An old television commercial’s catchphrase was, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.” The line referred to a financial services firm, but the same could be said today for a pickleball guru.
When Dr. Rommie Maxey talks, players listen.
Rommie (pronounced “Row-me) is all about promoting pickleball, introducing it to as many people as possible in the US and abroad. He is a frequent keynote speaker at pickleball events. The 77-year-old suburban Houston resident has virtually done it all in pickleball on and off the court. As founder and lead instructor of “No Mercy Pickleball,” he has trained more than 14,500 pickleball players nationally and internationally. He is a former Texas and national champion player. He co-owns the Houston Hammers of the National Pickleball League and formerly owned a couple of pickleball facilities. He has a master's degree in education and a Ph. D in biomechanics.
Maxey was a high school athletics director for 20 years. He later worked as an athletics insurance broker for high schools and colleges and entrepreneur before becoming a pickleball influencer. He began playing the sport 11 years ago at his local HOA.
“Once I start something I am not going to do it part way,” he has said. “I am going to be all-in.”
He had an athletic background, having played baseball, football and basketball in high school. He was a pro baseball scout and has an eye for talent.
Maxey works with pickleball players at all skill levels. It has often been estimated that an overwhelming majority of rec players are at the 3.5 level.
“Players at 3.5 and lower lack a plan,” Maxey believes. “Shots should have purpose. They should be able to sustain a rally. Those players are often not able to sustain a rally past four or five shots. They should move their feet before moving their paddle. Get yourself in position to hit quality shots. Visually take your eyes to the ball and hit it out in front. Be able to see the back of your paddle on most shots. Focus on each point, then move on to the next, not concerned with the score.
“Most 3.5 players are not watching ball to paddle, hitting with a purpose in mind or have mental toughness in close matches. Many players will not take the time to learn to be a complete player. That usually happens at 4.0 and above,” Maxey says.
Regarding the recent trend towards more banging and less dinking, Maxey says, “Banging is only effective at lower levels of play. Beginning at the 4.0 range, players need multiple skills of slowing the game down, resetting and court management.
“Hitting the ball hard is more fun than playing a soft game. With that said, most players will not take the time to learn to be a complete player. That usually happens at 4.0 and above.”
Maxey is an advisor to the fledgling rating system VAIR, which stands for Visually Assessed International Rating. VAIR’s advocates say it is much better in rating players’ true skills than DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating.)
“VAIR is a skill-based rating system, unlike current self-rate and ratings from playing in tournaments,” Maxey says. DUPR recently allowed players to do a rating “reset,” about which Maxey says, “VAIR has mixed [play results], ages and gender built in, better algorithms. VAIR does not need a reset.”
He believes too many indoor pickleball facilities are being built and is concerned about those not doing well.
“We need to help make sure the ones operating have some success rather than building more,” Maxey says.
Maxey is living a full, active life despite enduring a major health crisis. He was diagnosed with Stage 2 prostate cancer in 2022. He was declared cancer free in January 2025.
“The experience strengthened my commitment to leadership, perseverance, and service within the pickleball community,” Maxey says.
He wants to continue to build the game along with other racquet sports such as SkyBall and Typti.
“Bringing in the younger generation has always been a passion as well,” Maxey says. “Travel and developing the game internationally is important to me also.”
He also advises pickleball players to wear protective eyewear, and, most of all, “to have fun.”
Thoughts of the week, not all pickleball
· RIP Clarence Carter. The great musician died from complications of prostate cancer and pneumonia in hospice care on May 13th at 90. Carter was blind since his birth in Alabama. He was a wonderful storyteller and best known for his work in the Southern soul, R & B and blues genres. His biggest hits were “Slip Away,” “Patches,” and “Strokin.”
· I’m cranky when an injury prevents me from playing but an injured pickleball player in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, took his crankiness way too far. Video surveillance cameras caught the 31-year-old in a cast and on crutches cutting pickleball nets at two parks. Police say the guy admitted cutting the nets because he said, his “summer was ruined.” He couldn’t play so he didn’t want others to play. He faces criminal mischief charges.
· Are there any musicians or bands no longer touring who you wish you had seen? I’ve been to hundreds of concerts but regret never seeing Bob Seger, Aerosmith, and Neil Diamond.
· Never thought I’d be interested in a film that I thought was about an octopus. But Remarkably Bright Creatures is about so much more. Sally Fields should be in the discussion for an Oscar for her performance is this heartwarming, emotional film. Check it out on Netflix.
· I also wasn’t excited to go to a theatre a few days ago to see The Sheep Detectives, but my wife and I take turns choosing movies and it was her turn. It is a poignant, funny, and feel-good film.
· On the other hand, I thought the new Netflix film starring Sasha Baron Cohen, Ladies First, was a drag. Lost interest halfway through but since it was the 3rd most popular film on Netflix when I watched it I thought I’d stick it out. Just not enough good moments and a predictable ending.
· Baseball fans of a certain age will remember the full page of statistics in the Sunday New York Times. The stats included not only category leaders, but those for every position player in the league with the minimum number of at-bats. I’d spend an hour devouring those stats every Sunday morning.
· For one reason I am glad those stats are no longer published. The numbers for my Mets are embarrassing.
· May 26th will always be a special day for me. It was on that date in 2020 that my memoir, Confessions of an Investigative Reporter was released. I was stunned when I awoke that morning and saw it in the number 1 ranking on Amazon’s list of “Hot New Releases.” Writing a book was high on my bucket list. I didn’t do it to have a bestseller or make money. The book still sells today on Amazon and elsewhere because it is not dated. Readers have told me they appreciate the honesty and admission of personal failures during my 40 years in TV news. I described things I couldn’t say on TV news and behind the scenes drama from my favorite stories out of some 10,000 I reported. There are details about my intereviews with the famous and infamous, from the serial killer David Berkowitz, aka, “The Son of Sam,” to Billy Joel and Hulk Hogan. And there are my thoughts about my half-dozen one-on-one interviews with a New York real estate developer named Donald Trump.
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