Points to Ponder

DON’T LISTEN TO (THE OLD) “MABLE” PRESCRIPTION. You may have heard the children’s rhyme that goes,” Mable, Mable, sweet and able, keep your elbows off the table!” However, although that admonishment may work well in the etiquette domain when dining, the opposite is better advice in the pickleball realm. Pro player/coach Sarah Ansboury suggests that you hold your paddle out in front of you (with both hands touching the paddle), far enough away so that your elbows are not touching your body but are (figuratively) resting on the “table” before you. This position: a) best protects the “bulls eye” on your chest, b) reminds you to track the ball with your paddle, and c) helps you maintain bodily balance. Having your paddle high (especially when at the NVZ line) also gives you a few more milliseconds to react to hard volleys. Now remind yourself, “Mable, Mable, sweet and able, keep your elbows on the table!” 

“DANCE” WITH YOUR PARTNER. Synchronize your movements on the court by moving in harmony as though dancing with your teammate—forward/backward, and side-by-side. This is especially important when your partner moves off the court to return a wide shot. Use your peripheral vision to know where your partner is, and move accordingly for the desired coordination.  Keep a “social distance” of about 8’ from each other so as to maximize the coverage of the central area of the court while not interfering with each other’s shot. Your results will improve, your partner will gain confidence in you, and s/he will appreciate your efforts to coordinate. Doubles pickleball requires teamwork to be successful. 

FORGET THE SCORE! (That’s pretty easy for some of us players.) ☺ When your mind is exclusively focused on getting to 11 points and winning the game, there is so much self-induced pressure that mistakes become more likely—the exact opposite of your intention and desire. (This is similar to the Abilene Paradox—the phenomenon of going someplace [doing something] willingly when you clearly don’t want to go there [do that].) Instead, bring your thoughts down from game-winning and then focus on individual point-winning (or even how to save a point, or how to set up your partner for a winning next shot). Short-term thinking can then help you focus and produce the desired long-term results. 

BACKHAND SHOT? WHO NEEDS A BACKHAND? (Short answer: we all do!) Some players, having greater skill and confidence in their forehand shot from the baseline, do one of two things to avoid using their backhand—they either position themselves (in advance) toward the backhand side so as to take most shots with their forehand, or they sidestep at the last moment to take an incoming shot. Both of these tactics constitute a recipe for unforced errors, as you will likely be off-balance when hitting your shot. More critically, you will leave more of your court unprotected for the next shot from your opponent! You don’t need a powerful backhand shot for it to be a viable defensive tool; sometimes you only need to keep the ball in play and/or vary the pace. Practice your backhand repetitively by taking multiple shots with it on purpose (e.g., when facing the Pickleball Tutor machine). This will increase your confidence to use it occasionally. 

DEVELOP A (DAILY) LASER-LIKE FOCUS. There are many things in our lives (e.g., aches and pains, financial challenges, concerns about aging) and in the environment around your court (noise, movement, sun, bugs, pollen, and wind), that can distract us on a given day, resulting in “divided selves” or what is called “split consciousness.” These distractions result in a loss of mental alignment, and potentially diminish the quality of our play. Instead, use self-discipline and a laser-like focus to zero in on one primary attribute or skill that you will demonstrate each day that you play (e.g., “I will not miss a serve today”). Clear your mind of all else before arriving at the court so that you can focus, focus, focus.

ACT LIKE A MODEL CHEERLEADER. Many adults, like toddlers, like to receive some recognition for their actions. Comment positively on the good things that your partner—and even your opponent—does. Reinforce desired behaviors with a smile, nod, word, tap of the paddle, follow up email, or pat on the back—and those positive behaviors will more likely be replicated. Your positive support will often be appreciated, and maybe even reciprocated. And just think…you might win the (mythical) “Miss/Mr. Congeniality of the Pickleball Court” award based on the observations of our panel of Mystery Judges! 

DON’T MIMIC “JOHNNY ONE-NOTE.”  In 1937 Judy Garland popularized a song called “Johnny One-Note.” Johnny had a very limited range (one note on the scale) but when his turn came during a song, he was so dominant that all other singers were drowned out. By contrast, pickleball players can (and should) develop proficiency with at least five types of “notes” (stroke motions), as follows:

1. The Lifted Shots (serve, dink, lob, and third-shot drop);

2. The Slam (overhead downward smash);

3. The Volley (short snap of the paddle at the NVZ line)

4. The Groundstroke (forehand and backhand baseline shots)

5. The Push (moderately soft off-speed passing shot).

Competent players need to be aware of the differences, know when to use them, and develop some proficiency with each of these. Be a pickleball artist (with more flexibility than the mythical “Johnny”) and expand your repertoire of strokes!

PLAY “KEEP AWAY.” Q: What can you do if one of your opponents is a dominant player (i.e., very tall, or highly agile, or extremely skillful)? A: Deny him/her the ball! A classic children’s game (“Keep Away”) taught us that skill. Talking strategy with your pickleball partner before the game begins, agree to aim the vast majority of your shots at the dominant player’s partner. This simple tactic is similar to defensively double-teaming great basketball players, or pitching around great baseball hitters. Don’t give the dominant player a chance to overwhelm you. Playing “Keep Away” will frustrate that player, lead her/him to take greater risks, and likely cause more unforced errors. 

EARN “EXTRA CREDIT.” Think outside the proverbial mental “box.” Create your own new “rule” (either in your mind, or by verbal agreement with all 3 other participating players): Any successful shot that hits the opponent’s centerline and is untouched by them will be worth 2 points (or even 3!) instead of 1. This mental model will help to focus you on the value of aiming toward the “golden middle,” where the majority of points are won or lost. (And here is a shout-out to Ralph Elwer, for sharing this intriguing Arizona-based idea with us.) 

ENGAGE THE “DO-REFLECT-DO BETTER” CYCLE. Some people are criticized for having “one-track minds” (but that is another subject!). What we need are two reciprocal tracks to improve the level of our play—a focus on doing (performing at the moment) and subsequent reflecting (later critiquing our own or others’ behaviors in search of ways to improve them). This is development of our pickleball “craft,” similar to what great writers have done for ages as they revise and improve their work. As Scott Newstok noted (p. 33) in How to Think Like Shakespeare, “Craft takes place in a collaborative environment where skill is honed, in conjunction with others.” Who are you collaborating with so as to improve your (and their) on-court performance? 

“RISK IT FOR THE BISCUIT.” Sometimes you need to break out of your shell (i.e., your habit of being conservative in shot selection) and take a low-percentage shot in an attempt to catch your opponent off guard. For example, if your team is ahead 10-9 in the final game of a match but the opponents have been making a strong comeback, you may need to take that risky shot in order to win the mythical gold medal (the “biscuit”). This is consistent with the classic reminder, “No guts; No glory!” 

