Hey, padel enthusiast.
Welcome to Padel Smash Academy.
My name is Cez Padel Club owner and entrepreneur.
Next to me is Julian Padel Master Coach, and we're all about paddle.
Whether you're new to the sport or an experienced player,
you've come to the right.
Our goal is to provide you with padel news, tournament outcomes,
product reviews, and video lessons to take your game to the next level.
So grab your paddle and let's get started at Paddle Smash Academy.
Hello everyone.
Welcome back to Paddle Smash Academy.
Today we have an exciting, exciting podcast.
We're gonna be talking about the top of the line, one of the The best.
The best.
Okay.
T h e, the best paddle club in Miami and probably the United States.
The Reserve.
We had a pleasure to talk to.
Uh, one of the, um, uh, what is it?
Marketing, uh, I think she was a manager there, Erica and manager Erica.
And, um, Cesar will give you an uh, And we got the low down.
Yes, the low down, the load down.
All, all the information, uh, at the reserve, because I think there's
this big like, uh, I don't know, rumor, A lot of rumors, right?
A lot of rumors, questions, this and that.
And I think we talked about Reserve Paddle Club before, and that was, you
know, and they've been changing so much change, changing their policies,
um, you know, And I think they're, they're going on the right track.
And so I got a lot of great information from her and I wanna thank
her, uh, number one and the club.
And I, you know, I'm really considering to be a member there
cause I just love their model.
Um, today we went over there and we saw, uh, uh, a Diaz and Selingo playing there.
Yeah.
You know, it was Martin Diaz was there playing Selingo, was there playing?
Yes.
Uh, they were playing with Gavi and, and.
Incredible to watch 'em there.
Yeah.
I mean, it's just, it's, it's pretty amazing.
Yeah.
So I think the first thing is, I think we went over a price, right?
It was a 5,000.
Yeah.
But let let, let me say something.
Yeah.
I just wanna ask, this was my first time.
I was just there today and it was my first time.
It was mind blowing how that place it is.
I mean, , it is the best paddle club in the United States by far.
I mean, it's such a beautiful, beautiful place.
The view, the level of playing the service, I mean,
the food, the, the ambience.
You wanna stay there forever.
Honestly, I had a, you know, when you walk into a place and you feel like you
belong to it, that you want to stay there?
You, you don't wanna run away from.
That's the way I felt.
I want you to stay there.
I can stay there all day long, just watching Great Paddle.
And they were doing lessons, they were doing clinics, they were doing, uh, these,
you know, top legends playing Paddle next to us and everybody was getting photos.
Truly, truly, and a spectacularly experience from me.
So sorry to up.
Wow, Julian, you were pretty impressed, huh?
Yes.
Yeah.
I mean, you should have went there on Friday night.
You know.
Yeah.
WY Clef was there.
Oh really?
Yeah.
They had an exhibition game.
I mean, it was amazing.
A DJ Brazil, a music week here in Miami.
Unbelievable.
We missed out.
Yeah.
You know.
Well now he's gonna be a member, so might as well I'm gonna start going more.
Yeah, yeah.
It'll be my, um, you can give us the, the juicy thing that is happening there.
Definitely.
So we're gonna do that right now and give you some more information.
So I think we went over this last time.
It is 5,000.
But, uh, it is a pop-up, you know, uh, business, kind of a club
meet, which means that, you know, they temporarily have that space.
Um, it doesn't mean that until end of June, but it doesn't mean that that's
it, you know, they're obviously, you know, reapplying, uh, to be there for
another six months or another year.
Which is most likely going to happen.
I think it all depends on what they're doing with that location, if owners
will eventually sell it or not.
But, uh, I assume it's gonna get extended.
Um, hopefully it does.
But they're, you know, they've been working on another location,
uh, that's gonna be in two, come on, 2024, a little bit up north.
So I think this is kind of like the tryout and they're kind of building
their members, um, for that club.
But, uh, we're hoping that this club here in reserve is going to extend up to 2024.
, um, until they have their, their new club up north.
Um, so that's kind of what I got from it.
Um, again, it's $5,000 and if you have a a spouse, you can add them
on there with no additional cost.
