Zane Navratil: MLP vs PPA , Paddle Companies, & The Future of Pro Pickleball

Join us for the first ever episode of the Open Play Pickleball Podcast! Co-hosted by Katrina Muana and James Ignatowich, this episode features our first guest, none other than Zane Navratil! Zane joins us for an in-depth discussion on the current state and future of professional pickleball. Read below for a few of the things we discussed! Why PROS choose different paddles than reviewers The biggest free agents in pickleball Tama Shimabukuro's future–is he headed for a peak or a valley? Versus Anna Leigh Waters' dominance MLP vs PPA–which format is better? Loud MLP crowds or quieter PPA crowds? The future of paddle companies and pickleball brands Handle length, sweet spots, paddle design, and performance Zane's favorite drills and strategies Follow Zane! Instagram:   / zanenavratilpickleball   X: https://x.com/ZaneNavratil Zane's Pro Pickleball Discord:   / discord   Follow Open Play Pickleball! Instagram:   / openplaypb   X: https://x.com/OpenPlayX Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19vKre... Follow Katrina! Instagram:   / thepicklekat   Follow James! Instagram:   / jamesignatowich   X: https://x.com/jignatowichpb Facebook:   / jamesignatowichpb   Make sure you are subscribed to our channel because we have more episodes and more guests lined up! #Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast #MajorLeaguePickleball --------------- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome – Zane Navratil 01:20 Paddle Sponsorship Question (Chris Olson vs Anna Leigh Waters) 04:40 Pros vs Reviewers Paddle Preferences Explained 07:30 Paddle Deals, Performance & Durability Differences 10:20 Free Agents in Pro Pickleball (Georgia, JW, Catherine) 13:50 Tama Shimabukuro – Future #1 Potential Discussion 17:20 Anna Leigh Waters Dominance & “No Book on Her” Debate 20:10 Mental Focus Training & Competitive Mindset 23:30 Training Routine: Fitness, Cardio & Strength for Pickleball 26:40 Calves Debate & Athlete Physique Humor Segment 29:10 Paddle Handle Length Discussion (5.5 vs 4.75 inches) 31:40 Paddle Shape, Sweet Spot & Performance Engineering 34:10 Paddle Dimensions: 15x9 vs 16x8 Design Philosophy 36:50 Growth of Pro Pickleball: Capital, Demand & Market Reality 39:10 MLP vs PPA – Which is Better for Fans & TV Growth 41:40 Fan Experience, Crowd Energy & Rule Change Ideas 43:00 Outro & Shoutouts + Discord Plug