ARE YOU A GAMBLER? OR SHOULD YOU PLAY THE ODDS WISELY? Some expert pickleballers recommend not attempting any shot that you haven’t practiced enough to be at least 80% proficient at achieving under game conditions. For example, once you know that the net is lower in the middle than on the sides (the “Golden Middle”), why not capitalize on this fact by aiming many of your shots there? In addition, the wide space to each side (10 feet) of the centerline produces less chance of error, and also capitalizes on the probability of a greater chance of opponent confusion regarding who should return the ball. The odds are then in your favor. This is PPP (Playing Percentage Pickleball). 

STREEEEETCH YOURSELF. Anecdotal (observational) evidence suggests that over 90% of recreational pickleball players do not warm up their bodies sufficiently prior to playing. “Let’s start playing” is too often spoken after just a handful of soft shots are exchanged before the first point is played for real. This is a time-tested recipe for injury! Physical therapists urge us to spend several minutes in warming up our bodies through a variety of stretches and movements, and this becomes increasingly important as players age. Minimize the risks of soreness, aches, injuries, and surgeries by preparing your body before engaging in rigorous activity. (And don’t forget to “cool down” afterwards, too.) 

WHAT IF OPRAH WINFREY INTERVIEWED YOU ON NATIONAL TELEVISION? She might ask you, “What is your primary purpose for playing pickleball?” Is it to demonstrate your superiority over others? To gain the health benefits of physical activity? To make new friends? To have fun in the company of nice people? To escape (momentarily) from your spouse? With Oprah’s interrogational help, you might be able to identify your main goal more precisely. Once you know it and commit to it, you are more likely to experience satisfaction from your participation in pickleball by being less disappointed about the other factors listed here. Have a clear goal, and stick to it! 

CAN YOU SPOT THE ‘TELL’? Poker players watch for their opponent “tells” as a way to gain an advantage. (A “tell” is a change in a player’s behavior that gives a clue to the strength of cards in his/her hand and whether they are bluffing. Common “tells” include subtle eye or hand movements.) Does your pickleball opponent plan to poach? If so, can you detect it in time to change your next shot? Magicians follow the maxim that “little truths reveal big truths.” Borrowing, then, from football runners and basketball players, you might focus on a little truth in those sports—watch the shoulders of your opponent, for that reveals their impending movement. If you can spot a “tell” by a poacher, hit the ball behind him/her as movement begins. 

PICTURE THE BULLSEYE. Here is a pickleball anomaly: The smaller the target you are aiming for, the greater the likelihood that you will be successful! Hard to believe? Consider this: if you only aim for the entirety of your opponent’s court, you will likely fail. Why? Because your opponents (in a doubles game) are capable of covering approximately 80% of their court (while they are at the NVZ line). However, if you narrow your focus (whether to hit down the middle or down a sideline or lob over their heads), not only are those areas less well defended, but it forces you to focus your attention to a greater degree. This is what I call “hitting with intention.” Always have a target in mind (such as your opponent’s left foot)! 

WHEN 3 IS GOOD ENOUGH. It is unusual when, during open play, players show up in exact multiples of 4. What can you do instead of standing around while other foursomes see action? A popular financial advisor urges us to “Spend your life wisely.” A micro version of that maxim is to “Spend your (court) time wisely.”  How? Use the available time to play “Australian Doubles” (2 on 1) where the single player defends only ½ the court, and players only get a single serve opportunity if they fault. Then all players rotate clockwise (while keeping track of just three individual scores). This format forces the partners opposite the server to focus their shots more carefully on either the left side or the right side of the opponent’s court! It’s a great skill-practice opportunity. 

8. BE UNPREDICTABLE. Surprise; astonish; startle; stun your opponents. Alternatives include varying the velocity of your shots, the direction/placement of them, or making a sudden change (e.g., a wrist volley during a dinking exchange, or a well-disguised lob). The element of surprise is a valuable tool in many other sports (baseball, football, basketball), so why not try something different in pickleball (e.g., how often do you do a planned or spontaneous poach)? It will keep your opponents guessing, mentally off-balance, and stressed! Being unpredictable is more fun, and it may give you an all-important edge.

DON’T JUST GO HOME; GO HOME HAPPY! Did you win every game by 11-0 the last time you played? Did you lose every game by 11-0 the last time you played? (Would it really change your life if you experienced either one of those)? If you say “No,” then consider answering these alternative questions (any one of which should send you home happy): A. Did I have fun today (e.g., laughing, teasing)?

B. Did I hit a nice winning shot today?

C. Did I make a good defensive shot today?

D. Did I learn something new about pickleball today?

E. Did I play safely today (no injuries)?

Allow yourself to wear a big smile on your way home; it will make friends, family members, and observers wonder what you have been up to! 

SHOULD I WEAR A HAT OR A CAP? To paraphrase Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, consider remembering The C.A.P. not the H.A.T. instead. What does the H.A.T. acronym stand for? It is the implicit slogan of the power hitters in pickleball—Hard At Them (the opponents)—an attempt to overwhelm (and intimidate) the opponents with force. Now set your metaphoric “H.A.T.” aside, and exchange it for a C.A.P.—Control, Accuracy, and (then) Power. This C.A.P. you wear reminds you that it is better to be able to control your shots (know where you want your next shot to go) and to be able to direct it there accurately. Power (the least important of the three elements) can often be added rather easily later in your skill development (according to Rodger Lindgren, the source of the C.A.P. model as it applies to pickleball). 

PLAY WITHIN YOUR “HULA HOOP.” Imagine that you have a large hula hoop (50” diameter) suspended around your waist. Half of the circumference is painted green (for “Go”) and half of it is painted red (for “No Go”). The green semi-circle (centered in front of you) is the area in which you want to be hitting the majority of your shots, as it optimizes your control. To the sides, it may be best to have your elbow nearer your body as you make contact with a forehand or backhand stroke. In front of you, it may be best (when you are at the NVZ line) to have your elbow nearer your stomach so that you can make a “punch” shot while following through about 12-15” (to stay within the hoop). Ideally, you always want to contact the ball in the green zone. 

SHORT LEGS? NO PROBLEM!  We’ve all been admonished to “Get to the NVZ line.” This is easy for 7-foot athletes to do in two steps, but not as easy for many others. Sarah Ansboury (a top-rated pro PB player) suggests calling the 15’ space behind the NVZ a “transition zone.” In that view, we need to work our way through the area while maintaining our balance, preparedness, and poise. It is a journey to take, and can become a more successful one if you keep your paddle up and in front of you while not rushing through the space. The key to good control is moving forward at a consistent rate while being prepared to make the next shot and not overhitting because of your momentum. Managing your journey through the transition zone should lead to greater success when you reach your destination! 

