The world’s most serious podcast about the world’s least serious sports.
Ballslapping is THE podcast for anyone who’s ever slapped a ball and called it sport. Hosted by Dan Grant and a rotating crew of co-hosts, we dive into the gloriously weird world niche balls. We chat to champions, eccentrics, and total unknowns keeping these glorious games alive. If it involves smacking a ball with your hand, a racket or something improvised in a car park—we’re into it. It’s sweaty, silly, surprisingly moving, and absolutely slaps. New eps 2 weekly (unless we're playing).
Sister YouTube & Ig = BallSlaps
Bishball - the next Spikeball?! | Ball Slapping Podcast
This week on Ball Slapping, Dan Grant sits down with the founders of Bishball, one of Britain's newest and most exciting emerging sports.Combining fast reactions, teamwork and spectacular rallies, Bishball takes inspiration from games like Spikeball, Pickleball and Padel while creating its own unique identity. But where did the idea come from, and what does it take to invent an entirely new sport?We explore the story behind Bishball, from the first prototype through to product development, community building, and the ambitious vision of seeing the sport played in schools, clubs, parks and perhaps one day... the Olympic Games.Along the way we discuss the challenges of launching a new sport, designing equipment, building a brand, attracting players and creating a game that anyone can enjoy.Whether you're interested in new sports, entrepreneurship, product design, or simply love hearing passionate people chase ambitious ideas, this episode is packed with insight, humour and plenty of Bish Bash Bosh.In this episode:• How Bishball was invented• The inspiration behind the game• Designing the equipment• Building a new sport from scratch• Growing a sporting community• Schools, clubs and grassroots development• Olympic ambitions• Entrepreneurship and product development• The future of BishballSubscribe for bi-weekly conversations exploring the world's weirdest and most wonderful ball sports, meeting the people behind them and discovering the games you've never heard of... but probably should have.
10 Jul 2026
The $$$ Behind a Premium Padel Club | From Courts To Coffee - inside Rulo | Ball Slapping Podcast
This week on Ball Slapping, Dan Grant is joined by Jared Robinson and the team behind one of the UK's most exciting new premium indoor padel club.
Tom and Louis are leading the development of Rulo, a brand-new indoor padel venue in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, designed from the ground up to deliver a world-class player experience. But what actually goes into creating a premium sports club?We dive into every detail, from court selection, lighting, flooring and booking systems to café design, coffee, changing rooms, soap, customer experience and the countless decisions that players never see.
Along the way we discuss the rapid growth of padel in the UK, the opportunities and challenges facing new clubs, what makes a great leisure facility, and why attention to detail can make or break a venue.
Whether you're a padel player, thinking of opening a sports facility, work in the leisure industry, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind ambitious projects, this episode offers a fascinating insight into building a premium sports club from scratch.
In this episode:
Building a premium indoor padel club
Court design and installation
Club layout and customer experience
The business of padel
Leisure industry insights
Coffee, cafés and hospitality
Booking systems and operations
Growing padel in the UK
Rulo Padel Club
Fan questions
and behind-the-scenes stories
Subscribe for fortnightly conversations exploring the world's weirdest and most wonderful ball sports, the people behind them, and the stories you won't hear anywhere else.
19 Jun 2026
Why Squash Failed and Padel Exploded | Roxy Keshavarz | Ball Slapping Podcast
🎾 Why is squash declining while padel is booming?
In this episode of the Ball Slapping Podcast, Dan Grant and Jared Robinson sit down with former professional squash player and padel industry leader Roxy Keshavarz.
Roxy reveals how she reached a world ranking of 125 in squash, why her dad stopped her playing for a year because she was already beating her brother, and the bizarre story of being sponsored by a milk company complete with a milk moustache photoshoot.
The conversation explores:
✅ The rise and decline of squash
✅ Why racquetball (Squash 57) deserves more attention
✅ How padel captured a new generation of players
✅ Building and operating successful padel clubs
✅ Lessons from Padel4All, Rocket Padel and Padel Hub
✅ Women in sport and the challenges facing female participation
✅ Why community matters more than facilities
✅ The future of padel in the UK
Whether you're a squash player, padel addict, club owner, coach, or simply curious about the fastest-growing racket sport in the world, this episode is packed with insights, stories and plenty of laughs.
🎧 Listen now and don't forget to subscribe for more conversations from the world of weird, wonderful and ball-slapping sports.
4 Jun 2026
Why This Padel Club Is ALWAYS Full - The Secret Behind UK Padel's Success | Ball Slapping Podcast with Phil Cornhill
🎾 Why do some padel clubs thrive while others struggle?
In this episode of the Ball Slapping Podcast, Daniel Grant and Jared Robinson sit down with Phil Cornhill, Director of Clubs at UK Padel, to uncover what really makes a successful padel club.
From two courts in a car park to one of the UK's busiest padel communities, Phil shares how UK Padel has built an environment where players keep coming back, ratings actually work, and community comes before ego.
