Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/290-find-your-intensity-goldilocks-zone/

If you want me to be your Coach and Guide, send me an email at tony@betterpickleball.com and put the words "coach me" in the subject line.

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/289-recognition-superpower/ 

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1537-special-episode-alec-martone-the-fail-first-podcast

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/288-setting-realistic-expectations/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/287-guest-host-cj-johnson-navigating-the-obstacles-to-being-a-women-athlete

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/special-episode-refinding-the-joy-in-pickleball-with-pickleballnikki

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/286-mixed-troubles-playing-with-your-significant-other

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/285-hows-your-sister-doing/ 

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/284-my-hope-for-you/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/283-embrace-the-stress/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/282-the-rule-of-thirds/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/281-are-you-converting-your-game/ ‎

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/280-learning-from-personal-experience

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/279-the-ball-the-ball-the-ball/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/278-no-thank-you-plus-celebrate-the-effort/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/277-in-and-out-for-this-year/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/276-your-2026-pickleball-canvas/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/275-do-more-with-less/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/ep-274-winloss-tells-you-nothing/ 

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/273-climb-the-next-mountain/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/272-a-lot-to-be-thankful-for/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/271-do-you-know-who-you-are

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/270-reduce-mental-overwhelm-3-tips/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/269-lessons-from-dallas/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1535-special-episode-tao-of-pickleball-a-chat-with-scott-golden

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/268-are-you-tethered-in-your-pickleball

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/267-a-good-loser-is-still-a-loser-and-other-useless-idioms

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/266-strategic-awareness/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/265-the-short-lens-spiral/

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/264-fix-your-latent-errors/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/263-sound-mind-in-a-sound-body

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1534-special-episode-basic-consistency/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/262-how-to-navigate-pickleball-a-complex-sport

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1533-become-your-own-pickleball-mechanic/ 

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/261-its-amazing-why-not/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1532-uncage-the-pickleball-player-inside-you/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/260-set-the-expectation-band-that-is-right-for-you

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/259-not-so-nice-pickleball-interactions-the-critic

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/258-the-best-from-our-archives-part-7-bookmark-episode-5-steps-to-prepare-for-your-day

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/1531-special-episode-the-book-conversations-part-1

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/257-my-favorite-episode-of-2025-climbing-the-mount-of-mudita

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/256-do-your-best-to-play-your-best

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1530-special-episode-lions-pickleball-results-and-more-with-dr-peter-scales

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/255-what-do-you-need-to-play-better-pickleball

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/254-chasing-wins-is-the-reason-you-are-stuck-or-frustrated

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/253-is-there-a-bigger-win-for-us/

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/1529-special-episode-keep-improving-your-body-interview-with-ty-woody

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/252-the-root-cause-of-a-lot/

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/251-the-best-from-our-archives-part-6-bookmark-this-episode-3-tips-to-help-you-play-your-best-today

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/250-how-about-your-partner/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/1528-special-episode-a-chat-with-lydia-hirt-from-life-time-pickleball

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/249-process-your-results-correctly/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/248-dont-diminish-you/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/247-chasing-fairies/

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/246-dont-diminish-your-friends/ ‎

Show Notes:  https://betterpickleball.com/243-how-redlining-holds-you-back-and-what-to-do-about-it

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/244-stop-chasing-pickleball-distractions

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/243-avoiding-negativity-bias/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/242-whats-the-secret-sauce-psst-its-in-this-podcast/

Show Notes: https://betterpickleball.com/241-empathy-framing-for-the-win/

Pillar 1: Play – Embrace the Oops Bucket

Mistakes are inevitable. Even the best players miss easy shots. The question is: what do you do next? Even the best players miss shots. Every shot you miss belongs in the “Oops Bucket”, a mental space where you acknowledge the miss, accept it, and move on. 

This tool frees your mind to focus on what matters—the next shot. The Oops Bucket is not about ignoring errors. It is about accepting that they are part of the game and letting them go.

Pillar 2: Perspective – The Bowl of Ice Cream

Too many players tie their experience on the court solely to winning. That is not sustainable. Think of each game as a bowl of your favorite ice cream. You already have the joy of playing—being outdoors, moving your body, engaging your mind. 

Regardless of winning or losing, you’re already winning by playing the sport you love. The games you win add sprinkles and toppings, but even without them, you’ve still enjoyed a full, satisfying experience. 

Pillar 3: Progress – Close the Gap, One Focus at a Time

There is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be. The only way to close that gap is by focusing on one thing at a time. 

Real improvement in pickleball is not about volume—it is about intention. Resist the temptation to chase the latest YouTube tip or hot strategy.

Join us at the Better Pickleball Academy; https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Pickleball System Class; https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Join the Better Pickleball Academy for the competitive play series.

In our quest for improvement, there's a pervasive trend: rapid progression promises. We've all seen them—programs promising to elevate your rating from 3.5 to 4.0 in just 30 days. These promises sound enticing but often set us up for unreasonable expectations and rob us of the joy found in gradual progress.

The Growth and Fulfilment of the Journey

If you were hiking a mountain, would you want to skip the journey and magically appear at the summit? The answer is likely no because the hike itself is where the real beauty lies. It's in the sights, sounds, and experiences along the way. 

Similarly, in pickleball, it's easy to become fixated on reaching a specific rating or winning a medal. But in doing so, we risk missing out on the joy of playing, improving, and connecting with others. 

As you work on your game, remember to celebrate small victories. Perhaps your volleys have improved, or your serve is stronger. These are the flowers and trees along your hike. Even if you never reach the metaphorical "top," the experiences and memories you gather along the way are what truly matter.

In this episode I'll also share with you about a tournament I participated in and observed an undercurrent of stress among players and I'll tell you why I think you shouldn't let the pressure of competition overshadow the fun and camaraderie of the sport.

Check out our upcoming Strategy Lab

If you enjoyed this podcast, consider rating and reviewing it. Your feedback helps us reach more players.

The mechanical and strategic pillars focus on how and when to hit the ball and the athletic pillar emphasizes the synergy between body and mind. The mind is super important, but it's one-a-half of the athletic pillar, there's the other part of the athletic pillar, which is the body. 

Your body supports and nourishes your mind thus a healthy, well-conditioned body enhances mental performance.

To enhance mind-body connection, consider these steps; 

1. Physical activity: Engage in regular exercise to boost both physical and mental well-being. It could be focusing on strength training, mobility, or flexibility. What the exercise session does is that it uplifts your spirits and sharpen your focus.

2. Hydration, sleep and nutrition: Dehydration or lack of energy can impede your ability to concentrate and perform. Ensure you’re adequately fueled and hydrated to maintain mental clarity.

3. Manage expectations: If your body is not at its peak, it’s normal for your cognitive abilities to reflect that so be kind to yourself and adjust expectations accordingly.

If you’re new to physical training, begin with simple exercises like controlled chair squats or full-body workouts like getting up from a lying position. Walking is also an excellent low-impact cardio activity. 

If you're already active, good for you, consider incorporating additional elements such as strength training or flexibility exercises.

Join our email list; https://betterpickleball.com/

Stay confident and perform at your best prepare with this play guide; https://betterpickleball.com/prepare-to-play/

Podcast episode on controlling how you respond; https://betterpickleball.com/237-why-are-you-upset-mindset-shifts-for-competitive-play-in-pickleball/

Tony's favorite workouts; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8CDeZurWmQ&list=PLRe6hjjhF-o4F-8QyurfoW0RM8_664o_T

Sometimes when things happen to us in pickleball, we tend to externalize them by blaming external factors. The idea is, you can control how you react to those events to dictate the pace and outcome of the game. 

Just like holding the reins of a wagon; it's up to you to steer it in the right direction. This mindset is crucial for maintaining perspective and not letting setbacks derail your progress.

Here are some practical steps to help you cultivate control; 

1. Don't let in your mind: Whether it's the outcome of a game or external opinions, choose what you let into your mind. This decision shapes your mental landscape.
2. Constructive Processing: If scores do enter your mind, treat them as data points. They don't define you; they're just numbers.
3. Retrospective Adjustment: If a reaction occurs, apply perspective retrospectively. Recognize negative emotions and consciously steer yourself back to a balanced mindset.

Reflecting on my journey from tennis to pickleball, I've had my share of struggles with frustration and self-criticism. Listen to the full episode as I share with you how confronting my mental approach has transformed my interaction with sports and life in general. 

Consider rating and review us, as well as share this podcast with your friends. 

Our Spring Bootcamp happening now; https://betterpickleball.com/spring-bootcamp/ 

See you inside the Pickleball System; https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Check out our resources section; https://betterpickleball.com/resources/

Will a smile help your pickleball game? While there might not be specific studies on the effect of smiling in sports, research shows that smiling can positively affect our attitude, calm our nerves, and enhance our overall well-being.

On this episode CJ Johnson shares a story from her visit to the BNP Paribas Open in Palm Springs, where she observed a match between Frances Tiafoe, the 17th ranked tennis player in the world, and Yosuke Watanuki, ranked 349th. 

Despite the significant ranking gap and missing some shots, Watanuki's demeanor while playing was remarkable. The key highlights being;

1. Staying Positive: Watanuki entered the match with a big smile. Even when he missed a shot, he didn’t let it get to him. Instead, he kept that positive energy flowing, which helped him stay focused.
2. Engaging the Crowd: Normally, Tiafoe is the crowd favorite, but Watanuki’s genuine enjoyment of the game drew some of the crowd to his side. His smile made people appreciate his performance, showing how a good attitude can shift the atmosphere.
3. Enjoying the Game: Watanuki celebrated both his good shots and the ones he missed. This attitude allowed him to stay in the moment, which is crucial in a match.

In sports, maintaining a positive mindset can allow players to stay in the present moment, relaxed and focused.

Try to smile during your pickleball games, regardless of whether you make or miss a shot. Observe how this affects your mindset, you might find that it helps calm your nerves, improve your focus, and ultimately enhance your performance.

