Arik Chan
Certified Tennis Coach since 2003. Pickleball Certified. Squash & Table Tennis Background. Fisherman at Heart.
I’ve spent most of my life with a racket in my hand.
Certified tennis coach since 2003. Now also certified in pickleball. Along the way, I’ve played squash and table tennis seriously enough to understand what makes each sport tick – and what makes each one brutal if you’re using the wrong gear.
These days, I coach. I teach mobile photography. I bring people fishing. And I help players find gear that actually suits their game.
🎾 Why My Background Helps You Choose Gear
Most gear reviews are written by people who’ve played one sport. I’ve played four.
That matters more than you’d think.
Squash taught me about grip and wrist snap. In squash, the ball does what your wrist tells it to. When I pick up a pickleball paddle, I can feel immediately whether the grip size and handle length allow for that same wrist freedom – or whether it’s fighting you.
Table tennis taught me about spin and touch. Table tennis is the most spin-sensitive racket sport there is. Long pips, smooth rubber, the difference a millimetre of sponge makes – I’ve felt all of it. So when I test a carbon fiber paddle, I’m not just asking “does it spin?” I’m asking how it spins, and whether the dwell time actually lets you shape the ball.
Tennis taught me about power and plow-through. Twenty-plus years on court means I know what a racket should feel like when it meets the ball cleanly – and what it feels like when it twists in your hand. That translates directly to evaluating paddle weight, balance, and sweet spot.
Pickleball taught me that none of the above is enough on its own. Pickleball is its own beast. Short court, soft game, dinking, fast hands at the net. A paddle that’s perfect for a tennis player’s drive might be terrible for a pickleball player’s dink. You only know by playing both.
🎣 What Fishing Taught Me About Gear
People laugh when I say fishing taught me something about sports gear. But it’s true.
Fishing is about patience and feel. You learn to sense the smallest tick on the line – a subtle difference that tells you everything. You also learn that expensive gear doesn’t catch fish. The right gear does. And the right gear depends entirely on what you’re fishing for, where you’re fishing, and how you like to fish.
Same with paddles and rackets. A $300 paddle won’t make you a better player if it doesn’t match your style. A $40 paddle that suits how you play will beat it every time.
That’s the philosophy behind everything I recommend here.
🛒 What This Means for Scoot.Blog
When I scout deals for you, I’m not just looking at price tags.
I’m asking:
Does this gear suit the player it’s aimed at?
Is the construction honest, or is it marketing fluff?
Will a beginner outgrow it in a month?
Is the budget option actually good value, or just cheap?
Would I put this in my own bag?
I’ve been burned by bad gear. I’ve also found gems at ridiculous prices. I know the difference, and I’ll tell you honestly which is which.
📜 Credentials
Certified Tennis Coach (since 2003)
Certified Pickleball Coach
Playing background in Squash and Table Tennis
Photography Instructor – People’s Association
Mobile & Travel Photography Coach
20+ years coaching experience
Avid fisherman, beer enthusiast, grateful for all of it
📍 East Singapore
📩 WhatsApp: +65 8034 9193
