Pickleball Therapy
The podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. We are here to help you achieve your pickleball goals, with a focus on the mental part of your game. Our mission is to share with you a positive and more healthy way of engaging with pickleball. Together let’s forge a stronger relationship with the sport we all love. With the added benefit of playing better pickleball too. No matter what you are trying to accomplish in your pickleball journey, Pickleball Therapy is here to encourage and support you.
Episodes
"Do your best to play your best" is a deceptively simple idea, but its depth can transform the way you experience the game—and yourself. It reshapes how we approach both coaching and personal growth because the key to unlocking the best pickleball is not found in your strokes, but in how you speak to yourself after a tough game.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/256-do-your-best-to-play-your-best
In this special episode, I sit down live at Major League Pickleball with Dr. Peter Scales to explore how players can elevate their mental game through mindful focus and between-point routines. We dive into powerful mindset techniques for recovering after mistakes, managing high-pressure moments, and embracing personal growth through competition. Be sure to give the episode a listen.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com...
Improvement in pickleball, like most things, is cumulative. You can’t skip steps. Instead of chasing trendy shots or quick fixes, in this episode I walk you through a mindset shift on how to assess your current level with clarity—and how to focus your efforts on the “must-have” shots that matter most right now.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/255-what-do-you-need-to-play-better-pickleball
Are you stuck at your current level or feeling frustrated with your progress? In this episode, CJ Johnson dives deep into why chasing wins might be holding you back. She shares insights from elite athletes and practical steps that you can take right now and shift to process-based improvement. Tune in and learn to focus on what you can control—because that’s where real growth begins.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com...
Is there a bigger win available in the way you show up on the court? In this episode I challenge you to look beyond the immediate win to pursue a bigger victory. This could be through practical scenarios like line calls, serve legality, and rec play dynamics because empathy, patience, and intention can lead to greater growth as a pickleball player.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/253-is-there-a-bigger-win-for-us/
...In this special episdoe I have the pleasure of interviewing Ty Woody, a sports performance coach as we explore how strengthening key areas of the body— like the legs and glutes — can elevate your pickleball game. We discuss common causes of elbow pain and how to address them effectively. Listen in as we break down practical steps to better body performance, no matter your playing level.
Show Notes: https://betterpicklebal...
Theres's an often-overlooked root cause behind much of what we experience on the court: insecurity. From missed shots to disputes over line calls, in this episode I unpack how insecurity affects our mindset, behavior, and relationships in pickleball. Tune in to discover how recognizing it can transform your game to respond with empathy.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/252-the-root-cause-of-a-lot/
In this week's episode we go back to archives where I'll share three essential mindset tools to help you mentally prepare before stepping onto the court. This will deepen your reason for playing, and create a positive feedback loop through intentional gratitude and clarity. Listen before your next match to elevate your mental game and play with purpose.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/251-the-best-from-our-archive...
As pickleball players, we're constantly assessing our games—technique, shot selection, strategy. But how often do we stop to consider our partner, the fourth player on the court? Drawing from our upcoming book and a revealing real-world encounter, I'll show you how awareness and empathy toward our partner can reshape our entire experience.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/250-how-about-your-partner/
In this special episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Lydia Hirt, Vice President of Marketing at Life Time, to explore the explosive growth of pickleball across the country. Lydia shares her personal journey with the sport and highlights Life Time’s (LT) groundbreaking contributions—from building hundreds of courts nationwide to launching the innovative LT ball.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1528-special-...
Pickleball, like life, is variable. Some days you go 8–0. Others, you walk off the court without a single win. And both outcomes are completely normal. The key is understanding what’s expected—not in the sense of what you hope will happen, but in terms of what statistically does happen. In this episode we explore a topic that hits close to home for any serious player: how to correctly process your results so they don’t mes...
It’s one thing to say, “That was a tough match.” It’s another to say, “I lost that game.” The difference lies in focus. When you focus entirely on your own mistakes, you erase the resilience your opponents showed, the quality of the rallies, and the spirit of the contest. In this episode we explore how our post-game reactions can either elevate or diminish not only our opponents—but ourselves.
Show Notes: https://betterpi...
"Chasing fairies" or the seductive but unproven strategies can often lead us astray on the court. From spinning dinks to rigid rules like "forehand in the middle," it's important to understand the why behind what we do on the courts. Listen to this full episode for more clarity and a grounded conversation that strengthens your mental approach to improvement.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/247-chasing-fairies/
...Ego has a sneaky way of turning every match into a personal story—even when our friends earn the win. In this episode, I challenge you to rethink how you interpret losses, especially after a comeback. When we reframe the moment, we not only grow ourselves—we honor those we play with. A must-listen for any player serious about strengthening their mental game.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/246-dont-diminish-your-...
Redlining is a hidden obstacle affecting players at every level. This episode breaks down how staying too amped up impacts performance, limits mental flexibility, and leads to critical mistakes. Learn how to recognize when you're redlining and discover practical tools to regulate your emotional energy for more consistent, composed play on the pickleball court.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/243-how-redlining-hol...
In this episode, C.J. Johnson steps in for Tony Roig and explores the mental trap of chasing flashy pickleball techniques seen online—shots that often harm more than help. Listen in for a mindset reset to help you protect your learning journey and learn how to stay consistent on the pickleball court.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/244-stop-chasing-pickleball-distractions
A pop-up is not a failure—it is a normal part of pickleball. But your brain may treat it like a threat, thanks to an ancient survival instinct called negativity bias. Once you recognize that, you can stop overreacting and start responding with perspective because not every rustle in the grass is a tiger.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/243-avoiding-negativity-bias/
Many players search for a “secret” to improve their pickleball game—but there's none. Improvement comes not from tips or tricks, but from understanding how the game works. In this episode, I'll explain why structured learning, clear decision-making, and consistent execution are the real keys to growth—and how seeing the full picture of the game can move you forward.
Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/242-whats-the-se...
We’ve all faced frustrating moments on the court—with partners, opponents, or fellow players. What if we could reframe those situations into a healthier, more constructive way? In this episode of Pickleball Therapy, I explore a new mindset tool I’m developing called empathetic framing. I walk you through how this simple mental shift can reduce negativity and help you stay grounded in your game.
Show Notes: https://betterpi...
This episode holds a special place. It distills three foundational mental pillars—Play, Perspective, and Progress—that have resonated deeply with players around the world. These are not just abstract concepts but practical tools that will help you not only play better, but also enjoy the game more fully and consistently.
Pillar 1: Play – Embrace the Oops Bucket
Mistakes are inevitable. Even the best players miss easy sho...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.