Pickleball Wizard Gabe Tardio
He’s got such a supple wrist!
In today’s Bite Size Pickleball newsletter:
Teenager Gabe Tardio makes a major statement
Why Don’t We Do it in the Road?
Bonus Track: Rick sings Dylan
Pickleball Wizard Gabe Tardio
He’s a pickleball wizard, there is no doubt about that. And while researching an article I am writing for Pickleball Magazine, I caught up with pro Zane Navratil and asked him what makes 18-year-old Gabe Tardio so special. BTW, Zane is so nice. He is always willing to lend a hand, even when the article is nothing about him. He also takes time out to allow fans, like me, to take pics with him.
What Zane told me makes perfect sense. It’s all in the wrist! Tardio’s got such a supple wrist!
“Gabe is approaching playing on the right side differently than any player before,” said Navratil. “He’s able to contort his wrist in ways that other players can’t, and that gives him a wider variety of shots that he can hit, and a wider variety of shots that his opponents need to cover.”
The problem, of course, is in his opponents trying to cover!
Gabe, and his partner Andrei Daescu (twice Gabe’s age), took the gold in men’s doubles a few weeks ago in Utah, when I was there, and Gabe also won the gold in mixed with Jessie Irvine in Utah. The following week, in Vegas, Tardio and Daescu also took home the gold.
This week, the two are in Atlanta where they are set to face off against the once-dominating Johns Brothers in the quarterfinals today. Look for that match on CBS Sports.
When I watched Tardio yesterday, with Navratil’s knowledge in hand (er, wrist), it immediately clicked. This kid does have a Gumby-like wrist. And this Gumby is really aggressive with it! Not only will he bend it and snap it in a barrage of attacks, but he’s also always sitting on his opponent’s attacks when they try to fire it at him, and he easily manages to fire it back and, usually, ends the point.
More to come on Gabe in my Pickleball Magazine article out in the November/Dec issue. But here’s a question: Is there any way you can gain more flexibility in your wrist? Here are a few ideas for you.
My other idea is learn to play the guitar and strum, strum, strum, so U2 can become a pickleball wizard. My guitar playing has definitely helped my wrist approach Gumby territory. Here’s a little music video demo on my wrist capability. Hopefully you’ll be able to make out the lyrics a little better than Bob Dylan sings them these days ;)
Why Don’t We Do it in the Road?
The Beatles did! Or at least they sung about it. They also bailed on the studio and hit the road in search of our favorite game.
Maybe you didn’t know, but you can get the above design on a T-shirt, a coffee mug, a hoodie, a tote bag, and more if you shop the Bite Size Pickleball Store. Use discount code VIPcustomer10 for 10% off at check out.
If you DON’T shop the Bite Size Pickleball store, you’ll be looking like Paul here, totally left out of the fun.
That’s all folks! Enjoy your pickleball weekend! <3 Rick