When Pickleball Frustration Turns Into a Paddle Smash

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I threw my pickleball paddle.

Like an impetuous little cry baby, I tossed it into an empty bench.

It soared like a Frisbee, garnering several audible gasps from surrounding players.

I tell you this not because I am proud but because days later, I’m still embarrassed.

The catalyst? I went one and six in games against lateral competition and I couldn’t point to a single reason why. I reverted back to that 14-year-old boy who once smashed a tennis racket against the tree. But that was a hormonal rage brought on by girl trouble.

Decades later, and a much more mellow dude, there is no excuse for my pickleball frustration to be left on the court.

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The Best Pickleball Shoes: Adidas Barricade

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When I first started playing pickleball two years ago, I made a commitment to myself. A promise that I would avoid getting caught up in a marketing matrix that left me spending infinite dollars on pickleball gear.

I’ve been mostly successful.

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Nice Guys Finish Last: My Pickleball Etiquette Epiphany

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Last night, it was business as usual at my “Advanced Intermediate to Advanced” pickleball league–until it wasn’t.

I was winning a doubles match 8-1.

I hit a wicked hard slice shot from just in front of the baseline.

The ball took a crazy turn and started to gravitate towards my opponent’s head. He just got his paddle up in time and hit a errant ball that sailed into the benches.

He wasn’t happy.

“Hey, I have to go to work tomorrow.” 

I apologized.

“Never my intention to hurt anyone.”

We continued play, and I resorted to much softer tactics.

You can probably guess what happens next.

I lost the match 11-9.

On the drive home I was pissed at myself.

After almost two years of playing the sport, I still don’t know how to keep my pedal to the metal; I’m billing myself The Empathetic Pickleballer.  

But that doesn’t show up in the box score.

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What Is Australian Doubles Pickleball?

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Australian Doubles (often called “Cutthroat”) is a 3-player pickleball format where one person plays solo against a team of two. The solo player serves and is the only one who can score points. Players rotate clockwise after every rally, ensuring everyone plays both solo and team positions.

Australian Doubles pickleball

Australian Doubles is a fast-paced pickleball variation played with three people on a standard-sized court. Also known as “Cutthroat” (don’t worry, it’s not as violent as it sounds), this game format solves the eternal problem of having an odd number of players show up at the court. Here’s how it works: the court is divided lengthwise down the middle, with one player serving solo from one side while a team of two players covers the opposite half. Players rotate positions after each point, which means you’re constantly switching between being the lone wolf and being part of a team. The beauty of Australian Doubles? It keeps everyone engaged and active—no one sits out waiting for their turn. Plus, it tests your skills in ways that regular doubles simply can’t.

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When Your Pickleball Tournament Does Not Go As Expected

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Approaching Nassau Coliseum to play the Rip It Winter Invitational Pickleball Tournament felt like something special.

And then I entered the building, and reality set in.

I walked through a metal detector.

Was shown the makeshift concrete courts in the basement.

Endured start-time delays.

Not to mention the crazy distracting fire alarm that went off mid-match.

Let’s just say it was a learning experience. 🙂

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8 Lessons From a Year on the Pickleball Court

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Deep into my second year of playing pickleball, I proudly report that I have not experienced a sophomore slump! However, some lessons took longer to sink in than I would have hoped. Today, I share those with you, hoping you learn from my stubbornness and evolve your game quicker than I did.

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Pickleball Fitness for Longevity: The 5 Essential Moves for Injury-Free Play (2026)

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To play pickleball into your 60s, 70s, and beyond, you don’t need a bodybuilder’s routine—you need functional durability. The sport demands lateral (side-to-side) explosive power and deep lunging. If your hips are tight and your glutes are weak, your knees will take all the punishment. The secret to playing longer isn’t running more laps; it’s strengthening the “brakes” (your decelerator muscles) so you don’t blow a tire on the court.

As pickleball’s popularity has exploded, so have injuries, mainly caused by repetitive motion, awkward positions, and quick lunges. 

Personally, I have found the sport much easier on my body than tennis. But that doesn’t mean it’s not without it’s aches and pains. In fact, I have another browser tab opened right now wondering if I tore my rotator cuff. But that’s a conversation for another time!

If you play the sport regularly, you will want to have a dedicated cross-training regimen off of the pickleball court that is designed to enhance overall fitness to meet the sport’s physical demands. 

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Why Pickleball is the Ultimate “Third Place” for Mental Health & Community

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A “Third Place” is a social environment separate from home (“First Place”) and work (“Second Place”) where people gather to connect. Sociologists argue that Pickleball has become the most effective modern Third Place because of its “Open Play” culture, which forces interaction between strangers, and its ability to act as a “Great Leveler”—where CEOs and retirees compete as equals. Recent studies show regular players are 60% less likely to report depression than non-players.

Pickleball players tend to fall hard for the sport. 

The path to addiction is so quick that friends and families are often caught off guard.

There’s a reason many of us often hear, “Pickleball, again?!”

And it’s not said in the nicest of tones. 

Well, I’m not sure about you, but it occurred to me recently that pickleball is my “third place.”

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