Why the Johns Brothers Split: For over two years, Ben Johns and Collin Johns stood as the undisputed champions of men’s doubles pickleball. Their partnership was nothing short of extraordinary, dominating the professional tour with a mix of aggressive play and tactical brilliance.
With each title they captured, they solidified their status as the team to beat, turning victories into a routine business. However, the past year marked a significant turning point in their reign, as the once-unstoppable duo began to show cracks in their invincible armor.
The Rise of a Powerhouse
Ben Johns, having picked up a paddle for the first time in 2016, quickly transitioned from a newcomer to a dominant force in the sport. Meanwhile, Collin Johns, after a successful tennis career, shifted his focus to pickleball, where he initially partnered with Ben sporadically.
Their chemistry on the court grew, transforming them from casual partners into a formidable team that revolutionized men’s doubles play. Their strategy was brilliantly simple: Ben was the aggressive attacker, while Collin served as the reliable anchor, minimizing errors and setting up scoring opportunities.
As they relocated to Austin, Texas, their training intensified, allowing them to perfect their roles and develop an instinctive understanding of each other’s gameplay.
This synergy was crucial to their success, and their dominance was noticeable, even as challengers like Riley Newman and Matt Wright emerged. The Johns brothers elevated their game, ultimately leading to the dissolution of rival partnerships.
A Shifting Landscape
Entering 2024, the pickleball community was still reeling from the Johns brothers’ previous successes, but the numbers began to tell a different story. Their record, which had been nothing short of spectacular—60 wins and 6 losses in 2022, and an improved 79 wins and 6 losses in 2023—suffered a dramatic decline in 2024, dropping to 64 wins and 8 losses. While still an impressive record, it signaled a fundamental shift in their performance.
The game’s evolution played a pivotal role in this transformation. Collin Johns had thrived as a steady right-side player, but the rise of a more aggressive playing style began to overshadow their methodical approach.
Teams found success by employing two offensive powerhouses, moving away from the traditional model of one attacker and one defender. The defensive strategies that once defined the Johns’ success were becoming obsolete in the face of a rapidly changing competitive landscape.
The Impact of Technology and Strategy
Ben Pajula, founder of Real Clear Stats, highlighted that the key to beating the Johns brothers lay in speeding up the game, avoiding prolonged dinking battles. Players learned to apply this aggressive strategy not just against the Johns but against all opponents, improving their execution and muscle memory in the process.
Gabe Tardio exemplifies this new era, matching his partner’s aggression shot for shot and dismantling the traditional roles that had defined men’s doubles play. His successes against the Johns brothers showed how the game had evolved and how their previous strategies struggled to keep pace.
The technological revolution in pickleball has also been significant. The emergence of powerful new paddles, such as Yola’s Gen 3 Series and Gearbox, allowed players to generate unprecedented levels of topspin and power.
This shift transformed aggressive play from a high-risk strategy into a viable winning formula. The days of patient, defensive play were fading, giving way to an era of speed and aggression that proved challenging for the Johns brothers.
News in Brief: Why the Johns Brothers Split
Ben Johns and Collin Johns, once dominant in men’s doubles pickleball, have faced challenges in 2024, with their record declining to 64 wins and 8 losses. The evolution of the game, favoring aggressive strategies, has impacted their performance, as teams increasingly adopt two offensive players.
Technological advancements in paddles have also contributed to this shift. Players like Gabe Tardio show the new aggressive style, showcasing how traditional tactics are struggling to adapt in a rapidly changing competitive landscape.
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