Learn about SwingVision App and track progress with automated start, scoring and line calling; https://swing.vision/r/betterpickleball

Richard shares insights about his pickleball journey which began four years ago during the COVID pandemic. Despite his achievements, Richard, like many of us, faced moments of doubt and frustration.

In this episode he discusses the mental challenges he faced, including the pressure of expectations and the pursuit of success in pickleball.

His turning point came in 2023 after a series of unexpected losses. This led him to explore stoicism and mental resilience, which transformed his approach to the game—and life.

Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting your pickleball journey, there are valuable takeaways from Richard’s experience. 

If you're curious about exploring Stoicism further, Richard and I discussed a few resources that might interest you:

• Podcast: "Stoicism on Fire" offers digestible insights into Stoic philosophy and how it can be applied to modern life.
• Book: "The Untethered Soul" by Michael Singer, although not strictly Stoic, provides valuable guidance on understanding your inner thoughts and achieving emotional freedom. 

Check out Richard Livornese, Jr. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard_pickleball/ and YouTube 

This week, let's dive into a concept I stumbled upon through an insightful video featuring a psychologist from Duke University. She introduces the idea of the "learning space"—the journey from not knowing to knowing. 

Picture two dots on a board, one representing ignorance and the other knowledge, connected by a squiggly line. This "learning space" is where growth happens and, interestingly, where frustration resides.

Frustration is part of growth and is the single emotion that dominates the learning space. But here's the twist—those who thrive in their journey are the ones who embrace it.

Now, why should you embrace frustration? Because it signifies movement. It indicates that you're transitioning from not knowing to knowing, inching closer to your goals. 

The learning space in pickleball, and life in general, is dynamic. As you conquer one aspect of pickleball, another challenge emerges. Imagine first struggling with scoring, then tactics, and onwards. The cycle of not knowing and knowing perpetually shifts, ensuring endless opportunities for growth. 

Unlike a sedentary lifestyle, pickleball's challenges build your mental muscles, preparing you to tackle life's adversities with strength and grace.

Be well!

In this episode we discuss the state of play in terms of how players at different levels interact with each other. This arose from our state of play event that we had a couple of weeks back.  

Here's the thing, we have more control over things than we may think and we do a couple of things when it comes to social play to help that such as; 

1. Trying to keep an open eye for dedicated players in lower-level courts and inviting them to join your group. Nurture a supportive community while working on specific aspects of your game. 
2. Step into the shoes of those playing at different levels by playing with them – it’s a great way to foster inclusivity. 
3. Become an organizer to mix different levels of players. Online tools and resources can simplify the process of organizing inclusive events and ensure everyone feels welcome and valued.

And then I'm going to share with you a personal story about progress and taking a step back in terms of your journey as a pickleball player.  

Join our email list to get notified about the March open play event; https://betterpickleball.com/ or check out the event here; https://betterpickleball.com/spring-bootcamp/

Find online tools and resources on Pickleheads; https://www.pickleheads.com/

Bookmark episode; Mental Warmup: Prepare to Play Your Best; https://betterpickleball.com/1525-mental-warmup-prepare-to-play-your-best-bookmark-episode/

It's perfectly normal for players to start feeling pressure in terms of their performance but not to the point where you're not having fun or can't function anymore.

Here are three ways to release pressure and help you stay focused and relaxed on the court;

1. Between-Rally Pauses; A simple yet effective way to reset between rallies using brief pauses to take a mental step back. This allows your brain to slow down and it could be in form of paddle tap or removing the paddle from your hand to reduce tension and allow your body and mind to relax.

2. Breathing Techniques; Focusing on your breath can help shift attention away from stressful thoughts and bring a sense of calm. In this episode I explain to you two techniques you can try to that bring focus and calmness.

3. Change Your Approach Strategically; If a particular strategy or shot isn’t working, it might be time for a tactical change. For instance, if you’re struggling with your third shot drops, try driving the ball instead. This switch not only relieves pressure but can also improve your rhythm.

In the RIFF I share with you why sticking to a successful formula during competitive play maximizes your chance of success, using an example of a PPA match that happened during the Mesa Cup.

Anna Bright's great framing after the game; https://betterpickleball.com/232-anna-brights-positive-perspective-win-or-lose/

Upcoming boot camp in March; https://betterpickleball.com/march-bootcamp/

Get on our email list; https://betterpickleball.com/

Check out Pickleheads website; https://www.pickleheads.com/

Have a feedback? We'd love to hear from you; therapy@betterpickleball.com

See you in the next episode!

We discuss the genesis of their podcast, their relationship with pickleball,  eye-opening moments from their mental side of playing pickleball and much more!

Listen to the full episode as the duo shares with us how they deal with competitive partners, the pressure of improvement and more importantly, enjoying the journey and focusing on personal growth rather than just results.

Check out and support Shelley and Sher at https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com/ or you can find them on any podcast platform.

If you want to listen to the mentioned podcast episode featuring Tony as the guest, go to https://www.lifelessonsfrompickleballpodcast.com/2311660/episodes/16612545-e43-tony-roig-winning-strategies-for-pickleball-and-beyond

When asked about what happened and despite losing the gold medals match, Anna expressed some thoughts that just reminded me of how we can have a better, a more constructive interaction with the sport that we play.

She focused on the bigger picture of enjoying the sport and recognizing the value of competition while maintaining a positive outlook because there's other pieces to the puzzle that are more than just us on the court, more than just ourselves as individuals.

That's a classical example of reframing. Instead of worrying so much about the volume of shots you missed, you pivot away from it to the bigger story and bigger picture of the situation.

The next time you step onto the court, reframe the challenges, celebrate the competition, and most importantly, enjoy the game. Whether you win or lose, you're always gaining something valuable.

Coach Pete's book on mental training; https://betterpickleball.com/resources/
Coach Pete's Playbook. Visit: coacheschoice.com and use Code CLH50 at checkout.
Note that the Book and Playbook are two separate resources. To get the most out of the experience, recommend ordering the Book from the link in Resources and the Playbook as described here. Please leave Amazon reviews for each of them as it helps Coach Pete reach more players with his powerful message.

Bowl of ice cream concept; https://betterpickleball.com/winning-is-a-bowl-of-ice-cream/

The Pickleball System class Spring opening; https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Think of pickleball as an onion, used for many purposes, it's delicious, complex, deep, but can also lead to crying. The onion layers represent various aspects of the sport and personal growth, and each layer you peel back reveals another, deeper layer.

Let's explore how this analogy can help you engage with the game more effectively and avoid frustration;

i) In Play: Concentrate on specific skills and mastering the current layer of your game during play. This helps you avoid being overwhelmed by every aspect of the game at once.

ii) In Improvement: Understand that you can't skip layers, master the basics before moving to more complex strategies. All that requires patience. Work on your current skills and trust that you'll get to those layers in time.

iii) In Personal Development and Objective Progress: Recognize that there are layers you can't see yet. This awareness helps you stay positive and motivated, knowing that with time and effort, you'll uncover new aspects of the game. Continually peel back layers of understanding about yourself, your mindset, and how you interact for personal growth.

Be part of our email list; https://betterpickleball.com/

See you on the next episode!

Here are four different areas to ensure you get the most out of your play on the courts;

i) Perspective Part One: Understand Your Relationship with Pickleball

How would you describe your relationship with pickleball? What keeps you coming back for more pickleball? Reflect on why you play pickleball. Is it for exercise, socializing, or the love of the game? Winning should not be the primary reason why you come out to play; focus on enjoyment and personal growth. 

ii) Play Principles: Embrace Mistakes

It's normal to want to play well but we are 100 % certain that we are going miss shots. Accept that making mistakes is part of the game. Even professional players miss shots and make poor decisions. Prepare mentally by creating two categories for your shots: "Yay" for positive outcomes and "Oops" for errors. 

iii) Perspective Part Two: Practice Gratitude

Ask yourself, are you playing pickleball? After your first game, pause to appreciate the opportunity to play pickleball. Recognize the privilege of participating in the sport, embrace the camaraderie and environment,  and the joy it brings, regardless of the outcome.

iv) Progress for your improvement: Focus on One  Thing

There's only so much that we can do while we're heading to a play session. Concentrate on improving one specific area of your game during each session to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Drill down into a particular shot or technique, such as your punch volley.

Remember to bookmark this episode and listen to it whenever you need a little pick me up before you go out to play your next session of pickleball. 

Be well.

We got a couple of reviews I'm going to read to you here because I thought it was interesting. I'll start with a shout out that's a five-star game-changing review which says 'the podcast really helped me,' and explains why. The second review is one-star, and it's entitled 'Hot Air Nonsense.' 

Both people listened to the same podcast, yet their takeaways couldn’t have been more different. And that’s perfectly fine. Not every approach resonates with every person. I give them credit for listening to several of the podcasts episodes.

That got me thinking about the idea worth reminding ourselves from time to time, that we're not all identical. 

How we interact with the sport of pickleball will be different depending on who we are. Some of us will interact with it more competitively, some for exercise and others will interact with it more socially. 

Some are in a place where the understanding of the game is at a level Eight out of 10, others are at a level 5 out of 10 and that's okay in terms of just understanding the game. Additionally, there's different ways of approaching how you want to address pickleball, meaning are you going to play the game? 

Be mindful of you and what you allow into your ecosystem, and ask questions, challenge it, and make sure that it's something that is going to be additive or positive for you in your journey.

Sign up for our email list to get notified of upcoming events and trainings; https://betterpickleball.com/

In this special episode we feature Ty Woody, a sports performance coach. Ty specializes in preparing pickleball players, both pros and amateurs, for optimal performance and injury prevention. 

He shares with us why we should take care of our bodies because, at the end of the day, we want to play the sport that we enjoy.

Listen the full episode to learn more as Ty takes us through;

- A walk through on his experience with pickleball players and what he has seen in terms of suffering injuries and more
- As to whether warming up can improve performance, make you play better, and help reduce injuries 
- What is it that a pro player thinks about or does in terms of recovering and dealing with the stress of playing pickleball the way they play
- How he would talk to an amateur player who plays five days a week, six days a week, in terms of figuring out how to do this weight training and practices. 

