Pickleball instruction: How to keep your mental focus 'inside the lines'
Last Edited
Dec 10 2025
Category
Instruction
There are lots of lessons to be learned from watching pickleball at the highest level.
The recent PPA Tour Lakeland Open in Florida was no exception.
This lesson is about the mental side of our sport – an aspect that influences much more than you may think at first (there’s a pun in there I am sure).
Names do not matter for this lesson, as the situation I’m about to describe happens all … the … time.
There’s an out call. The other team thinks the ball was in, so they appeal to the referee. Referee saw the ball in. Team calling it out does not like the overrule.
So far, no big deal. But … the team that called it out cannot let the overrule go. The match is over from this point forward.
The team that called the ball out does not score another point (and the other team’s score was only at 4 after the disputed call).
Stay in the moment to maximize success
The players are entitled to disagree with the reversal. And, after the match, they can take it up with the referee powers that be. But in that moment? There is nothing to be done – except focus on what’s happening on the court -- inside the lines.
Let’s set aside the fact that arguing about the call is of no use. Instead, let’s look at it from a wholly selfish standpoint: What is the best course of action for the team that called the ball out?
Presumably, they are interested in winning the match they are playing. So determining the best course of action (or non-action ... there’s always a choice) boils down to whatever gives them the best chance of winning the match.
This is where a clear distinction between “inside the lines” and “outside the lines” can help any player – pro or you and me – navigate the game to give ourselves the best chance for success.
The game being played is happening “inside the lines.” The shots you hit, strategic decisions you make, saves, putaways, popups, etc. All of these happen “inside the lines.” And it is there that determines whether you score a point. Or if you give up a point.
Ultimately, what happens “inside the lines” is what dictates the outcome of the match. Things occurring “outside the lines” do not – at least not directly. Even in this case, the referee’s overrule of a call affected the outcome of one rally. That’s it. After that it clearly became an “outside the lines” event.
It has zero impact on the rallies being played. Unless you allow it.
Let’s break this down a bit further – because allowing the outside into the inside is prevalent and can have huge impact on your play.
How to avoid spiraling out of control
- First, be clear on the objective: to give yourself the best chance to succeed at the game itself. In the scenario we started this article with, the contest is not between the team and referee. Even if the team ultimately “wins” that contest, so what? Understanding that the “outside the lines” event is not the point is step one in avoiding falling into that trap.
- Second, there is nothing to be done about the “outside the lines” event. It is not before you for action right now. What is before you now is what is happening “inside the lines.”
- Third, you want as close to 100% of your focus on what will impact the results. That is ALL happening “inside the lines.” If 5% of your focus is on the “outside the lines” event, then that 5% is not available for what matters. I use 5% here to minimize the chance of losing some of you who do not think it’s that big a deal. Because losing even 5% is silly if it can be avoided. The truth, however, is that the distraction level is usually way more than 5%. The exact level will depend on the player and circumstances, but it can certainly spike above 5%. Whatever the exact level of distraction, it eats into the limited focus bandwidth. And any erosion of that bandwidth is not beneficial to our ultimate objective: maximum percentage chance of success in the game we are contesting.
So what do you do about it?
1. Maintain a clear division between inside and outside the lines. If it’s not going to impact a future rally, then it is not “inside the lines” and can be disregarded.
2. You are looking to the future. There is nothing to be done about the past and the past cannot impact future rallies – unless you allow it to.
3. Bring your mind back to what’s happening inside the lines. The contest you chose to engage in happens there. And keeping your focus on what matters gives you the greatest chance for success.
Your mental game requires work – no different than improving your serve or third-shot drop. Our podcast, Pickleball Therapy, provides an easy and free weekly approach you can use to strengthen your mind. Find it on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and anywhere podcasts are heard.
Tony Roig is a nationally-recognized coach, Sr. Pro Player, developer of “Respect the X” on the In2Pickle YouTube channel, and the voice behind the Pickleball Therapy podcast. Visit BetterPickleball.com for information on coaching from Tony and the BP team through their Camps, Academy, and No. 1 online training program: The Pickleball System.
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