Ben Cawston is the Coach of a Special Pickleball Clinic in Rome on January 17, 2025 and Pickleball Milano took the opportunity to interview him. Ben comes from a unique sport called rackets, but he is now focusing on pickleball, where he ranks number one in Great Britain (men’s singles and doubles) and number 10 in Europe in singles (Pickleball Global rankings).

As we usually do in our interviews, let’s start with how you got into pickleball.

 

I compete in a sport called rackets, played in Great Britain and the United States, with some similarities to squash. I attended a rackets tournament in the USA in September 2023 and saw pickleball courts and players everywhere. When I returned to London, I started playing pickleball and fell in love with the sport.

What’s the pickleball scene like in Great Britain?

It’s growing. There are three or four clubs with permanent courts and many temporary courts, sometimes marked with tape on badminton courts, as the court dimensions are the same. There are several high-level players, including Louis Laville, who has a DUPR ranking of 6.0. On the organizational side, there’s Pickleball England, but many people believe that it’ll eventually fall under the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

On January 17, you’re in Rome as a coach for a pickleball clinic. What do you plan to teach?

I’ll focus on dinks and the third shot. There are techniques players can learn to place dinks in ways that force opponents to move and increase their error rate. Regarding the third shot, it’s still a fundamental aspect of pickleball, though it’s becoming common to hit a strong drive on the third shot and drop on the fifth.

Is this your first time in Italy?

No, I’ve been to Rome and Milan to play, and a few months ago, I competed in the Italian Open in Tocco da Casauria. It was the sixth edition of the tournament, a historic pickleball event in Italy. I won gold medals in both men’s and mixed doubles, and I’m really happy with the results.

What are the current trends in pickleball?

Pickleball is evolving quickly. One reason is the innovation in paddle materials, which make them more powerful, precise, and capable of generating more spin. This leads to trends like aggressive dinking and powerful drives. Reaction times are getting shorter. Firefights (close-quarters, rapid volley exchanges) are becoming more common. Personally, I love firefights and fast-paced play in general.

How often do you play and train, and what paddle do you use?

I play three to four times a week, usually doubles. Singles is fun but very demanding and more similar to tennis than true pickleball. I enjoy playing with an Engage Pro1 paddle—it’s lightweight but doesn’t compromise on power.

You’ve competed in a pro tournament in the USA. What was the experience like?

I expected it, but I was still surprised at how many players are incredibly strong. Even in the qualifiers or the first round of a tournament, you face tough opponents.

You’re also a coach. Any advice or observations?

I enjoy coaching. For a coach, staying up-to-date is essential, given how the game changes every two to three years. With the trend of hitting strong, flat drives, it’s also important to train players to handle “bangers” effectively.

After Rome, do you have any other notable events planned?

I’ll be at the World Pickleball League in Mumbai, India. It’s a tournament where players from over a dozen countries are invited and divided into six teams. The organizers hope that an international event of this scale, in its first edition, will further encourage the development of pickleball in Asia.