Find Ty Woody on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleballsportsperformance/

A lot of times when we're exposed to information in an area we're not sure what the right answer is, like pickleball, we're likely to err on the side of letting the information in. 

This happens because we're just curious or we heard something and we're not sure how to discern that it's not correct for us.

The algorithm dictates for you information (as it knows you better than you know yourself) and even well-meaning advice from friends at the courts may not best suit our specific needs. 

All that information about pickleball can be overwhelming to sift through.

Ask yourself, given the framework of the game and the objectives I'm trying to accomplish, what's going to help me the most play the sport of pickleball? The answer to this question will help you set clear goals for your practice.

Gatekeeping your journey is as important as gatekeeping your information, perhaps even more important and will have an impact on your improvement journey on the court.

How many games do you expect to win the next time you play pickleball? All of them? Most of them? Half?

Extend that out: what win percentage would you be satisfied with over your pickleball playing career? Would you be happy with winning about 50% of the time?

It is common to react with a “No” here. After all, why should 50% be an acceptable result.

But reflect on that for a moment. If your win rate is more than 50%, what happens to the win rates of your fellow players (most of whom are your friends)? If your win rate for all time is 80%, that does not leave a lot of winning for anyone else.

Seems odd, doesn’t it?

Having a better perspective on what it means to perform – in terms of our results – can help us avoid needless pitfalls in how we feel about ourselves and our pickleball experience.

We explore this in more depth during this week’s episode of the Pickleball Therapy podcast. Find it on Apple, Spotify, or at BetterPickleball.com under “Free Insights.”

See you there.

Check out our offerings and get on our email list; https://betterpickleball.com/

Coach Pete's book; https://betterpickleball.com/resources/

Rules change in pickleball can rob us in different ways leading to unnecessary stress, conflicts on the court or detract us from the enjoyment of the game. 

In this episode we also discuss how to deal with criticism and how we determine, at the first level, whether what's happening is a criticism or constructive feedback. 

Nobody likes criticism, especially criticism without a point. Before you consider something being criticism, be aware of a couple of things; 

i) What we think of something is a result of how we interpret it in our own mind. That's the everything.  

ii) Ask yourself, why is this criticism as opposed to feedback? Why am I looking at it that way? 

iii) Consider the source and the context or the environment in which the feedback is being provided. 

iv) Focus on the positive aspects of feedback that will help if you are feeling criticized about your pickleball or anything else. 

Join our Camps; https://betterpickleball.com/camps

Better Pickleball Academy; https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Join us inside the Pickleball System Class; https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Conveniently store all your essential equipment in one place using The Titan Ball Machine; https://titanballmachines.com/?sca_ref=5916769.Ghuy0VgJ0B

Things like:

1. How fast is my serve? 
2. How accurate is my forehand? 
3. Am I making more mistakes on my backhand? 

In this podcast episode podcast we feature Swupnil Sahai, co-founder and CEO of Swingvision. SwingVision is an app that provides such stats by offering AI-assisted game analysis.

The app provides real-time stats, tracking elements like ball speed and trajectory, and generates game highlights. It includes additional features such as automatic line calling and a challenge system using an Apple Watch.

The app is optimized for standalone pickleball courts, with adaptability for courts overlaid on tennis and basketball courts. 

Get a $100 Swing Stick for FREE with a year of SwingVision Pro HERE (and FREE international shipping!): https://swing.vision/r/betterpickleball

In this episode we're going to talk about how to actually achieve your goals, take those New Year's resolutions that may be rambling around in your brain, and to actually achieve some(if not all) of them when it comes to your pickleball game.

This will prevent a situation where we either don't take any action or we take very inconsistent action and by the end of January or perhaps by the end of February, most of the resolutions are by the wayside.
 
Start with small, consistent actions. Here's a way for you to do that;

i) Begin by taking a look at your pickleball game right now. 

- Pull out a piece of paper and just draw a line down the middle. On the left side of the paper, try and do an honest assessment of where you are right now as a pickleball player. This should feature the different parts of your game. 

- Do a little visioning and think of who you would like to be as a pickleball player at the end of 2025. Write that all down as well. What would you like to have? 

- Then, pick out one thing on the list, that one most important thing that you're going to start closing the gap on. 

Check out Better Pickleball Camps; https://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-camps/

Eight-week fitness challenge; https://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-fitness-challenge
 

Embrace the infinity of your journey and try and avoid pestering yourself with the, 'Are we there yet?' question.

Take a minute to imagine yourself as the player you want to be in the future. It could be a six months from now player, six years from now, however long you want to do it, and however much you want to add to yourself as a player. Picture that player for a moment. What does that player look like?

Placing yourself in the future you and who you want to be or grow helps us avoid being dissatisfied with where we are now because we want something more in the future. 

You are in charge of how much you want to grow as a pickleball player and the game will always have something to teach you. 

Now to the soft game- it's valuable and useful as a tool when you're playing. Consider adding it into your game or working on it more. It's the central feature of our game and continues to be the most reductive form of our game. 

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There's been a lot of opinions about who would be the best partner for Ben for 2025 and I thought it was a good time to talk about picking a perfect partner. In this episode we'll also talk about your journey, getting ready for the new year and what you want for yourself in 2025.

How do you pick a partner? What do you look for? If you play rec play, you can also use also these ideas conceptually;

i) Shared Goals. Be on the same page so you can put in the work necessary to achieve your objectives.

ii) Compatible play energy. Approach the game from an energy standpoint as you flow through different situations for better partnership.

iii) Complimentary skills. This applies more to competitive situations, although in rec you can just be aware of it. For instance if you have two players that are super hyper aggressive, attacking everything all the time, that's probably not going to be ideal. Same case applies when the two players super passive.

There's other factors you can consider in your decision making that are not strategically driven in terms of chances for success in partnership from a pickleball standpoint, but are certainly super important, such as good partnership.

The key takeaway here is doubles pickleball is a team sport, such as basketball, thus needs the performance of the individual player like being able to hit your dink, your serve, return, volleys etc.

Better Pickleball Academy; https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

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How do you deal with adversity when you're working on your game or when you're playing? 

i) If you're working on your pickleball improvement, let's say you're working on your serve and you have a tendency to pull your paddle across your body (a very common mechanical flaw in players' games), understand that that's part and parcel of the game 

ii) Allow yourself to not lose sight of the positives of the journey itself. You're going to have to deal with obstacles as part of your process to get to where you want to go, but that's just how it is.

I'll relate this to a personal story that we'll tie it into pickleball where a lot of times we focus so much on the final painted room, and lose sight of the moments that we're painting, the seeing it develop and trying to do your best.

In this episode I also share with you ways of thinking about your process that make it seem more manageable and use it for your benefit if you haven't done something before.

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Move Your DNA by Katie Bowman; https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-DNA-Restore-Movement/dp/0989653943

Have a great week and we will see you this Friday for our regular episode - Pilling: It is a thing :). 

This week we drive home the conversation we're having last week about 15% volley and setting reasonable expectations as we try to figure out the best way for us to approach the invariable situation where we miss a shot. 
 
If you understand what goes into your shots like shot variability, and removing variables, you can work your percentage error rate down.

You can improve your shots by;

i) Working on them
ii) Drilling 
iii) Playing more 

But no matter what, you're gonna have a number that is higher than 0% as there's no 0% error rate. Not even the pros have a 0% error rate. 

So set the number you want then get it down from whatever your number but recognize that you're always gonna have a number at the end of the day, and how you decide to react to the missed volley relative to that number is going to be relevant to, how you feel and also just dealing in the real world.

Better Pickleball Academy; https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Check out last week's episode here; https://betterpickleball.com/221-mistakes-arent-a-failure/

How do we process when we miss a shot when we play? This week I'm gonna share with you a technique of dealing with misses because they are going to occur .

And it is a normal part of overall execution and strategic decision making in pickleball for us to miss shots when we play, even the easy ones. 

We need to change our mindset from 'I should not have missed that volley' to 'Okay, I missed a volley. That's just simply part of the deal.'
 
This approach will help you stay in the real world and not create some discord between the words you're trying to tell yourself and the reality you're dealing with. And it allows you to avoid needlessly beating yourself up. 

The key is to avoid the negativity of always classifying your shot or expecting that you should not have missed and accepting that the shot is within the parameters of your overall game, which includes, by definition, missing shots when you play pickleball.

Check out Better Pickleball Aacademy's packages; https://betterpickleball.com/academy/ 

What I discovered about the reality of the struggle during practice is that, first of all, it's unavoidable. The absolute only way to master a skill to proficiency is through repetition where you will inevitably face both success and failure, no shortcuts.

Now practice is about finding joy in the process and being fully present in that moment. There is just something so satisfying about the rhythm of drilling, practicing and the repetition of hitting a pickleball. 

What helps me to stay grounded a majority of the time is a really simple tool that I use after every practice, or after playing a session, called 3, 2, 1;

👉 Writing down three things that I did well that day that do not have to be result-based. 

👉 Taking on an awareness about myself on the two things I learned about myself to bring back the things I can control. It can be as simple as noticing that I play better when I take a deep breath before serving. 

👉 Then one is one thing that I'm going to do with that information in the next 24 hours. 

This exercise is a way to shift the focus back onto the process and away from the results, and ultimately, from where I feel the struggle and the frustration. 

Check out the Better Pickleball Academy; https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Pickleball Mastery. A click away; https://betterpickleball.com/217-pickleball-mastery-a-click-away/ 

For instance, if you're trying to paint something, and somebody keeps tapping your paint brush right on the end, it becomes hard to paint because you're distracted by it. 

Same thing happens when we play pickleball and we're trying to focus on the shot or we're trying to focus on ourselves and what we need to do better the next rally but we're distracted by a number of things.

How should we approach and deal with distractions in a way that is more productive or constructive for us?

Think about challenges and distractions in pickleball as puzzles. So when you're facing a challenging opponent, good dinker/shotter or challenging situations such as the wind or sun, look at those as pieces of the puzzle.

