EPISODE · Mar 1, 2026 · 32 MIN
Pro Pickleball Training Secrets w/ Juan Benitez: Reps, Footwork, Dinks & Mindset
from Smashing Plastic Podcast · host Tommy Welch
Coach Tommy goes live with PPA pro Juan Benitez from the airport en route to the Palm Springs Masters—fresh off a men’s doubles win at the Punta Gorda Challenger with Camden Chaffin. Juan breaks down the daily habit that separates players who level up, what to drill if you only have 30 minutes, why most intermediates get the 3rd-shot drop footwork wrong, and the #1 underrated skill holding amateurs back (spoiler: it’s footwork). Plus: how pros build momentum, why “dinks out of the air” change everything, and the simple self-talk routine Juan uses to reset after mistakes and win more points. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Juan Benitez 03:01 Daily Habits for Improvement 06:04 Common Mistakes in Coaching 08:57 Structuring Productive Practices 12:05 The Importance of Mindset 15:08 Tracking Progress in Pickleball 17:49 Future Goals and Sponsorships #Pickleball #PickleballTraining #PickleballTips #PPA #Dinks #Footwork #PickleballPodcast Follow Juan: IG: https://www.instagram.com/zero_zero_juan/?hl=en Follow Smashing Plastic: FB: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic IG: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/
What this episode covers
Coach Tommy goes live with PPA pro Juan Benitez from the airport en route to the Palm Springs Masters—fresh off a men’s doubles win at the Punta Gorda Challenger with Camden Chaffin. Juan breaks down the daily habit that separates players who level up, what to drill if you only have 30 minutes, why most intermediates get the 3rd-shot drop footwork wrong, and the #1 underrated skill holding amateurs back (spoiler: it’s footwork). Plus: how pros build momentum, why “dinks out of the air” change everything, and the simple self-talk routine Juan uses to reset after mistakes and win more points. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Juan Benitez 03:01 Daily Habits for Improvement 06:04 Common Mistakes in Coaching 08:57 Structuring Productive Practices 12:05 The Importance of Mindset 15:08 Tracking Progress in Pickleball 17:49 Future Goals and Sponsorships #Pickleball #PickleballTraining #PickleballTips #PPA #Dinks #Footwork #PickleballPodcast Follow Juan: IG: https://www.instagram.com/zero_zero_juan/?hl=en Follow Smashing Plastic: FB: https://www.facebook.com/SmashingPlastic IG: https://www.instagram.com/smashingthyplastic/
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Pro Pickleball Training Secrets w/ Juan Benitez: Reps, Footwork, Dinks & Mindset
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