SLOW IT DOWN!  Highway signs warn us that “Speed Kills!” and urge us to slow our speed. On the PB court, it is easy to get drawn into the trap of trying to outhit our opponents. Instead, we need a counter strategy to neutralize hard hitters. The “Slow it down” answer depends on our intentionality, our posture, and our grip. First, commit yourself to slowing down the pace of these exchanges by returning a hard shot with a softer one (such as a drop shot). Second, remain upright (not bent over) by bending at your knees to retain flexibility. Third, don’t let stress lead to a tightened arm and hand. Soften your grip, hold the paddle in your fingers, and let the ball meet your paddle as if it was your friend (not your foe). Remember that a sudden soft shot will often throw off your opponent’s rhythm (to your advantage). 

CAN YOU PLAY PICKLEBALL IN TOTAL DARKNESS?  “Really,” you say? Yes. Just pretend that each player has a “headlamp” attached to his/her chest. In order to make the next shot in the blackness surrounding you, you need to keep your “chestlamp” shining on the ball as it crosses the net and approaches your paddle. Here’s the point: sideline spectators watching the game sit in a stationary position, but swivel their heads back and forth with each shot. Good players, however, should adjust their bodies (torsos) with each shot exchange so that their “chestlamp” (and paddle) tracks the ball and makes it possible for it to be seen (and hit) in the mythical darkness. Then step into your (baseline) shot with your whole body, letting it turn again to point your “lamp” at the ball as it moves away from your paddle. Repeat, and repeat. 

USE DECEIT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.  Deception is the act of leading someone to believe something that is not true. In contract law, deliberate deception can lead to criminal prosecution. However, is there a place for acceptable deception in pickleball? Quite possibly. Consider this: A skilled player fakes a slam (that backs off his/her opponent) and then drops a soft shot just over the net. Acceptable deception? Another player prepares for a slam by pointing his/her body (and eyes) in one direction and then delivers a shot toward another area of the court. Acceptable deception? It is reasonable, it seems, to use a bit of deceit as a conscious tactic to fool one’s opponent and gain a momentary advantage. (Just don’t become known as a generally deceitful person in your social relationships!) 

PROTECT THE ALLEY. Pro hockey great Wayne Gretsky explained his success (all-time scoring leader in the NHL) in simple terms by saying “I skate to where the puck will be, not where it is.” There is a useful parallel to this in pickleball, but it is not often practiced. Players are taught to “Move up,” and they do so. Players are urged to “Cover the middle,” and they often do. However, how often do you see recreational players heeding the third major movement prescription to “Cover the alley” (the sideline nearest to them)? The key to this prescription’s success lies in knowing where the ball is on your opponent’s court, and hence where it will be coming.  When your team has hit a ball (serve, return, or any deep shot) to one of the opposing corners, there is a reasonable chance that the recipient of that shot will try a shot down the sideline of your court (the “alley”). This will become a successful passing shot if you are too intent on covering the middle and have not adjusted your position by 1-2 feet toward the sideline to protect it. Don’t be a “leadfoot;” move your feet during the course of a point (in response to your opponent’s position)! 

WANT TO MINGLE? TRY THE SINGLE DINGLE GAME.  Q: “Want to practice?” A: “No; too boring.” Q: “Want to mingle, have some laughs, and sharpen your skills at the same time?” A: “Sounds interesting; how do you do it?” It’s pretty simple, really, if you and three others (preferably strangers) would be willing to give the Single Dingle game a try. Here is how it works: All four players stand at the NVZ line. Two players on one side, each with a ball, begin dinking diagonally. When any one of the four players faults, s/he yells “Dingle!” while the opposing team mentally scores a point. Play continues (no stopping) with the other ball, and all shots are now allowed (including volleys, slams, and lobs). When either team faults, the opposing team wins one point. Repeat the process until one team accumulates the desired number of points. What has occurred? Dinking practice, volleying practice, mental alertness, and lots of laughs among a mingling group of dinglers (or is it a dingling group of minglers?). Give it a try! 

BE A (GOOD) THIEF.  “Bad” thieves steal from others for personal gain, and the victim suffers from the loss. “Good” thieves steal from others for personal gain, and the “victim” takes pride in the fact that the “thieves” have improved their own lot. How can you act as a good (pickleball) thief? By capitalizing on the absolute explosion and ready availability in various media of useful advice and illustrations of effective pickleball play. Daniel Coyle, author of “The Little Book of Talent” says, “All improvement is about absorbing and applying new information, and the best information is from excellent performers, so steal it.” Read books and articles in periodicals  (i.e., Pickleball magazine), watch instructional videos, attend pickleball clinics, invite feedback from better players, etc. Steal it and try it! 

CHOOSE THE PROVEN PATH. In The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost famously reflected, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” At the risk of oversimplification, recreational pickleball players also have two paths for improvement ahead of them; one is by hoping that regular play will improve their game, and the other is by engaging in structured skill practice. Although each approach has its merits, military leaders, politicians, football coaches, and pickleball coaches could agree on one thing—“Hope is not a (great) strategy.” If that is true, then skill practice emerges as a more proven (if sometimes distasteful) approach. (In a caricature of a young pianist, the aspiring player tells the teacher, “I don’t want to practice! I want to skip ahead to the part where I’m awesome!”)  However, an old cliché (“No pain; no gain”) reminds us that intensive (and guided) practice of a desired behavior (such as the serve, or backhand shots) can produce demonstrable improvement. The question is, “Am I willing to work hard?” 

HIT THREE BALLS? YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! In Tee-ball for 4-6 year-olds, batters take a roundhouse (perfect arc) swing at a single ball. Now imagine that there are three tees lined up perfectly in front of the batter, who wants to make good contact with all three (sequentially). How would this change the arc of the swing? It would flatten it out momentarily as the batter pushes the bat sequentially through the first, second, and third targets before again completing the arc. The same admonishment applies to baseline shots in pickleball (such as the return of a serve); imagine that you are seeing/hitting three aligned balls, which requires temporarily and momentarily flattening the arc of your paddle’s movement to hit all three in the same direction. The result of this mental model (facetiously termed “arcus interruptus”) will be substantially greater accuracy (because your paddle head stays in contact with the ball a bit longer), and therefore the ball is more likely to go where you are aiming it. 

EMULATE AARON BURR, NOT ALEXANDER HAMILTON. They were both politically ambitious men, but one (Hamilton) was more openly a self-promoter in seeking his career goals. Burr, quite wisely, told himself to “Wait for it,” and that was a very different strategy. In pickleball championship play, two men’s doubles teams once famously engaged in a duel in which more than fifty consecutive dinks were made before one team finally attacked. They showed remarkable patience, and “waiting for it” (the right combination of ball height, placement, and opponent positions) paid off with a winning point. Which mindset do you implicitly display when playing a point—“Win it now!” or “Wait for it” (the right opportunity)? Patience, though sometimes in short supply (e.g., “I want it now!”) is indeed a virtue on the court as well as in life. 

