Rock Open in St George, Utah. Singles and men’s doubles with Rafa Hewett went okay, but nothing special. Susannah Barr and I made a nice run to the semis in mixed, losing to the eventual champs in a close match. We took out the #1 and #2 seed in the tournament en route to a bronze medal. I also hit the best shot of my life!
I ended the month over in Newport Beach, CA. There was no singles in this tournament and unfortunately Etta Wright, my mixed partner, was sick, so I left it all on the court with DJ Young in men’s doubles. We lost in the quarters to the eventual runners up, Matt Wright and Riley Newman, but we had a nice backdraw run to finish 5th.
Finally, I went on a little vacation to Costa Rica with Jenny, my mom, and my dad! Murray wasn’t able to make the trip unfortunately, but it was fun to get some jungle time!
Shea and Caleb came to Austin and we filmed some sick trick shots including what has to be a Guinness World Record!
This was the day before Dude Perfect, one of the largest YouTube channels in the world, announced that they had purchased a stake in my Major League Pickleball team. RIP Clean Cause, haha!
Moneyball by Michael Lewis
This book basically revolutionized baseball. I’m not a huge baseball fan (although it may seem like it after February’s reading of The MVP Machine), but this book is more about the challenging of conventional wisdom than it is about baseball.
The book follows Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane as he attempts to compete with teams with triple the budget. Since the A’s can’t possibly win a bidding war, they had to challenge the status quo. They used in-depth statistics rather than “the eye test” to identify players that were undervalued and create a competitive roster.
This made me wonder: Which pickleballers are the most underrated? Personally, I think that Dylan Frazier and Susannah Barr are the most underrated. What do you think?!
What other book suggestions do you have?!
Thomas Shields and I are bringing you the newest editions of PicklePod, presented by The Dink. This is the best pickleball podcast in the game! Be sure to listen wherever you get your podcasts!
I’m loving my ProXR Signature paddle more and more with each tournament! The T700 Ultra-Raw carbon is the strongest and most durable face material on the market, giving this paddle unmatched spin and long-lasting durability. Purchase yours on my website!
Does pickleball leave your body a lot more sore than you would expect? My Yobow massage pistol helps alleviate some of that soreness when I use it before and after my training sessions and matches. Make sure to get yours today! Use code Zane for FREE shipping.
Staying focused, yet relaxed can be one of the toughest aspects of pickleball. That’s why I take my More Than Energy daily wellness shot before I hit the court. With 11 adaptogens, nootropics, and superfoods, there isn’t a much healthier way to stay energized. MTE is only available online. My newsletter readers can save 15% by using the code ZANEPICKLE!
I’ve recently partnered with Stop Alzheimer’s Now (SAN), a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating Alzheimer’s Disease. SAN is run by people dedicated to this cause who generously donate their time, so 100% of donations go to research and awareness initiatives. Since 2013, SAN has raised nearly $500,000 for Alzheimer’s Research.
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