We discuss:
✅ How Phil discovered padel after squash
✅ Why padel is growing so quickly in the UK
✅ Building a club culture people genuinely want to be part of
✅ The problem with elitism in padel
✅ Why ratings systems cause so much controversy
✅ Open matches, social play and player development
✅ The future of UK Padel clubs
✅ Singles courts, community building and growing participation
Whether you're a padel player, club owner, coach or simply curious about the sport's explosive growth, this episode is packed with insights.
🎾 Subscribe to Ball Slaps for more padel, racket sports and niche sports stories.
#Padel #UKPadel #PadelTennis #BallSlaps #PhilCornhill #JaredRobinson #PadelCommunity #PadelClub #RacketSports #SportsPodcast
1 May 2026
Thought Padel Was a Joke… Then Became Top 10 in the UK | Ball Slapping Podcast with Jared Robinson
Padel is exploding across the UK and Europe… but why is everyone suddenly obsessed?
In this episode of Ball Slapping, we’re joined by Jared Robinson, former UK Top 10 padel player, coach, and founder of AllCourtPadel.
From dismissing padel as a “tennis-lite joke” to becoming one of the best players in the country, Jared breaks down what makes the sport so addictive.Don't forget to watch the sister video: https://youtu.be/L9bU05HQcT4?si=HUc2OZro_UdZRlAI
We get into:
Why padel is growing faster than almost any sport in the world
The key differences between padel, tennis, and squash
How to actually improve your game (and stop smashing it into the back wall…)
The tactics that separate beginners from top players
Why Spain is miles ahead of everyone else
Whether padel is a fad… or here to stay
Plus: Jared’s journey from Sweden to the UK, his playing style (ridiculous slice + angles), and what’s next for padel in Britain.
🎾 Follow Jared: @allcourtpadel🌍 Padel holidays & coaching (coming soon…)
If you’ve ever picked up a padel racket, this one will hit home.
3 Apr 2026
From Policy to Pickleball: The Reality of UK Sport | Ball Slapping Podcast with Alex Cole
What does it actually take to grow sport in the UK?In this episode, I sit down with Alex Cole, who went from dreaming of leading Sport England at 15 to working inside the system itself. We get into grassroots sport, funding, bureaucracy, participation, and why some of the best ideas struggle to get off the ground.We also cover:How Sport England really works behind the scenesWhy grassroots sport is harder than it looksThe rise of new sports like pickleballWhy modern lifestyles are changing how people engage with sportThe balance between structure and freedom in coachingAnd of course…The story of a 30-yard goal at Fratton Park that may never stop being mentioned.This is a brilliant insight into the system, but also a reminder that sport at its best is simple: people, movement, and moments that stick.
27 Feb 2026
From the White House Lawn to the Beach: Inside Hoover Ball with Quentin Hick | Ball Slapping Podcast
What do you get when you mix a U.S. President, a bad back, and a medicine ball?Hoover Ball.In this episode I sit down with Quentin Hick, President of Hoov Nation, to unpack one of the most underrated and surprisingly intense sports on the planet.Originally created for President Herbert Hoover to keep him fit on the White House lawn, Hoover Ball has evolved into a full-blown beach court spectacle built around throwing heavy medicine balls over a net.We talk:• The history of Hoover Ball• Why it was invented• How it’s played today• The physical demands• The community behind Hoov Nation• And why it feels more like a movement than just a sportIt’s explosive. It’s social. It’s deceptively brutal.And honestly? It looks like a ridiculous amount of fun.If you love niche sports, community driven movements, or presidential oddities, this one’s for you.Subscribe for more deep dives into the world’s most fascinating sports.
6 Feb 2026
From Garden Idea to Global Sport: The Touch Tennis Story with Rashid Ahmad | Ball Slapping Podcast
In this episode of Ball Slapping, we sit down with Rashid Ahmad, founder of Touchtennis, to unpack how a simple idea in his garden turned into a fast-growing global sport.We talk about where Touchtennis came from, why it resonates with players of all ages, and what happens when you strip a sport back to its essentials.
Rashid shares the design philosophy behind smaller courts, lighter rackets, and faster rallies, and why accessibility, fun, and skill development matter more than tradition.
If you’ve watched our WTF is Touchtennis video, this episode goes deeper: the inspiration, the resistance, the moments it nearly didn’t work, and why Touchtennis might be a blueprint for how new sports should be built.
9 Jan 2026
The Best of Rugby Fives - Live from the National Finals | Ball Slapping Podcast
In this episode of Ball Slapping, Dan heads to the Rugby Fives National Singles Finals to interview the best players in the country and to work out what makes them tick. We talk with current and previous National Champions to get a real insight into the sport, its values and just how hard this sport is. Rugby Fives is a traditional British version of handball played on stone squash-like court with a hard ball. Check out the Rugby Fives YouTube Channel or TheRFA.uk to find out more. #newsport #rugby #handball
5 Dec 2025
Building a Sports and Media Brand: Phil from Tens Finest Breaks It Down | Ball Slapping Podcast
In this episode of Ball Slapping, Dan and Christian sit down with Phil (Felipe Borges), the founder of Tens Finest, the number one street media brand for the sport of Handball.