STICK YOUR PADDLE OUT! 

Assume that your partner has popped up a high ball directly to your opponent. Even when you don’t know where that player might aim a smash, there is always at least a tiny chance that your paddle might prove to be in the right place to achieve a “miracle” return—but only if you stick it out (or down). Always give it a try; you (and your opponents) might be surprised! 

EXPECT SOME UNFAIR LINE CALLS. Because of the speed at which a rapidly-struck pickleball can move, coupled with the subjectivity in the eyes and mind of the beholders (your opponents), and the proclivity of the rare person who wants to win at all costs, you can expect to bear the brunt of what seems like an occasional “bad” line call. According to the rules, that result is not debatable and you cannot argue or overrule the decision (unless you can appeal to a referee on court during tournament play). Be a good sport and simply brush it off, remembering, “It is only a game.” 

DON’T SUCCUMB TO “MUMB.” We are, it seems, bombarded with acronyms—some old and some new. Most of us are familiar with (and like) BOGO (Buy One, Get One). Other recently popular ones include YOLO (You Only Live Once), FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), and BOLO (Be On the Look Out for). What, then, is MUMB (which I guarantee you have never seen—but undoubtedly have heard--before)? It is simply the pickleball coach’s prescription to avoid being a “YOYO” on the court—players who, like the classic child’s toy, act as though they are on a string (or rubber band) by Moving Up and Moving Back, Moving Up and Moving Back, Moving Up and Moving Back (repeatedly and unnecessarily). Why is this behavior ill-advised (and even detrimental to your success)? First, it involves a large amount of extraneous motion, which can soon prove physically tiring. (Note the red face of the prototypical YOYO.) Second, it is considerably more difficult to hit a pickleball shot accurately when your body is in near-constant motion. Third, it is at least challenging (if not frustrating) for your partner not to know where you are on the court. The solution? KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly). Advance to the NVZ and basically hold your position there for the bulk of a game. Don’t MUMB. 

GET THE “LOW-DOWN.” In hockey, the player who scores a goal has usually received an assist (a pass) from a teammate, and the teammate accordingly gets credit (1 point) for doing so. In pickleball, the player who hits down on the ball often causes the opponent to hit up on the ball, thus creating an opportunity for you (or your partner) to hit a point-winning put-away (slam or smash). The shot hit low (your “assist”) is followed by your team’s shot hit down—the “low-down.” (I call this assist “the shot before the (real) shot.”) Make it your goal to become a champion “assister,” and your partners will love it. (And here is another hint—don’t forget to praise your partner occasionally whenever she or he provides you with an assist on your shot.) 

FEINTING IS NOT FOR THE FAINTHEARTED.  Feints (deceptive movements) are common and useful in the sports of fencing, boxing, football, baseball, and volleyball. Why not use them in pickleball also? Too many beginners act as if their feet are set in cement, and they seldom move from side to side in a departure from their basic position. This makes it easier for other players to direct their shots, as their opponents’ bodies and the spaces around them are relatively stationary targets. By contrast, some pickleball players make effective use of feints to distract or mislead their opponents into thinking that the ball will be placed in one direction while taking a different angle. Pro football’s ball carriers use feints to leave defenders in the proverbial dust. Not for the fainthearted, feinting requires a player to think on two planes—the deceptive movement (e.g., head nod; false step) and the intended (actual) movement. Feints can be effective! 

FEAR THE POACH; LOVE THE POACHER. Poaching occurs when one doubles player, on either a planned or spontaneous basis, jumps in front of the partner and catches the opposing team off guard by intercepting a ball hit to the teammate’s side. Poaching, if done selectively and effectively, often has a high rate of success, leading the defending team to fear the poach. (Why, then, isn’t it used more frequently?!) Alternatively, the poacher—through his/her movement—often leaves one side of the poacher’s court momentarily unprotected. This provides a golden opportunity for a member of the other team to alter the planned course of the ball and hit behind the poacher. All it takes is to pick up on the poacher’s cues that s/he intends to jump across, and you will find that you can have success. You wind up loving the poacher (because of the opening provided). 

THE BALL IS NOT YOUR DESTINATION.  Volleyball spikers, football quarterbacks, baseball batters, pro golfers, and field goal kickers all share a similar characteristic—they follow through on their motion and “finish it” by full extension of their arm or leg. By contrast, someone slapping their hand against the table, or using a newspaper to swat a fly knows that there is a distinct terminus to their swing and so they simply hit at the object and then stop. The speed and force of their swing decreases dramatically (both by intention and by the object of their aim). On the pickleball court players about to hit a forehand or backhand shot from the baseline should generally swing through the ball and end with their paddle well in front of them for maximum force and accuracy. Your form is important; finish your swing! 

WAIT FOR THE ADMIRATION FROM YOUR FRIENDS. You may have seen this on TV during a football game—a defensive back intercepts a pass and runs through an open field toward the goal line and brashly begins his celebration too early, dropping the ball before he crosses the goal line! Has a comparable thing ever happened to you (or someone you know) during a pickleball game? You hit a strong and well-placed shot that looks like a sure winner. Anticipating that the point is over, you relax a bit, drop your paddle to your side, and mentally begin to say to yourself, “Great shot!” Just then one of your opponents makes a near-miraculous recovery and returns the ball while you stand there, mouth agape. Admiring your previous shot has led to your own downfall. Instead, save the personal backslapping until later, stay alert in the moment (until the point is clearly over), and rely on your partner or friends to build up your ego when you make a fantastic shot. Only then is it safe to bask in the glory. 

MY LEFT (NON-DOMINANT) ARM—DOES IT HAVE UTILITY?.  Do you remember the 1989 movie My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown? Despite severe cerebral palsy, Christy became skilled as an artist using only his left foot! In pickleball, some (right-handed) players seem to ignore their left arm entirely. However, it can serve a major purpose as both a pointer before a slam, and (especially) as a source of bodily balance. Consider this: have you ever seen tightrope walkers holding the pole out exclusively to the right side? No (as they would lose their balance and fall). The best shots in pickleball begin while the player is in a balanced position (feet apart, knees flexed, eyes ahead, and the left arm and hand in front of you and in touch with your paddle). When making a forehand shot from the baseline, the left arm should be used as a counterbalance when the right arm swings back to prepare for the shot. Keep this thought in mind: “My left arm is valuable (and useful).” 

