Oct 9 in General discussion
Where I’m coming from…. The Foot
Pickleball’s a sport for everyone—fun, addictive, and easy to get hooked on. I get it. BUT if you’re not physically training for it, it’s not a matter of if you’ll get hurt, it’s when. I’m not saying that to be harsh, or because I think you’re not strong. It’s just facts.
Look at the typical Pickleball player—average age 40-45 years old. Statistically, most people have spent 12 years sitting in school, 4 years in college, then gone on to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day at a job, plus commute time, for the last 20 years. Sure, maybe some are weekend warriors or hit the gym occasionally, but not many have been training like an athlete.
So, you step onto the court, get a few wins, feel good about it, maybe a little sore, but nothing major. Then you play more. And more. Suddenly, you start feeling discomfort—maybe it’s tendonitis in the elbow or plantar fasciitis in the foot. But you keep going, you’re getting better at the sport, working on technique, even adding some topspin. Then one day, you step wrong and—boom—there goes your Achilles. Now you’re in a boot for 6-9 months, and you’ll never walk quite the same again. Sad, but true. Why let that happen? It doesn’t have to be that way, and that’s where we come in—to put an end to these unnecessary injuries.
Twenty years ago, I was taught the importance of foot strength. If you want to build an athletic body, you have to start with your feet. Sounds obvious, right? But back in college, it was all about the posterior chain and how it’ll make you faster. Sure, that’s important, but I always go back to that old nursery rhyme in my head: "The foot bone’s connected to the shin bone..." Silly, but true. You can’t develop a true athlete without considering every aspect of the body. It’s all connected, and it’s all important.
When it comes to Pickleball, we need to understand the importance of strong feet, calves, and knees. Traditional strength training rarely talks about that. Crossfit, P90X, Orange Theory, all those programs—they don’t address it. Most high school or college strength coaches don’t either. The trainer at your gym? Same story.
The best in the strength and conditioning community have always said it—build a foundation. Yet, most training programs neglect the feet and overdevelop the quads, glutes, and upper body. Personally, I’ve spent the last 17 years fixing the damage caused by all the poor advice, certifications, magazines, and website "experts" who don’t truly understand how to develop a complete athlete.
I’ve helped people recover from injuries and get more athletic, so they can play the way they want without letting age define them like previous generations. So if you want my advice, start by loosening up and strengthening the foot, shin, and knees—and watch your game change.
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Where I’m coming from…. The Foot
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Helping Pickleballers become top athletes at any age—fixing injuries, realigning posture, elastic tissues, explosiveness, and bulletproof joints.
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