Dean Loock is originally from South Africa and competed collegiately with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Athletics. He is currently sponsored by CRBN paddles and has transitioned from tennis and pickleball into the emerging racquet sport TYPTI. Loock currently balances competition with family life alongside his wife and their one-year-old child.
The transition from tennis to pickleball, and then to TYPTI happened fairly naturally for Loock. Loock, who hails from tennis and pickleball, has been playing at Calabasas Pickleball Club, and noticed that TYPTI creator and founder, Steve Bellamy, had been running tournaments on Wednesday nights with some of the members.
Loock was invited to one of those Wednesday nights and was told about a game Bellamy was starting called TYPTI. He decided to show up and try it. After playing a few points, he was “almost instantly hooked” due to the fun aspect and the nuances that transitioned easily from tennis.
Loock notes that while pickleball required readjustments such as drops and dinks, TYPTI is more of a “ripping sport.” Loock began attending more weekly get-togethers, with Bellamy inviting the South African to compete in a few additional tournaments, including last month’s star-studded Lauch Event. Eventually, he began practicing multiple times per month with other players.
The tournaments helped with understanding different styles of play, how to use the net, and overall strategy. The transition from pickleball to TYPTI felt natural due to the shared court dimensions. Tennis strokes overlapped easily, while the kitchen-line finesse from pickleball translated well.
Loock notes that volleys in TYPTI are challenging, as the ball can be hit hard, requiring soft hands to control placement. Fortunately for the multi-sport athlete, that skill carried over from pickleball. TYPTI’s standout feature that allows players to play the ball off the net is one of the best aspects of the game, in Loock’s opinion.
“The main kind of difference, I think, is the fact that you really can rip through the ball when you’re on court,” explained Loock. “It gives a lot of freedom to kinda hit through the ball, and it’s very, very fast paced and chaotic, especially when you get up to the kitchen line. And, of course, there is no kitchen in TYPTI, which makes it even more fun because you can close out that net.
“That’s where I think, for me, the most excitement, the most velocity, and chaos, for a lack of better word, happens,” continued Loock. “Points often last a long time because the ball is difficult to put away, even with overheads. The ball slows significantly after bouncing, which adds drama and extends rallies.”
The extended points are nothing but a positive for the emerging sport, says Loock.
“I think that adds more to the drama of the points and to the game, and I think that’s what spectators also would like to see if they’re watching it.”