PICKLEBALL OPEN PLAY |
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Playing Up |
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Down
BY SARAH ANSBOURY
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Coming from tennis I wasn’ t quite sure how open play worked in pickleball. In tennis, we tend to set up our games and we don’ t mix around a lot. I recall the first time I went to the pickleball courts near Surprise, Arizona, which was hosting one of my first tournaments. My partner and I were trying to find a game during warm-up. Would someone let us in? Luckily I asked the right person,“ How do we get a game?” She was a 5.0 player and, without a clue of who we were, let us in.
PICKLEBALL OPEN PLAY
Sometimes I will go to places and it’ s not always easy to jump into open play. At times someone will invite me to play, but intentionally exclude the person I am with. I don’ t like that.
I understand that we all want good practice and we want to keep it challenging, and I realize that people feel that they will improve more if they“ play up.” In fact, I play better when I play up. However, I believe you can do both … practice and play.
When I am at open or recreational play, I am all about having fun and playing multiple players and I don’ t really care what level I am playing with or against. When I play lower level players, I want to give them the experience of playing with someone more consistent so they can play some longer points than they are used to. I don’ t intentionally smash a high ball at them to intimidate them. Likewise, if the two players are of differing skill levels, I try to mix it up. I don’ t avoid the stronger player and pick on the weaker player. Nor do I exclude the less experienced player. This isn’ t a competition. We aren’ t playing for a title or money … this is supposed to be fun! I want them to see a stronger player reaching out to other levels who need more experience so that when new people come in they will welcome them into the group.
OPEN PLAY VS. COMPETITIVE PRACTICE
When I want competitive practice, I set up a time outside of open or recreational play. It is usually a group of 4-6 and it is about playing back-to-back and maybe playing with a certain partner. We will intentionally look for courts that aren’ t in use or a time when the courts are not used for open play.
From time to time, someone might wander by and want to join. I explain that we are practicing but they can join us for a game or two. I’ m lucky because the players I typically practice with are very welcoming of new players. However, occasionally a player may groan a little or give me the evil eye. But I remember that I was once that player that players groaned at, and I remember exactly how it felt. I felt disrespected when a player would not play very well on purpose, or would be focused on a game in a nearby court that they found more interesting. I also remember how good it felt when I as able to surprise them with my ability.
My goal whenever I go to open or recreational play is to have fun and to help the people I am playing with to have fun too. I am going to give the person in front of me the respect that everyone deserves. We all love this game. We all want it to grow. Let’ s go have some fun! •
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 | MAGAZINE 35