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 with a messy answer: who’s the best men’s doubles player right now?

We also get into Malaysia Cup fan energy, MLP vs PPA for growth, Buccee's road rituals, and why doubles takes longer to “solve.” Jon shares his partner plans, a perfect SAT flex, and the strategy he uses to ice opponent momentum.