Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a court with a net, paddles, and a plastic ball with holes. It is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 3.3 million players in the United States alone.
But among all the pickleball players, there is one who stands out as the undisputed king: Ben Johns.
Who is Ben Johns?
Ben Johns is an American professional pickleball player who is ranked No. 1 in the world for mixed doubles, No. 1 in the world for singles, and No. 1 in the world for Men’s Doubles by the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) . He is also the co-owner of two businesses: Pickleball Getaways (all-inclusive vacations with pickleball instruction) and Pickleball 360 (instructional video subscription service).
Ben Johns was born on July 24, 1999, in Rockville, Maryland. He started playing pickleball at the age of 12, after being introduced to the sport by his mother. He quickly fell in love with the game and began competing in local tournaments. He also played tennis and soccer in high school but decided to focus on pickleball after graduating.
Ben Johns attended the University of Maryland, where he studied materials science and engineering. He graduated in May 2021 with a 4.0 GPA. He balanced his academic and athletic pursuits by playing pickleball on weekends and during breaks. He also trained with some of the best players in the country, such as Kyle Yates and Simone Jardim.
What are Ben Johns’ achievements?
Ben Johns has become a legend in pickleball after his record-breaking 50 PPA titles and winning more Triple Crowns than any other male player in history. A Triple Crown is when a player wins gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same tournament. Ben Johns has achieved this feat eight times so far.
Some of his most notable achievements include:
- Winning the 2021 US Open Pickleball Championships in singles, doubles (with Collin Johns), and mixed doubles (with Simone Jardim).
- Winning the 2020 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships in singles, doubles (with Collin Johns), and mixed doubles (with Simone Jardim).
- Winning the 2019 USAPA National Championships in singles, doubles (with Kyle Yates), and mixed doubles (with Simone Jardim).
- Winning the 2018 US Open Pickleball Championships in singles, doubles (with Kyle Yates), and mixed doubles (with Simone Jardim).
- Winning the 2017 USAPA National Championships in singles and doubles (with Kyle Yates).
Ben Johns has also achieved a remarkable 108-match winning streak in singles, which lasted from April 2018 to October 2020. He only lost one singles match in 2020, to Tyson McGuffin at the PPA Mesa Grand Slam. He has since regained his dominance by winning all his singles matches in 2021.
What makes Ben Johns so good?
Ben Johns is widely regarded as the most talented and versatile player in pickleball history. He has a rare combination of power, finesse, speed, agility, strategy, and mental toughness. He can play any style of pickleball, from aggressive to defensive, from baseline to net, from spin to slice. He can adapt to any opponent, court condition, or situation. He can hit any shot imaginable, from dinks to drives, from lobs to volleys, from smashes to drop shots.
Ben Johns has also developed a unique technique that gives him an edge over his rivals. He uses a two-handed backhand for both forehand and backhand shots, which allows him to generate more power and control. He also uses a continental grip for both sides, which enables him to switch between shots quickly and easily. He has mastered the art of deception by changing his paddle angle at the last moment to surprise his opponents.
Ben Johns is not only a great player, but also a great ambassador for pickleball. He is humble, respectful, friendly, and generous. He always gives credit to his partners and opponents. He always smiles and enjoys the game. He always interacts with fans and supports the growth of pickleball. He is a role model for many aspiring players who want to follow in his footsteps.
FAQs
Ben Johns was born on July 24, 1999, in Rockville, Maryland. He is currently 24 years old.
A Triple Crown is when a player wins gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same tournament. Ben Johns has achieved this feat eight times so far.
Ben Johns is the co-owner of two businesses: Pickleball Getaways (all-inclusive vacations with pickleball instruction) and Pickleball 360 (instructional video subscription service). You can visit his website to learn more about them.
You can watch some of his amazing matches on YouTube. You can also follow him on Instagram or Facebook to get updates on his upcoming tournaments and events.
Ben Johns uses the Franklin X-40 pickleball paddle, which he helped design and customize. He has his signature and logo on the paddle, which is available for purchase on his website.
Ben Johns has several nicknames, such as “The Machine”, “The Phenom”, “The Kid”, and “The GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time). These nicknames reflect his incredible skills and achievements in pickleball.
Ben Johns enjoys playing chess, reading books, listening to music, and watching movies. He is also interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. He has a degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Maryland.
You can learn from Ben Johns by subscribing to his instructional video service, Pickleball 360, where he shares his tips and tricks on how to improve your pickleball game. You can also join his all-inclusive vacations, Pickleball Getaways, where he offers pickleball coaching and clinics. You can also follow him on social media and watch his matches online to see him in action.
Collin Johns is Ben Johns’ younger brother, who is also a professional pickleball player. He is ranked No. 4 in the world for Men’s Doubles by the PPA. He often partners with Ben Johns in doubles tournaments, and they have won several titles together.
Conclusion
Ben Johns is the king of pickleball. He has dominated the sport like no one else. He has won more titles and awards than anyone else. He has set new standards and records that will be hard to break. He has shown the world what pickleball is all about. He has inspired millions of people to play and love pickleball.
Ben Johns is not just a pickleball player. He is a pickleball legend.