Okay.
Which is great.
They have yoga and they have all these events.
Every other week they have a, uh, a league, uh, there as well.
So as a member, uh, you get 20% off.
Okay.
Um, uh, the courts, uh, you're able, uh, to play in court one and two,
which is only offered to the members.
Um, you're also offered to, to, you know, co-coach by, um, the two top coaches.
There will, and.
. Um, so these are all kind of the, the, the benefits that,
that you have as being a member.
Um, I think their plan is to be more specific on who they want as members
and get a certain amount of members and not, you know, uh, not get
too many members where the members won't be able to benefit, you know.
Let me, let's talk about prices.
So how much is it for, for a court time and all that?
So the court time, I believe she says one 50.
One 50.
Yep.
For an hour and a half.
An hour and a half, and then you get 20% off.
Yeah, but she said something that is for an hour.
That was a hundred dollars for an hour.
A hundred dollars for an hour.
Yeah.
So, and then you get 20% off if you're a member.
Okay.
But you can reserve a court for an hour or and a half, because we would've, the
rest of the place is hour and a half.
I believe that they tell us an hour, just so it seems a little bit less.
But really you're reserving the court for an hour and a half.
Yeah.
So they, when you call, it's an hour and a half.
Always.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yep.
And then, uh, yeah, so, so how much is it for one 50?
One 50 for three people and then, well for four people.
Four people.
I'm sorry.
And then you get 20% off if you're a.
. Okay.
So, which, which is not bad.
I mean, it's, it's, it's, it's pretty reasonable, uh, that the trick is that
you invest that type of money, um, for three, or let's say three months, you
know, because there is a pop-up business.
So it may end in June, uh, or you invest in it, you know, hoping that they're
gonna continue to the end of the year.
Which I assume is going to happen, you know, what are
other benefits do they have?
I mean, they focus on the social aspect of it, and I saw that going there.
I mean, I saw these professional players there.
I mean, they're accessible there, you know, these great, um, you know,
coaches, um, you know, a lot of affluent people are playing there.
You know, I mean, this is, uh, a great club.
, you know, um, so if you're looking to be social, um, you know, they, they have,
you know, they're constantly doing events.
Yes.
Uh, I was there last Friday.
I mean, it was a great event.
I mean, they had a exhibition game.
Um, they had a DJ there from Brazil, uh, that DJ'ed at the Ultra.
Um, you know, they had a couple celebrities there.
Um, it was, it was great.
And, and.
You know, you're able to go, even as a non-member, you just
have to register, you know?
But of course they give, they offer that to members first.
Uh, and then afterwards they allow other people to come in as long as you register.
You said something very interesting that you became a member for, for
another aspect too, which is networking.
Yeah.
You know, and networking.
I mean, all the people, the feeling that I got today when I
went there, it's these high, very influential people, high earners.
People that, you know, they're doing big things here in the Miami
area and the United States, so that could be also a good Yes.
The $5,000 is sort of like definitely the entry gate to networking with high
influential people opening up doors.
Right.
Opening up, opening up doors, and, and I think that's the, that's their market.
Yeah.
That's what they're looking for.
Yeah.
I, I, I, something that happens to me when I was there, well,
you, you were talking to Erica.
One guy finished playing in one of the courts right in front of me and I was
just looking at it and, um, he wanted to take a shower and he said, uh, Erica
said, oh, you can go and take a shower at, uh, Wayne's yacht, which it was
parked right there next to the water.
So he went to take a shower on Wayne's, the owner private yacht who was
parked right there next to the club.
So that's a good park too.
You know what I mean?
Yeah, you can, you can take a shower on the, on the owner's yacht.
Private.
There's no guarantee you could take a shout on his Julian . No, no.
But you never know if you're the, you never know.
I'm sure he, I'm sure he was a good friend, but it was funny
when I hear and said, oh, okay, well, Kijak is parked right there
and he's taking a shower there.
It's very cool of him, man.
Yeah, exactly.
Very cool.
That that was pretty cool.
Very cool.
Yeah, definitely.
You . Yeah, so I'll bring my clothes.
