In the autumn of last year, a nationwide search was launched to scout top-tier pickleball players for the reality show “Pickleball Paddle Battle.” Sixteen contenders are poised to vie for the ultimate prize—a coveted professional sponsorship.
“Trick Shot Maestro”
Among the contenders is Keven Wong, hailing from Oʻahu, 13 miles northwest of Honolulu. Wong started his pickleball journey in 2017 and has since become known as the “trick shot maestro” on the local pickleball circuit.
Recalling his rather serendipitous first encounter with the sport, Wong reminisces,
“One day, a bunch of guys from church asked if I wanted to go play pickleball,” he said. At the time, I had no idea what pickleball was—I had never heard of it or seen it before.
From that fateful encounter onward, Wong’s trajectory towards the top of the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. Today, he holds the distinction of being the inaugural resident pickleball professional at the prestigious Waialae Country Club. In addition, he dedicates his time to coaching sessions with the Oahu Pickleball Association.
Mastering A New Stroke
For Wong, he derives great pleasure from witnessing his students master a new stroke or manage a prolonged rally: “Whenever someone learns a new shot or gets excited about being able to keep a rally going, that keeps me motivated to continue teaching, to continue helping others to play pickleball,” he told The Conversation.
Wong’s first experience of racket sports was as a tennis player and he’s more than aware of the uneasy truce between the two sports on public courts.
“I grew up playing tennis pretty much my whole life, from when I was 7 all the way through college,” he says. I definitely do see both sides, even though I’m on more of the pickleball side these days. But I definitely can relate to both sides in terms of not having enough court space and just kind of wanting both pickleball and tennis players to be happy.”
“Pickleball Paddle Battle”
The brainchild of former Hawaii educational institution ‘Iolani School student Ace Rodrigues, “Pickleball Paddle Battle” followed the tale of 16 players competing with each other over 9 days to take home the prize of a one-year Pickleball Kingdom sponsorship to play the sport professionally.
Although production for “Pickleball Paddle Battle” concluded in November, the series is still waiting for a network to snap it up.
Rodrigues is the owner of the indoor pickleball facility chain Pickleball Kingdom.
About Kevin Wong
Kevin Wong is a highly skilled pickleball player from Honolulu, O’ahu, and is known for his impressive trick shots. Indeed, local pickleball circles dubbed him the “Trick Shot Maestro.” His passion for the sport began casually but has grown into a lifelong dedication.
While known for his flashy and extravagant strokes, Wong is also a fierce competitor with exceptional reflexes and a strong presence at the net. He possesses a well-rounded skillset and is considered a top player in Hawaii. Beyond competition, Wong is described as a humble and supportive member of the Honolulu pickleball community, happy to share his expertise to help others develop their game.
He presented a special pickleball exhibition at the inaugural “Paddle For HUGS” Tournament back in November last year.
The event was organized by the Help, Understanding & Group Support, Hawaii, or HUGS, as it is better known, dedicated to assisting Hawaii’s families with seriously ill children.
