Pickleball Phenom Davis Ed Ju Shares His Meteoric Rise to Instagram Fame and Fortune
Up-and-coming social media star reveals his secrets to creating compelling instructional content and growing the game with beginner-friendly tips.
As pickleball's swelling popularity vaults it into a certified national craze, fresh young talent continues flooding the courts–and the internet–with infectious enthusiasm. Enter Ed Ju: Selkirk-sponsored coach, content creator extraordinaire, and self-proclaimed "Davis Pickleball". Ed sat down with podcaster Tyler Irvin to chronicle his serendipitous entry into the sport and impart some hard-won wisdom for blossoming players and content producers alike. While just a few years ago Ed deemed pickleball "too easy" for his athletic prowess, he promptly found himself humbled by some fierce seniors at the local rec center. Now, he's all in–living, breathing, and teaching pickleball full-time.
0:06, Introduction - Davis Pickleball
After tries his hand at pickleball on a makeshift court, Ed initially gets "clapped" by older players. This kicks off a determined campaign of practice and tutorial-bingeing. When Ed later moves to Davis, CA, he discovers few worthy opponents at the area courts, so players start asking him for lessons. He creates @davispickleball to post instructional content, then teams up with buddy Dylan Goldman to offer lessons and make videos. Fast forward to today, and Ed has successfully transitioned to full-time "sleeping, waking up, eating pickleball".
1:18, How did you get involved in Pickleball?
A friend invites Ed to test out this mysterious new sport called pickleball. Buzzing with overconfidence, Ed accepts...only to swiftly confront the reality that pickleball requires some legit technique. After many humbling losses to senior citizens, he kicks his training into high gear–purchasing better equipment, reviewing YouTube tutorials, and resolving to figure out this whole pickleball thing.
2:45, Pickleball Player to Content Creator
When Ed relocates to Davis, CA, most local players ask him for lessons, wowed by his newly honed skills. Spotting an opportunity, he creates @davispickleball to post pickleball instruction andpromotion. Teaming with talented pal Dylan Goldman, they offer lessons and produce training content. As their social following expands, Ed finds himself fielding sponsorship offers from major pickleball brands. Signing deals with both Selkirk and Pickleball Central in short order, Ed gains the freedom to transition into full-time pickleball.
4:16, Pickleball Full Time - do you do Wedding Photography on weekends?
Juggling dual passions for pickleball and wedding photography, Ed still shoots the occasional wedding but spends over 90% of time on pickleball currently. To help meet wedding demand, he's trained a team of trusted photographers that assist with events when needed. But most days, you can find Ed fully immersed in pickleball–training, teaching, creating content, dreaming up his next ballsy Instagram Reel...
5:14 The Wild West Of Pickleball Content
With pickleball participation ballooning, Ed notes ample financial opportunities remain for aspiring content creators and coaches. He cites leading pros who still scrape by on meager tournament earnings alone. However, by sharing their passion for teaching through instructional videos or lessons, talented players can monetize their expertise quite lucratively. As Ed encourages, the "soil is fertile" in pickleball now for fresh voices and creative formats to take root if people hit that record button.
6:22, Pickleball Content Creating Tips: People crave authenticity and Journey stories
For those looking to dive into content, Ed urges new creators to lead with transparency and vulnerability. Viewers inherently gravitate towards authenticity, responding positively when coaches acknowledge their evolving journey as lifelong learners. Even if your technical knowledge remains limited initially, highlighting personal "aha moments" and wins resonates far more than canned perfection. Relatability trumps credibility with most recreational players hungry for tips from "one of them".
7:49, Wall Tips Tutorials
Eager to pack in as many reps as possible, Ed heavily utilizes wall drills to sharpen his game. He even endured some late-night neighbor complaints from enthusiastically pounding pickleballs against his home's exterior wall! Now equipped with a custom mini net setup, Ed breaks down the pros of wall training for hand speed, swing consistency and conditioning your reflexes. Ideal when outdoor courts remain packed or closed, this solo training efficiency lets Ed recommending rating wall drills an 8/10 for skill building.
10:31, Selkirk Sponsorship
Remarking on his rapid shift from amateur player to sponsored phenom, Ed acknowledges benefiting massively from early exposure and support from leading pickleball brands. Organic visibility through his Davis Pickleball account captured attention from both Selkirk and Pickleball Central around a year ago. Receiving off-the-blue sponsorship offers gave Ed invaluable backing to keep investing in instructional content and expanding his coaching platform full-time. While feeling quite fortunate in his partnerships, Ed also credits consistent effort creating quality videos showcasing his improvement tips and gear reviews.
12:13, Beginner Tips
Ed admits rethinking his beginner curricula lately, moving away from exclusively drilling the soft game first. Recognizing most new players immediately put those delicate touch shots aside when competing, Ed now prioritizes training smash attacks. This allows students to learn defensive positioning more naturally by punishing their own popping returns. Once players reach higher intermediate skills (3.5-4.0), Ed then layers in more technical lessons on dropping, dinking and placement. Beyond tactics, he's also big on conditioning beginners to expect just three basic options that may be hit at them–drops, drives or lobs–and from three potential court locations. This straightforward mental framing breeds clearer decision-making.
15:18, Dinking Focus - Muscle Memory
For mid-level players stuck plateauing, Ed prescribes high repetition of dink and drop volleys to ingrain core techniques unconsciously. Once the proper mechanics get embedded and feel second nature, players can then focus mental bandwidth on strategy instead of stroke fundamentals. Building this muscle memory through quality drilling remains essential to clearing common developmental hurdles.
