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| How Jake Johnson Learned Tennis and Pickleball for Apple TV+'s The Dink |
Watching Jake Johnson rally across the court in Apple TV+'s The Dink, it is easy to assume he has spent years swinging a tennis racket or dominating local pickleball courts. The film makes his movements look convincing enough to fool plenty of viewers. The reality, however, is rather different. Before stepping into the role of former tennis prodigy Dusty, Johnson had virtually no experience with pickleball and needed intensive coaching to make every match feel authentic on screen.
That transformation became one of the more interesting stories behind the sports comedy. Director Josh Greenbaum wanted the matches to look believable rather than relying entirely on editing tricks or body doubles.
While professional doubles helped during the most technically demanding moments, the goal was always for the cast to perform as much of the action themselves as possible. That meant Johnson had to swap script rehearsals for hours on the court.
Speaking about his preparation, Jake Johnson admitted that when writer Sean Clements first sent him the screenplay, pickleball barely crossed his mind. Since the project was still in development, he assumed learning the sport would be straightforward once cameras started rolling.
It turned out to be one of those classic moments where reality politely laughed and said, "Good luck with that." Because Dusty is introduced as a gifted former tennis player, Johnson's training began with tennis fundamentals under respected coach Brad Gilbert.
Learning proper footwork, timing and technique was essential before even thinking about pickleball. The tennis sessions helped establish the athletic background needed for the character before introducing an entirely different style of play.
Once Johnson transitioned to pickleball training, he quickly realised the sport demanded far more precision than he had expected. Gilbert invited experienced local players to join the practice sessions, turning training into a competitive challenge rather than a simple acting exercise.
Players aimed at small targets placed around the court, including hats, forcing Johnson to improve his accuracy while understanding the strategic side of the game. The experience completely changed his perception of pickleball. Initially, it appeared simple enough that almost anyone could play.
Then he started facing genuinely skilled opponents and discovered just how quickly confidence can disappear. According to Johnson, almost everyone feels like a champion until someone who actually knows what they're doing steps onto the court. Humbling, but effective.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Johnson did not stop playing once filming ended each day. The actor revealed that he continued visiting local courts with longtime friend Justin Long, who already enjoyed the sport.
Their casual games exposed Johnson to the growing pickleball community, where players of different ages gathered simply because they loved the competition. He joked about the friendly but relentless trash talk, comparing the atmosphere to something straight out of Cobra Kai, only with fewer flying kicks and considerably more paddles.
That real-world experience ended up helping his performance in The Dink. Screenwriter Sean Clements had based much of the story on his own journey from tennis to pickleball, allowing Johnson to experience many of the same discoveries while preparing for the role.
Instead of simply pretending to enjoy the sport, he gradually developed a genuine understanding of why it has attracted such a passionate following. Authenticity remained a priority throughout production.
Professional pickleball players joined the film as consultants, ensuring everything from player movement to match strategy reflected the real sport. Their guidance helped polish the competitive sequences while allowing the cast to perform with greater confidence.
Rather than creating flashy sports scenes that looked impressive but unrealistic, the production aimed to satisfy audiences who actually know the difference between a clever dink shot and a lucky accident.
Fan reactions have been mixed in the most entertaining way. Some viewers have praised Jake Johnson's surprisingly natural performance, saying it genuinely looked like he'd been playing for years. Others admitted they searched online afterwards simply to check whether he was secretly a tennis player all along.
Meanwhile, pickleball enthusiasts have appreciated the effort to portray the sport respectfully instead of treating it as little more than an easy punchline. There are still plenty of jokes, of course, because apparently no sports film is legally allowed to exist without someone underestimating the game before becoming completely obsessed with it.
In real life, Jake Johnson was neither an experienced tennis player nor a pickleball regular before The Dink. Everything audiences see comes from dedicated coaching, plenty of practice and a willingness to embrace a sport he initially knew very little about.
Judging by the finished film, the hard work paid off, proving that sometimes the best performances begin with learning an entirely new skill from scratch.
Have you watched The Dink, and did you think Jake Johnson looked like an experienced player? Or has the film tempted you to give tennis or pickleball a try yourself? Share your thoughts and join the conversation with fellow fans.