Dave Fleming, a skilled athlete and seasoned commentator, is the lead announcer for the Professional Pickleball Association Tour. His exceptional talent as an on-air personality has been acknowledged by the Pickleball community, as he was recently voted as the Best On-Air Talent in Pickleball. Besides commentating, Dave is also an accomplished player and is ranked among the top Senior Pro players in the United States.
Dave is a man of many talents. He is not only a Pickleball pro, but also an ad executive and a renowned corporate comedian. According to CBS News, he is ranked as the second-best corporate comedian in the country. In addition to his professional achievements, Dave is a devoted father and co-founder of the Picklepalooza festival. This festival, which is now in its third year, is a celebration of the sport of Pickleball and its community.
Whether he is on the court or on stage, Dave always manages to have a good time. Dave Fleming pickleball passion and his humorous personality make him a crowd favorite wherever he goes.
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Information About Dave’s Background
The person in question has a background of over 20 years in marketing for major brands such as Dr Pepper, Pizza Hut, and Snapple. He is happily married to his wife, Deb Fleming, and has two daughters named Gaby and Natalie. He refers to himself as a #girldad. His life motto is to find laughter every day.
He completed his education at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in 1994 and went on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classics from Stanford University. He also earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. During his time at Stanford, he was involved in broadcasting Stanford Cardinal baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, and football. Additionally, he served as Sports Director at KZSU.
In December of 2016, he was invited by a friend on his 5.0 tennis team to play pickleball at a church gym where his friend’s wife manages recreational programs. He had a blast playing and continued to improve by learning the rules and strategies of the game. Eventually, he entered tournaments and still enjoys playing today.
Outside of pickleball, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his dog Sydney. He is a loyal fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, and always wears black and gold when playing pickleball.
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Details About Dave’s Fleming Career
In 2018, at the Cedar Park Championships, he won the Mixed Doubles event with his partner Helen Wilhelm. Later that year, at the US Open, he won the 35+ Men’s Doubles event with Adam stone pickleball, earning a Gold medal. Additionally, he won a Bronze medal in the 50+ Mixed Doubles event with Helen Wilhelm. At the USAPA Mid-South Regional tournament in the same year, he won the Singles event and Men’s Doubles event with Scott Baker, both in the 5.0 50+ category, earning Gold medals. In 2017, at the USAPA National Championships, he won the Men’s Doubles Gold medal in the 4.5 50+ category.
Tips and Tricks by Dave
Dave Said that : I have a unique style in pickleball, specifically when it comes to my two-handed backhand. Despite being an uncommon technique among male players, I am proficient in hitting powerful drives, adding a lot of spin to cut dinks, and disguising my volleys with precision placement and variable pace. It’s essential to ignore any negative opinions about your playstyle or shot selection in pickleball. The beauty of this sport lies in the fact that players come from diverse backgrounds, and you should utilize your strengths to mold your game accordingly, regardless of their origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Dave Fleming currently uses the Engage Elite Pro paddle, but he is experimenting with several other paddles to find the ideal combination of power and control. He will update on his findings in the future.
Answer: Dave prefers playing pickleball outdoors, as he is accustomed to the challenges posed by the elements, having played tennis since he was 5 years old.
Answer: Dave prefers playing doubles pickleball. He enjoys the camaraderie of having four people on the court, the strategy required to complement his partner’s Adam stone pickleball game, and the thrill of winning a big match with a partner. His experience at the 2018 US Open playing with three fantastic players against top-notch competition solidified his love for doubles.
Answer: Dave enjoys playing anywhere with good competition and always brings his paddle when he travels. However, if he had to choose just one, it would be the Bobby Riggs tennis and paddle center, owned and operated by Steve and Jennifer Dawson. Dave loves the center’s location, competition level, and the opportunity to catch a beautiful California sunset after a long day of playing pickleball. He plans to participate in two tournaments there this summer.
Conclusion
Dave Fleming is a well-known personality in the pickleball community who has achieved success as a player, coach, and spokesperson for the game. He has demonstrated his aggressive play style, superb footwork, and powerful serves in several national and international tournament victories.
Dave Fleming has been instrumental in developing pickleball throughout his career. Both as a player and a coach, he made significant contributions that helped the game gain popularity and expand. He is regarded as one of the best athletes in the world for his extraordinary talent and technique.