IMPROVE YOURSELF….. (BY YOURSELF). Way back in 1950, singer/actress Doris Day recorded the hit song, “Enjoy yourself (It’s later than you think.”) Paraphrasing that theme results in the admonition to “Improve yourself…” Equally important (to pickleballers) is the discovery that you can do some of that by yourself. How? Here are some suggestions:

1. Conditioning—Strengthen your arm, your legs, your lung capacity.

2. Balance—Spread your feet apart, bend your knees, use your left arm intentionally (per Blog #40).

3. Footwork—Practice the “split-step” when advancing to the NVZ line; practice “side-stepping” when moving to your left or right to hit a ball.

4. Serving—Hit 50 consecutive serves with a 95% accuracy rate; then practice hitting to the receiver’s backhand side.

5. Studying—Read, watch PB videos, observe opponents, and/or seek advice from more experienced players.

6. Hit to a wall—Practice dink shots and volleys against a garage wall.

           Conclusion: You don’t always need a partner in order to improve yourself. 

BUILD A “WALL” WITH YOUR WINGSPAN. One of your objectives should be to prevent your opponents’ shots from getting by you and your partner. This would be extremely difficult for them to do so if they were facing a “wall” that was 16’ wide and 8’ tall (as though you and your partner constructed it from four sheets of plywood (on end, and abutting each other at their edges). You can use this figurative image to position yourselves such that your Wingspan (of 5-6 feet) plus your Paddle’s extension in both directions (of almost 1’) plus slight bodily Movement (of at least 1’) total 14-16 total feet (W+P+M) when combined with your partner’s contribution. Thus, your team should be able, with a minimum of movement, to block almost any opponent shot with the exception of lobs or accurately-placed sideline (passing) shots. Building a wall simply requires coordination (who covers the middle?), anticipation, and a willingness to adjust your position a bit (depending on where the next shot is coming from). 

WOULD ELVIS HAVE BEEN A GOOD PB PLAYER?  We’ll never know for sure, but he had at least one attribute for pickleball success, which was hidden in his moniker of “Swivel Hips.” Imagine yourself at the NVZ line, but you have a partner who is reluctant (or refuses) to join you there. Then assume that your opponents aim most shots at your partner. What must you do? (Hint: Don’t stare straight ahead or even just move your head!) Instead, engage in the act of paddle tracking (pointing the tip of your paddle toward the ball as it is moving to and from your partner). To facilitate this, swivel your torso at your hips while keeping your lower body relatively square to the net. This paddle tracking will allow you to know where the ball is at all times as well as where your partner is—vital ingredients for success. Stay engaged by learning from Elvis to swivel at the hips! 

BANISH THE INNER HYPERCRITIC. Have you ever heard players curse at themselves? Seen them throw up their hands in self-disgust? Watched a player hang his/her head in frustration? Slap their paddle against their thigh in self-punishment for an unforced error? Call themselves negative names (e.g., “Idiot!”)? These overt signs of self-criticism often have the reverse of their intended effect—they focus our minds on our errors (instead of self-forgiveness and self-improvement), and they send a powerful message to our opponents that they now have the upper hand (psychologically). If true, this suggests two useful tactics: 1) “Never let them see you sweat.” Instead, hide your negative emotions from your opponents (and also from your partner). 2) Focus on positive behaviors in the future, such as telling yourself “I’m better than that!” or “I can do it!” This demonstrates neuroplasticity—the proven ability to change how your brain is wired. And if you want more support for doing so, try reading Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. It works! (And for evidence, listen to the powerful success stories of some Olympic athletes.) 

“STAR” IN YOUR OWN MOVIE. There is a classic tale about a woman who saw another lady emerge from the shopping mall’s rest room, trailed by a dozen squares of toilet paper that were accidentally lodged in her skirt. “Why didn’t you tell her this?” her husband inquired. “Oh, I just didn’t want to embarrass her!” she replied. (But wouldn’t a moment of feedback have saved the poor woman from greater embarrassment as she continued to shop throughout the mall?) Scottish poet Robert Burns offered this (Anglicized) observation in 1786: “Oh, would some Power give us the gift to see ourselves as others see us! It would from many a blunder free us…” Both tales suggest that there is substantial merit to receiving feedback from another source, be it a friend, competitor, or coach. A particularly powerful source of self-knowledge can arise through the process of viewing a video of yourself while playing PB. Seeing yourself in action can reveal whether you are dropping your paddle between shots, whether you are backing up from the NVZ, whether you are leaving the middle of the court unprotected, etc. I encourage you to ask someone else to video you in action, and then show you the results. The camera will neither lie nor embellish the truth! 

WHAT GOT YOU “HERE” WON’T (NECESSARILY) GET YOU “THERE.” I’m very pleasantly surprised to see a substantial degree of independently-gained skill progress among a number of players; it is also gratifying to see the receptivity to coaching advice among some others. However, I also witness a handful of players clinging tenaciously to frequent use of a beginner-level behavior—overuse of lofting the ball to their opponents. The result? A hard smash in return (to the chagrin of one’s partner; see attachment). This “lofted” shot (at one time) was useful for beginners in simply getting the ball over the net; it got you “here.” However, to get you “there” (i.e., a higher level of proficiency along with teammate protection) you may need to unlearn (at least diminish) the existing behavior and then add one or more of the other types of shots (see PB Blog #7). Repetitive lofting is dysfunctional and holds you back; it also potentially frustrates your partner when opponents enjoy repeated opportunities to hit a smash. Do you know any “lofters”? 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE “80% GUIDELINES.” You’ve probably heard that the team that (first) has both players at the NVZ line wins that point about 80% of the time—a powerful incentive to “move up.” And you may have recognized on your own that it is desirable to receive and return 80% or more of serves by using your forehand (through positioning your feet toward your non-dominant side of the court). Further, it is generally advisable to have the (right-handed) player on the left side of the court take about 80% of the shots that come toward your team down the middle of the court. What you may not know is that most experienced players will use their backhand to return about 80% of the volleys at the NVZ line! This is not so much done by choice, as it is simply by physiology; your wrist does not as easily bend backward as it does forward. Therefore, the “ready” position at the NVZ may logically point your paddle tip toward your non-dominant side (instead of forward). Prove this by looking at yourself in a mirror and moving your paddle as though you will receive incoming volleys toward your body. This is another application of relying on solid research and valid statistics—the 80% guidelines-- to improve your results. 

ELIMINATE (OR REDUCE) UNFORCED ERRORS (UFERs). What are they? Shots hit wide, long, into the net, or that set up an opponent’s too-easy winning shot. Think about this: oftentimes our opponents don’t beat us; we beat ourselves through “dumb” mistakes and unnecessary errors. Warren Buffett famously said, “You only have to do a few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.” If you could even make 10% less errors than your opponents do, you would increase your overall odds of winning by a wide margin. Don’t be impatient; don’t look ahead of your shot; don’t try to overwhelm with power; don’t hit shots to your opponent’s forehand. Do get down low; do point your non-dominant shoulder toward your target; do play defensive pickleball by getting the ball back over the net one more time than your opponents do. Reducing your errors will frustrate opponents and set you (or your partner) up for a winning shot. 

