Ben Johns’ Florida Pickleball Move: Ben Johns, one of pickleball’s top pros, moved from Austin, Texas, to Boca Raton, Florida, in March. He made the switch to be near family and train with more high-level players, making the most of Florida’s booming pickleball scene.
Johns had previously spent time in Florida before settling in Texas, so the move felt natural.
“I love Florida. I got a house with a nice backyard, cold plunge, pool and a sauna. I play a lot of pickleball, and I do a lot of reading.” – (johns)
More Pros, More Practice
Florida is home to many of the best pickleball players. That includes Anna Bright, JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson, Gabe Tardio, Christian Alshon, and Anna Leigh Waters—Johns’ mixed doubles partner.
“In Florida, there’s a higher quantity of high-level pros, so it’s beneficial to have that because you can set up games and drill.”
He and Waters train near each other, which helps them stay sharp as a team.
“Anna Leigh and I practice occasionally together, but we mostly just drill together. We don’t play too many games because we play matches together so often on tour. But, it’s good for the partnership to be close by.”
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New Routine, New Results
Johns’ training has shifted since relocating.
“I used to strictly drill 100% of the time with Collin [Johns]. I didn’t play any games. But moving to Florida and utilizing the high level of pickleball players in the area, I now drill maybe 20% of the time and play 80% games. Those games are definitely beneficial.” – (johns)
The results are showing.
“It has encouraged some positive things. Some skills are really great for drilling and others are better to put into practice, not that I felt like I was capped out on certain skills, but I had a lot of things that I really needed to work on. Playing games allows you to put into practice some different skills, so games have been the impetus for me at the moment.” – (johns)
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Staying Balanced Off the Court
Even with a full training schedule, Johns makes time for himself.
“I make time to do the things I enjoy, like reading a good fantasy book or playing Fortnite. If I don’t do that, it’s hard not to get complacent or get into a monotonous routine. It’s good to have these other things, and then I can come back to pickleball and still be motivated.” – (johns)
Why It Matters
Johns’ move reflects the growing importance of training hubs like Florida in pickleball. Being surrounded by top talent may push him to new heights. His switch from drilling to more game play also hints at how top players are evolving their approach to stay competitive and fresh.
News in Brief: Ben Johns’ Florida Pickleball Move
Ben Johns moved from Austin to Boca Raton to train with more top players. Florida offers stronger competition and better practice partners, including his mixed doubles teammate Anna Leigh Waters. Johns now plays more games than drills and says the change is already helping him improve and stay motivated.
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