Bad Calls - Pickleball Podcast
Bad Calls is where pickleball talk meets questionable judgment. Hosted by Graham D’Amico and Travis Rettenmaier—co-owners of Major League Pickleball’s Florida Smash and self-proclaimed experts in bad decisions—this show is a mix of unfiltered takes, trash talk, and whatever else comes to mind between games.
Travis is a top PPA pro and a former pro tennis player, which gives him just enough confidence to think he knows what he’s talking about. Graham? Well, he’s got opinions.
Recorded at Crescent Lake Park in St. Pete, Florida, these are the courts where we first learned the game, talked way too much smack, and fell in love with the sport. If you love pickleball but don’t take yourself too seriously, welcome to the party.
Episodes
94 episodes
Are We Ruining Singles Pickleball?
Are we actually fixing singles pickleball… or making it worse?This week on... Tennis Sucks? ...we dig into one of the most controversial ideas in pro pickleball right now: shrinking the singles court. Is it a smart way to slow the game ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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50:08
Paddle Deals, Leaks, and Bad Predictions for 2026
From leaked paddle deals and surprise signings to retirements, fines, and bold 2026 predictions, we break down everything shaking up the pro game. We talk Franklin’s big move, Nike rumors, who might leave the tour, why ball tech could be the ne...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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37:03
Pickleball Contracts Are Cracking and Lawsuits are Building
Contracts get torn up, players wake up banned, and the pickleball world spirals. On this episode of Bad Calls, the crew breaks down the UPA contract controversy stemming from the Asia trip fallout, why some players were terminated while others ...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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55:02
Bad Calls, Speculation, and Sinister Sideline Drama
The guys break down MLP’s new partnership with Owl AI for automated line calling, recap all the chaos from the Lakeland PPA, including a parent delivering a wildly inappropriate threat, and dive into the biggest partnerships and rumors shaping ...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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39:27
The Johnsons Show Up Unannounced… and Get Humbled
The Johnson brothers rolled into Crescent Lake without a text… and immediately got the full Monday-night reality check.We also hit Worlds storylines, Chris Crouch’s breakout run, paddle-tech rumors (including the big one about A...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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38:11
Roasting Travis While Recapping Vegas and MLP Cup
Graham and Luke start things off by absolutely dominating on the tennis court before jumping into a Vegas recap, the Lifetime Open, and whatever else comes up while roasting Travis for a full hour.There’s talk of crazy Uspensky hooks, mi...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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38:47
John Lucian Goins: The Chess Brain Taking Over Pickleball
Rising pro Jon Lucien pulls up to Bad Calls to talk back-to-back singles wins, why deception beats pace, and how a chess habit sharpens his reads. We argue Gen 1 vs Gen 4 paddles, recap the PPA Vintage Open with wood, and ask a simple question ...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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41:23
Wooden Paddles Made Pickleball… Better?!
The Kawamoto sisters snag gold in Cincinnati and prove that they were severely underrated! We get into why their patient style works and how parity is catching up to the big teams.Paddles: the RPM is making noise, but UPA approval is sti...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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28:25
Are Pros Softer Than Tennis Players? Hindrance Chaos and Line-Call Cheating
We’re back at Crescent Lake and it finally isn’t raining. Travis breaks down a grueling PPA Challenger weekend, the certification chaos that has paddles swapping mid-event, and why half the new sticks are failing tests. We talk lab tour intel, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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42:48
Andre Daescu the Best Men’s Player in the World
Andre Daescu just went full beast mode at MLP Finals in New York. He didn’t just win, he dominated. We’re talking flawless men’s play, carrying the Sliders, and even making Anna Leigh look human. So we had to ask… is Daescu officially the best ...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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38:36
Are Pickleball Pros Making Too Much Money?
This week we cover everything from rowdy Utah crowds heckling pros to why Dallas might have been the loudest MLP event ever. We get into why Ben Johns will dominate with a wooden paddle, who we think should be the top men’s doubles pairing, and...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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43:04
Ben Johns Gets Traded... and Everyone's Mad
Ben Johns gets traded to the Mad Drops… and the league kind of melted down. Was it collusion? Was it smart business? Depends on who you ask.We break down the shady-looking deal, the $400K+ price tag, and what it means for MLP's top teams...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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44:08
We Kidnapped Little Gucci Rach
We’re back from New York and we’ve got stories. The venue didn't smell great, one of us might be kidnapped by now, and someone definitely ordered Domino’s in NYC. We talk DreamBreakers, Collin Johns dominating Challenger, Sam Querry entering th...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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26:38
It will not be my last intentional hook, I can tell you that.
We break down Travis’ intentional hook at PPA San Clemente. Yes, it was on purpose, and no, he’s not sorry. Plus: new Smash teammates and more Labubu controversy.
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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36:55
$50,000 and a Super Rare Conspiracy
A $50,000 fine made the news this week, we break down what happened, why it matters, and whether the punishment fits the moment. Then it’s on to MLP Austin and Daytona: the wins and the rise (and stumble) of some surprising teams.The Fl...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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42:21
Kendra Lust Wants a Smash Jersey (And We’re Not Complaining)
New jerseys, big heads, and even bigger drama. The Bad Calls crew is on-site at the Racket Club of St. Pete, where they break down Florida Smash’s new look (and unexpected OnlyFans followers), recap a chaotic Atlanta event, and ...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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33:07
Hayden Patriquin's Apology
Hayden Padugruin joins the pod to break down the most talked-about moment of the MLP season—his courtside clash with Anna Leigh Waters. From what was said and why, to how things escalated and what he wishes he’d done differently, Hayden gives h...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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47:53
Agassi’s Playing the U.S. Open… and We’re Kinda Coaching Him?
What happens when a tennis legend becomes your pickleball student? In this episode, the guys break down playing with Andre Agassi, who’s now texting them midweek to ask about off-arm mechanics.We dive into Agassi’s upcoming U.S. Open deb...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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34:04
Andre Agassi: Pickleball Lit a Fire in Me
In this special episode of Bad Calls, we sit down with tennis legend Andre Agassi to talk about how pickleball unexpectedly reignited his competitive spirit, reshaped his daily life, and gave him a new sense of purpose.Agassi opens up a...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:25:34
Anna Leigh Waters & Catherine Parenteau Split
What's next for Catherine & Rachel? Can we see a revenge tour for the new pair? We break it down in a special episode.
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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16:56
Pickleball Execs Get Heated at RacquetX 🔥
This week on Bad Calls, we break down an awkward panel at RacquetX — where execs got a little heated.Also in this episode:• Luz paddle controversy• Utah tournament recap: wind, wild momentum shifts, and a mi...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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36:41
Hand Battles & Trash Talk Are Dying in Pickleball
Is trash talk dying in pickleball? Are hand battles officially over thanks to paddle technology? And who the hell is Lucien Goins, and how did he just take down Ben Johns?! In this episode of Bad Calls, Travis and Graham break down the wildest ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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41:20
Drafting the Florida Smash & Reaction to MLP Rosters
Travis and Graham talk through the MLP draft process and how they picked the players for the Florida Smash. They also react to the new premier team rosters, with some winners & some losers.
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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39:44
Travis' Controversial Challenge in Mesa & New Player Stealing Rule in Major League Pickleball
Not a fantastic weekend for Travis in Mesa - he tests the newest paddle challenge rule in his mixed doubles game. Plus, Graham walks us through the incoming rule for player stealing in major league pickleball.
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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43:22