Pickleball Therapy

In this episode we talk about three subjects; assigning fault, increasing our evolutionary empathy and staying focused.

I got to play in a mixed group recently where I was paired with Dakota, a younger player, both in terms of her time in pickleball and also just a younger person. It was a tight match and we ended up on the losing end of it.

I complimented her on a few of her shots and let her know that the game was on me. A...

Have you've been dreading doing something or having a conversation for a long time? 

The pool is an interesting way of thinking about it where you're standing by the side of the pool trying to decide, do I get in the pool? Do I not get in the pool? One way to deal with it is to just dive into the pool. 

Take the plunge into the pool- quicker than 20 seconds, and everything else becomes easier and more natural. 

Same applies t...

In this special episode of Pickleball Therapy we talk with the incomparable Sara Weiss about her pickleball journey and the idea of being an animal on the court.

We also talk about how she balances between pickleball and life coaching and how that led Sarah to this amazing place where she's now playing pro-qualifiers.

It's interesting to learn about how she views the interaction of pickleball and the overall life experience...

The idea of strategic fluidity (wanting to be adapt to everything) and pickleball is a fine concept that sounds great in theory.

But how does that work in practice when it comes to pickleball rules and what rules to apply or not to apply?

Having an idea of the rules or guidelines can help you determine the best shot in any given situation, as opposed to a purely fluid approach that requires you to factor in all of the varia...

There is another side to your game – and there’s plenty to be proud of

I want you to list all the things you do not do well as a pickleball player – or that you could do better. Things that frustrate you or that you “cannot just get.”

Actually, hold on for a moment before you start writing your list and hear me out.

The moment you read the above words “the things I do not do well” I imagine your brain flooded with things. ...

As we move forward, we will be in a different place every time.

Ask yourself,  am I the same player I was an year ago?

When you're working on a part of your game that you're trying to get better at, you're trying to get closer to the solution to the problem so you need to engage in iterations. 

It's processing it again and again and repeating it to help you improve faster and better.

In this episode we talk about iteration in ...

Game plan is super valuable because it's human nature to make errors. 

The better that you get at the big picture view of pickleball and your relationship with sport, the better you understand the perspective and the less likely you are to tip over into a downward spiral.  

Mental work will help you play better and have more fun. For instance, try and listen to a podcast when you're on the way to the courts.

In this episode I...

Pickleball is beautiful, amazing and with loads of benefits.

The biggest of them all being you'll be a happier human being, just from playing pickleball.   

But sometimes we get lost or lose perspective of the game.

The game that you choose to play helps you frame how you deal with adversity when you're playing.

Also how do you stop being a 12-year-old? I'm going to share with you a personal story that happened recently to me ...

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You never see a sad pickleball player when they win.

But when they lose? Depends, but for many a losing day is a sad (or bad, disappointing, etc.) day.

Should it be?

The answer is a resounding “No!” 

If you are like most, you have developed your sports’ mind around “win, good – los...

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We asked for your pet peeves. Over 300 players answered the call and shared them with us.

Many of the pet peeves shared with us were rules issues: line calls, illegal serves and just generally not following the rules. On the surface, maybe it is ok to feel this way. It is just a part of who we are or how we see things and leave it at that.

But scratch the surfa...

I recently got into the Wordle craze (a bit late I know).

Got me to thinking though – why do we like games like Wordle, Crosswords, Sudoku, etc.? And does this same thought process apply to pickleball?

Start here: why do we play a game like Wordle?

Is it because of the game’s solution? The solution, itself, is what we are after.

Or is it because of the work it takes to get to the solution? The solution is relevant because we a...

We all get advice – YouTube, friendly local player, partner. What do we do with it?

Step 1: Remember that you have agency over your pickleball journey. This means that you get to decide whether to take the tip or say “get that outta here” (note – you can say it in your mind).

Here’s the thing: 45% of the advice you hear out there is plain wrong. And 54% of the advice may be right in the general sense of the term, but it is n...

To be a complete pickleball player you need a third shot drop.

Seems simple enough but, as with many things in life, once you scratch at it a little you find out that it is not quite that simple.

Before players start losing their mind reading the next words, let me make this one thing clear: in a hypothetical, what do you need to play a complete pickleball game, the third shot drop plays an important role. That is not the ...

We are friends. Playing a pickleball game. One of us will win and one of us will lose. That is just the way of things.

Imagine a world where you went into the game like this:

1.     I know that no matter what, either my team or my friends opposite me on the court will be able to celebrate the win.

2.     I also know that no matter what, the other one of us will walk away with something to add to their games.

I was reminded ...

I was reminded of an important concept speaking to one of our team members who is a volleyball player converted to pickleball.

The conversation went something like this (group setting):

Me:      “Hard to lob Emily as she can get up in the air.”

Emily:  “Yeah and I even like to jump when I do not have to.”

Me:      “I’ve seen it. Ball can be at Emily’s head height and she is full in the air smashing that ball.”

Emily:  “It mak...

Your Relationship with Pickleball

Much of the information available about pickleball has to do with the details: How do I hit a certain shot? What is the latest paddle thing going on? What is the rule about [__________]?

There are many fewer resources that tackle our relationship with pickleball. The term “relationship” is one we use very intentionally. If you are reading these words, then you are more than just a once in ...