And the more complex the puzzle is, the more challenging the game that you are playing is going to be for you. 

This will help you generate more challenge for yourself and create more reward because you get to work through the challenges as you play.

At the end of the day, is that not why we play pickleball? Do we not play pickleball because of the challenge that it presents to us? 

If it was easy, then you'd probably grow bored with it.

It was a mixed doubles match where me and my partner, Ken, got to play hybrid which is one standing player and one player in a wheelchair. 

We were going to play Troy and Ryan in that Bronze Metal match where they won the first and second game. In the third game, we're getting hammered but we put on a run and beat them in the last match. 

So what changed between when we were getting hammered and when we ended up winning? Here are the tips for success based on that game;

i) Play at a tempo that makes sense for you, slow yourself down, and you're going to play better. 

ii) Smile. I know that sounds so simple that it can't possibly work but smiling gives you additional calmness leading to better play.

There's a lot of things you need to improve your play and that's fine. But all things being equal and having done the other stuff to the best of your ability, consider taking your time and consider smiling to enjoy the situation more. 

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Sometime there's frustrations of not acquiring knowledge as quickly as we would want it to. So things may not be clicking for us and there's something that we're missing right now. 

i) Something as simple as listening to the podcast is a click, because you didn't do that before, and now you listen to the podcast.

ii) Looking back and knowing, 'I've already learned a lot in the past' or that things clicked in the past gives you a sense of comfort and a sense of confidence that you will be able to learn the new things you're working on. 

iii) Understand or embrace the fact that you will never learn everything that pickleball has to teach. It's just not possible so keep at it, as long as you're curious and want to keep growing as a player.  

We also talk about gratitude because playing pickleball is a wonderful opportunity and we get to enjoy or experience a positive moment every time we're on the pickleball courts with our friends. 

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Send an email to support@betterpickleball.com

We'll use an analogy where factor A is going to be us, factor B is going to be our partner then factor C and D are our opponents-the two players across the net. 

The input in a pickleball game is going to be the game, the rules, the ball, the wind conditions, the court size which is standard and all the things that are happening to play a pickleball game or affecting the court conditions. Those are inputs while the output here is win the game or lose the game. 

Of the four factors, the only thing you can control is you and your play; how you did relative to you or what you're able to do, relative to your baseline, and relative to what you can bring that day to the court, nothing else.

This means I can't look at the results of the game to determine how I played so play pickleball as a contest of you against you. To test yourself against yourself. 

The best way to think about competition in this game is to view it in terms of our journey as pickleball players. Look at your play and determine whether your play is improving or not improving during a session and also over time. 

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In a zero-sum world, our opponent's victory is our loss. Their positive is our negative. But it doesn't have to be that way. Think about your losses as simply learning opportunities so now you have a positive and a positive.

Let's go into an analogy metaphor where you, or a loved one or a partner of yours, drops a dish that means something to you and it breaks or cracks. That's the reality. That is the thing that happened.

How we react to that reality is 100% entirely within our ability;

i) We can just get upset about it and despair over it
ii) We can acknowledge that these things happen and it's human nature to make such sorts of mistakes and drop things
iii) When an opponents overpower us or plays a really good rally, we can celebrate their rally rather than getting bogged down.
iv) Embrace the beauty of the cracks and understand losses are just a natural outcome.

We have a certain amount of control over the way we react to and handle adverse events when we play pickleball at the different levels of events; from the end of the game to the rally, all the way down to being inside of a rally.

Turn potentially negative loss into a positive, which is a celebration of your opponent's win.

Pickleball System; https://betterpickleball.com/system/

How do we customize the journey best for ourselves?

Think of your journey as a customer experience and treat it that way to feel the best about yourself as a player and as your experience.

We also talk about the concept of agency in outballs that applies to everything you're doing. What shot did you just hit? Where are you standing on the court? Did you play with a player who was not pleasant to you?

Take some ownership over the decision to hit the ball that puts your opponent in an uncomfortable position.

Now the idea of doing a second accountability concept or being a therapist is a commitment to yourself that you commit to listening to a certain number of the podcasts and doing other things which include starting some mental training with a book.

The Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Pickleball Rules-The Definitive Guide to CALLING OUT BALLS || Avoid Mistakes and Controversy; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvO9jR6N9JI&t=51s

Become a Pickleball therapist by writing to us; therapy@betterpickleball.com 

Most pros have both a good soft game and a good hard game, because they'll mix the two depending on what's working in that moment and their overall strategy. 

The analogy/metaphore I like to think about in terms of the approach to pickleball is mixed martial arts or MMA which is a format of fight where you can almost do whatever you want.  
 
Each player has their own strategy, their own way of coming at the fight, and their own approach to how they want to fight the other fighter in that match. Pickleball is the same way, it's multidisciplinarity, meaning jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling.

You can win as a good jiu-jitsu practitioner with a soft game, or you can win as a good hard game practitioner in the boxing. 

Find the approach that allows you to customize the game to your particular style, personality or how you like to play the game. Get really good at that. Understand that you can win a ton of games from that solid foundation. 

From there you can grow, expand, maybe add a little boxing, wrestling or even a little judo into your game. 

How do you keep the game fun? How do you keep playing productively with players who you've known for a long time when you, or they, get to different levels of the game? 

This is a common question or situation we encounter and that's what we're going to be talking about in this new format of a Walk and Talk episode.

i) Work on your game and when you're playing outside level, work on the social part too.

ii) Work on the nontechnical parts; your gratitude and parts of your game that make you feel a little bit more stressed about the results of a particular game. 

iii) Understand that pickleball has no end line, there are lots of positives that you can gain from it.  Regardless of the level of play, as long as you choose to be a part of this sport, pickleball will have something to teach you, it never runs out, and you can never exhaust it.

Have a topic that you're interested in that we can cover in the podcast, send us an email; therapy@betterpickleball.com

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While there's definitely a place for ratings in our sport, the only reason you need the rating is if it's consistent with what you want. 

Always ask yourself;

1) Why do I need the rating? 
2) What's the rating doing for me and what I want with the game? 

So if you want to play tournaments and it requires a certain type of rating, then you're going to have to comply with that requirement. That's a tournament specific requirement. 

Use DUPR or any rating system, only as necessary to accomplish your objectives as opposed to a vicious cycle that interferes with the reason for your play and why you go out to the court. What really matters at the end of the day is how good you feel about how you're playing. 

In this episode we also look at another email that I received from one of our students talking about focus- baseline focus. The focus you can reasonably bring to bear while you play. 

Now, you want to try and bring your attention to the thing that matters when you're playing pickleball in the technical sense and the thing that matters is the little yellow ball. That's all that matters. Where is it? Where's it going? What am I going to do with it? 

The better you're able to ignore that score, the better you're going to be to stay in the moment and focus on what needs to get done.

Enroll for the pickleball system class; https://betterpickleball.com/system/

The idea that our tank of confidence will be filled by our opponent's misery, them being upset at their partner or some negative thing for our opponent is way of thinking like a vampire or a parasite.

Why? Because a vampire needs the blood of a human and a parasite will need the sustenance of its host. It's a very short-sided way of thinking about the game, and not a healthy one for anybody, not just for your opponents, but for you either. 

Building anything on external considerations means you're always going to be subject to whatever those external considerations and fluctuations are. 

Here's the bigger picture, I don't want to live in a world where my success is built upon or relies on your failure. Now, that's different than winning and losing, right? Because I can play my best and feel good. 

We can focus on making ourselves strong human beings while allowing others to do the same. We can encourage them and consider building them up rather than knocking them down. 

Learn more about The Pickleball System here: https://bit.ly/4eptAZd
(if you prefer the long-version of the site link, you can use this one: https://betterpickleball.com/system/?utm_source=in2pyt&utm_medium=youtube+description&utm_campaign=sign+up&utm_id=youtube+in2p) They go to the same place.

If you want to join the clinic, send us an email at Support@BetterPickleball.com. Put "Virtual Clinic" in the Subject Line and tell them Tony sent you :).

I was reminded of the 'imagined' bad word, fundamentals, during a pro level match that I was watching because as pickleball players we often shy away from that word and dismiss it as only applicable for beginners.

The truth is, executing everything really well, including those fundamentals, is what separates pro players from the other teams that they play against is their focus on the fundamentals.  

A good example of those pro players is Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau who I believe are the strongest pro team right now in terms of everything that they do from beginning to end, including the fundamentals. 

They don't take a shot off, execute everything really well and they're very good at every part of the game. That is what separates them from the other teams that they play against.

Now to the idea of an actual bad word that I discuss in this episode; if you have this attitude at the end of a tough game where you make statements to demean or diminish the other player, I would challenge you to put yourself in the shoes of your opponents. 

Have some empathy and think about it through their eyes.

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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. And what was interesting is Dakota response by saying, 'No, I didn't play well.' As an objective observer of the game, I can tell you that Dakota played very well and if there was a player on the team who did not play well, it was me.

As players it's common to think that it was 'us' that was the problem or did something that we shouldn't have done better in a rally or in a game. That's something we need to be careful about.
 
Now to the idea of of evolutionary empathy and how to apply it to pickleball- each of us is operating within their operating module and we're entitled to our opinions and our ability to navigate the world.

Evolution doesn't happen instantaneously, it's not like a light switch where all of a sudden everybody becomes something else.
 
Then the last area cover in this episode has to do with staying focused, staying in the moment or staying in bite-sized pieces. I'll share a story about a para-athlete, visually impaired athlete, who set the world record for the marathon and why we should not just look at the end or focus on just have a winning day. 

Focus on what you can actually do; your next rally, the next serve, next return to serve or one shot at a time.

Sign up to participate in our Pickleball Therapy live podcast: https://pbtherapists.obv.io/sign_up

Send us an email; support@betterpickleball.com

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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 to pickleball, there a few different ways break out of stagnation and move forward. One is listening to this podcast and building habits to change your mental connections in a positive way. 

