I break down why Ben Johns has stayed at or near #1 since the PPA Tour began in February 2020, including his dominant 2026 results with Gabe Tardio in men’s doubles and with Anna Leigh Waters in mixed. I explain how he absorbs others’ innovations—especially the backhand roll and the newer backhand flick and why his precise, patient dinking and elite pattern recognition make opponents press into bad offense. I cover how his lack of a glaring weakness, plus smart partner selection, has helped him win hundreds of gold medals. Then I detail his relative weaknesses—speed-ups when his reads are off, predictability, occasional stubbornness, and motivation—highlighting how he patched a forehand-off-the-bounce issue after Mesa. I finish with a 2K-style rating card and overall evaluation.
Why ALW is SO Good - https://youtu.be/KgFNQhwOk5Q
How to Hit the Perfect Backhand Roll, Poke, and Flick - https://youtu.be/Do1JmLvTalo
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00:00 Ben Johns Reign
00:42 Why He Stays Ahead
01:29 Zane Intro Format
02:05 Backhand Roll Weapon
03:27 Dinking Masterclass
04:46 Court IQ Patterns
05:29 No Real Weakness
06:39 Partner Selection Edge
07:11 Weakness Speed Ups
08:28 Off Bounce Attacks
09:35 Predictable Yet Wins
10:42 Motivation The Key
11:20 Podcast Clip Future
13:27 2K Rating Card
15:14 Wrap Up Next Player