I still remember meeting Chris Clark back when Toss & Spin was in its earliest phases—before most people in pickleball had heard the name, before the national activations, and long before anyone was talking about mobile courts as a growth model. What struck me then—and still does—is how grounded and focused he is. The goal was never to be seen, but to serve.

Chris didn’t launch Toss & Spin to chase headlines. He launched it to solve a real problem: how to bring quality racquet sport experiences—especially pickleball—to communities that didn’t yet have access or instruction. That focus shows up clearly in the work Chris and Toss & Spin have done across cities, audiences, and partners.

Turning Parking Lots and Public Spaces into Playgrounds

A transformed parking lot became a custom pickleball court for Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Some companies talk about community engagement. Toss & Spin does it.

Take their ongoing work with Dick’s Sporting Goods’ House of Sports series—a project that transformed retail parking lots into vibrant pickleball courts. These weren’t temporary nets tucked in a corner. Toss & Spin built custom courts, organized play experiences for all ages and skill levels, and supported weekend-long activations designed to introduce audiences to the sport in a low-pressure, fun environment.

The result: more than 10,000 players experienced the game across 10 cities, including notable participation in Houston and other markets where it felt less traditional.

What makes these events stand out is that they didn’t scream “look at this brand.” They created the conditions for people to pick up a paddle, meet new players, and walk away with a real experience—not just a logo in their Instagram feed.

The Quaker Pickleball Academy: Skills, Snacks, and Community

Toss & Spin partnered with Quaker Oats for the Quaker Pickleball Academy, with over 7,000 people trying out the sport for the first time.

Another standout example is the Quaker Pickleball Academy—a nationwide initiative created with Quaker Oats that brought free skills-and-drills sessions to players in 17 cities.

Toss & Spin handled everything from sourcing locations and staffing to full run-of-show execution. Across those events, thousands of players participated in structured lessons, on-court play, and even Quaker’s playful “oat-fficial” tournament environment—complete with samples and an emphasis on play first.

This wasn’t a fleeting demo or a quick exhibition. It was a thoughtfully executed series that introduced pickleball fundamentals to wide audiences in places where organized play didn’t always exist.

What Toss & Spin Actually Does—With Purpose

Numbers tell the story in a way that buzzwords can’t:

8,000+ classes and instructional sessions
600+ events and activations
40+ cities where courts, instruction, or organized play were brought to life

Those figures aren’t just scale metrics. They represent access. Structured, repeated opportunities for people to play, learn, and connect.

Unlike some activations that start with branding and add play later, Toss & Spin flips that script. Play is the core. Experience comes first. Partners support that mission contextually—not intrusively.

A Different Kind of Activation Model

Most brand activations lead with logos, merchandise, and media impressions.

Toss & Spin leads with:

Solid programming
Accessible, structured play
Welcoming environments for beginners
Thoughtful facilitation

Yes, there are brand partners involved. But the sports experience isn’t a backdrop for advertising. It’s the reason anyone shows up at all.

Why This Matters

Chris Clark, founder of Toss & Spin, teaching a pickleball clinic.

Pickleball has been growing rapidly, and with that growth comes the risk of commercialization outpacing community connection. What Toss & Spin has done—whether turning a parking lot into a field of play with Dick’s or teaching thousands of players through the Quaker Pickleball Academy—is build actual access.

It’s not about being the loudest name on a banner. It’s about creating space where players can develop confidence, meet others, and fall in love with the sport. That is the kind of impact that lasts longer than a weekend activation or a social media post.

Chris Clark: Quiet Leadership in Action

Throughout all this, Chris has remained remarkably down-to-earth. There’s no ego in the way he talks about the work and no rush to take credit. He understands—deeply—that pickleball isn’t about brand footprints. It’s about people in motion.

Watching Toss & Spin grow while maintaining that ethos has been one of the more inspiring stories in this space. They prove you can scale, work with major partners, and still prioritize play over promotion. That’s exactly the kind of leadership the pickleball community needs as this sport continues to mature.

Toss & Spin: Putting Play First—Not Logos