When Pickleball Frustration Turns Into a Paddle Smash

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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Nice Guys Finish Last: My Pickleball Etiquette Epiphany

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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Pickleball Bullies: When Your Opponents Pick on Your Partner

During our recent pickleball league finals, my partner and I faced a couple of pickleball bullies. It’s a common strategy: the two men we were up against decided to target my partner, an excellent female player, often leaving me watching from the sidelines. Their strategy was effective, leveraging power to overwhelm her with consecutive shots. She held her own, but they won the match, leaving me putting together plans to counteract such tactics in the future.

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How to Start Playing Pickleball

If you’re curious about how to get started with pickleball, you’re not alone, with millions of people picking up a paddle for the first time. This guide will introduce you to the basics of pickleball, from understanding the game to mastering essential skills.

Prefer to listen to this post? Click below.

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The Best Pickleball Warm-Up Routine

Being an avid pickleball player, I never hit the court without my tested and vetted pickleball warm-up routine. Before both casual games and intense tournaments, I make sure I’m primed and ready. After some tweaking (get it!?), here’s is the routine I employ to avoid pickleball injuries.

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Pickleball Tips for Intermediate Players: 18 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Use these pickleball tips for intermediate players to take your game to the next level.

As a pickleball player transitions from the novice stage to an intermediate level, the game becomes more demanding and competitive. But also more fun!

To continue to elevate your game, circumvent common pitfalls that can potentially limit your progress.

To move on from Pickleball Rookie status, tackle this list of mistakes that intermediate pickleball players often make.

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