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INSTRUCTION by ALICE TYM
THE MENTAL GAME
On the ride home from the US Senior Pickleball National Championships in Florida, my partner, Bart Brannon, asked,“ Why don’ t you ever write about the mental game?”
I didn’ t really think I had a mental game, but then I realized everyone has a mental game. The key is having a mental game that is individually crafted for you so that you get the most reward possible from pickleball.
You must know yourself first and foremost. Are you looking for fun and camaraderie? Medals and personal satisfaction? Improvement and progress? Do you want to win? Help others?
Stewart Helfrich, of South Carolina, said,“ We are already winners. We are able to play and enjoy life.” Then he went onto the court and won the Men’ s Doubles 80s with Bart in a close, exciting match.
Maybe the key to the mental game begins with a healthy mental game of life. But I want to win. What should my mental game be? Developing a strong mental game begins with understanding a difference I have seen between men and women.
Both gain confidence through training. Even though training is about the physical game, it is also imperative to train to feel and believe you deserve to win.“ Deserving” is the key for women. You train hard so that victory is deserved.
So, one major building block of the mental game is serious training. Arizona’ s Ted Anderson has a lengthy regimen because he“ can’ t control everything, but can be in the best physical condition possible.”
The seniors who are winning are working hard. The mental game needs a strong physical building block.
PEACE
You are playing pickleball. You are not playing life. Maybe your high school basketball coach cut you from the team, but that was then, this is now. Bending your knees is way more important than rehashing painful memories of past marriages or misfortunes. Clear heart, clear head. It is pickleball.
FUNDAMENTALS
Understand the game. Consistency wins. It is fun to bash the ball, but this is a game of consistency. Your practice must be geared to that. Repetition.
Practicing with the same partner can further your consistency. Eating the same pregame meal will help. Knowing what shot to execute on crucial points is important. Knowing your own capabilities is important.
You have choices. Consistently make winning choices.
HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO
Both are important to the mental game. I know a player who gets upset with let cords. She will lose two or three points after her opponent gets a winning let cord. She can’ t let go.
On the other hand, I vividly remember tennis legend Arthur Ashe telling me that every time the point ended when he was at the net, as he turned to walk back to the baseline to serve, he mentally moved on to preparing for the next point. Every time I pivot, I think of him letting go and preparing.
The mental game is forward or backward. Arthur moved forward in life too. A good mental game in sports is a good mental game in life and vice versa.
STUDY
Good mental-game preparation means studying the game. Many players take notes. They record themselves on video. They watch other good players. Pickleball is changing rapidly.
Do you hit a two-handed backhand? With a roll? Are you an innovator or do you stick with a third-shot drop? Do you check out instructional videos on YouTube and watch the top players in action? Their games and abilities might not be the same as yours, but good ideas may come from observing.
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