17:21, The Evolution of Pro & Rec Pickleball
Asked about where he sees the sport headed strategically, Ed differentiates likely trajectories for professionals versus recreational participants. At pro events, we'll continue witnessing athletic innovation: lightening-quick exchanges, deceptive placements, and increased integration of skillful lobs. However, for average weekend warriors, expect less drastic decorative changes. Countering opponent shots still breaks down to attacking somehow–via drive, drop or lob. So casual players predominantly work within their technical limits, not suddenly lobbing like Ben Johns. Still, trying to emulate bits of pro strategy can organically elevate their decision-making.
22:07, Lobs
As lobs gain traction on the pro circuit for their disruptive potential, Ed scores his fondness for them at a 6.8/10. While thrilling when perfectly executed, mediocre lobs often hand opponents easy smashes. Yet as players strengthen technically, they'll gradually blend in more lobs just to keep adversaries guessing. Ed himself prefers direct airborne attacks, but has practiced lob counters plenty through wall drills. Mastering that elusive, reflexive tilt behind the ball while backpedaling presents a worthy challenge for well-rounded players.
Overflowing with insight and enthusiasm, Ed Ju has clearly caught the pickleball bug. We eagerly await the next reel, tutorial or flashy pro partnership from this rising social media MVP!
Ed started playing pickleball a few years ago when a friend introduced him to the sport. He was initially arrogant about pickleball, thinking it would be too easy, but quickly got "clapped" by older players at a senior center. This humbled him and he started practicing and watching tutorials online to improve.
When Ed moved back to Davis, California, he found there weren't many good local players so people started asking him for lessons. He made an Instagram account, @davispickleball, to post pickleball content. His friend Dylan, a great player, also taught Ed a lot. Together they started teaching lessons and making instructional videos, which took off. Now Ed does pickleball full-time - teaching, making content, etc.
Ed discusses how anyone can succeed in pickleball content creation right now since the sport is growing so fast. He recommends new creators just hit record and post videos to start establishing their niche and style. Authenticity, journey stories and sharing personal learning moments tend to perform well.
Regarding tips for beginners, Ed used to focus on teaching the soft game first but found many recreational players don't end up using those skills. Now he starts by teaching beginners how to smash easy balls. This way they learn shot selection more organically through the consequences of leaving balls up. He introduces more thinking drills around the 3.5-4.0 skill level for students motivated to improve.
At the recreational level, Ed doesn't expect pickleball strategy to change too drastically. Players may experiment with some shots they see pros utilizing, like lobs. But most points still come down to a drive, drop or lob choice when at the kitchen line. Ed teaches students to think in terms of those three basic options and where on the court the ball may be hit. This simplifies things. The pros continue pushing strategy and creativity further.
Ed shouts out Chris Olson from Pickleball Studio as his ideal doubles partner and his early inspiration Simone Jardim as his dream mixed partner. His dream location to play is Hawaii. He generally prefers attacking balls out of the air versus off the bounce. He is a huge proponent of wall drills, rating them a 9.5/10 for improving reflexes, speed and confidence reacting to opponent shots.
- 0:06 Introduction - Davis Pickleball
- 1:18 How did you get involved in Pickleball?
- 2:45 Pickleball Player to Content Creator
- 4:16 Pickleball Full Time - do you do Wedding Photography on weekends?
- 5:14 The Wild West Of Pickleball Content
- 6:22 Pickleball Content Creating Tips: People crave authenticity and Journey stories
- 7:49 Wall Tips Tutorials
- 10:31 Selkirk Sponsorship
- 12:13 Beginner Tips
- 15:18 Dinking Focus - Muscle Memory
- 17:21 The Evolution of Pro & Rec Pickleball
- 22:07 Lobs
- 23:07 Quick Questions
Pickleball Dreams with Ed
There once was a baller named Ed Who thought that pickleball was for old folks instead Til his buddy gave it a test And Ed failed like the rest
Humbled quick by seniors at the senior center Spread
Ed started watching the YouTube tutorials galore Determined to get off that losing floor He practiced his volleys and drops Battled hard against those pops Authenticity, improvement- that was Ed’s core
When Ed moved to Davis his skills were slick The local players he started to nick They said “Teach us your ways!” Ed made some videos to raise His profile - then sponsorship came quick!
Now Ed’s living the dream as Davis Pickleball Teaching drills both spring and fall His Instagram blew up fast A pickleball icon amassed With students worldwide he answers their call
When asked of dream mixed doubles mate Without hesitation Ed did state “Simone Jardim’s my choice! To share a court would bring me joy! That woman’s a hero - she’s really first-rate!”
Ed loves practicing hard off that wall
Preparing to baffle opponents all
With reflexes cat-quick
And paddle skills thick
On effectiveness of wall drills he’d rate a 9 overall
In beginning class Ed focuses on keeping balls low So students can learn more organically about shot selection’s flow But later he transitions to thinking once able Helping intermediates be more stable As they start getting over that 3-5 plateau
In Davis Ed’s happy as a resident Though he dreams of a Hawaiian contention Playing on those lush courts surrounded by waves Shagging balls for pro’s - now that would be brave! Post pickleball he’d feast on fresh fish and poke without tension
Ed loves a quick pace blasting balls out of the skies
Smashing juicy lobs for his enemies’ cries
Though he admits his ground strokes do still suffice
And he can counter off bounce accurate and precise
So for now he’ll stick to chillaxing with half a banana as his pre-game prize
Yes Ed brings a spirit both fun and discreet
Embracing pickleball’s inevitable rise to its destiny replete
He’ll continue creating quality content
While we watch eagerly with exciting ferment
As Davis Ed inspires all - elite to petite!
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