In this episode of Kitchen Banter, we sit down with Arty and Mike from the Ocala Pickle Ball Club to talk all things local pickleball — from the early days of playing on taped-up tennis courts to the dedicated Cohajjo Park courts that helped grow the community into what it is today. We cover how the club works with the county, how tournaments are run (and the formats players love/hate), beginner and intermediate lessons, and how to get involved through events and membership. We also get into the future of pickleball in Ocala — including indoor facilities, court expansion plans, and why the social side of the sport is just as big as the competition. Plus… a wild (and hilarious) detour into nudist pickleball tournaments.

0:00 – Pickleball drama, bad calls, and setting the tone
0:29 – Meet Arty & Mike from the Ocala Pickle Ball Club
1:32 – How pickleball started at Cohajjo Park
2:46 – From tennis courts to dedicated pickleball courts
4:40 – What the Ocala Pickle Ball Club does for the community
8:16 – Lessons, beginners vs intermediates, and how to get involved
12:20 – Staying active as you age through pickleball
17:05 – Park pickleball vs indoor clubs (Dink Tank & Pickleball Kingdom)
26:10 – The wild story of nudist pickleball tournaments
39:30 – Tournaments, court expansion plans, and the future of Ocala pickleball

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#ocala #ocalaflorida #pickleball #mlp #pickleballpodcast #centralflorida #thedinktank #coehadjoe

In this episode of Kitchen Banter, Tony and Daniel sit down with Ganon “The Cannon,” Ocala’s newest left-handed pickleball standout, to talk about his journey from elite junior tennis in California to becoming a rising force on the local courts. Ganon shares how he and his wife ended up in Ocala, the grind of competitive tennis, what pulled him into pickleball, and how the Ocala community helped him find his place fast. They dive into doubles strategy (including the chaos of two lefties), tournament stories, Duper ratings, challenge courts, managing marriage with a heavy pickleball schedule, and how adults in their 30s actually make friends through the sport. If you love pickleball culture, strategy, tournaments, and real conversations about the lifestyle around the game, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

In this episode of Kitchen Banter, Tony and Daniel break down a hilariously unpredictable pickleball week—from Daniel’s trip to the Fort Myers/Naples pickleball scene, where he ran into cliques, questionable line calls, and a $30 drop-in fee… to Tony’s rare week off the courts and his rusty but entertaining return. They dive into the unwritten rules of showing up at new facilities, the psychology of “level-0 to level-3 errors,” the struggle of staying consistent, and why pickleball still beats sitting at a bar any night of the week. If you love real stories, court drama, and authentic pickleball banter, this episode is for you.

0:00 – Intro: Drama, bad calls, and the kitchen’s hurt
1:05 – Tony’s texting habits get hilariously exposed
5:00 – Daniel’s Naples trip & first impressions of Ace Pickleball
7:45 – The cliquey “advanced court” that wouldn’t let him play
13:40 – The weirdest line-call moment Daniel has ever seen

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#ocala #ocalaflorida #pickleball #mlp #pickleballpodcast #centralflorida #thedinktank #coehadjoe

Dive into Ocala’s pickleball scene as Jason Weiss, longtime tennis pro, Fort King director, and seasoned pickleball competitor, breaks down how the sport has evolved and why the game is getting faster. In this episode, we explore strategy, shot selection, mindset, aging as an athlete, the local community at Coehadjoe & Fort King, and Jason’s signature “shark” approach to competing. If you’re a pickleball player looking to level up, understand the modern game, or simply love hearing from experienced players shaping the sport, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

00:00 – The drama and community of Ocala pickleball
00:42 – Introducing Jason Weiss and his tennis background
01:49 – How Jason accidentally discovered pickleball in 2016
03:57 – Winning the US Open and how the sport changed after his injury
07:12 – The transition from tennis to high-level pickleball
11:03 – Is Ocala getting better? Jason on the local skill gap closing
13:59 – Aging, mindset, and staying competitive in your 50s
17:33 – Tennis vs pickleball: why the social side wins
23:19 – Where the sport is headed and why it’s exploding worldwide
33:38 – Learning to play fast, slow, and the “keep on sharking” philosophy

👉 Just keep dinking, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more such real-life stories that spark change in the local pickleball scene.

#ocala #ocalaflorida #pickleball #mlp #pickleballpodcast #centralflorida #thedinktank #coehadjoe

n this episode of Kitchen Banter, we break down the chaotic Coehadjoe 4.5 pickleball tournament with stacked pools, questionable format, brutal losses, and even talk of quitting the game altogether. Tony and Daniel get real about partner chemistry, tournament pressure, and how chasing wins can suck the fun out of pickleball, even on the local Ocala courts. If you’ve ever felt burned out, blamed, or mentally crushed after a pickleball tournament, this raw recap is for you.

0:00 – Tournament Recap
0:45 – How the 4.5 Tournament Was Structured (And Why It Was Flawed)
2:50 – Stacked Pools & Early Knockouts: The Big Controversy
4:12 – Daniel’s Games: Upsets, Pressure & Playing “Off-Style”
7:40 – Chemistry Issues and Tournament Nerves Kick In
10:55 – The Crowd, The Atmosphere & Mental Pressure
17:10 – Tony’s Matches: Bad Energy, Blame Game & Meltdowns
26:20 – When Partner Dynamics Destroy a Tournament Run
33:05 – Should We Even Be Doing Tournaments Anymore?
41:00 – Future Plans, Burnout, and Finding the Fun Again

👉 Just keep dinking, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more such real-life stories that spark change in the local pickleball scene.

#ocala #ocalaflorida #pickleball #mlp #pickleballpodcast #centralflorida #thedinktank #coehadjoe

Dive into another hilarious episode of Kitchen Banter as we break down the real-life drama, etiquette debates, and unfiltered stories happening on pickleball courts across Ocala, Florida. From bad calls and stray balls to partner chemistry, sore losers, iced-out players, court distractions, and even wild local stories, the guys share honest takes on what really goes down at Coehadjoe, the Y, and other local courts. We also talk tournaments, weekly play routines, launching our social channels, and Daniel’s first-ever attempt at cooking. Whether you're a seasoned player or just love Ocala community vibes, this episode gives you an inside look at pickleball culture, local personalities, and everything players argue about but laugh about later.

0:00 – Pickleball Drama & Podcast Kickoff
3:10 – Growing the Podcast: Socials, Views & Early Mistakes
4:50 – Daniel’s First Ever Cooking Story (The Chili Incident)
15:30 – Pickleball Etiquette: Compliments, Calls & Court Politics
37:00 – Targeting Players, Icing People Out & Local Tournament Talk

👉 Just keep dinking, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more such real-life stories that spark change in the local pickleball scene.

#ocala #ocalaflorida #pickleball #mlp #pickleballpodcast #centralflorida #thedinktank #coehadjoe