Want Topspin? Watch This Pickleball Lesson!

  

Mastering the Forehand Drive: A Journey to Precision and Power

Unraveling the Mechanics of a Pickleball Topspin Forehand Drive

In the quest for a powerful and accurate forehand drive with topspin, pickleball players often find themselves grappling with the intricacies of technique. This instructional video by PPA pro Zane Navratil encapsulates a pivotal coaching session focused on refining the topspin forehand drive, emphasizing the balance between power and precision.

The dialogue opens with the player expressing a desire to elevate their forehand, seeking to add the elusive element of topspin to their shots. Zane, keen on dissecting the mechanics, delves into the root cause of inconsistency, pinpointing a flaw in the player's stance and swing.

Identifying the reliance on the dominant arm and a tendency to swipe across the ball, the Zane advocates for a shift in technique. He emphasizes the utilization of the non-dominant hand for preparation, facilitating a more linear swing path towards the target. Through a series of demonstrations and adjustments, the player begins to grasp the nuances of this modified approach.

Despite initial struggles and errant shots, the Zane reassures the player, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and muscle memory. Encouraging the player to focus on the process rather than immediate results, he highlights the gradual evolution towards a more refined stroke.

As the session progresses, the player experiences moments of breakthrough, feeling the subtle yet tangible impact of incorporating topspin into their shots. Although challenges persist, the player acknowledges the incremental improvements and the promise of a more controlled and effective forehand drive.

The exchange underscores the iterative nature of skill development in pickleball, emphasizing the need for patience, dedication, and a willingness to embrace change. Through diligent practice and guided instruction, the player embarks on a transformative journey towards mastering the forehand drive, poised to unlock new levels of performance on the court.

Drill: 

• Use your non-dominant arm to generate forehand topspin
• 2:51 Barely touch one finger from your left hand on the paddle in your preparation

Episode 12: From Gaming to Pickleball Content: The King of Social Media

 

Rising Social Media Star Bringing Pickleball To The Masses

Tanner Tomassi leverages instructional videos and relatable personality to gain over 25,000 Instagram followers

Tanner Tomassi may only be in his early 20s, but he has already carved out a prominent place in the blossoming pickleball universe. Through consistent, engaging instructional videos posted to his YouTube Channel and wildly popular Instagram account, Tanner has organically grown his fanbase to over 25,000+ followers in less than a year. His accessible teaching style, exaggerated on-court demonstrations, and focus on intermediate to advanced strategy have filled a crucial void for countless up-and-coming players.

Kaitlin Miller reconnected with Tanner on the popular podcast “Kitchen Talk: Pickleball Edition.” She originally met him last year while filming a reality pickleball show in Arizona called “Paddle Battle.” Since crossing paths on set, Tanner’s profile and impact have rapidly expanded. Below is an overview of our wide-ranging conversation, during which Tanner outlines his unlikely rise to social media stardom and long-term aspirations within the sport.

1. 0:00 Introduction

In this pickleball podcast episode, host Caitlyn chats with Tanner Tomassi about his journey to becoming a renowned pickleball instructional content creator.

2. 0:37 Tanners Journey

Tanner explains how he started creating pickleball content by posting 5 tips to start, but after seeing early traction he decided to start posting high-quality instructional videos daily.

3. 1:20 60 Second/8 Minute Videos

He produces both 60 second videos for quick tips that help beginners understand basics, as well as longer 8 minute videos that provide more in-depth analysis.

4. 2:23 Growing Fanbase

Tanner has grown his Instagram following to over 25,000 in less than a year, by consistently posting valuable content daily.

5. 2:54 Filming At Paddle Battle

Host Caitlyn Miller reveals she originally met Tanner while filming a reality pickleball competition show called “Paddle Battle.”

6. 3:31 Instructional Videos - What Makes You Stand Out

Tanner believes his instructional videos stand out because he takes an advanced strategic approach, speaks directly to the camera, and brings out his true energetic personality.

7. 4:32 180 Days - Producing Videos

Remarkably, Tanner has posted daily pickleball instructional videos for over 180 days straight. He films new content after playing sessions, aiming to keep the process simple.

