A Day In The Life of A Professional Pickleball Player - Tanner Brungardt

Go behind the scenes with Tanner Brungardt and friends as they train, compete, and laugh their way through a full day in pro pickleball.

When most people think of professional athletes, they imagine roaring stadiums, trophy celebrations, and highlight reels. But what does life actually look like behind the scenes—between the matches, the workouts, and the social media posts?

To find out, we followed pro pickleball player Tanner Brungardt through a full day. From early morning serves to late-night gaming, here’s a raw, real, and sometimes hilarious glimpse into the life of a professional pickleball athlete.

Source: tanner.pickleball

8:30 AM — Wake-Up Call & Breakfast Chaos

The day kicks off at Tanner’s place. It’s a shared athlete house, and the first order of business? Waking up Will. Loudly. It’s a classic roommate scene: pounding on the bedroom door, jokes about nudity, and a bleary-eyed Will stumbling into the kitchen.

Tanner and his crew whip up breakfast—eggs and chicken, mostly. “I don’t know what I’m doing when I cook chicken,” Tanner admits, laughing as he makes a mess of the stovetop.

After some kitchen banter and a quick location debate (Do we train at DTC? Kusa Park?), they settle on a nearby court and head out for their first session.

10:00 AM — Singles Practice

The courts are shockingly empty. Wet surfaces from the morning dew mean players have to be cautious, but the work begins anyway. Tanner and his training partner Ridley grind through several singles games.

The verdict? “Ridley obliterated me,” Tanner says, half-joking. “Retirement from singles might be in the near future.”

Losses or not, the effort is all part of the process. Between games, Tanner checks his phone—partner hunting for the upcoming APP Sacramento event is in full swing.

12:00 PM — Lunch And Accountability

Back at the house, things get a little tense. Will’s not thrilled to find leftover dishes from Tanner’s earlier cooking session. “One mistake and you’ll hear about it,” Tanner jokes. “Discipline in all regards!”

Lunch wraps quickly, and it's time to hit the gym for session two.

1:30 PM — Strength & Conditioning With A Pro

Next stop: Andrew Yagg’s place. Andrew is a strength and conditioning coach with a background in tennis and a growing roster of pro pickleball clients.

His goal? Maximize performance and minimize injury through smart movement training. “You don’t have to get faster,” he tells the guys. “You just need to move more efficiently.”

The session includes dynamic warmups, resistance band work, jump drills, and a heavy focus on hip and core strength. It’s intense—but crucial for athletes who rely on split-second direction changes and endurance.

Tanner admits that just a month of training with Andrew has made a huge difference in his legs—less shakiness, more strength. “Excited to see where it goes.”

3:00 PM — Mixed Doubles & Quick Reps

After the gym, Tanner heads out again—this time for a mixed doubles practice ahead of an upcoming tournament. He's joined by 19-year-old phenom Hayden, fresh off a tournament win.

Unfortunately, their outdoor session gets cut short, so they reroute to an indoor facility for drilling. It's not ideal, but when you’re on the pro grind, flexibility is key.

5:00 PM — From Athlete To Creator

With the physical grind done, Tanner shifts into content mode. He hops on a call with Carbon, reviews edited videos, responds to YouTube comments, and plans future uploads.

Connecting with fans and maintaining his YouTube presence is more than just branding—it’s community. “I want people to feel like they’re getting my personal attention,” Tanner says. “I love every second of this.”

8:00 PM — Winding Down With Games

After a long day of training, filming, and editing, there’s just enough energy left for some late-night video games with the crew. The banter continues, the kills rack up (and so do the deaths), and the vibe shifts from competitive to casual.

It’s a much-needed decompression session after nearly 12 hours of non-stop movement.

Final Thoughts

A day in the life of a pro pickleball player isn’t just about what happens on the court. It’s a full-circle commitment—early mornings, hard training, team dynamics, constant travel prep, and juggling a growing online audience.

It’s a grind, but one filled with laughter, growth, and undeniable passion.

As Tanner says, “It’s a good life—if we can get it to pay off.”