Callie's Picks
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CALLIE JO SMITH
Professional Pickleball Player | 11 x PPA Tour Champion | EleVen by Venus Williams Ambassador
CALLIE JO SMITH
Eleven by venus williams - brand amabassador
We are so excited to welcome Callie Jo Smith to the EleVen family. Callie is a Professional Pickleball Player and an 11 x PPA Tour Champion. She embodies the EleVen spirit of pursuing your best self and pushing past a 10 to be an 11/10.
We are SO excited to have you as part of the EleVen family, what does the pursuit of best self and being an 11/10 mean to you?
The pursuit of one’s best self and being an 11/10 means you’re always looking to improve, and content, but never satisfied with the result. There’s always room to improve in every aspect of sports, and life, and I think it’s important to continually strive to become your best self, which, every day, as you work hard and stay motivated and disciplined, will be better than the day before.
How would your family describe you in 3 words?
Driven, selfless, fierce
You come from a tennis background, even achieving state champion level, when did you start playing Pickleball and how did you get into it?
I was asked about 5 years ago (2019) to play in a round robin pickleball tournament with my grandfather-in-law, George Snell. At the time, I was pregnant with my second child, and 100 percent against the “sport.” In fact, I had even vowed that I would never be caught dead with a picklebal paddle in my hand. Well, little did I know that I would soon fall in love with pickleball, meet my best friends, and play this amazing sport as a profession. It’s changed my life in positive ways, and I have grown to love it!
What was your biggest misconception about Pickleball before you started playing it?
One of the biggest misconceptions I had about pickleball was that it was easy (especially since I had played tennis at a high level). As soon as my husband and I had a pretty good beat down by people twice our age, we realized it wasn’t as easy as we’d originally thought. It took longer than we thought it would to learn the rules and to acquire various pickleball shots and strategies.
When did you turn professional and what did that journey look like?
I decided to try to play pickleball professionally at the end of 2019. Instead of playing just for fun, I began to train, drill, ask questions from the players that were better than I was, and sought out learning from the professional players currently in the game. It took a lot of losses to learn what I needed to improve on, and after a few years, I was finally able to break into the top rankings. The journey has taken a lot of hard work, early mornings to train, hours spent playing and drilling on the courts, and sacrifice, to get where I am now, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
What advice do you have for people thinking of trying Pickleball?
My advice would be to let nothing hold you back from trying this amazing sport, but to be prepared for the addiction that might follow that decision!
What does a day in the life of Callie Jo Smith look like?
Wake up at 5:00am, train/drill from 5:30/6:00am-8:00/9:00am, then come home, finish getting the kids ready, fed, and off to school, then lift, stretch, and/or train for 2-3 more hours, clean the house (laundry, dishes, yard work, etc.), respond to emails/sponsors/phone calls, get the kids from school, spend some time with the kids, make and eat dinner, spiritual thought, family prayer, and scripture reading with the family, and then get the kids and everyone ready for bed!
What does your training schedule look like?
I would say it’s around 70-80 percent drilling and training, and 20-30 percent playing. I’ll probably spend an average of 20 hours a week drilling and practicing on court, and an additional 10-15 hours a week of lifting, stretching, training, or recovery off court.
You share daily Pickleball tips on your Instagram @calliejosmith_pickleball, but what would be your number 1 tip for Pickleball Players?
My number one tip for pickleball players would be to have your paddle up (at least above your wrist) when you’re in your ready position, or getting ready to hit a ball.
Do you have a role model or mentor you look up to, who and why?
My grandpa, Wayne Pearce, has always been one of my role models and someone I’ve looked up to because he had a passion for tennis, the sport he loved, and shared his passion and knowledge freely with everyone around him. Not only was he an amazing athlete, player, and coach, but he was also an amazing person, who treated others with kindness and respect. He emanated a love for others, worked hard, and loved his family and those around him. I’ve always wanted to grow up to be just like him.
What do you love most about playing Pickleball?
I love a million things about the game, but I really enjoy the quick changes in pace that can happen mid-point. For example, you’ll have soft shots and finesse in one moment, and then in the next, it becomes a game of quick, explosive power and pace, only to be re-set again to slow and methodical. It’s awesome!
Do you have a ritual on the day of tournaments or a good luck charm?
Kyle, my husband, and my two children are my good luck charms. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to play what I love, and a kiss or a phone call from them before a tournament or match puts everything into perspective for me, calms me, and get me ready for the game.
What do you love most about your EleVen by Venus Williams looks?
I love the comfort and style together!! Sometimes you’ll get a cute outfit that’s not as comfortable, but with the EleVen by Venus Williams line, you get it all! When you look good, you feel good haha and the EleVen line does that for me!!
You have already achieved so much in this sport, being #1 in the world and an 11 times PPA Tour Champion, but we know you have so much more to give, what's next for you?
I plan to compete until my legs give out! All the while though, I’ll continue to coach and share my knowledge with others—just like my mom and my grandfather did— and hopefully build a brand and legacy that they, my kids, and my family will be as proud of as I am.