8. 5:13 Creating New Content

Coming up with new video ideas is getting challenging, but Tanner can still demonstrate fundamentals like the third shot drop from different angles and levels of depth.

9. 5:52 Does Creating Content Help Your Game

Trying to teach shots has helped improve Tanner's own game. He visualizes what advice he would give himself after making errors.

10. 6:34 Favorite Video To Film

Tanner's favorite video was filmed with his girlfriend back in New Jersey - where he accidentally kept hitting her while demonstrating fast hands drills!

11. 7:21 Does Your Girlfriend Play Pickleball?

Yes, Tanner actually met his girlfriend on the pickleball courts shortly after discovering the sport. She is recovering from a torn ACL but plans to start playing competitively again soon.

12. 7:42 25,000+ Instagram Followers

Tanner credits consistency and valuable content focused on intermediate to advanced strategy for growing his audience. Lower level players are still intrigued.

13. 8:40 From Video Gaming Sensation To Pickleball Guru

After gaining hundreds of thousands of online gaming followers, Tanner leveraged transferable social media skills when developing his booming pickleball platform.

14. 9:27 Content Creation Competition

The popularity of pickleball has led far more people to create instructional content full time. Tanner has noticed a surge of new competitors in just the last 6 months.

15. 10:31 Goals

While Tanner's initial goal was to simply stand out as a rising professional player, he now hopes to become an influential pickleball media personality through platforms like a potential TV show.

16. 11:19 Royal Caribbean Cruise

In an unlikely opportunity facilitated by his videos' impact, Tanner was recently hired to be a pickleball instructor on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

17. 13:25 New Opportunities

Multiple professional baseball players have also reached out for private lessons after discovering Tanner on social media.

18. 14:17 Who Would You Like To Collaborate With?

Tanner names renowned ultra-endurance athlete David Goggins as his dream collaborator for a grueling 100,000 rep dinking video.

19. 14:47 Tanner's Unique Background

Beyond pickleball, Tanner also has experience playing paintball at a professional level. In 2016, his team was invited to compete in a tournament in Australia when he was just 16 years old.

20. 15:53 How Did Pickleball Find You?

Tanner first learned about pickleball in high school gym class. After not playing for years, he rediscovered his passion for it during 2020 quarantine. He then dove headfirst into instructional videos.

21. 16:43 A Visual Learner

Both with paintball and now pickleball, Tanner considers himself a visual learner. He became obsessed through watching online videos and trying to replicate techniques.

22. 16:56 Moving To Florida To Pursue Pickleball

Less than a year ago, Tanner took a chance by moving from New Jersey to Florida for 2 months to intensely train and make connections within the pickleball community.

23. 18:17 Was It Scary?

While anxious before the move, Tanner viewed it as a low-risk opportunity to chase his passion during this window in his life. Worst case he could return home after 2 months.

24. 19:17 The Florida Pickleball Community

Tanner explains how the Florida pickleball scene provides way more constant high-level training partners and competitive motivation compared to back home.

25. 19:48 Meeting People

Initially, Tanner was nervous about making friends and finding players. But his roommate Brandon's strong reputation and network helped introduce him to all the top local talent.

26. 20:37 Filming A Pickleball Reality Show

Tanner recalls his experience filming a reality pickleball competition called “Paddle Battle,” where he formed unlikely friendships with 15 other stars of the sport.

27. 21:40 Adult Camp For A Week

Host Caitlyn explains how the 7-day reality show shoot created a unique “adult camp” environment, as the eclectic cast bonded while living together.

28. 23:07 A Bunch Of Amazing Athletes

She adds that the show specifically cast standout athletes from other sports, like American Ninja Warrior and Division 1 soccer players.

29. 23:56 Pickleball Has Given Me A New Purpose

Tanner emphasizes how pickleball has reignited his competitive fire and provided renewed direction - a second chance to chase athletic ambitions.

30. 24:20 Creating Another Type Of Content

While Tanner plans to stick with instructional videos for the foreseeable future, he may consider vlogging his experiences at major tournaments down the road.

31. 25:19 Advice For Content Creators

His advice is to just start, focus on a niche you're truly passionate about, and keep the production process quick and simple to maintain consistency.