I've got, just in case, just in case we can take a shower in ki, I don't
know if he's an open, you know, public bathroom or a public shower facility,
but they, they don't have a shower there because again, this is kind of a popup.
I think if.
An extended, uh, permit there for at least a year or, or two
year, or at least up to 2024.
I believe that they'll probably do something.
Yeah.
You know, but this is a pop-up.
So they're not, they're not, they're not sure how long it's gonna be
there, uh, for, I mean, and they have other things, like I said,
yoga and the events that they have.
I mean, uh, this, this week they're having these events,
uh, with professional players.
They got playing their Diaz.
You kidding me?
Really?
Well, everyone might as well.
If you're here in Miami, come over, you know, and there's, and, and if
you, they allow on the website to register to some of these events.
And for free, we're gonna put the link right below very to register.
You have to be very quick.
And the other thing too, that Erica told me, which was really nice, is that,
You know, you can just come in there.
You don't have to be a member, right?
You can go in as long as you are going to, uh, uh, Vida.
What is it called?
Vida.
Which, which, uh, I believe sublease is there from them.
Uh, in order something you can just sit down and watch,
you know, the game's there.
Yes.
Um, so you don't necessarily have to be a member to come in.
I mean, you.
order something and you can sit there, eat and watch some of the
games and just enjoy the, the area.
And let me for next.
So it's this weekend we're gonna have that exciting evening.
I think it's this week.
It starts on Wednesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
So, you know, I'll, I'll invite you, make sure to, there you go.
I love it.
And for you guys, I mean, if you guys are in the Miami area, I, I'm gonna
give you the perfect rack racket, sports plan, Saturday, Sunday,
semi-finals and finals with Miami Open.
20 minutes from here, or maybe half hour from here.
on your spare time, you can come and watch at the Reserve.
Unbelievable Paddle playing by the top professionals in the world.
Yeah.
Doesn't get any better than that.
Paddle and tennis on the same, on the same weekend.
Wow.
It's gonna be unbelievable.
Yeah.
It's pretty awesome, huh?
So come over, check it out.
I'll be going.
So he's going to.
Right, right.
Y'all definitely, I'm there, man.
Well, we had some bunch of questions, right?
Yes.
From our viewers.
So, um, we're gonna go over that, you know, today, basic question,
which is, I get it quite often from, from my experience, what is
the most underrated shot in paddle?
I think we both agreed on that, right?
We both agreeing that that's gonna be the love man.
The love, it's the most rated shot.
It's, it's the most boring, right?
But it's the most effective.
Yes.
I mean it, you can use it any times when you're in a tight
situation or your partner's out of.
lab, it gives you time, right?
Yes.
If you got people attacking that, that.
, you don't have to risk doing an a, a, you know, a, a difficult shot.
Or you could do a lob yes, you know, uh, there's, you know, that's one of
the best shots, but underrated for sure.
Look, in, in, in paddle, you have to master the, the lob period.
And in paddle we have three different type of LOBs.
So that's why, and there is also a proper technique for the lobsters.
So that's why it is not just hitting a lo, hitting the ball up, but
nowhere to hit it, hit it with a purpose, and there is a proper.
That's why it's so important for you to take lessons in paddle.
You know, one is called the rainy lob, or, or, or jdo is the one
that goes really, really high.
And you see the, the, the professional place and it comes straight, straight,
uh, straight, straight down and, and it's very difficult to hit.
The other one is the fast lob, the other one is the one with back spin on it.
So there, there are certain LOBs that you have to master, but it has to
be the most underrated shot in tens.
It's always the last resource shot and you don't.
Train it or anything.
Right?
I mean, you don't bat in paddle, you have to train the lo.
Yeah.
Okay.
And that's why it's the most underrated shot in, in, in our case.
You know, I think we're, we should do a video lesson on, on the lab, right?
Yeah, definitely.
We should, we should do a video lesson on it.
So, uh, the next one, uh, well I have quite a few, but, uh, I think
one, this one is gonna go up to you.
If I wanna open a paddle club, what should I.
This, what should be this smartest approach?
Oof.
That's a tough one.
Uh, I think that all depends on.