WHAT IS YOUR “GO-TO” SHOT? Volleyball setters have their favorite outside hitters who sport a high “kill” rate; football quarterbacks have a favorite receiver that they can pass to when they urgently need a first down; basketball players concentrate their practice shots from a specific spot on the court so they can shoot baskets with confidence when the chips are down; chess grandmasters have favorite openings that speed up the first several moves and strengthen their chances of an eventual checkmate. These are all “Go-To” strategies that help players succeed in their respective sports. What is your “Go-To” shot in pickleball, and have you practiced it lately such that you have an 80% probability of success with it? And do you rely too heavily on it such that your opponents can see it coming and prepare to defend it? And are you able to disguise it so your opponents are less likely to expect it? Take a few minutes the next time you play, and see if you can identify someone else’s “Go-To” shot. Then compare it to your own—and practice yours repeatedly. (My golf pro once told me that I needed to hit 2,000 golf balls before I would gain sufficient muscle memory to be even marginally proficient. Repetition is the key to success.) 

CAN YOU LEARN (MORE) ABOUT PB WHILE SITTING DOWN? Most of us have seen tennis matches on TV (e.g., Wimbledon) where the TV cameras pan to the audience and show a mass of heads looking left, then right, then left, ad nauseam as they watch the ball go back and forth.  By contrast, when I was being trained as a PB referee, I had the challenging task to discipline myself to NOT watch the ball, but to watch for foot faults instead (and keep score)! The lesson? As a spectator, you will learn very little by simply watching the ball from the sidelines. Instead, as a former PB student adroitly stated to me at the First Annual PicklePalooza, “You can learn a lot by watching a particular player in action—while you are sitting down.” (FYI, she gained this insight while recovering from a broken wrist and was unable to play PB for many months.) You can ask yourself many questions, such as, “Is that player standing in the best place? Did s/he move up to the NVZ expeditiously and remain there? Was s/he successful in serving? Did s/he move her/his feet to synchronize with a partner? Did s/he keep the paddle in the ready position at all times? Does the person have a particular strength to capitalize on, or a weakness that I could exploit when playing against her/him? Did s/he communicate well with her/his partner? Use some of your available “down” time at the courts to improve your game by learning from others! 

THE “COMPLEAT” PICKLEBALLER.  We don’t generally wish to be known as the opposite of “compleat” (amateurish; unseasoned; unskilled). Rather, it would be high praise if we were described as accomplished, consummate, masterful, or even virtuoso! How do we progress toward completeness? Brett Noel suggests that there are two rather distinct tracks to follow—hard skills and soft skills.  Hard skills (the mechanics of pickleball) might include serving, groundstrokes, return of serves, dinking, lobbing, and volleying—and all of these can be best engrained by repetitive and focused drilling. Soft skills involve adaptability during a game, learning when to attack, patience, teamwork, re-setting the point, and when to dink. Soft skills are developed by observing, playing, experimenting, and receiving feedback from others. Both hard and soft skills are vital to improving your game. 

PLAN FOR TOMORROW; PLAY FOR TODAY. Country singer Garth Brooks wrote and sang a tune called “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” Elvis Presley popularized a song titled “It’s Now or Never.” Both songs at least implicitly remind us to “Do it now!”—an emphasis on the short term, while also being prepared for the longer term. Perhaps more poignantly, a sign in a barbecue restaurant stated, “If you knew you couldn’t play “tomorrow” (never again), how hard would you play today?” Maybe some of us hold back, keep our energy in reserve, “coast” a bit, and don’t “give it our all” as we play our favorite sport. However, is this fair to our partners? To our opponents? And most of all, to ourselves? High-level athletes are reminded by their coaches to “Leave it all on the court (or field)” and that is why they often describe themselves as “drained” at the end of the day. Can you say the same? Do you give it your best each time you play? If “tomorrow” were to come for your pickleball career, could you reflect back on “yesterday” and truthfully say, “I gave it my all”? 

PICKLEBALL’S LONGEST DISTANCE.  What is the farthest distance you encounter on the pickleball court? Is it the 15 feet you travel from the baseline to the non-volley zone? Is it the height you reach with your paddle for a lob over your head (possibly 8-9 feet? Is it the distance your serve makes from baseline to baseline (a maximum of 40 feet)? Is it the longest distance a ball can travel and still be inbounds (from corner to corner, which is 44.72135955 feet)? While all of these answers have some merit, there is another legitimate response that you might think about that is stated like this: The greatest distance is that between knowing vs. doing. Our knowledge base may be extensive, based on instruction we have received, books we’ve read,, reminder lists  we’ve created for ourselves, and videos we’ve watched. However, these do not necessarily result in optimum performance, as there may be a substantial gap between knowing what to do (being “book smart”) and our actual performance. Perhaps it is preferable (and more profitable) to focus on doing one thing well (a targeted approach) than trying to excel on many things at once (a “shotgun” approach. Strive to reduce your own “longest distance”! 

TRY TEASING, NOT TRASH TALKING.  I’m appalled at the nature of the banter widely used among players in some professional sports (e.g., football, basketball, boxing). Trash talking (or “smack” or verbal bullying) is the use of figurative language or hyperbole to brashly taunt, insult, disparage, or belittle one’s opponents with the goals of distracting, annoying, angering, offending, or intimidating them. (Moreover, it also often incorporates foul language.) Fortunately, some sports (e.g., tennis or golf) seem to have remained above the others in this regard. In the realm of recreational pickleball, I dearly hope that it will never permeate our sport.                                        A feasible alternative, if handled properly, entails the occasional and careful use of teasing. In my view, teasing is the art of making gentle fun of another player in a playful way such that the recipient’s feelings are not likely to be hurt. It is best done between friends, such that it is a reciprocal process of give and take. The goals of teasing might include the encouragement and support of another player to help them feel included, to lighten the mood prevailing in a competitive situation, and to build rapport within a group. It is best done selectively, after careful observation and determination that the recipient appears to welcome and enjoy the joking comments made. Examples might include “It looks like you brought your ‘A’ game today!” or “No, Mary, hit the ball over the net, not through it!” or “That shot was  so good, Dan, it’s too bad there aren’t any professional scouts in the audience here today” or “The only way I could beat you would be to tie your dominant hand behind your back!” or “I wish I could have video taped your last shot so I could disseminate it worldwide on YouTube.” Maybe the best test of acceptable teasing would be if you wouldn’t mind if your spouse, grandchildren, or religious leader overheard you saying it (or if the comment would appear in the local newspaper the next day). Be mindful of other players’ feelings, and be careful not to disrespect them.