And do you feel as though pickleball is complex? You're not alone, in this episode I'll tell you a relatable view of John Isner, who comes from a high level of tennis.

Pickleball is a wonderful gift for all of us who play the sport and are interested in knowing more about the sport. It's inexhaustible as long as you remain curious and young in your mind, wanting to learn and know more or something different. 

All that can be a little bit overwhelming, so focus on one thing. 

 Sign up to participate in our Pickleball Therapy live podcast: https://pbtherapists.obv.io/sign_up

or send us an email: support@betterpickleball.com 

'Winning is a Bowl of Ice Cream' episode: https://betterpickleball.com/winning-is-a-bowl-of-ice-cream/

See you inside the Pickleball System class: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Check out our camps and trainings: https://betterpickleball.com/

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 of players because sometimes we get really caught up in our thoughts, which takes us out of being present, animalistic and instinctive.

The Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

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 variables in a rally before you decide how to hit every single shot that you hit.

There are two ideas or suggestions I can recommend to give you a better understanding of the way a pickleball rally is constructed and how to deal with who takes what shot.

i) Look for sources who are serious about pickleball and are professionals. Check to see where a rule or suggestion comes from. Is it well thought out or from a source who is serious about pickleball?

ii) Be consistent with what you already know. There are times you're going to hear something that runs contrary to something else that you've heard and you have to figure out what to do.
 
Most advanced players have certain patterns and tendencies that they bring to the table.

And when you're playing, make sure that you're viewing all parts of the game or the big picture and not letting parts that you've already gotten better suffer because you're so hyper-focused on this one potentially smaller piece of the puzzle.

September Workshop- Discover the "Play Smarter, Not Harder" Strategies That Helped Over 2,000 Pickleball Players Elevate Their Games; https://betterpickleball.com/fall-2024/

Respect the X free guide: https://betterpickleball.com/respect-the-x/

Respect the X playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItFZ5JWm_hw&list=PLRe6hjjhF-o4tSBHKPscxPhJgBeQnc5oI

Forehand in the Middle. You’ve Heard it. But it is WRONG. Abandon this “rule” and play better; https://betterpickleball.com/forehand-in-the-middle-youve-heard-it-but-it-is-wrong-abandon-this-rule-and-play-better/

The Pickleball System class: http://thepickleballsystem.com/ 

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. We are always primed to respond to everything we do wrong. Let’s take that same framing and flip it around.

I want you to list all the things you do well as a pickleball player – or that another player you know does not do as well as you do. This last piece is not really about the other player. It is how we find out what could be worse. What parts of the game are you confident about or that you know more about today than you did in the past.

If you are up for it, actually spend a few minutes creating this list. Because I bet these things aren’t just flooding into your mind right now. It will take a moment (or 2) to bring this to the front of your mind.

It is important to aspire towards balance in our life – and that includes our pickleball.

It’s easy to have our scales tip too far towards the negative – towards what we do poorly or want to do better. Keep that side balanced with the “what we do pretty well” side and you’ll feel better and, I am going to guess, play better too.

 Send us an email; therapy@betterpickleball.com

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 two contexts;

1) Your improvement 
2) You as a player

Then I'm going to be talking to you about the concept of sonder, but specific to you again in terms of your improvement journey. 

Join us inside the Pickleball System class: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

The Better Pickleball Academy: https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Why You’re Getting Slammed – Get the right answer: https://betterpickleball.com/why-youre-getting-slammed-get-the-right-answer/

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 share words from Lynne (thank you Lynne) about her training with us, and pickleball journey with us. It's meaningful to hear such feedback and to know the positive impact of our work, including this podcast. 

It makes it all worthwhile.

Send us an email: therapist@pickleball.com

Find the answers to your pickleball questions: https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Register for the pickleball system class: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

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 so you don't want to miss that in the RIFF. 

Find the answers to your pickleball questions at http://betterpickleball.com/academy/

https://m.slu.edu/alumni/news/detail?feed=rss_newslink&id=f818d3a4-62d3-50b5-9ac6-77ab1241d446

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 – lose, bad.” The reality, however, is that our relationship with sport is more nuanced than this binary good/bad framing.

At our podcast, Pickleball Therapy, we developed a re-framing of your pickleball experience around a pretty ubiquitous symbol of good: ice cream. It has helped so many players reconsider how they approach their results that it has become our most popular podcast.

The good news is that you can have all the highs that come when winning without the needless downs when you lose. It is simply a matter of shifting your perspective. And focusing on what matters – the reason you play pickleball to begin with.

In this week’s episode, we update our Bowl of Ice Cream and address objections that players sometimes raise to it when they first hear the concept.

If you have never heard Bowl of Ice Cream, treat yourself to this episode. If you are familiar with it, a refresher never hurt – plus you will get the benefit of a more seasoned presentation.

Head over to Pickleball Therapy – our weekly podcast dedicated to your pickleball mind. You can find it anywhere that podcasts are podcasted and on YouTube.

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 surface and you find that there is, in fact, a cost to allowing your mind to be occupied with these sorts of thoughts. There are actual two costs:

1.     You are using mental bandwidth that could go elsewhere – specifically, toward your game. Imagine the game-time opportunities that you are not seeing because your mental bandwidth is being absorbed by “I’m not sure that serve was legal.”

2.     You are undermining your enjoyment of the bigger experience. You are on a court, playing the sport you love. Yet rather than being engrossed in the moment, you are focused on a tiny piece of the picture, allowing it to diminish your otherwise awesome experience.

Think of it like someone taking their phone out to send a text during a movie you are otherwise enjoying. Are you going to focus on the phone, or on the movie?

The next time something during a game pulls you away from the big screen that you are on, remember that you came here for the movie (and maybe the popcorn). Keep your eye on the big picture and you’ll play (and feel) better.

Send us your responses to Therapy@BetterPickleball.com.

Be well

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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 are working toward it, but the reason for the game is the steps it takes to get there.

Stay with me here because it might just be the mental breakthrough you need to hear.

Wordle does not teach me new words when I play it. In other words, I am not discovering a new word when I solve the puzzle. That is not the point of it.

In any event, in a few weeks I will forget the ones from this week. That is not the point of it.

The reason for playing Wordle is in the act itself of working to solve the puzzle. That is the point of it.

In a year I will not remember the exact words I work on this week, but I will have gained the benefit of a more nimble mind, having worked through somewhere around 300+ Wordles during that time.

Pickleball is exactly the same.

What were your pickleball scores when you played on April 10, 2024? June 15, 2023? You get the picture.

The scores do not matter. Neither do the outcomes of specific rallies (think it through – there’s no difference).

What matters is that you are playing. You are hitting the ball. Trying to do your best each time you swing the paddle.

The joy of pickleball is in the process – the playing. Not in the results – the winning or losing.

Each time you play, you try to do the best you can. If you want to play better, you can study the game and put in some work. Even in those moments you can embrace the journey – because there is value in that.

As you play, your life improves. Your body is better for it. Your mind is better for it. Your soul is better for it.

Don’t let the outcomes rob you of the joy that is present with every shot you hit on a pickleball court. Outcomes are not the point of it. Playing is.

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See you there.

Tony

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 not right for you at this stage (wrong for a different reason). That leaves 1% of the advice being right and, importantly, right for you.

How do you know where a particular piece of advice falls: the wrong, the not right now, or the 1% that is just what I need?

To quote Shakespeare, “therein lies the rub.” It is figuring out both what is correct and also what it is that will most benefit you right now. Or at least staying away from what will be detrimental to your game.

If you are not yet sure how to decide, you will want to identify a mentor. This is a person with more knowledge who can help you navigate the sea of information out there. If you do not have such a mentor, CJ and I are happy to help. 

Subscribe to our email list at BetterPickleball.com. This will give you access to our weekly newsletter and keep you in the loop on the latest in pickleball thinking.

Follow our podcast, Pickleball Therapy, as well as our YouTube channels, In2Pickle and Better Pickleball. You will know that the information you are receiving comes from trusted sources and has been thought out in terms of being correct and having wide application.

Once you develop a deeper understanding of the game, including its framework, you will be in a position to make your own decisions about what advice stays and what advice can get outta here.

Thank you for the shoutout on YouTube Alan

Tony I have been listening to your pickleball therapy shows from the beginning. I know without a doubt that I am a better player because of your podcasts but more importantly a better person. Your presentations can be a benefit not only in pickleball but in life in general. Keep it up and thank you for your time you invest to create these podcasts.

Coach Pete Scales course here.

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Embrace the journey and enjoy the process.

Tony

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 point of this article. Rather, the point is that a third shot drop alone is not the trick. And the other part will give you more benefit now.

Here’s the reality of the third shot drop: the shot is but a piece of a larger puzzle. To get the benefit of even the best third shot drop, you need to know and be able to navigate:

1.     Movement – both for the hitting player and their partner (the non-hitting player)

2.     Angles and angle coverage

3.     Propensities and likely counters to your third shot drop

Otherwise, you end up with an ineffective piece of the puzzle: a third shot drop that does not do what you want it to.

Rather than focusing on your third shot drop at first, consider spending your time on the movement piece. And specifically, recognizing when NOT to move forward on the third shot. You are going to need this anyways and it will give you benefit now.

As a side note here, think of how many times you end up winning the point on the serve team when you have not made it up to the NVZ line because you stayed in a good position and were able to extend the rally. We demonstrate this in our November 2023 video on In2Pickle (YouTube) entitled “The Pickleball Third Shot (Drop?) You ACTUALLY NEED to Win”

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Enjoy this week's podcast and see you next week.

Tony

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 of this take on the succinct, “win or learn” idea this past weekend at the conclusion of the French Open semi-final. Specifically, Janik Sinner had just lost after a back-and-forth battle with his respected adversary, Carlos Alcaraz.

While Janik was disappointed at not winning – perfectly normal – he was able to immediately reframe the loss as an opportunity. He knows that there is a lot of tennis left in him, and in Carlos. And that they will meet again. Between now and then, Janik has the opportunity to work on his game so that the next time, Carlos is the one who leaves with a lesson to work on.

