The mental game
The Mental Game of Pickleball
At 3.5 and above, most points are lost rather than won. This is what the mental game of pickleball actually consists of, and the four parts worth working on.
9 min read
Pickleballer
The mental game
The part of pickleball that decides close matches and almost nobody drills. Written for people who play a few times a week and would like to stop losing to opponents they should beat. Train the decisions themselves in the Pickleballer app.
Pressure
Why You Get Tight in Close Games
Everyone knows the feeling of a shortened arm at 9-9. Here is the mechanism behind it and what to do in the ten seconds before you serve.
7 min read
Closing
How to Close Out a Match
Leads evaporate for predictable reasons. Here is what changes in your game when you get ahead, and how to keep playing the way that got you there.
7 min read
Strategy
How to Beat a Banger
Playing someone who hits everything as hard as they can is more a psychological problem than a tactical one. Here is the answer to both.
7 min read
Between points
The Three Second Reset
You get about three seconds between points. Used well, it is the highest-value habit in recreational pickleball. Most people spend it re-watching the mistake.
6 min read
Competing
Why You Play Worse in Tournaments Than at Open Play
Almost everyone plays below their level in their first few tournaments. The reasons are structural, not a verdict on your nerve.
7 min read
Getting better
Playing Up: How to Handle Better Opponents
Playing above your level is the fastest way to improve and the easiest way to build bad habits. The difference is what you go in trying to do.
6 min read
Doubles
The Partner You Are Stuck With
Most doubles points are lost in the space between two players. Here is what to say, what never to say, and how to play with someone you are quietly annoyed by.
7 min read