These notes come from two days of playing pickleball. On Saturday, I played several matches and had an absolute blast. I had the privilege of having a tactician break down the game for me, and after that, I went all out. On Monday, January 16th, I lost my first two matches but then went on an 8-2 run. I love this game for its quick angles and the wide range of finesse it allows. I also noticed a group of highly skilled players, and it was great to sit back, take notes, and enjoy having something to look forward to.

Key Takeaways:

• Either you control the pace, or the pace is controlled for you.
• One angle sets up another.
• If you think your partner has it, just take it anyway.
• The kitchen isn’t as intimidating as people make it out to be.
• Lobs aren’t punished as much as you’d think (most are played back vertically rather than diagonally, no matter the opponent’s positioning).
• Slices catch most players off guard.
• If you slice, make sure to watch the ball all the way (it’s easy to slip into “tennis mode” and watch it skid into the net or roll off the paddle).
• They don’t switch the ball as often as I’d like, but I wasn’t playing the top players.
• In a good exchange, wait for the pass to open up (in tennis, I’d say “sit” while adjusting the shot location to force an easy putaway).

Day 4:

I came in relaxed and focused. I had a great warm-up and didn’t lose a match until my 10th game. Even then, it was against one of their better players, and that was only after we beat them in deuce points. Afterward, I started playing against a different skill level—decent, but not great. These players hit hard but lacked finesse. I got some great advice from a staff member who helped me break down their game, allowing me to take advantage of the gaps left by their aggressive play. One highlight was setting up a guy with a beautiful crosscourt dink for a banana split—that shot was filthy.

A good habit I’ve brought over from my training philosophy is the willingness to play close to the margins until the right shot opens up. I’m not afraid to be embarrassed or to walk into the gym and lose every match for a year if that’s what it takes.