Having this sort of improved perspective can:

·       help all of us avoid the needless downside when we, unavoidably, lose one or more pickleball games, and

·       actually gain from the experience so that we can continue to grow as players.

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Be well

Tony

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 makes me happy to jump like that.”

Me:      “Good point. Happiness is paramount (or words to this effect).”

As coaches, CJ and I are spend a lot of time devising and sharing actionable guidance about the framework, objectives, strategies, and shots that a player can use to play a really good pickleball game.

BUT …

At the end of the day, we are playing a game. Or at least that is what it is supposed to be.

As you go through your growth process, it is important not to lose sight of this. A few examples:

1.     You want to learn that “killer” serve because every time you serve like that it puts a big smile on your face. Awesome. Then you should pursue that shot. Not because it is strategically significant, but because it makes you happy.

2.     You like hitting the ball hard. That is what makes you happiest in the world. Then, by all means, keep doing it. You may not be able to advance as far as a player as you would if you added a soft game component. But as long as you understand that and are still happier hitting hard, then continue doing what makes you happy. That is paramount.

3.     If you like jumping to hit the shots (it makes you smile), then continue doing it.

There is nothing wrong with playing pickleball in a way that makes you happy. And there is nothing inconsistent with understanding that X is better for you but choosing to do Y because you want to. It is no different than enjoying a doughnut or other sweet treat even though we know that is not what a dietitian would probably advise.

If you like this sort of conversation, join me inside Pickleball Therapy. It is a podcast. And it is available everywhere, even on YouTube.

I’ll see you there.

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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 a while player of the sport called pickleball. Rather, you are someone who enjoys a multi-faceted relationship with pickleball.

Social, exercise, personal growth, fun, challenge, activity, grounding, addiction – all words used by pickleball players to describe why they play pickleball. Our relationship usually encompasses a combination of several of these terms. Thinking of it as a “relationship” more accurately captures the importance and extent of our interaction with pickleball.

Why is this important? Because it signals to us that there is more to it than just finding the key to that perfect third shot drop. There is a bigger picture to our interaction with pickleball. Understanding this will allow us to enjoy the fullest experience and get the most out of our sport.

This is the sort of thing we dive into each week on Pickleball Therapy. We aim to be an oasis in an otherwise sparse landscape where you can come in and get some shade and a sip of water. You can find the podcast on all podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, etc.) and also on YouTube. Just type in Pickleball Therapy and see what it is all about.

Come in out of the sun and take a respite. We’ll be there.

Send us an email: therapy@betterpickleball.com

THE Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

You just got done playing 6 games, never scoring more than 3 points in a game.

I try to share come encouragement by saying to you “It’s not the end of the world.” You agree but then add “But it’s less fun.”

Is it less fun? Let’s talk about it.

Oftentimes when we are thinking through arguably negative situations, like not scoring more than 3 points in a game for 6 games in a row, the negativity stems not from the situation itself. Rather, the negativity stems from our framing of the situation. The situation itself is neutral. It is we who imbue it with the negative.

Generally speaking, losing 3-11 is not as much fun as losing 5-11, is not as much fun as losing 9-11, is not as much fun as losing 13-15. And we haven’t yet even gotten to the winning side.

If we stopped here, then perhaps “But it’s less fun” would be correct.

There is, however, more road to explore. What about losing 1-11? Or the pickle 0-11?

Even worse, what about comparing 3-11 to not playing at all? Or being injured? Or [fill in the countless things that are nowhere near as fun as playing a pickleball game]?

With this framing, then the correct statement after a day of 3-11 games is “It was certainly more fun than the alternatives.”

This is the power of framing. You get to decide the relevant context that you place your day’s events in. Use your framing power to maintain a better perspective and enjoy a stronger relationship with pickleball (and everything else too).

If you enjoy this approach to the mental game, check out the Pickleball Therapy Podcast on all platforms (YouTube too).

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Join our email list: https://betterpickleball.com/

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Stay well

Tony

1. On the PPA experience, I was watching two matches and I observed how flaws in the mental game spill over into your physical performance, shot making, execution, your thinking and ultimately decision making. There are good examples from those matches that I share with you in this episode. 

It's very important not to lose sight of the mental side of the game to feel better and play better.

2. The second area we discuss is that we're subject to an exchange of inputs and outputs through our processing systems; our minds and our bodies. That's hardwiring and we can't change that, but there are few steps I'll share with you that you can take to help your conscious mind overcome subconscious feeling while you're playing, especially when it comes to survival circuit. 

3. In the RIFF, I'm going to talk about putting your finger on the paddle, this is in response to a question that was asked recently by one of our system members.
 
Special episode reviewing Dayne Gingrich and Jill Martin's book, The Pickleball Mindset: https://betterpickleball.com/1516-the-pickleball-mindset-our-review/

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And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

One really powerful concept that Dayne and Jill address is to stop "chasing the win" and find your purpose.

If you listen to this podcast you know we are big fans of defining our relationship with this sport and why we play pickleball. Thus my biggest takeaway was the idea of pre-accepting that anything can happen in a pickleball game, just like in life.

The book has some nice nuggets that I'm going to share with you and also give you my thoughts about the book. At the end of the podcast I give you my verdict on whether I think it's worthwhile to dive into, if you haven't done so already.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Pickleball Mindset: The Blueprint for Peak Performance by Dayne Gingrich and Jill Martin: https://betterpickleball.com/resources/

Join us at our Pickleball Camps here: https://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-camps/

The Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/ 

Pickable Summit: https://www.pickleballsummit.com/

When you watch the Erne in action in pro matches, you'll find that it's of very limited strategic value.
 
What's an Erne? In this episode I explain to you what that is, why it's not an effective shot, and unless you're super excited about it, I would suggest putting it on pause and really think about it, again.

Because winning in pickleball comes from the basic, non-sexy stuff, as well as doing it better and better than you have before.

In the RIFF, we thank you, as a listener to the podcast, for trusting us with your pickleball journey and your relationship with the sport.

The Soft Game is DEAD ... or is it? - Let's stop guessing and find out on the In2Pickle Channel: https://betterpickleball.com/the-soft-game-is-dead-or-is-it/

Check out our courses: https://betterpickleball.com/academy/

Join our Live Game Studies: https://betterpickleball.com/live-game-study/

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

The soft game is alive and is being used by those who know how to use it well, to win a lot of times against teams that don't apply a soft game approach.

When you study the best teams, you'll notice that they rely on a soft game, Chapter One, disciplined approach to pickleball.

Listen to this episode as we discuss Chapter One Pickleball, what you need to add to the soft game or make sure you have that approach to your game and more!

In the RIFF I share with you a quick story I read from a post that was in the Pickleball System Facebook group. 

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And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

I share with you a quick side story I was reminded of that has nothing to do with pickleball, but you'll see how it ties together.

Now one of the benefits of setting the baseline is that it gives you accurate information about how you perfom today. Listen to the full episode as I talk to you about this and more benefits of setting the baseline and using this approach to evaluate performance.

In the RIFF I'm going to talk about the concept of seeing the game that maybe foreign to some, but when you're able to see the game, it really changes how you engage with the sport.
 
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Previous Episodes on this series:

Part 1 : Doing the Best You Can Do PLUS Incremental Growth- Episode 187
Part 2: Setting the Right Baseline for You PLUS an update from the US Open- Episode 188
Part 3: Avoid these 2 Baseline Traps PLUS Hybrid Pickleball is Amazing- Episode 189 

If that sounds interesting to you, join us inside the podcast. You can watch it here or listen to it on Apple, Spotify, and all podcast platforms.

See you on the inside.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

A rating and a ranking creates level-based play so no matter what level you're at, it's fun to be on a court and you get to enjoy the experience with people at your level. Mark explains how the rating system works to determine the level of a player.

It's a really good episode that you'll also get to understand why a good rating system is always going to be more accurate than a ranking system.

If you're either a tournament player,playing league, you play at a facility that uses levels, or you're just curious about ratings, listen to this episode and check out UTR Sports for yourself on how they impact the group and the environment in which you play.

UTR Sports: https://www.utrsports.net/

Join us for the Live May 2024 Game Studies: https://betterpickleball.com/live-game-study

A baseline is like a snapshot of your performance. You can, ofcourse, improve in the future and move your baseline with some work, a focus on your game and growth.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

In this episode I'll share with you a conversation I had with a friend of mine and why we need to compare ourselves to a baseline that's appropriate for us as well as how to avoid the trap of being theoretical.

In the Riff I share with you a particular story about the US Open Tournament Play that has to do with hybrid pickleball that was both eye-opening and exciting plus the lessons that I took away from that experience. 

 Episode 188: https://youtu.be/m05zWoDcSAk

Join us for the Live May 2024 Game Studies: https://betterpickleball.com/live-game-study

It's important that you resist the temptation to compare yourself to the other player or trying to look for the perfect sequence when you're out there playing .

Because we're all in different places. Some of us are younger, some older, some of us are left-hand, and some are right-hand and so many other differences, including our backgrounds.

Simply ask yourself, 'Did I do what I could do? Did I do the best that I can?'

I am recording this podcast on location, down at the US Open in Naples and in the RIFF I talk about the US Open and the camaraderie that you see at an event like this.

I have two requests;

i) Please rate and review us, even if you have left a review in the past of the podcast
ii) If you like YouTube and you're on there, go to Pickleball Therapy on YouTube, like a video or write a comment here and there to help us reach more players.

Purchase from our friends at Total Pickleball. 

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

The beauties of our pickleball is seeing many folks with different backgrounds, all playing this awesome sport.

During this episode, Eric talks about various concepts I think you're going to find super interesting. One of them is that we sometimes fight with our students or with players in terms of understanding that they are, in fact, athletes.
 
Listen to the full episode as Eric also talks about how he takes care of his body, why positioning matters and lot's of other awesome stuff, including how he puts himself in a position to succeed.
 

You can get KT Tape at this link.

