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Fixing The Biggest Mistake in Pickleball: Not Trying

Frank Hines
Team The Kitchen

Last Edited

Sep 27 2024

Category

Community

You just pulled up to your local courts for rec play. After a long day of work, you finally get to play some pickleball.

You grab your bag, your 64oz water bottle, and in the distance you hear that glorious sound of people playing the game you love.

You walk up and get all checked in. You toss your paddle in the fence. Finally, it’s almost game time.

One game ends and you’re next in line, but then the day takes a turn.

Your partner is a dud…

Everyone knows that feeling; and if you don’t, then I hate to break it to you, but you might be the dud. Honestly, it’s really hard to put a whole lot of effort into that game.

Trust me, I’m the worst at it.

I’ll get paired with someone who I know is new or just can’t hang with the better players and I’m basically just out there hitting a wiffle ball over a net. No interest at all.

Well let me tell you something: that is the worst thing you can do for your game.

When I got paired with the dud of the day (DOTD), I just wouldn’t try. I wanted that game to be over as soon as possible so I could get some "real" pickleball in. That was my thought process and my game suffered from it.

When you are just going through the motions, you start to develop patterns. You miss a few drops, some drives go into the net, you’re out of position; you are just a warm body on the other side of the net.

Those things compound.

One day you are doing it “on purpose,” and the next your game is so far off from where it should be you cannot figure out what’s going on.

Fortunately for you, I’ve already lived this and have a super simple fix for it.

Fixing This Terrible Pickleball Mistake

Play every single game like you’re playing for gold. Plain and simple.

Give it your all, all the time, no matter what. This is the only way to train good habits. If you only try hard when you play against people at your level, then you only play the game at your full potential 50% of the time.

You won’t ever be able to improve that way.

Every time you step out on that court, it has to be with the full intention of playing and playing hard. Taking your game to the next level does not come easy, but you make it so much harder by slacking off during games you don’t really want to play.

You cannot always control who you get paired with, but you can control how you play the game.

How to Play With Those Lower in Level Than You

Once I finally realized that, I took it to heart. I challenged myself to not let that mental block pop up when I got paired with a DOTD.

It was really hard at first, but I found a few tricks that really helped: 

  • Use this game to practice new things. You should always be working on new shots, different placements, or just all around game improvements; but working those into super competitive games can be a challenge.

Playing a lopsided game gives you the opportunity to try new stuff with a lot less pressure on winning vs. losing.

Take the things you’ve been drilling and apply them during these settings. Focus on one or two things and really try to improve them in a live game setting and gauge what areas you need to work on.

  • Next, have fun. If you’re anything like me, you take the game very seriously. When I’m out on the court, I’m there to win and to get better. When you are playing with someone who isn’t that good, the winning part can be tough. So use it as a reset.

Go out there and be casual. Still give it your all, but don’t take it seriously enough that it ruins the entire rest of the session.

One game cannot affect your entire performance. Use it as a mental test to control your emotions and center them around enjoying the fact that you are playing pickleball.

  • Lastly, teach (when asked for advice). If you feel comfortable giving advice, and someone is asking, then give it. Teaching someone how to do something is the single greatest way to enhance your own skill set. This applies to anything, but especially pickleball.

I always notice when people are hitting off their back foot as it’s one my worst tendencies. Seeing someone do that and then showing them the right way not only helps them get better, but it reinforces my knowledge around a bad habit.

Never gatekeep information to help someone get better at pickleball. We are here to help grow the sport. Remember that.

Read Next: Pickleball Pro Roasted by Tennis Greats for Athleticism Tweet

Try these things the next time you step out on the court and you get paired with the DOTD. Play at 100% and do everything you can to win. Even if you lose the game, you will become a better player.

It’ll be frustrating and you’ll want to give up, but that’s what separates the good from the great.

Be great!

Frank Hines loves the game of pickleball and sharing that passion with as many people as possible. He found the game over two years ago and hasn't  let up since. Follow Frank on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

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