Pickleball Therapy

To be a complete pickleball player you need a third shot drop. Seems simple enough but, as with many things in life, once you scratch at it a little you find out that it is not quite that simple. Before players start losing their mind reading the next words, let me make this one thing clear: in a hypothetical, what do you need to play a complete pickleball game, the third shot drop plays an important role. That is not the 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 coverage3.     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”Pickleballsummit.com to get your free Summit ticket. You are not going to want to miss the 2024 Summit.To get real answers to your pickleball questions, check out our courses inside The Better Pickleball Academy Enjoy this week's podcast and see you next week.Tony 

We are friends. Playing a pickleball game. One of us will win and one of us will lose. That is just the way of things. Imagine a world where you went into the game like this: 1.     I know that no matter what, either my team or my friends opposite me on the court will be able to celebrate the win.2.     I also know that no matter what, the other one of us will walk away with something to add to their games. I was reminded 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.Join our email list- https://betterpickleball.com/Register for the upcoming summit- https://www.pickleballsummit.com/Check out our Academy courses: https://betterpickleball.com/academy/The Pickleball System- https://betterpickleball.com/system/Check out Total Pickleball, Use code Better10 at checkout- https://www.totalpickleball.com/?from=wepic Be well Tony

I was reminded of an important concept speaking to one of our team members who is a volleyball player converted to pickleball. The conversation went something like this (group setting): Me:      “Hard to lob Emily as she can get up in the air.”Emily:  “Yeah and I even like to jump when I do not have to.”Me:      “I’ve seen it. Ball can be at Emily’s head height and she is full in the air smashing that ball.”Emily:  “It 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.Join us inside The Pickleball Academy: https://betterpickleball.com/academy/The Winning Edge: Unbeatable Partner Play: https://betterpickleball.com/unbeatable-partner-play/Check out our recommended resources: https://betterpickleball.com/resources/ Join Better Pickleball Facebook Community: https://web.facebook.com/groups/1166083211224349/ Our upcoming summit:  https://www.pickleballsummit.com/

Your Relationship with Pickleball Much of the information available about pickleball has to do with the details: How do I hit a certain shot? What is the latest paddle thing going on? What is the rule about [__________]? There are many fewer resources that tackle our relationship with pickleball. The term “relationship” is one we use very intentionally. If you are reading these words, then you are more than just a once in 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.comTHE Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/

Is losing 3-11 not fun for you? It might be - depending on how you look at it PLUS Too old or unskilled to play pickleball? 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).Join us inside The Pickleball Academy: https://betterpickleball.com/academy/Join our email list: https://betterpickleball.com/2024 Better Pickleball Camps: https://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-training-camp-details/Check out Tyrol shoes Use code BP10 at checkout (if you are a System member, use the code inside your course) Stay well Tony

In this triple episode we address three different areas; things in the PPA that merits some conversation, hardwiring concept and, in the RIFF, we talk about putting your finger on the paddle. 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/Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxtrHYdJT1Iy_SHckPt6cg Join us for the Live Game Studies: https://betterpickleball.com/live-game-study Get on the court with us for a Tournament Game Plan: https://betterpickleball.com/tournament-prep-program/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 had a chance to read this new book on the market, The Pickleball Mindset, that's written by my fellow senior professional, pickleball player, Dayne Gingrich, and his co-author, Jill Martin.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/

The journey to be a more well-rounded player can be filled with distractions that pull you in different directions, that are not as productive as others, the Erne being a good example. 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.

Is everything fast and hard? This week we turn towards a strategy concept. It's something I've been working on recently based on a question that's frequently asked - is the soft game dead?  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.  Check out Better Pickleball Camps: https://betterpickleball.com/pickleball-camps/Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxtrHYdJT1Iy_SHckPt6cgThe Pickleball System: https://betterpickleball.com/system/ Video on In2Pickle channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46eAo_G0Y3YBeat the Bangers course: https://betterpickleball.com/beat-the-banger/

This week we wrap up the series on setting the right baseline for yourself. The key here is basically grounding ourselves in reality to evaluate our performance in a good and healthy way. 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. Subscribe to The Pickleball Therapy Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxtrHYdJT1Iy_SHckPt6cg/Join us for the Live May 2024 Game Studies: https://betterpickleball.com/live-game-studyPrevious 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