32. 26:21 Cell Phone Production Equipment

Tanner uses basic affordable equipment: cell phone, wireless mic, tripod. This allows him to film and edit easily each day. Fancy gear isn't necessary.

33. 27:23 If You Make It Too Complicated

Again, he stresses not over complicating equipment or setup, because that leads to frustration and inconsistency. Keep things simple.

34. 28:20 On Screen Captioning

On short form content, Tanner uses an app to overlay captions on videos to better grab viewers' attention. But he avoids captions on long form YouTube uploads.

35. 29:21 Learning Pickleball From Online Videos

While tennis typically requires lessons, Tanner believes complete beginners can learn proper pickleball fundamentals exclusively from online instructional content.

Overall, Kaitlin's thought-provoking conversation with Tanner revealed an ambitious, hyper-focused athlete who skillfully balanced his professional pickleball aspirations with a burgeoning media career - seemingly accidentally at first. By leading with authenticity and consistently providing value to the online community, Tanner organically cultivated a mass following. If his meteoric rise so far is any indication, this is merely the beginning of the Tanner Tomassi pickleball experience.

Time Code List

1. 0:00 Introduction
2. 0:37 Tanner's Journey
3. 1:20 60 second/8 minute videos
4. 2:23 Growing Fan Base
5. 2:54 Filming at Paddle Battle
6. 3:31 Instructional Videos - What makes you stand out from the crowd?
7. 4:32 180 Days - Producing Videos
8. 5:13 Creating New Content
9. 5:52 Does creating instructional content consistently help improve your game, too?
10. 6:34 Favorite Video To Film
11. 7:21 Does your girlfriend play pickleball?
12. 7:42 25,000+ Instagram Followers
13. 8:40 Going From Video Gaming Sensation To Pickleball Instructional Guru
14. 9:27 Content Creation Competition
15. 10:31 Goals
16. 11:19 Royal Caribbean Cruise
17. 13:25 New Opportunities
18. 14:17 Who would you like to collaborate with right now?
19. 14:47 Tanner's Unique Background
20. 15:53 How did pickleball find you?
21. 16:43 A Visual Learner
22. 16:56 Moving To Florida To Pursue Pickleball
23. 18:17 Was It Scary?
24. 19:17 The Florida Pickleball Community
25. 19:48 Meeting People
26. 20:37 Filming A Pickleball Reality Show In Phoenix
27. 21:40 Adult Camp For A Week
28. 23:07 A Bunch Of Amazing Athletes
29. 23:56 Pickleball Has Giving Me A New Purpose
30. 24:20 Creating Another Type Of Content
31. 25:19 Advice For Content Creators
32. 26:21 Cell Phone Production Equipment
33. 27:23 If You Make It Too Complicated
34. 28:20 On Screen Captioning
35. 29:21 Learning How To Play Pickleball From Online Videos