Start working on asking yourself, did I do the best that I could in that situation from my performance standpoint?

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

In this episode I'll also read to you a story that's a really nice perspective, that all you need to know is your name and we can play some pickleball.

It's a good reminder of the general sport of pickleball, why we play it and the camaraderie that gets developed.

In the RIFF, we talk about the three-minute plank which is about incremental progress and not big, chunky progress. That's the progress that you're going to see in your game and eventually it'll come together.

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It just means that the contest ended with one team having more points, or other defining measurement of that sport, than the other team. 

That's why in this week's episode we're talking about how we reference losing sporting events.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

There's an old Japanese Samurai proverb that says, Do not speak bad of yourself, for the warrior within hears your words and is lessened by them.
 
Language and the words you use is so important, it affects us and it's how we interact with our mind.

Listen to this episode as we talk about how we can guard ourselves from the resistance inside our mind to events are nothing more than normal expected events
 
Episode 182- Remove Your Mental Plaque and You'll Play Better; https://youtu.be/bxnby2E3QDI

How do we deal with those as we get older?

Here's my take;

- As we get older, we have to be cognizant of life, the change in our bodies and our mind because it can change our ability to, for instance, stay focused for longer.

- Use the FOSS approach of understanding the game to understand what you can do in different situations that's going to be more effective. Then repeat what works.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Listen to the full episode as I answer more questions and suggestions on;

1. The game getting faster and harder with a lot of players out there just banging the ball 
2.  I'm I cut out for tournaments or anything related to tournament prep?  
3.  What do you do when you feel like you've outgrown your original pickleball group? 
4.  The common tendencies that we see that we can look for in our opponents and how to capitalize on them 

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Join us here for our awesome tournament class: https://betterpickleball.com/tournament-play/

Thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Now I was reminded of the never say die mindset thought process in watching a PPA finals match between Andrei Daescu and Anna Bright against the strongest mixed doubles team in the history of pickleball, Ben Johns & Anna Leigh Waters.

Check out Tyrol Pickleball for the best shoes designed specifically for pickleball. Use BP10 at checkout.

The never say die mindset is where the three pillars of pickleball overlap. Understanding that all three, strategic, mechanical pillar and the athletic, is necessary and working on all of them is how you're going to really maximize your potential as a pickleball player.

In that match I recommend really focusing on Andre in terms of how you're going to get the most out of this process, how he moves, how he uses his paddle, and everything he does.

In the RIFF, I'm going to be chatting about paddles, and basically our mindset when it comes to paddles

Send me an email- therapy@betterpickleball.com

Pickleball Therapy Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pickleballtherapy

Video on finals between Andrei Daescu and Anna Bright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoF1zOwLWVY

Pickleball is Messy - and that is Awesome PLUS Why Players Share "Advice"- Episode 164: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XkjnnwnKpA

How to apply lead tape to your pickleball paddle: Add Lead Tape to make your paddle for you - I'll show you how
This video will be live next week. Subscribe to In2Pickle on YouTube to get notified of when the video goes live and for other awesome content.

This week I'm going to talk about the mindset that you want to bring to your improvement. This is an improvement episode where we talk about big picture improvement.

The term fundamentals is a turn off to some players but the irony of it is it's what exactly the players need in order to scale that wall or break through that wall.
 
It takes some dedication, work and patience to be able to get where we want to go.

Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

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Video in In2Pickle: Breaking Through: Secrets to Surpass the 3.0-3.5 Wall

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Thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

A lot of times players have difficulty recognising or relating to what just occurred in the rally they just played. For instance, who hit what shot, where was the ball hit and things like that. It even includes sometimes players having difficulty remembering that they hit a particular shot.

Start working on recognizing what's going on on the pickleball court as you play and what you need to improve to help you fix flaws. That will do the most lifting to help you elevate your game, advance your play and play better. 

We need to recognize we hit the shot, where we hit the shot and then recognize how the shot compares to the shot that made the most sense.

Recognition as a skill is something that you can work on, improve and build on. And you know what's the key? To start with one shot.

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THE Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

The Pickleball System course is a big deal from our end because we only do this two times per year. This is the spring opening of our course. 

If you would like to join us here are two questions to ask yourself in making the decision:

1. Are you genuinely interested in making real improvement in your play? 

We're talking about paradigm shift, transformational changes to your game, not gimmicks or quick fixes but real meaningful change in your game? If you answer yes to that, then we're halfway there. 

2. Are you willing to put in some work? 

If you answered yes to both those questions, then The Pickleball System is right for you and I would recommend that you enroll in our March class, or at least give real serious consideration to enrolling in our March class.

Here's what you can expect in the one year course:

• A top-down approach to pickleball. It's what we call FOS - Framework, Objective, Strategies and Shots. It's a very well thought out, well-designed and very effective approach that gets you results. 
• A complete curriculum, giving you the most solid foundation you can to playing amazing pickleball
• Live class coaching calls with me and C. J. Johnson to work you through this process including milestone calls along the way to help you continue to work on your improvement journey. 
• Additional resources 

If for whatever reason you decide The Pickleball System is not for you, we offer an unconditional 90 day money back guarantee.  

Sign up today! 

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As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

For example, when a game finishes and the reaction of a player on the court is that the game sucked, sometimes it's because the player who's saying that is the losing player.

You want to spend some of your mental bandwidth on protecting yourself from such potentially negative mental habits. Because the cleaner our minds are from this plaque that builds up, the better we're going to play.

 I'll also share a personal story that happened to me many years ago.

Let keep it positive in terms of our understanding that it's a game of ebbs and flows. You're going to play great sometimes, you're going to play crappy sometimes, and so are your opponents or your partner. 

Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

Join our email list: https://betterpickleball.com/

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Pickleball is Messy - and that is Awesome PLUS Why Players Share "Advice": https://youtu.be/1XkjnnwnKpA

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

If pickleball was easy and always a calm sailing wind at your back, you probably wouldn't enjoy it as much.

That's why in this episode we look at the play aspect of pickleball, and more specifically how to navigate a game because oftentimes we'll find that the wind has shifted or the waters have gotten a little rough and all of a sudden we have to tack in a different direction. 

More like navigating a ship through waters.   

The first key to navigate a pickleball game is to be able to weather the storm, the natural ebb and flow of a game, the tops and the bottoms. And that includes all aspects of the game. 

Listen to this episode for more about this and four other tips to help you better prepare to experience the natural turbulence and struggles that will occur during a pickleball game.

Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

Join us inside our Academy for our Unbeatable Partner Play course. https://betterpickleball.com/product/the-winning-edge/

And based on that, here are two areas worth exploring:

1 - How do we win more? In actuality not just conceptually
2 - Does winning become the end all and be all? Keeping our eye on the real importance of pickleball to us

Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

See you on Friday

Tony

Thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Growth and development are usually not linear. It requires patience, time, and really, faith in the effort that we're investing.

We dive deeper into one of the crucial elements that can make all the difference- growth mindset. I share with you a post from one of our pickleball system members that really illustrates how a growth mindset can help manage the ups and downs of a pickleball's (or any life's) learning journey. The post perfectly encapsulates the principles of the growth mindset. 

Now, why is a growth mindset imperative for improvement as opposed to a fixed mindset?

Let me give you an example. Legendary basketball player Michael Jordan was widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all times. But his success was not solely attributed to his natural talent, but rather to his unparalleled work ethic, and he had unwavering determination as well.

Embracing effort as the pathway to mastery encourages a love of learning and a resilience, which are essential for great accomplishments, fosters resilience and helps one to develop a deeper love of the game.
 
Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

THE Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

One of the most important things that you can do to take care of your body is wear the right shoes, designed specifically for pickleball.

Now how and when does injury happen? Injury is really common when we're using muscles that we don't regularly use.

There are a few things that you can do to minimize the chances of injury. First thing may sound obvious but we don't do it enough and it's to take a few minutes to warm up. What you're doing by warming up is bringing your muscles up to temperatures so they're more resistant to injuries and better ready to do what you want them to do.

Listen to the full episode for more ideas on how to protect our bodies so that we can play pickleball as long as we want to, frequently and as many hours as possible.

Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

If you're like me, you'll have to look back at the recipe probably several times while baking just to make sure you cover all the steps.

This explains why the recipe approach is a very limiting way to develop your skills as a pickleball player because situations change while playing.

Let's look at the opposite- actually learning how to bake. If you learn how to bake, you would be able to put together a cake recipe because of your knowledge of the ingredients that are in your cupboard.

Step back and evaluate the sport's big picture, learn how to pickleball.

Listen to this episode for the full analogy and to understand how those ingredients come together on the pickleball court.

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As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

We'll use an illustration of baking a cake.

If you're trying to bake a cake and you don't have a good recipe, it will not be a suprise to get a cake that tastes terrible. It's not because you're a bad baker, you simply don't have a good recipe.

Same applies to your pickleball game, if it's not where you want it to be, it is not because of some deficiency that you bring to the table or an inherent problem with you. It is a problem with your inputs. You don't have good inputs.

Get clarity on the recipe that you're going to follow as a pickleball player in order to play really amazing pickleball.

Join us for the Win-More Series here: https://bit.ly/4bRLvYp

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September Pickleball System Class- http://thepickleballsystem.com/

As always thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Perspective is your big picture, your relationship with pickleball, and it radically changes how you interact with the sport. It's an area that I think players don't spend enough time on. 

No matter what your relationship or engagement with pickleball is or what you want to do, perspective and play are always going to be in play.

Listen to this episode for details on the other two spheres and some good resources you can check to improve on each of those spheres. 

Send us an email:  therapy@betterpickleball.com

Books recommended: https://betterpickleball.com/resources/

A always thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

A lot of times how we view our pickleball is we want to do everything at the same time.

We want a third shot, to win more games, deal with bangers, all at the same time.

It's very hard to do some things at the same time and by doing that we actually don't end up doing anything.

That's why this episode is about One TT (One Thing at a Time), a concept that cannot be overstressed enough in your journey as a pickleball player.

And what's the one thing?

