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Paul T Tran

@paulttran

3K

followers

3313

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God.
Family.
Travel.
Introvert.
Pickleball.
Co-founded/Sold @thehalalguyssocal
Now running @pepperlunchirvinespectrum (+ looking for franchisees too)

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Our weekend escape

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I don’t make good decisions during tournaments, all the time.

I am getting better, though (I need to drill the good in and the bad out, more).

But here’s a play I’m happy with, in retrospect.

1️⃣ I served deep to keep the opponent back.

2️⃣ My opponent returned the ball deep, though; that, and I wasn’t far back enough to feel confident about a third-shot drop.

So, I decided to drive to the corner to give him a bit of trouble...and my bet was right.

He popped it up and gave me time to run up to the kitchen.

3️⃣ You can tell that, when I ran up to the kitchen, I was tempted to take the ball out of the air - not because I wanted to steal the opponent’s time, which is usually the reason to do so. In this case, it was more because I was being impatient and excited.

But I hesitated and waited, which I’m glad I did. My footing wasn’t solid, and my return would’ve been sloppy.

I waited to get into a better position, and gave him a harder shot to return, and he popped it up again.

And I was already there to put it away with a hard angle.

Yay on patience.

I won that match, and it helped me place second at the @ipickle.us iPickle Pickletopia tournament at the Whittier Narrows.

What do you think? Anything I could’ve done better?

#pickleball #pickleballtournament #pickleballtips

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Happy 85th Birthday, Dad.

I love you; and I’m the wealthiest man alive because you were born on this day, made me, raised me, and are here in my life, happy, and healthy.

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Thank goodness I drilled with @kevs.pb a few days before the tournament.

I was used to staying back and just driving the ball into a cat and mouse situation.

Which would work…if I had more stamina, I was more consistent with my shots, and the weather wasn’t so satanic 😆

None of those were in my favor.

Kev reminded me to find an opportunity to return deep and run up.

So…

I returned the ball to the middle so that it eliminated my opponent’s corner shots.

I ran up to the kitchen to further limit his options.

I shot at his backhand - usually the weaker hand - and it created a pop-up.

And I put it away.

Not all my plays are like this; but this one was done well.

Pickletopia Men’s Singles 3.5 tournament on July 17, 2026, hosted by @ipickle.us (that was fun; but you guys were trying to kill me with the double round robin in the heat 😂). Won silver!

#pickleball #tournament #pickleballplays

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This Part 2 of 2 of our announcement of @pepperlunchrestaurants Downey!

This deal was signed a year ago, but we finally were able to start construction and fast-track towards opening!

In the video, I make comparisons to my first store at Pepper Lunch; the research and math I did to select this site; the vendors helping me on this project; and before/after pictures.

Please enjoy the video; and this is my first time doing a post like this. I welcome feedback; I also welcome questions about this store and business/restaurants/franchising in general (it’ll help me create more helpful content).

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Thanks for covering me @johnjttan!

There isn’t anything mind-blowing about this play (most wins are this way); and there are probably better strategies that could’ve done the job.

I just liked how good decisions were made.

Mens Doubles 3.0-3.5 Tournament at @thepickleballhaven (we won bronze!)

#pickleball #pickleballplay #pickleballislife

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Few more important emails before the long weekend.

#email #officelife #officehumor #comedy #workreels

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If you’re not following @kevs.pb on IG + YouTube, you risk stagnating your pickleball game =)

#pickleball #pickleballtips #pickleballislife

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The future-me sent present-day-me @j.m to keep me going.

Who’s the voice in YOUR head + what are they saying?

#bts #jimin #humor

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That was a fun tournament this past weekend at @thepickleballhaven!

My partner JJ and I joined the 3.0-3.5 Mens Doubles; and while we fought hard - our opponents fought hard, too.

Also - it was very cool to see one of my childhood friends, Andy Nguyen, play (he and his partner Alex ended up taking gold). He was a monster in tennis in high schoool, so this makes total sense.

I am frustrated with some of my errors, but proud of some matches, too.

A few takeaways:

• I need to serve deeper and keep the other side back.
• I need to return deeper and keep the other side back.
• Until I reach 4.0, I need to play more aggressively.
• Haul ass to the kitchen; to limit the other side’s options and give me more offensive plays.
• I was jammed on a bunch of shots; that’s a function not coming up to the kitchen fast enough, and needing to drill on scooping up the shots.
• I don’t have to take all balls out of the air - especially if I stretch too much and make crappy shots.

I’ll be sharing some of my gameplays in the coming days, so stand by!

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Pickleball brings the best out of some of us.

3.5 tournament with @kevs.pb (thanks for being my partner; and follow him, y’all!!!)

#pickleball #jokes #funny

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Clip from my latest YouTube video! Go check it out! Do you agree? @paulttran #pickleball #pickleballislife #pickleballcommunity #pickleballers #athlete

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