Pickleball Podcast Trivia

1. What is the name of the podcast Tanner is interviewed on?

a) Pickleball Central

b) Kitchen Talk: Pickleball Edition

c) The Dink Squad

d) Smashing Pickleball Podcast

2. How many Instagram followers does Tanner have?

a) 15,000

b) 20,000

c) 25,000

d) 30,000

3. What TV show did Tanner and the host Caitlyn meet on previously?

a) Pickleball Adventures

b) Paddle Battle

c) Smash Town

d) The Pickleball Showdown

4. How long is Tanner's typical short-form Instagram video?

a) 30 seconds

b) 45 seconds

c) 60 seconds

d) 90 seconds

5. True or false - Tanner posts new pickleball content every day without fail.

a) True

b) False

6. What makes Tanner's instructional videos unique compared to others online?

a) He demonstrates advanced strategy

b) He speaks directly to the camera

c) He showcases his energetic personality

d) All of the above

7. Where did Tanner move to pursue pickleball full-time?

a) California

b) Texas

c) Florida

d) Arizona

8. How long was Tanner originally planning to stay in Florida?

a) 1 month

b) 2 months

c) 3 months

d) 4 months

9. Who helped introduce Tanner to other top local players when he first moved to Florida?

a) His coach

b) His roommate Brandon

c) His girlfriend

d) The club president

10. What other sport did Tanner compete in professionally?

a) Paintball

b) Badminton

c) Squash

d) Racquetball

11. Where did Tanner travel to compete in a paintball tournament?

a) Canada

b) Mexico

c) Australia

d) New Zealand

12. How old was Tanner when he competed in that international paintball tournament?

a) 14

b) 15

c) 16

d) 17

13. When did Tanner first discover pickleball existed?

a) Youth summer camp

b) High school gym class

c) Community college elective course

d) Local YMCA program

14. True or false - Tanner's girlfriend tearing her ACL ended her pickleball career.

a) True

b) False

15. What celebrity athlete is Tanner's dream collaboration for an instructional video?

a) Lebron James

b) Tom Brady

c) David Goggins

d) Steph Curry

16. What unique opportunity did Tanner recently get offered thanks to his videos?

a) Pickleball coach at an all-inclusive resort

b) Sponsorship deal with Head pickleball paddles

c) Pickleball instructor on a Royal Caribbean cruise

d) Private lessons with a World Series baseball team

17. What is one long-term goal Tanner has beyond just professional playing success?

a) Launch a line of pickleball gear

b) Become a pickleball event commentator

c) Start his own brick-and-mortar pickleball academy

d) Land a TV show deal

18. What role did Tanner's previous social media experience with gaming play in his rapid growth?

a) It taught him what content performs well

b) It helped him efficiently edit videos

c) It allowed him to understand analytics

d) It gave him transferable skills

19. Why did Tanner's roommate originally go to Florida?

a) A job offer

b) Pickleball training

c) Vacation

d) Romantic getaway

20. What is Tanner's favorite platform to create long-form instructional content?

a) Facebook

b) YouTube

c) TikTok

d) Vimeo

21. True or false - Tanner believes most beginners need private lessons to learn fundamentals.

a) True

b) False

22. What affordable mobile gear does Tanner use to produce his videos?

a) Cell phone, lapel mic, tripod

b) Camera, boom mic, steadicam

c) Drone, shotgun mic, dolly

d) Action cam, lavalier mic, selfie stick

23. What does Tanner warn against when creating content?

a) Filming too much B-roll

b) Making the process overly complicated

c) Using fancy graphics

d) Recording during peak court times

24. Why does Tanner avoid on-screen captions for his YouTube channel?

a) He finds them distracting

b) They take too long to add

c) Viewers don't utilize them

d) It clutters the frame

25. What advice does Tanner give for staying consistent posting videos?

a) Commit to a rigid schedule

b) Batch create backup content

c) Take a day off each week

d) Focus on a niche you enjoy

Answer Key:

1. b
2. c
3. b
4. c
5. a
6. d
7. c
8. b
9. b
10. a
11. c
12. c
13. b
14. b
15. c
16. c
17. d
18. d
19. b
20. b
21. b
22. a
23. b
24. a
25. d

Tanner's Path to Pickleball Glory

Let me tell you 'bout my man Tanner, His journey to fame and his love for the planar! Way back in high school during gym class, He first tried his hand with paddle and ball - alas! Though fun at the time, it soon faded away,
But later in quarantine he started to play.

Hooked once again, he dove into the game, Consuming vids tryin' to learn pickleball fame. A visual learner, absorbing each shot,
He studied the pros until they could not be forgot.

Then decided to make instructional vids of his own, Posting to YouTube and Instagram fully blown.

Staying consistent with high quality clips, His fanbase grew rapidly stat after stat on each tip!
Unique energetic style and advanced strats - Grabbed more traction than other accounts could match.

Wanted to make it as a pro in the action,
So he moved down to Florida to join in the faction.
Met rising stars but needed some connections, His roomie Brandon helped make those selections.

Even filmed a reality show called Paddle Battle, Forging friendships with other stars of the saddle.
But instructional content remained his obsession, Cultivating an audience across every dimension.

Voila - twenty five thousand now follow his vision!
Celebs reach out too like stars of the MLP division.

Royal Caribbean Cruise even came with an offer, To onboard as paid pickleball teacher and proffer!

So if you wanna learn this great sport, Check my man Tanner's vids that import Key tips and tricks from basic to elite, Delivered with passion - keeping it sweet!