Bob Winskowicz: Why Pickleball’s Next Performance Revolution May Start With Your Feet

In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, Chris Beaumont is joined by Bob Winskowicz, founder and CEO of SQAIRZ, to explore one of the most overlooked areas of pickleball performance: footwear.

Pickleball players spend countless hours analysing paddles, technique, strategy and training, but Bob believes the sport has largely ignored the foundation underneath every movement: the connection between the player and the court.

Drawing on his background in golf, baseball and sports performance, Bob explains why balance, stability and ground force production are central to playing better and staying healthier. He shares the story behind SQAIRZ’s move into pickleball, the research behind its court shoes and why he believes traditional footwear design has not fully addressed the demands of a sport built around explosive lateral movement.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Chris and Bob discuss:

• Why pickleball movement creates unique footwear challenges

• Why balance and stability matter as much as power

• How the shape of a shoe can influence performance

• The relationship between footwear and injury prevention

• Competing against global sportswear giants as a specialist brand

• The future of performance technology in pickleball and beyond

Bob also reveals how the company’s thinking extends beyond sport, with the same principles of balance and stability being applied to everyday movement and reducing fall risk later in life.

Is footwear the next major equipment conversation in pickleball?

Listen to find out why the battle for better performance may begin before the paddle ever touches the ball.

The World Pickleball Podcast brings you conversations with the players, coaches, innovators and decision-makers shaping the global game.

Most pickleball injuries do not start with a single moment. They build slowly, often unnoticed, in the background of regular play.

In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, we speak with Laina Gossman, founder of Soul Insole, about the biomechanics of foot health and why it matters far more than most players realise.

We explore how small imbalances in the feet can lead to common pickleball injuries such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles strain, and knee discomfort, and why returning athletes are particularly vulnerable when they step back into competitive movement.

Laina also explains the difference between rigid orthotics and softer support systems, and how foot stability can influence not just injury prevention, but performance, balance, and efficiency on court.

This is a conversation about movement, recovery, and the hidden foundation of how players perform.

Whether you are a beginner or competing at a high level, this episode challenges how you think about every step you take on court.

Check out soulinsole.com to see their range of exceptional orthotics.

Professional pickleball player Zoey Weil joins Chris Beaumont on the World Pickleball Podcast for an honest discussion about some of the biggest talking points in the sport.

Rather than revisiting her tennis background, Zoey gives her views on where professional pickleball is heading and tackles the biggest debates from the past month.

In this episode we discuss:

• The rapid growth of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball
• What really defines a professional pickleball player?
• The body bag debate and where the line should be drawn
• Sportsmanship versus winning at the highest level
• Young teenagers competing against established professionals
• Paddle technology, power paddles and whether some should be restricted
• Player safety after the MLP scoreboard incident
• Rollout courts, bad bounces and tournament conditions
• Lifetime vs Franklin pickleballs
• MLP trades, team chemistry and the changing league landscape
• What the future of professional pickleball could look like

Zoey shares thoughtful, balanced opinions on many of the biggest issues currently facing the sport, offering a fascinating insight into life on the professional tour.

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