Louis Kobetz and Justin Barton Pickleball Journey: Paddle reviewers Louis Kobetz and Justin Barton earned a spot in the 2025 Pickleball World Championships in Dallas, Texas. They qualified after winning the men’s doubles (4.0) division at the Louisiana Amateur Pickleball Championship, an event powered by the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association Tour and Southern Pickleball.
A big win after many tries
Louis Kobetz and Justin Barton have played together in several tournaments. Before this victory, Louis Kobetz struggled to perform at his best. He shared how much this win meant to him.
“Justin and I have played a few tournaments together, and every time I’d been underperforming. It’s been depressing, so to get this win was great.”(Louis Kobetz)
Sharing the journey online
Louis Kobetz runs a YouTube channel where he posts videos about his pickleball progress. He enjoys showing people how he works toward his goals.
“I wouldn’t say it adds any pressure. It’s actually pretty fun to see how people are so supportive. Obviously, there’s going to be a few haters, but their opinions mean virtually nothing to me.”(Louis Kobetz)
Louis Kobetz reached his goal of winning a medal in 4.0 play within 60 days. Now, he plans to raise his Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating from 3.6 to 4.5.
Looking ahead to Worlds
Louis Kobetz expects to compete in the 4.0 men’s doubles ages 35 to 49 division. However, he is keeping his options open.
“Most likely, we’ll be playing 4.0 ages 35 to 49. Potentially, we’ll register for 4.5, but we’ll see how we feel and progress over the next couple of months because things could change and we could be very different players by that time,” (Louis Kobetz).
He has four months to train for the World Championships.
“The most important thing for me is drilling and working on consistency. I don’t want to focus on too many specific things, just getting the balls back. I feel like my biggest thing is inconsistency, so I’m looking to avoid simple mistakes and drill for consistency of serves, returns, thirds, all those shots. Having more consistency is going to be my main focus.”(Louis Kobetz)
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A passion for the sport and gear
This tournament will be Louis Kobetz’s first time attending the World Championships.
“The biggest thing I’m looking forward to is hanging out with other pickleball players and creators. Competing in the tournament is going to be added fun.”(Louis Kobetz)
Alongside Justin Barton, Louis Kobetz hosts a paddle review podcast. He has tested many paddles over the years. When asked which paddle he might use at Worlds, he explained that it is hard to decide.
“Things change so much month to month. It’s kind of crazy. Paddle technology is changing drastically and there’s a shift to foam core right now. To project what paddle I’m playing with in four months would be virtually impossible,”.
“But I played the last tournament with the Franklin C45 and I’m really loving the J2NF from Honolulu Pickleball Company, so if nothing beats those, those are the paddles I’ll be playing with.”(Louis Kobetz)
Impact and what comes next
Louis Kobetz’s progress shows how dedication can pay off. His story inspires other players to set goals and work hard. As the 2025 Pickleball World Championships approach, he and Justin Barton will continue training and sharing their journey with fans.
News in Brief: Louis Kobetz and Justin Barton Pickleball Journey
Louis Kobetz and Justin Barton qualified for the 2025 Pickleball World Championships in Dallas by winning men’s doubles (4.0) at the Louisiana Amateur Pickleball Championship. Kobetz will focus on consistency and will share his training journey online as he prepares for his first appearance at Worlds.
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