DON’T LOSE TO THE “THIRD OPPONENT.” You start a doubles match in pickleball by seeing who your two known opponents are, and making a preliminary (and ongoing) assessment of their skills and strategies. OK so far! But you also might want to acknowledge the existence of a “third opponent” that exists in every pickleball game. Who (what) is that? The net! Serves hit it and fall back into your court. Some dink shots fail to clear the net. Slams hit too low go into the net. Line drives that don’t clear 34 inches fail to land in the opponent’s court as intended. If any of those types of shots go over the net instead of into it they have a chance of scoring a point for you or stopping an opponent’s rally. Even if one of your drives or lobs might be going too long, there is always a chance that your opponent might misjudge the ball and “save” you—but only if you clear the net first. Don’t let shots into the net hamper your game or defeat you; practice getting the ball to clear the net! 

WEAR A SMILE? WHY NOT?!! Many coaches urge their younger followers to “Put your game face on!”, suggesting not only that they should be serious and intensely determined and highly confident, but they should also project that grim image to their opponents in an attempt to intimidate them as the competition begins. But what about recreational pickleball players; what should they do? PB coach Glen Peterson suggests, as part of his five basic guidelines for success, that we should wear the proverbial “happy face” and smile at our partners and opponents. Why? Because smiling relaxes you, puts your partner at ease, and maybe even lulls your opponents a bit. In addition, a smile also contributes to one of the more important byproducts of pickleball, which is building friendships and camaraderie with others. As a reminder of this tactic, think about a SMILE as Showing My Internal Laugh Externally. Wear your smile proudly and let your face show how happy you are to be playing pickleball! 

ARE YOU COACHABLE? Remember Tom Hanks’ character in the 2000 film Cast Away? He was marooned on an ocean island, and could only rely on his own wits to survive. Fortunately, that is not our situation, yet some pickleball players act as though they must go it alone. Who is your coach, we might ask? (If you don’t have one, why not?) Coachable people, according to Harvey Mackay (Minneapolis businessman and author of Outswimming the Sharks) are humble, curious, ask questions, seek insights from others, are receptive to feedback, are sponge-like in their hunger to learn, and—most of all—seek out and pursue mentors. Good coaches are constrained by the USAP’s code of ethics, which discourage advice-giving unless it is actively sought out. However, once asked, they base their ideas for improvement on personal observations and tailored suggestions, while avoiding rigidity or possible overload. There are coaching sources all around you, not only in person among more-experienced players, but also in books, articles, and YouTube videos. Seek them out, show some humility, and you will be likely to benefit! 

MM. What do you think about when you see two “M’s” together? Moviegoers might recall Marilyn Monroe from the 1950s. Baseball fans from the 1960s might recall the M-and-M hitters (Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle) as they accumulated home runs for the Yankees. Minnesota natives might even extend the M’s by one more as they think of the 3M Co. (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing) and its famous Post-It notes. Devoted pickleballers, however, are more likely to associate the MM acronym with Muscle Memory, which comes about when athletes engage in repetitive behaviors through extended and regular practice sessions. (Stephen Curry shoots free throws with 90% accuracy, while Shaquille O’Neal had a lifetime average of just 53%. What do you think accounted for the enormous difference? My guess lies in Curry’s repetitive practice, resulting in muscle memory.) Most recreational pickleballers “just want to play,” and even extended play sessions typically result in only marginal improvements, largely because they are seldom hitting the same shot even twice in a row. Those who practice (either with a partner while focusing on specific shots, or by hitting against a practice wall) are more likely to develop their expertise. Are you working on your MM? 

BACKING UP: WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO DO IT. Hamlet (via William Shakespeare) spoke the now-famous line, “To be, or not to be; that is the question.” We might usefully revise that quote as follows: “To back up, or not to back up; that is the question.” You might wonder why we should consider this, given the sharp admonition provided to all pickleball beginners (“Never back up!”). Here, however is a different version of the topic—backing up your partner. Occasionally, during the course of play, a situation arises where (with your partner closer to the NVZ line than you are) an opponent hits a hard drive that literally bypasses your partner (perhaps because s/he was out of position, or unprepared for the surprise shot). Sometimes (especially if you are aware of  your partner’s weaknesses) you can anticipate such a circumstance and position yourself to make a saving shot (to the surprise of both your partner [whose back is turned} and your opponents [who thought they had hit a sure winner]). In this case, backing up is not only permissible, but advisable—and may sustain or even win a rally! 

ASKING FOR HELP: NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS! The poet John Donne once wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself…” In short, he was suggesting that we are all part of a community (in this case, the Aitkin Pickleball Association). It is, therefore, our responsibility to provide help when needed, coupled with a responsibility to seek help when needed. At least one local pickleballer has used the latter technique to make great strides in his on-court skills. After every game he plays, he tosses out the question to his opponents and partner, “What can I do to be more effective?” and in response often receives invaluable tips about where to stand, how to hold his paddle, where to focus his eyes, and when to attack and when to defend. There are capable people willing to share their insights with you, and asking them for feedback is a legitimate path to success and only takes a minute to receive. It is not a sign of weakness, but of strength! 

MIC YOURSELF UP TO CONTROL NEGATIVE SELF-TALK.  Unfortunately some of us (myself included) occasionally harass ourselves with criticism or even cursing after making a particularly dumb shot (e.g., an unforced error). This action directs our attention backwards in time, when we should be thinking positively about our next shot instead. In particular, if these comments are mouthed loudly enough, they send a message about our self-image to those players within earshot. A recent innovation in professional golf has involved one or two players being mic’d up so as to engage in live interviews during the course of play. What if you were wearing a mic on the court, and every word you uttered was broadcast over the entire playing area? Would you be proud? Set a goal today to minimize your self-criticism, put on a happy face, and play every shot with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the difference! 

LUNGE, DON’T LOUNGE. Good pickleball play requires movement on the court, as we are all aware.  We sometimes act as though all it takes is a modest reach, or perhaps a short step in the right direction but this limits the range of space we can cover on the court. Pro instructor John Cincola recommends a unique training regimen using multi-directional lunges. He arranges a series of colored cones surrounding himself at the center of a large clock, and then practices stretching out his body as though in preparation to really lunge toward a low shot to his left, left center, center, right center, and right side. This requires stepping out with the outside foot and bending that knee to a 90-degree angle to get close to the ground while keeping your rear foot planted in the clock’s central position. This will also help you to rebound back up into a ready position to receive the next shot. The lunge can and should be practiced in advance, and become part of your daily warm-up routine. Don’t get lazy and lounge in an enclosed space; be ready to lunge and see how much more space you can control on the court! 