We talk about how Tens Finest started, what drives him and how the brand has become a movement across wallball, handball, paddle communities. Phil opens up about building a YouTube channel from scratch and the importance of what he does in the wider picture of the sport's success. He gives a ton of advice for other YouTube, Instagram and TikTok creators about how to get going and consolidate.
A must listen for anyone who loves filming a game or two of any sport. If you're into wallball, 1-wall handball, street sport, paddle, community sport, sports branding, YouTube or Sports Media - or Tens Finest - then this is the episode for you.
#tensfinest
28 Nov 2025
Frontball Live from CDMX World Championships | Ball Slapping Podcast
Join us from Mexico City as we attend (and play in) the 2025 World Frontball Championships. We'll be joined by co-host Danielle Daskalakis - one of the best female handball athletes of all time, as we check out the event, meet the players and the guy who set the whole thing up - Jean-Michel Idiart.
Frontball is a handball variant - heavy ball, one wall, line to hit it above. Expect long sloggy rallies!
24 Oct 2025
Back to Portland: The 2009 World Handball Championships | Ball Slapping Podcast
Gaz and Dan hop back to 2009 — Portland, Oregon — for a trip down memory lane. It’s the World Handball Championships, where legends were made, friendships were forged, and the nights were almost as wild as the games. Expect nostalgia, chaos, and a few questionable memories.
Paul Brady got a 3rd title, Willie Polanco and Rookie Wright cleaned up the 1-Wall, and the English both landed on two feet and invented a banging new game!
17 Oct 2025
Rugby Fives Uncovered: From Buchanan to Tristao at the London Open | Ball Slapping Podcast
We’re back — and this time, it’s all about Rugby Fives! 🧤
Ball Slaps hits the courts at the Rugby Fives London Open, one of the sport’s biggest and most historic tournaments. Host Dan Grant dives into the action, catching the atmosphere and chatting with players across generations.
Hear from:
🏆 Dan Tristao, multiple national champion and current no.2 player
🎙️ Charlie Brooks, multiple doubles national champion and all-round Fives powerhouse
🎾 Hamish Buchanan, retired legend and fan favourite
🔥 Freddie Hammond-Giles, one of the game’s rising stars
☘️ Terry Mcelvaney on transitioning from Gaelic Handball to Rugby Fives
🗂️ Plus, the RFA Secretary, giving us a rare look behind the scenes of the sport’s organisation
Expect competition, nostalgia, laughs, and a few bruised hands.
🎥 Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for more wall-hitting, glove-slapping madness!
10 Oct 2025
Ball Slaps Live: Spanish Open Special from Valencia 🇪🇸 | Ball Slapping Podcast
Ball Slaps goes international! 🇪🇸
In this special live episode, we head to Tavernes Blanques just outside Valencia for the 1Wall World Tour Spanish Open. Joined by co-host Christian Blackaby, we soak up the sunshine, the atmosphere, and the chaos of one of the most vibrant stops on the wallball circuit.
We chat with:
🎙️ Shinan Zhang, captain of Team GB Women’s squad
🎙️ Chris Gavaghan, the voice of GAA Handball
🎙️ Sahil Shah & Penn Chai, who were about to face off in the Men’s B Final
Expect laughs, live energy, tournament insight, and plenty of ball slapping.
🎥 Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for more global wallball adventures!
3 Oct 2025
Rugby Fives Royalty: Dan Tristao | Ball Slapping Podcast
This week we’ve got the legend himself — Dan Tristao. He’s the current no.1 in Rugby Fives and one of the greatest players the game’s ever seen. We chat about how he first got hooked, his cheekiest wins, favourite memories, and what actually goes into training at the very top. Plus, he takes on YOUR questions in classic Ball Slapping style. Big shots, big laughs, big Dan energy.
23 Sept 2025
The Real Tennis aka Court Tennis Episode ft. Camden Riviere | Ball Slapping Podcast
In this episode of Ball Slapping, Dan and Gareth sit down with Camden Riviere — the current World Number 1 and defending World Champion in Real Tennis (also known as Court Tennis or Royal Tennis or Jeu de Paume).
Camden takes us deep inside one of the oldest, quirkiest, and most complex racket sports on the planet. From his early days in the U.S. to dominating courts around the world, we explore Camden’s journey, the bizarre beauty of the game, and what it takes to be the best in a sport most people have never even heard of.
We talk weird court architecture, ancient rules, rivalries, historic matches, and the mindset of a champion. Plus, Camden answers some great questions from the fans.
If you’ve ever wondered what sport Henry VIII would binge-watch, this is the one.
18 Sept 2025
Ball Slapping Begins
Welcome to the first ever episode of Ball Slapping—a podcast about the weird and wonderful world of ball sports where you hit things with your hands, a racket, or sometimes a frying pan. Dan Grant and Gareth Price dive into Fives, Wallball, and the chaos of Church Pelota. It’s niche. It’s nerdy. It slaps.
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