means you’ re a bad player. It means you’ re human. The best players in the world aren’ t immune to it— they’ ve just built systems to manage it.
The Infrequency Trap
Not playing competitive matches often enough is one of the most underrated contributors to tournament nerves. When a tournament feels rare and precious, the stakes automatically inflate. Every match becomes do-ordie. The antidote: compete more.
The frequent competitor has normalized the environment— the crowds, the scorekeeping, the line calls— and approaches it like a regular Tuesday. The pressure doesn’ t disappear, but it becomes familiar. Familiar pressure is manageable pressure.
The Invisible Weight
At the higher levels, ratings add another layer of mental weight— now you’ re not just playing to win, you’ re playing to protect something. Players may start managing fear instead of playing their game. This creates what many call“ playing not to lose.”
Recognize when you’ re carrying too much. When your mind is consumed with what a loss means for your rating or reputation, you’ ve stopped playing pickleball. You’ re playing chess with your anxiety. Anxiety almost always wins that game.
Play the ball in front of you. Not the scoreboard. Not your rating. The ball.
PART TWO: HOW THE PICKLEBALL COWBOY FIXES IT
1. Drill until it’ s automatic.
The most effective long-term solution to tournament nerves is also the most unglamorous: drilling. When
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MARCH / APRIL 2026 | MAGAZINE 21