The Power of Fitness: Why Being In Shape Matters
As co-founder of PPI (Pickle Performance Institute), I want to share how our journey began and how we aim to help millions of people optimize their performance, fitness, and overall quality of life.
At 66 years old, fitness has always been a priority in my life. When I moved to Florida, I had the choice to become either a boater or a golfer—I chose the latter. After five years of dedication to the sport with little improvement, I attended a PGA event and observed the pros practicing endlessly on the range. One player stood out to me the most—Greg Norman, a Hall of Famer and, in my opinion, one of the best ball strikers of all time. The sound of his club striking the ball was unmatched, and his swing speed, body movement, and overall physical fitness set him apart from the rest of the field.
Inspired, I immediately signed up to train with his coach in Orlando. Over the course of a year, I focused on perfecting the biomechanics of my body to produce an optimal swing. The results were transformative—I began consistently shooting in the low 70s. I realized that no matter how much instruction one receives, true progress only comes when the body is physically capable of executing the mechanics of the sport.
This realization led me to apply the same principles to pickleball. As a 65-year-old newcomer to the game, I knew that proper training would be essential for injury prevention and performance improvement. Studying the world’s best players, I saw the same pattern—elite players position themselves to hit the best shots consistently. In my research, I discovered Jesse and Jason Lapiana (brothers), two exceptional mobility trainers who became equity partners in PPI. Their specialized approach to body balance and movement revolutionized my game. In a short time, I went from a beginner to qualifying for both the National Championship in Arizona and the State Championship in Texas.
As fate would have it, my son, Steven Sgroi—also an equity partner—is a franchise consultant who helps athletes and entrepreneurs bring innovative ideas to life. Sharing my vision of the importance of structured training for injury prevention and peak performance, he played a pivotal role in launching PPI.
At PPI, we assess your current physical performance through specialized testing and develop a customized training program tailored to enhance mobility, flexibility, strength, and overall biomechanics. Unlike traditional gyms that focus primarily on strength training—often neglecting body balance and range of motion—we incorporate a holistic approach to ensure your body functions optimally, keeping you injury-free and at peak performance.
PPI is more than just a training facility—it’s a fitness community. Our state-of-the-art amenities include a spa, cold plunge, red light therapy, sauna, massage therapy, and physical therapy, all designed to optimize recovery, which is key to training effectively and efficiently.
Join the PPI Movement
We invite you to be part of something truly transformative. At PPI, we’re not just building a fitness program—we’re creating a movement that will impact thousands of lives for years to come. Whether you’re looking to prevent injuries, improve your game, or reach peak physical performance, PPI is here to support your journey.
Thank you, and we look forward to welcoming you to the PPI family.
Thank you.
Ralph Sgroi Jr.
Founder, Pickle Performance Institute
