Chris Olson never imagined that a chance game of pickleball would change the course of his life.
In 2021, a friend invited him to play the sport that would soon become his obsession, pulling him into the world of paddles, strategy, and YouTube fame.
Today, Chris is one of the most trusted voices in pickleball paddle reviews, but his journey to this point is anything but conventional.
A Humble Beginning on a Tennis Court
Like many others, Chris's pickleball journey began with a tough loss. In 2021, a former mentor invited him to play, and with a background in high school tennis, Chris assumed he’d pick up the sport quickly. Instead, he found himself losing 11-1 on a tennis court repurposed for pickleball.
"I got obliterated," Chris admits, laughing. "I lost something like 11-1, and afterward, I thought, 'There’s no way I should lose like this. I played tennis in high school!' So, I immediately went to Dick’s Sporting Goods, bought two paddles—one for me, one for my wife—and dove headfirst into pickleball."
What started as a casual game soon turned into a full-blown obsession. Chris and his family became regulars at the courts, and his passion for the sport naturally led him to explore the next stage of his pickleball career.
A Natural Obsession with Paddles
While playing was thrilling, it was the gear that truly captivated Chris. After buying his first paddle, a Monarch with a dragon on it, Chris didn't purchase another paddle for nearly two years. Why? Because his paddle review journey took off faster than he ever expected.
"Within a few months, I was already deep into paddle reviews," Chris explains. "I realized no one was doing honest, in-depth reviews, and I saw an opportunity to bring my video production skills into the pickleball world."
Chris’s reviews quickly stood out due to their high production quality and genuine, unsponsored feedback. His YouTube channel became a go-to resource for pickleball players looking for honest opinions on the latest paddles.
From Speedcubing to Pickleball
Before diving into pickleball, Chris was deeply immersed in speedcubing, even competing nationally.
He began at the age of 12 after seeing his uncle solve one. "I thought, 'If he can do it, why can’t I?' Two months later (thanks to YouTube), I was faster than him," Chris recalls. His natural talent led him to competitive speedcubing and, eventually, to creating videos for the speedcubing community.
Chris's skill with the cube and behind the camera opened doors to bigger opportunities. He filmed, directed, and edited the award-winning feature-length documentary Why We Cube.
Later, he was hired as the director of photography for the Netflix documentary The Speed Cubers. Toward the end, viewers can catch a glimpse of a young Chris Olson dancing at his own wedding.
He even delivered a TEDx Talk titled How a Rubik's Cube Solved My Life. At the time, Chris was the world record holder in 2x2 speedcubing.
Chris competing in 2x2 speedcubing"I loved speedcubing for the challenge, but video production was what truly stuck with me," Chris says. "When I got into pickleball, I realized there was an opportunity to fill a gap in the market with high-quality paddle reviews."
Turning Passion into Business
At first, Chris wasn’t thinking about monetizing his reviews. It was purely about the love of the game and sharing his insights with the community. However, as his YouTube channel grew and paddle shipments started arriving regularly, he realized his hobby was becoming something more.
"I probably get between six to eight paddles a week," Chris shares. "At my old apartment, my UPS driver got to know me pretty well and would ask, ‘What do you do?’ It was always fun trying to explain why I was getting so many packages."
With this influx of paddles and growing demand for his reviews, Chris had to become more selective about what he covered, balancing quality with the sheer volume of products. As his channel expanded, Chris’s younger brother joined him, adding a personal touch to his work that Chris deeply values.
Even with the extra help, Chris says it is impossible to review every paddle on the market. The releases far outpace what one team can review properly.
"It’s a lot of fun working with my brother," Chris says. "We’ve got a great dynamic."
Now, with his brother on board and a steady stream of requests from paddle companies, Chris has had to embrace the business side of content creation while still maintaining his core passion for helping the pickleball community.
Challenges of Honest Reviews
As Chris’s profile grew, so did the challenges. Not every paddle manufacturer appreciated his brutally honest reviews. In one instance, he even faced threats of a lawsuit after sharing negative feedback during the “paddle gate” drama around grit testing.
"At the time, I didn’t know any better, so I let it go. But looking back, it was probably just an empty threat," Chris reflects. "It’s part of the job when you’re giving honest feedback."
Despite the occasional backlash, Chris remains committed to transparency—one of the reasons his audience trusts him. His willingness to call it like he sees it has made him a trusted name in the pickleball world.
Favorite and Least Favorite Paddles
After testing hundreds of paddles, Chris has clear favorites—and some he wouldn’t recommend. His all-time favorite? The Six Zero Double Black Diamond. "It’s a great all-around paddle," Chris says. "It’s not the hottest paddle now, but it’s always reliable and versatile."
On the other hand, Chris doesn’t hesitate to criticize paddles that don’t meet his standards. His least favorites include the Selkirk Labs Project 001, the Adidas Metalbone, and the Onix Z5.
"The fact that the Project 001 was $300 is an atrocity," Chris states bluntly. "And the Onix Z5? It’s time for that paddle to retire. There are so many better options for cheaper prices now."
The Future of Chris Olson in Pickleball
As pickleball continues to grow, so does Chris’s presence in the community. While he’s been approached for consulting gigs and asked to give feedback on paddle designs, public reviews remain his priority.
"I like doing public reviews because they help more people," Chris says. "If I could clone myself and do both, I would, but for now, my focus is on creating valuable content for the community."
From a speedcubing prodigy to one of the most trusted voices in pickleball, Chris Olson’s journey proves that sometimes, following your passion can lead you to unexpected—and wildly successful—places.
Oh, and in case you're curious (I certainly was), the fastest Chris ever solved a Rubik's cube?
4.7 seconds.
Follow Chris on his YouTube channel, Pickleball Studio for the best paddle reviews in pickleball.
Pickleball Skill Quiz
Find out your pickleball rating
Link to original article