The Dallas Classic Diaries: We Got COVID, Still Got a Podium Finish, and Got Schooled by Ben McNair on Pickleball Strategy
Dinks On Tap: The Happy Hour Pickleball PodcastShow Notes
What do you get when two podcasters train like pros, catch COVID five days before a tournament, and still walk away with medals (and maybe a mild cough)?
You get an episode that’s equal parts redemption story, hydration plan, and doubles therapy session.
In this week’s episode of Dinks on Tap, we break down our wild ride to the Dallas Classic from getting smoked in Houston to sharpening our pickleball strategy, drilling with stronger players, leveling up our game preparation, and crushing teenagers with braces and unreal reflexes. We talk about adjusting our game mode, building mental resilience, and staying locked in through a surprise round of covid recovery (plus a few Trader Joe’s runs and enough hydration tips to last a lifetime).
Then we sit down with Ben McNair, who brings the perfect blend of biomechanics, dry humor, and strategic gameplay. He shares how to master the transition zone, prevent injuries, and read your opponents with stronger court awareness.
We also touch on the evolving world of high-level pickleball, how team dynamics shape performance, and what it’s like facing off against hyper-focused youth players who may or may not be checking TikTok between matches.
Here’s what you’ll get from this episode:
How to shift your mindset and prep like a pro for tournaments
Real talk on staying sharp through setbacks, snacks, and sickness
Practical tips on reading the court and improving pickleball shot selection
Ben’s take on biomechanics and building smarter play habits
Insight into partner communication and staying cool under pressure
If you’re down to laugh, learn, and maybe reconsider playing a tournament five days post-covid, tighten those laces, pack your snacks, and let’s get into it.
Cheers,
Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap
Want to see more from Ben McNair? Catch him live at Picklecon 2025—don’t miss your chance to connect with one of the most insightful voices in the game!
Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:
Instagram: @dinksontap
Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com
More from Dinks On Tap: The Happy Hour Pickleball Podcast
How did a game three grown men made up on a badminton court, because a 13-year-old was bored, turn into the thing your group text runs on? We found the kid who complained, and he still can’t believe it either. In this episode, we get into our summer vault, full of conversations, stories, and a little pickleball drama we never got around to airing. We sat down with Frank Pritchard, the bored kid himself, who can answer “When was pickleball invented?” because he was there when his dad, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum made up the game on Bainbridge Island. We also cover Picklr’s Chapter 11 filing and the “is pickleball dying” headlines that followed, Genie Bouchard’s paddle-tap walkout and what it says about pickleball etiquette, and why the drinks after play keep the pickleball community together. You’ll learn: Why it's called pickleball, and the Pritchard family member who came up with the name A firsthand account of who invented pickleball, from the teenager whose complaining started it What the original pickleball paddle was made of, and which founder designed it The pickleball history most players don’t know, including how scoring and serving used to work Why Frank took a 30-year break from the game, and what brought him back What Picklr’s Chapter 11 filing means for your local club, according to the general manager of the Picklr in DFW How the pickleball business can struggle while the number of people playing keeps growing Why Genie Bouchard skipped the paddle tap, and whether we think she was justified How we won a tournament this summer by giving a screaming team a taste of its own medicine
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