Meet the Pros - Matt Goebel

Meet the Pros – Matt Goebel

Matt played pickleball on his own home court as a kid. He also has quite the court advantage! Look at that reach! The competition must have a difficult time getting the ball past Matt.  Enjoy!

Can you list for us your major wins so we can correctly introduce you to our readers?

2018 USA Pickleball Nationals 19+ Men's Doubles Gold with Tyson McGuffin
2018 Tournament of Champions Men's Doubles Pro Gold with Tyson McGuffin
2018 Triple Crown Men's Doubles Silver with Joey Farias
2018 SoCal Summer Classic Men's Doubles Open Bronze with Tyler Loong
2018 International Indoor Pickleball Championships Mixed Doubles Open Bronze with Miok Lee
2018 Brigham City Memorial Mixed Doubles Open Silver with Christine Barksdale
2018 US Open Men's Doubles Pro Bronze with Tyson McGuffin
2017 Coeur d'Alene Classic Men's Doubles Gold with Tyson McGuffin
2017 Canadian Nationals Men's Doubles Open Silver with Tyson McGuffin
2017 International Indoor Pickleball Championships Men's Doubles Open Silver with Tyson McGuffin
2017 Brigham City Memorial Men's Doubles Pro Silver with Tyson McGuffin
2017 Grand Canyon State Games Men's Doubles 19+ Bronze with Rob Davidson

What paddle do you play with and why?

I play with the Selkirk AMPED Invikta. I really love Selkirk as a company and what they stand for and believe in, and they also make some great paddles. The Invikta is longer than the traditional paddle, but not as skinny as your regular elongated paddle. It gives you that extra reach that really enhances how you can strike the ball without shrinking the sweet spot or paddle face.

What is your pickleball story? How were you introduced to pickleball?

I grew up just outside of Seattle and actually had a pickleball court in my back yard when I was really young, so I was introduced to the sport early on. When we moved, I started playing tennis and left pickleball behind. Then, when I was playing tennis in college, my parents got invited to play at a rec center by some friends, sop I joined in and got hooked again. Whenever I came home for breaks we'd all go play pickleball. When I graduated, we played a tournament in Canada, and I haven't really played tennis since.

What is your preference – playing indoors or outdoors?

Nothing beats getting to play pickleball outdoors on a sunny day. Up here in Washington we don't get the opportunity to play outdoors year round, so when I can get outside I take full advantage of it!

Do you like singles or doubles better? Why?

Definitely doubles. I love the strategy and the way you can set up a point in doubles. It requires you to work really well with your partner and have a lot of patience to wait for the right opportunity to attack.

What is your favorite place to play? Why?

I enjoy all of the tournaments Kyle Klein and Co. put on in Brigham City, UT. They have a beautiful facility with 16 courts plus a championship court that is tough to beat. But the real draw is the people and the hospitality. When I go to play there, I feel like a part of the family and enjoy every second of it.

What is your secret sauce? Any tips for players?

The number one thing that helps me compete with the best players is my aggressive forehand that puts my opponents on the defensive and allows to finish off points early. It's really important for all players to find a style that works well for them. Figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are and find a way to highlight your strengths and hide your weaknesses. Not everyone can be great in all aspects of pickleball, but we can all play the game on our terms to best set ourselves up for success.

What is your day job?

I am a high school math teacher, which makes the summer months an ideal time to travel around and get to play with and against some of the best players in the country.

How many hours a week do you play? How do you make time to play?

I typically play 2-5 hours a week, but try to ramp that up in the weeks leading up to a tournament. It's hard to find time to play consistently during the school year, but my wife knows how much I enjoy playing, so we make sure to find some time each week and sometimes I even convince her to come drill with me.

Any lucky rituals before a big tournament?

Nothing special for tournaments. I just try to treat it like a normal day. Get a good nights sleep, get a hearty breakfast in, and make sure to get a good warm up. My wife and I did go to Hawaii for our honeymoon directly before Tyson and I won gold at Tournament Of Champions, so that might have to become the ritual in the future.

Do you have any pickleball goals you would like to share?

Competitively, my goal is to win a gold medal in men's doubles at the three major tournaments. I'm 1/3 of the way there, so we're making progress. Outside of the competition, I want to continue to travel around and meet more wonderful people from all over the country and world, playing this glorious sport.

Anything else you would like to share about your experience being one of the best pickleball players in the world?

The thing that makes this sport so exceptional is the accessibility and the social aspect. Anyone and everyone can pick up a paddle and play. I get to play against the best of the best, but I also get to go home and play with my wife, my siblings, my parents. It's a sport that brings people together. Throughout my time playing, I've met some truly wonderful people that have made my life better, and I look forward to all of the new experiences and relationships that this sport will provide me in the future!