If, uh, you have financial backing or if you're doing it yourself, um,
you know, if you're just doing it yourself, I would, you know, probably,
uh, do the least amount of possible so you can get your R R R E O, uh, and
return on investment back very quickly.
Um, if you do have investors and you have other verticals of revenue, I mean,
then you can do something a little bit.
Um, but I guess it all depends on, on that.
But if I were you, um, I would focus on, uh, how much my fixed cost would be.
If you can own the asset would be better, you know, the land, uh, and then
maybe do something, um, not enclosed.
You know, something very, uh, the least amount is possible and start
with three or four courts, depending on where you are, if you have to.
, uh, you know, the people in that area.
Then start with three, three quarts, uh, and make sure you can add another two,
uh, if you, or three if you, if you can.
Um, so that's kind of what I would suggest.
I mean, I think we did a whole podcast on courts.
Yes.
And I, and I think another aspect of that is location.
Location I think is very important.
You know, you can, you can be in the middle of nowhere and
you won't get any traffic.
Right.
My suggestion, when I do consulting for, for clubs and upcoming
clubs, it's, I suggest them to do at least a minimum of six.
For the simple reason that if you wanna run programs and if you wanna
monetize it, the, obviously the more courts, the more money you will
make, uh, or, or you will generate.
Um, so there are different aspects of it, but like he said, you know, oh, maybe do
a hybrid type of thing that'll go indoor and outdoors will be also important.
A smarter way to go.
Yeah.
So for instance, if you're in an area which nobody knows paddle you,
you're not gonna put 12 paddle courts.
But let's just say in the area, people.
Pickle.
So you may want to do three paddle courts and maybe three pickle courts,
you know, and then kind of convert those pickle players into paddle.
Yeah.
And then convert those pickle courts back, back into the paddle.
Correct.
Um, if you're in an area which people are in no paddle, then, you know, you could
put up to a courts and you're probably gonna do a decent job filling them.
So it, it all depends, like, like you said, at the location.
Yeah.
You know, um, location.
Nobody knows about pedal location, where people do know about paddle.
So, um, but if, again, if you're gonna do it on your own, uh, you
know, if you're in New England or in an area where's not always warm,
um, you, as long as you probably.
A good, you probably lose maybe two months, but your cost of to do something
in indoor, in indoors, and the time.
You know, is too long and the return on investment is too long.
Uh, unless again, you have, um, you know, investors or other,
other verticals of revenue.
Exactly.
I mean, uh, subleasing or, or having, uh, uh, subleasing to many people in,
in, in that facility is another former.
Yeah.
The verticals could be offer a, your classes, uh, fitness rooms.
Uh, yeah.
Other source of revenue, workout areas, you know?
Yeah.
The, the food and beverage, uh, option.
It's, it's always very, very, uh, rewarding because you can make some good
money in alcohol and, and, and food.
Uh, but yeah, it's, it's, it has to be a whole package.
It's not just paddle, but.
You know, create that community where they come to the club and,
and they feel welcome and, and they have different options.
And it depends on your model too.
I mean, you know, you may go with, you know, owning the asset, you
know, the, the, the, the property.
Yeah.
And developing the company, getting a certain ebitda, and then selling it.
and then creating some passive income.
Yeah, I mean, that's another model to look at and that's kind of how I look at
Yeah.
At Paddle.
Um, you know, cause I love paddle's more of a passion thing, but you, you
know, it, it's really tough if you're in an area where the, the price per
square feet is so high doesn't make financial sense to do a, a paddle court.
It just, just doesn't, you know?
Um, so you have to kind of be careful.
Um, I mean, you look at areas like, uh, here in Miami and
also even in New York Paddle.
I mean, it's so expensive and it has to be because, uh, the price
per square foot is so expensive.
You know, one of the things that is happening is very interesting in
that it's happening not only here in the United States, but all over the
world now, paddle cores are going up, and what, what I mean by that?
They're going to, uh, rooftops, you know, there are many, many places that they have
parking lots where the top floor in the parking lot is always the empty one, and
now they're leasing or they're, they're.
those sun roof, you know, sun Yeah.
Rooftops.
And they're building cords there because now you ha you have
no more land to build courts.
