Kitchen Feedback

There are pickleball clinics.

And then there are pickleball clinics where Gabe Tardio turns up.

The Facolos-sponsored pro arrived at MadPicklers in style on 17 September 2026, pulling up in his rather special ride before making his way onto the courts. It was a fitting entrance for one of the brightest young stars in the sport, although most of us were less interested in the car and more interested in what we could learn from the man himself.

The workshop focused on dinks, drives and overall gameplay, but one of the most valuable parts of the session came during the Q&A segment.

As expected, participants wanted to know how one of the fastest hands in professional pickleball developed such ridiculous speed at the kitchen line.

According to Gabe, there are three key ingredients.

First, strong wrists, forearms and shoulders.

Second, understanding how to counter rather than simply react.

Third, proper paddle grip and paddle position.

Simple enough to say. Slightly harder to execute.

Gabe also shared that paddle setup plays a role. He prefers a lighter-feeling paddle and has added counterweights to the handle to help achieve the balance he likes.

The discussion then shifted to modern pickleball strategy.

One piece of advice that stood out was Gabe’s view on resets.

As someone whose game is built largely around defence, resets and trying to make one more shot, I found this particularly interesting.

Gabe explained that simply resetting and resetting doesn’t win points in the modern game. Resets are important, but they are not the end goal. Eventually, players need to look for opportunities to become offensive, apply pressure and take control of the point.

He also emphasised staying as close to the kitchen line as possible, where players can take time away from opponents and create attacking opportunities.

In other words, don’t just survive the rally.

Try to win it.

Of course, before any of us started imagining ourselves as the next Gabe Tardio, there was still actual pickleball to be played.

And that was where Gabe’s patience really stood out.

Let’s be honest. Many of us have dinks that pop up when they shouldn’t. Punch volleys that end up somewhere entirely different from where we intended. And the occasional shot that makes us wonder whether we were aiming for the court next door.

Gabe saw all of it.

And he corrected all of it.

Whether it was a dink that sat up invitingly for an opponent to attack or a punch volley that had gone completely off-script, he took the time to explain what was happening and how to improve it. There was no rushing through the drills and no sign that he was simply going through the motions.

What made this even more impressive was that Gabe looked like he had already had a very long day.

Professional athletes spend a lot of time travelling, competing, training and meeting fans. Yet despite looking understandably tired, his enthusiasm never seemed to fade. Every question was answered. Every photo request was accommodated. Every participant received his attention.

That’s something people remember.

The best athletes often make difficult things look simple. The best ambassadors make people feel welcome.

Gabe managed both.

Then came the part everyone had been waiting for.

Each participant got to play a doubles game to 7 points with Gabe.

For most of us, it’s not every day you get to share a court with a professional player. There were plenty of smiles, plenty of memorable rallies and, inevitably, plenty of stories that will improve with every retelling.

And then came the grand finale.

The new Facolos EliteX V2.0 paddles were brought out for signing.

A queue quickly formed as players waited to get their paddles autographed and grab a photo with the man himself. Cameras were out, signatures were flowing and nobody seemed particularly keen for the day to end.

By the end of the session, participants left with more than just a signed paddle.

They left with practical advice, a few corrections to their dinks and drives, a memorable game with a professional player and the chance to meet one of pickleball’s rising stars up close.

Before wrapping up the session, Gabe also shared his thoughts on the venue itself. Having played and trained at facilities around the world, the World No. 2 was full of praise for MadPicklers.

He spoke warmly about the overall look and feel of the facility, highlighting the colours used around the courts and how they helped create an energetic atmosphere. Gabe also complimented the set-up of the venue, noting that it felt thoughtfully designed and welcoming for players of all levels.

The branding did not go unnoticed either. Gabe specifically mentioned that he liked the MadPicklers logos and visual identity around the facility, which gave the venue its own unique character. Even the refreshments section earned a mention, with Gabe appreciating the effort put into creating a comfortable space for players to relax and recharge between games.

For the local pickleball community, it was nice to hear one of the sport’s biggest stars recognise the effort that has gone into building a world-class pickleball environment in Singapore. It was a fitting way to end an evening filled with learning, laughter and plenty of memorable moments on court.

Watch the short video of his comments below.

Special thanks to MadPicklers for having me at the workshop. For more information on their 24/7 court and court bookings, head here.