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SCIENCE OF PICKLEBALL
FOCUS , RHYTHM , AND PICKLEBALL
By Joe Dinoffer
In 1974 , nearly 50 years ago , a man named Timothy Gallwey first published “ The Inner Game of Tennis .” I ’ m sure if pickleball had been enjoying its current popularity , there would have also been a book titled “ The Inner Game of Pickleball .” What would that book have contained to help your game improve ? Here are a few of the highlights of Gallwey ’ s celebratory book and how they can help you play better pickleball .
HIGHLIGHT # 1 : SELF-TALK .
Pickleball ( and life ) always has an inner and outer conversation that we can have with ourselves . Externally , we become concerned about our appearance , our performance , and the results of play ; namely , whether we win or lose . Paradoxically to the tension of competition , tapping into our inner selves is intrinsically peaceful and calming , and yields better external results .
HIGHLIGHT # 2 : TRUST .
The best performers in sports and in life trust themselves . Gallwey identified what appears to be a Buddhist or Hindu sourced concept of Self 1 and Self 2 , with Self 1 being the external material egodriven self who is concerned with winning and losing ( result driven ). Self 2 , he explained , is the internal observer who alone is capable of being fully present to enjoy the free and relaxed processdriven experience of living and performing more optimally , as opposed to being primarily concerned with results and recognition . It is important to know that how our two selves interact decides how we perform externally . In other words , for our performance to flow effortlessly , we must calm Self 1 and have faith in Self 2 .
HIGHLIGHT # 3 : FOCUS .
We know that the mind averages about 6,000 thoughts a day . This fact causes innumerable distractions for us , regardless of whether we are speaking with a loved one , driving a car , or playing an important pickleball match ! The “ Inner Game ” system offers rhythm-based exercises to help us focus . Here ’ s the classic exercise from Gallwey ’ s Inner Game : Just call out “ Bounce ” when the ball bounces on each side of the net and “ Hit ” each time the ball is struck by the paddle ( yours and your opponent ’ s ). Remember that you are calling this out quietly to yourself , but loud enough for you to hear . Do it in practice to start , and observe whether you are hitting the ball more cleanly , effortlessly , and proficiently . And remember to allow yourself to let this exercise put a smile on your face for the fastest success ! •
Joe Dinoffer is a master professional in the USPTA and PTR , and has written nine books , produced 22 DVDs , and appeared on the Tennis Channel . His company , at
OnCourtOffCourt . com , designs and manufactures training aids for pickleball , tennis , and yoga . He has also produced dozens of pickleball tips for YouTube .