DON’T BE A CREEP(ER); CHOOSE YOUR POSITION AND HOLD IT.  If you are a graduate of PB 101, you have undoubtedly heard an instructor urge you to “Move up” to the NVZ line (“kitchen”) after hitting a successful return of serve. Unfortunately, this deeply-embedded prescription in our minds sometimes has a detrimental side effect—it stimulates us to start “sneaking up” a step or two, especially as we see our partner make a return of serve. Then, when our opponent makes a deep third shot near our baseline, it becomes nearly impossible to recover, as we are caught in mid-court (the transition zone). This creeping up (sometimes referred to as “premature evacuation” of our baseline position) may be a forgivable error on occasion, but becomes a deadly sin if practiced too often. The key is to mentally remind yourself to choose your position on or near the baseline and remind yourself to “Hold it, hold it, hold it” until you are certain that it is safe to begin your advance to the NVZ. Otherwise, it produces almost a sure point for your opponent, as well as a dejected partner. 

TO OPTIMIZE “THE WALL,” CALL THE BALL.  In a previous blog, I encouraged players to “Build a wall with your (and your partner’s) wingspan.” However, there is one critical ingredient that is also needed to make that strategy successful, and it is called partner communication. I’m dismayed at the frequency with which I see two partners helplessly watch a ball go by between them for an opponent’s point, and each of them are wondering who should have struck the ball (and “Why didn’t they?”). Part of the solution lies in advance communication every time you begin playing with a new partner; obtain agreement on who has the dominant forehand and therefore who will be most likely to take the incoming shot down the middle of the court. But even this may be insufficient in a momentary opportunity. The second solution lies in partner agreement to call out responsibility for who will take each shot, using simple words such as “Mine” or “Yours” or “Go.” Clarity, when calling the ball, will reduce the chance of no one, or both of you, hitting the ball. After all, it is a team sport in doubles pickleball, so communicate for success! 

DON’T LOSE TO THE LINE.  Close calls to boundary lines can have devastating consequences in many domains of life. Think, for example, about the center line on a highway where just a few feet separate you from oncoming cars, or a fly ball in the outfield that drifts just outside the foul pole instead of being a home run, or the total failure of a bowling ball that finds the gutter instead of picking up a spare, or the basketball player who thinks he has made a game-winning shot at the last second (only to discover that his heel was out-of-bounds at that moment, negating his effort), or the pro golfer in the lead who attacks an island green on the final hole of his round but his ball dribbles into the water for a penalty stroke. Lines are important, and that is true in pickleball as well. It is often tempting to make a “miracle” shot down the opponent’s sideline, but we must remember that those shots leave very little room for error. Give yourself a safety margin, and you will at least keep the ball in play. 

TRY OUT THIS CAREER: PICKLEBALL COLOR COMMENTATOR.  We all claim that “Pickleball is a lifetime sport” (meaning that we think we can play forever). Hopefully, that will be true for you. However, sometimes “life” intervenes (possibly through injury) and our playing days dwindle or diminish. In pro sports (think of Charles Barkley) former athletes have made a distinctive name for themselves as color commentators (who “shoot straight”). How do they do this? It is NOT by watching the ball and describing it’s back-and-forth movement; that would be incredibly boring and redundant and add nothing of interest to the scene. Color commentators watch the action and analyze it, focusing on player strengths, weaknesses, strategies, and missed opportunities. The next time you are temporarily on the sidelines (between  games, for example), pretend that you are announcing the pickleball game to a group of novices and prepare to share your insights about what is taking place.  You will find yourself much more involved, you may discover things you were unaware of, and could possibly even be in a position to offer useful insights to players who request your feedback. But remember; it takes a big dose of self-control not to watch the ball being hit back and forth! 

KEEP IT IN PLAY, TO PUT IT AWAY.  I had the opportunity to discuss pickleball with a 5.0 player one day who had just completed partnering with a pro player.  “What made your team successful?” I asked. “You need to know, and accept, your role,” he responded. He continued, “My job was to defend shots, keep the ball in play, and not try to play above my capabilities. In effect, I was the “set-up man,” just as a middle-inning reliever is in a baseball game. I did my best to return each ball into a safe location and hit low shots, while my partner capitalized on opportunities that arose to hit winners.” In effect, though both players were very good, the 5.0 player subordinated himself to the stronger partner, and the collaboration proved highly effective. You don’t need to be a hero to win pickleball games—just a knowledgeable and capable contributor. 

WHAT DOES YOUR FACE TELL OTHERS?  Do you remember the old nursery rhyme, the one that says “If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it”? Where does that happiness stem from? Author Jim Gordon tells the parable about a man with two internal dogs—a positive one and a negative one, each of which is hungry for food. “Which one will win?” he asks a wise man. “The one that you feed the most,” replies the sage. This suggests that we must first decide to be happy, then show our positive face externally, and then use our happiness to support others in their quest. Gordon concludes, “When you are positive, you not only make yourself better, you make everyone around you better.” What are you doing to make others more joyful on the pickleball court? Do you offer praise? Tap paddles? Clap? Grin? Laugh? Joke around? Are your partners glad they played with you? Would they choose you again? Does your face suggest a happy emoji?  Follow Dick Van Dyke’s tuneful suggestion from 1963—“Put on a happy face!” 

PLAY “PICKLEBALL 5-5-2” TO REDUCE YOUR ERRORS.  Unforced errors (hitting into the net, hitting a ball out of bounds, or “whiffing” on a shot) can cause a loss of point as well as a discouraged partner. Try this game instead: each team starts with five points (with one player designated as the “start” or second server), gaining a point while scoring on their serves, while losing a point when committing a self-assessed unforced error. Whichever team either reaches 11 points or is ahead at the end of a brief time period (e.g. 7 minutes) “wins” the game. This simple exercise encourages players to keep the ball in play and avoid attempting “heroic” shots that have a low probability of succeeding. Remember this: Successful pickleball comes about through playing a game of percentages (e.g., consistently hitting shots that have a higher probability of success and a lower chance of failure). 

BE A “PURPLER.”  Donald McCrossen, in a Facebook post, urges players to keep this acronym in mind as they play, thereby being mindful of what actions and mindset to be in when preparing to make every shot. PURPLER stands for having your Paddle Up at mid-chest height with arms extended; taking the Ready Position (feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, upper body tilted slightly forward, and your weight on the balls of your feet); Light on your feet (ready to move in any direction as dictated by your opponent’s ball flight); Easy when striking the ball with a light grip on your paddle, remembering that shot placement is far more important than how hard you hit the ball; and Relax (avoid getting tense as you execute the shot). Remember that pickleball is, and should be, fun! Following the PURPLER guidelines will help you accomplish this.