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Racquet FuelRacquet Fuel provides insights into the best practices and innovations of racquets industry business leaders. Author: Athlete
Racquet Fuel provides insights into the best practices and innovations of racquets industry business leaders. Co-hosts Kim Bastable, Director of Professional Tennis Management at the University of Florida, and Simon Gale, Senior Director Racquet Sports Development at the USTA National Campus, help racquets leaders in your ability to grow the game and to improve the experiences you offer to both your staff and players by talking to industry leaders, including USTA executives, authors and innovators. If you are on a career path in racquet sports or already a racquets business leader and you want to stay up to date on ideas and innovations in racquets industry business and leadership, this podcast is for you. Presented by the Athlete Podcast Network at the University of Florida Institute for Coaching Excellence. Language: en Genres: Education, Sports, Tennis Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Pickleball & Padel Growth with Industry Pioneer David Johnson
Episode 23
Thursday, 20 November, 2025
What’s Driving the Explosion of Pickleball and Padel?In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with industry pioneer David Johnson about the massive growth of pickleball and the rising momentum of padel in the United States. David shares his early journey co-founding Pickleball Central in 2006, what he’s learned watching the sport scale, and why participation curves are now shifting as the market matures.The conversation breaks down the real data behind growth trends, why multi-sport facilities are becoming the new norm, and what operators need to know before adding padel. They dig into staffing needs, leadership skills, membership models, and how hospitality ultimately determines whether a facility thrives.Hosts:Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports EducationSimon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility ExecutiveGuest:David Johnson – Co-Founder of Pickleball Central, Pickleball ConsultantLearn More & Get CertifiedRacquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquet leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses — Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance — and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game. 👉 Learn More & Enroll Here