Listen to this episode as I give you tips on how to be the boss of your journey and avoid the frustration of feeling lost by locking in one thing at a time.

Send us an email: therapy@betterpickleball.com

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The Pickleball Academy: https://betterpickleball.com/product-category/academy/

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do. 

If you find yourself evaluating everything based on results, step back for a minute and ask yourself, was it the right shot or strategy from a process standpoint?

In this special onsite episode I talk about results and the obstacle that we place in front of ourselves because we measure the success of strategies or shots, not by process, but by its result.

For instance,if we hit a shot that ends up with us losing the rally, then we conclude that that was a bad shot which is definitely not a good way of thinking about your pickleball game.

While it's perfectly normal, as players or as human beings to look at results, consider evaluating the process of the shot because you're going to get feedback that says the shot may not be the right shot because you missed it sometimes. 

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Video in In2Pickle channel on poaching- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZlgYm6yUlY

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Step number one is to get ready for your day out on the pickleball court. And as I make my way over to the courts, we're going to talk about step number two- be clear on WHY you're heading to the courts.

If you can remind yourself why you're going out to the pickleball courts, you got that, you're complete.

By staying focused on the areas of the game that are really important to us, we can avoid the noise of getting distracted with pop ups and things like that.

Listen to the full episode for the next three steps you can take to to get you mind ready and focused as you head to the courts.

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As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

You'll make mistakes without having done anything wrong, no way to avoid that. Even the best players make mistakes.

And thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Give yourself a break when you think you might have made a mistake. Sometimes it's not always that somebody had to do something wrong.

Listen to this episode for a number of steps you can take to improve how you perceive your relationship with pickleball when it comes to correcting mistakes and handling feedback. 

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There's a couple of things you can do as you put yourself there and protect a player.

And as always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Number one, avoid targeting yourself when you're in these situations and then make it harder for your opponents to target your partner.

You want to make sure that both players get to play. Be supportive of your partner and hit shots to places that makes it harder for your partner to be targeted. 

This is from an email from a Pickleball Therapist which is the topic of our discussion in this episode.

Send me an email: therapy@betterpickleball.com

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You may be surprised to know that you too can hit like Dylan.

Dylan is one of the few top players who does not have a tennis background. So if you do not come from tennis, know that you can play great pickleball too.

Listen to this episode as Dylan shares a couple of tips including the two biggest things that helped changed his game.

Send us an email: therapy@betterpickleball.com

2023 Better Pickleball Holiday Gift Guide: https://betterpickleball.com/2023-better-pickleball-holiday-pickleball-gift-guide/

Thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

How we define the goal is key to whether it works for us and whether it helps us avoid potential problems later down the line. 

There's a difference between short-term and long-term goals. Short-terms goals are finite while long-term goals are about always, there's nowhere to arrive at it, it's not a race.

Same case applies to pickleball, there is no finish line in terms of our pickleball improvement journey, as long as you continue to remain curious and interested in knowing more, you'll always have something to learn. 

The Pickleball Academy: https://betterpickleball.com/product-category/academy/
⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Tyrol shoes here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code BP10 at checkout (if you are a System member, use the code inside your course).

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

As we move into 2024, keep your journey from being hijacked for a much better 2024.

Be careful about the information that you let into your journey, whether it's an online source on YouTube or another player of the court.

Because when you think about your journey, not only do you own it, you want to be intentional.

Here's an example of a hijacked process; When you go to your local courts, it's not that you went there wondering, what exactly do I need? I bet you that so-and-so can give it to me. They brought it on to you. They put it on you. That's what we mean by hijacking your process.

Be on your journey, knowing what you're doing, working in a certain part of the game and stay focused.

Happy new year!

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You can develop an amazing pickleball game and relationship with this game, regardless of what your background, age or history is.

You are a capable human being, on and off the pickleball court!

While it's important to understand what you bring to the table, your background is not going to limit you in terms of your forward progress.
 
How can we be free to walk forward with ourself as pickleball players? Understand the framework of pickleball is going to be the same whether you are senior pro player, top player or a beginner. We all play the same game- same court, same net, paddles, rules etc.

What changes? The strategies and shots that we use based on our unique set of circumstances, that's what makes us a unique being.

Recognize who you are and everything about you. Embrace that. Don't fight it. Don't say, Well, I'm limited because of X, because that is incorrect.

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The thing about pickleball is that there are lots of variables in any point or game situation, but the sport is static, and that's what keeps us challenged out there. It's a beautiful aspect of pickleball.

That's why, In our teachings, rather than just simply answering the specific question, we try to provide you with a framework and give you a structure within which you can answer the questions yourself. 
 
In this episode I'll give you an example of a question you can use when you're playing with a partner. The question was posed by one of our system members and has to do with playing on the return side. 

Use your understanding of the framework of pickleball to ask the right questions.

Send us an email: therapy@betterpickleball.com

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As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Everything else around you becomes irrelevant so we're diving into the subject to help you play better and focus when you're out there on the court.

And as always thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

The topic is- Where is the Pickleball? 

It's the center of our pickleball universe, if you want to think about it that way. Really focusing on where the pickleball is will help us in several different ways.

Consider trying to pick up the holes on the ball. Picking up the holes on the ball will really help you gain a better sense of what's going on with the ball and improve your focus and calmness when you play. 

Our trainings and offerings: https://betterpickleball.com/

2023 Better Pickleball Holiday Gift Guide: https://betterpickleball.com/2023-better-pickleball-holiday-pickleball-gift-guide/

As we enter this season of gratitude, think about the importance that pickleball has in your life. How can you share pickleball (or parts of it) as a gift to strengthen someone who's already playing pickleball?

In this special episode I talk about the season and gifting this beautiful sport in three different levels, including letting them know about this podcast or sending them an episode in this podcast you want them to listen to.

The word of the month is GIFT. There are players out there who, like you, perhaps would benefit from gifting pickleball.

What phrase is used during the podcast that resonated with you this year?

Send us an email: therapy@betterpickleball.com

THE Pickleball System: http://thepickleballsystem.com/

And to my way of view in the game, you're not really doing anything.

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

In this week's episode we're going to talk about Navigating a Game of pickleball, focusing here on a big picture. I'm going to tell you a story that happened to me during a game that I played in nationals and how I experienced it.

From this week onwards we want to try doing a single subject for the podcast. This will allow us to really hone in on that one subject and have that one subject in mind when we go out to play. Then the riff episodes will come out from time to time during the week and will be marked as special episodes. 

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It's been Thanksgiving week! This week we're going to talk about how the holiday relates to pickleball.

How can we use gratitude to play our best pickleball? Gratitude is all around us in sense of the items that we can be grateful for when we're on a pickleball court or everywhere.

I share with you a practice you can do to develop gratitude while in the pickleball court. 

We also talk about why you play, and a little bit about distractions and how they can take away from our experience with Pickleball.

In the riff, I share three lessons from the nationals that I think are helpful in terms of the mental part of the game. And the first one is the blame game, where one partner makes another partner feel bad for things that are perfectly natural in any sport, including pickleball.

There is nothing that undermines the ability of a team to perform more than blame. 
 
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Video on 3 Most Common Pickleball Partner Mistakes Holding You Back- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6z64yKCCPk

Whether you're trying to improve or not, you're going to struggle as a pickleball player. Struggle is what happens to us whenever we are trying to grow in anything in life, including our pickleball game.

There's going to be moments where you're out there on the court and you're wondering to yourself, 'Why am I struggling so much?'

I've been thinking a lot about this subject- STRUGGLE, player struggling.

You won't find success in your game through stagnation. Struggle will be a part of your process as a pickleball player if you want improvement, further growth and a deeper relationship with Pickleball than you currently have.

In the riff I share my thoughts of the nationals, which was awesome, a ton of fun watching all the players out there competing and giving their best. 

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The first phase is pre-play which is the phase before you step out onto the court. This phase pays dividends when you actually get out there as you hit the ball.

The second phase is while you're playing the game and in this podcast episode I explain to you two things you can do while you're playing in this phase.

The last phase is after you play the game and build your next steps.

In the riff, I'm going to continue the conversation from last week about why players give advice. We got a lot of feedback from that episode and today we're going to switch to the other side on how to deal with advice coming your way.

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Total Pickleball
Join us during our November camps here: http://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-camps/

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

They've embraced the fact that pickleball is going to be messy and they use that in their improvement along the way which ends up with some level of success in their field.

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

You'll enjoy your game better if you embrace that fact because sometimes you are going to miss a return of serve or to hit a short return of serve and other messy shots. Embracing that helps you not get so down on yourself because pickleball improvement is a messy proposition.

In the riff we talk about why folks give advice about pickleball and why perhaps they are so adamant about the correctness of the advice that they're giving.

Join us during our November camps here: http://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-camps/
The Pickleball System Class- http://thepickleballsystem.com/

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

I've been mulling over the idea of self-talk for the past few weeks, specifically the impact of our self-talk on our performance on the pickleball courts. Positive self talk is key to success in any sport. 

Unfortunately, most of our internal self-talk is negative.

What can we do when it happens to us out on the pickleball court? The first step is to recognize our negative self-talk. 

Listen to this episode as I share with you a case scenario of the Ryder Cup, what we can put in place when negative talk happens and also give you examples of negative self-talk that destroy our confidence.

Don't should or could on yourself!

Are you winning? In this episode we suggest you may already be winning. Improve your results as well as your relationship with pickleball by eating some more ice cream. What could be better?

In the riff, I share some thoughts about pivot points. These are the points that change a game. Are you hunkering down when they are yours? Hunkering down when the other team is looking to capitalize on theirs?

As always, thanks for joining us on Pickleball Therapy - the podcast dedicated to your pickleball improvement. If you have not yet subscribed to the podcast ... wait what?? you haven't subscribed? ... you know what to do.

Focusing on the score can distract you from obtaining the best results for your game. Focus instead on the next rally or, better yet, the next shot. The results - the score - will come.

In the riff, I share some thoughts about the multiple facets of pickleball - there is more than just the third shot.