Yeah.
So now you're going up, and that's an very, it is happening Abu Dhabi.
It's happening in, in, in Europe where now they're building courts.
We used to have courts in the past 10 courts and sun rule and sun, um,
rooftops and same thing, uh, soccer fields and, and football fields.
And a lot of these areas, if you can prove.
Those aren't being used.
Exactly.
You can easily get a variance for it.
Yeah.
You know, so that's an interest constant, you know, for you
guys to be looking around.
So, one, I mean, we can go on this for, for hours.
I mean, you know, what will be the right combination and all that, but.
The potential is there.
The, the love for the sport is there and it's gonna keep on
growing and growing and growing.
So, all right, what do we got next?
Next?
How do you respond if your opponent puts you on the fridge?
Every single time?
And this is a tough one, that everybody struggles when we play there.
Always put me in the fridge, right?
Exactly.
. So, and here's, here's the best thing that I tell all my students.
You know what I mean?
paddle is very strategic, right?
So, and always hitting the CrossCore shot is always the easiest shot.
So let's say I'm playing with, with Jesus success and, and
they're hitting everything to him.
So I'm, I'm, I'm just sitting there getting cold and no
really hitting any balls.
So the moment he starts hitting down the line, either loves or hitting down the
line, now you are making the opponent who's receiving that shot down the.
He's obligated to go across group because always that's
the easiest shot for him to do.
So that's one of the things that you have to really learn.
When you're not getting so much play on it, because now they're getting smarter.
They're playing to the weaker, weaker player.
Yeah.
Now tell your p your, your, your partner to start hitting more down the line and
automatically that momentum will shift to you because that the cross score show
will always be the safest shot to, to hit.
That, that that's a great, that's, yeah, that's is a great tip.
Yeah.
You know, the other thing too is if you're in a, if you're in a
fridge, um, Don't, don't get cold.
You know, you gotta bounce and pretend like you're hitting that ball.
Yes.
Because they're waiting for you to get, you know, cold and then
they're gonna hit it to you and you're gonna make an force error.
Yeah.
So, no, you know, they get three, four shots, pretend you're bouncing,
you're pretend you're in rhythm, you're pretend you're hitting that ball.
And so that way when they do hit it to you, you'll, you'll be less like
to make another force error and try to be more active, especially on the net.
Try to poach more onto the other side.
Especially depends on what size you're playing, but it's crucial for you.
Play more the strategic and then play with your partner more in the strategic,
you know, aspect of, of the game, but it's just your partner changing the
direction of, of going down the line, which is a little bit more risky.
Automatically the opponents will, will have to tend to
move to the crossword side.
So let's, we're talking about you being on the left side, right?
Yes.
So you're gonna be hitting, you, you're not, you're getting all the balls.
I'm not, you're gonna be hitting the, the, the ball to the person.
Uh, on the other side, which would be playing also the, the left, right?
No, in the mi in the middle, but a little bit over.
I'm playing on.
Right, right.
So I'm gonna be heading down the line to the four side of the opposite side.
Right.
So, so, so that way he can get, he can, he can get, exactly.
Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.
So he will go either to the middle or CrossCore and now, especially
if it's deep, because Exactly.
It's very hard to turn.
Yeah.
I mean, because I mean, 400 down the line will be much more risky
for him to go right to the middle.
Great advice, great advice.
So that will be the best, best, best, uh, option for you guys.
Always hit with a purpose.
And what I mean by that, it's place in the shot place into the weaker player,
but if the weaker players start playing smart, You know, that's how you change
the dynamics of getting out outside the, you know, outside the, the freezing zone.
That's what we call it.
Right, right.
All right.
What else?
Do we have anything else or, I, I think, I mean, we have quite a, a few
options, but we'll, we'll leave more questions for, for our net PO podcast
because we can be talking here forever.
Thanks for tuning in to Palo Smash Academy.
We hope your final videos informative and helpful in improving your game
and learning all things paddle.
And if you haven't already, make sure that you hit that subscribe.
And turn on the notification so you never miss a video from us.
So until next time, keep practicing, keep improving, and
keep on smashing that paddle.
See you in the court.