Who is behind SwePickleball – and why was the site started? In this interview, the founder talks about the background of SwePickleball, his journey into the sport, and the ambition to build a comprehensive Swedish site for pickleball players.
The article was originally published as a presentation of the person behind the site and is preserved here as part of SwePickleball's own history.
Who started SwePickleball?
Who are you who started SwePickleball?
I, who started and run SwePickleball, am Billy Skånbeck, and I live in Björkvik in Södermanland.
I have always enjoyed sports and have participated in several different sports over the years. When I was younger, it included tennis and badminton, but also the somewhat unusual combination of ice hockey and mini golf. In recent years, I have played a lot of floorball and padel.
Nowadays, pickleball is primarily what I play. My home court is in Björkvik, although a large part of my own play takes place in Nyköping.
Why was SwePickleball started?
Why did you start the site?
The reason was quite simple: I lacked a really good and comprehensive Swedish site about pickleball.
The ambition was therefore to build a site where Swedish players can find as much as possible in one place – from rules and techniques to tournaments, clubs, news, and equipment.
The goal has always been for SwePickleball to be a natural starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about the sport or find new ways to play.
What is the idea behind SwePickleball?
What is the idea behind the site?
The idea is that you should be able to find everything about pickleball here.
One example is pickleball tournaments in Sweden. I myself lacked a comprehensive overview of various tournaments and not just isolated tournaments that happened to appear on social media or other channels.
The same applies to pickleball clubs and courts in Sweden, rules, ratings, technique, tactical guides, and news from Swedish pickleball.
How the pickleball journey began
How did you get started with pickleball, and how long have you been playing?
I first tried pickleball about five years before the original interview was conducted. At that time, I wasn't completely hooked because I was playing a lot of padel.
After a while, I tried again, and then I became significantly more hooked on the sport. When the interview was conducted, I had been playing pickleball for about three years.
How much pickleball do you play?
How many hours of pickleball do you play per week?
I try to play at least twice a week, and sometimes three times. Some weeks it's less, but normally it lands somewhere around four to five hours a week.
What makes pickleball so much fun?
What do you think makes pickleball so much fun?
I have always liked racket sports, but what makes pickleball extra fun is, among other things, the low barrier to entry and the possibility of long rallies.
The more you play, the more you also notice how much there is to develop – technique, positioning, tactics, and decision-making. It's both fun and sometimes quite frustrating.
If you want to delve deeper, you can find our guides on pickleball technique and pickleball tactics.
What happens outside the pickleball court?
What do you do when you're not playing pickleball?
I live in the countryside, work full-time, and have a family, so there's almost always something to do. And SwePickleball also takes up a lot of time, of course.
Rating and competition level
What is your pickleball rating, and would you say it matches reality?
At the time of the interview, my RAQT rating was 3.216 and my DUPR rating was 4.866. My own feeling was that one was a bit low and the other a bit high, so reality was probably somewhere in between.
The rating information above is historical and refers to the time of the original interview.
If you want to understand how rating systems work, you can read more about rating in pickleball and DUPR rating.
Greatest achievement in pickleball
What is your greatest achievement in pickleball?
The greatest achievement might perhaps be SwePickleball itself.
On the court, at the time of the interview, I would highlight a win at Nordic Pickleball in Norrköping and a win during a DUPR weekend in Nyköping.
Where is most pickleball played?
Which court do you usually play on?
Most of the playing takes place in Nyköping, although Björkvik is my home base.
If you want to find more opportunities to play, you can read our page on pickleball in Nyköping or our comprehensive overview of pickleball clubs in Sweden.
Favorite shot on the court
What is your favorite shot or trick?
A smash with spin in the "wrong" direction is a favorite. A hard drive that lands at the opponent's feet is also very satisfying when it lands.
Which pickleball paddle was used?
What paddle do you play with?
At the time of the interview, I was playing with JOOLA Perseus 16mm Mod TA-15 Pro Player Edition.
The paddle choice above is historical and describes the equipment at the time of the interview.
If you need help choosing your own paddle, you can read our guide to pickleball paddles.
Is there a player to look up to?
Do you have any pickleball player you look up to?
Actually, all players who are better than me and can do things I don't fully master yet.
I try to take as many tips as possible from both teammates and opponents.
Ambition for my own game
What is your ambition with your pickleball playing?
To see how good I can become with the condition of playing a couple of days a week.
At the time of the interview, one goal was to eventually qualify for a pro class in a tournament.
Best tip to get better
What is your tip for others who want to get better at pickleball?
Play a lot of pickleball, but also watch what others do and try to learn from both teammates and opponents.
The most important thing is probably to keep playing, be curious, and try to understand what actually makes a difference on the court.
SwePickleball today
SwePickleball has continued to develop since this interview was conducted. The site now contains guides, information about Swedish clubs and courts, tournaments, interviews, news, and material for both new and more experienced players.
If you want to read more about the site, you can visit About SwePickleball.
Find equipment for your game
In our pickleball shop, you will find equipment and products for both new and more experienced players.
Explore pickleball paddles, pickleball balls, pickleball shoes, pickleball apparel, and pickleball accessories.
About the interview
This article was originally published as a presentation of the person behind SwePickleball. Information about ratings, competition achievements, playing locations, and equipment refers to the time of the original interview.
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