Tips 2 U•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
• TOURNAMENT PREP FOR 2023
Gearing up for the new year of tournaments? Here's some tips from the Pickleball Workbook:
1. Post all your tournaments in your Pickleball Workbook log.
2. Plan ahead: be sure you know when the tournament registration will open and be prepared to sign up early--many of the tournaments fill up quickly.
3. Put together a schedule to train: a combination of lessons, drilling, matches and viewing, will all help you in your quest for gold.
4. Organize your trip: accommodations (picklebilly.net), transportation, meals, etc.
5. Set your goals, notes, lessons in your Pickleball Workbook (www.pickleballworkbook.com). The best way to stay organized, advance your game and be ready is to use the Workbook as often as possible. Keep it in your pickleball bag. Review your notes and goals.
What are your goals? Make it to Nationals? Win a tournament? Level up? Most of us want to improve. It's scientifically proven that keeping a journal will improve your game. It's worth a try! **We earned a golden ticket at Pictona in December and are all set for Nationals. Yes, we give credit to the Pickleball Workbook and so can you. Now go get 'em!
• WHAT TO EXPECT FOR A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Here's what we learned playing at Nationals 2022:
Playing in a National Pickleball tournament can be challenging
• COMPETITION: is very high level
• THINGS OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL: weather (wind, rain, cold, hot), court assignment, time of day, opponents, sand-baggers
• NOT ENOUGH: sleep, time to eat, time between games, time to recoup
• EXHAUSTION: You may have jet leg or fatigue from travel
Being prepared for these potential situations can help you through the frustrations. The one day of the week we were set to play mixed doubles a huge storm landed! 30 mph winds, intermittent rain and stop and start play for hours were what we had to manage. We had waited all year for this day. Yes, it was disappointing, but it just was. Having the coping skills to navigate these challenges will help make the tournament experience smoother and more enjoyable. At the end of the day, we just had to laugh. Bad luck and oh well. The storm was not good for our style of play and we suffered through four matches. The truth is, we could have been out in two. So we cheer for that small success and we prepare for the next one.
• REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME
BE OK WITH THE RESULTS
RALLY YOUR SPIRIT FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY
SUPPORT YOUR PARTNER AND THOSE WHO ARE THERE FOR YOU
REMEMBER THAT AFTERALL--IT IS A GAME!
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
MAKE NOTES IN YOUR PICKLEBALL WORKBOOK ON HOW TO IMPROVE NEXT TIME AROUND
• THOUGHTFUL PICKLEBALL TO IMPROVE YOUR GAME
While many players enjoy the sport for the social and fun aspect alone, there are many who are working to level up their game whether to compete or just improve. Here are two key elements to quickly improve your game.
1. CONSCIOUS PLAY: Pay attention to the details of a point.
Start with awareness when you are serving.
–Serve –Note who gets the serve return (you or your partner)
–if it’s you, decide where you will hit your 3rd shot. Will you drive or drop the 3rd? Where are you aiming. Pick a target.
–If it’s your partner, see what shot they hit for the 3rd. If it’s a good drive or a good drop, take a few steps into the court and prepare for the reset to get you to the net.
Practice conscious play throughout the game. Start with just a few things and build up to a full game.
2. POSITIVE PLAY. We often play from a place of uncertainty, fear or lack of confidence. Try playing with positive reinforcement.
–Make a note to yourself when you hit a good shot.
–Remember to use your strengths, maybe it’s your cross-court drop shot, or a strong serve. Using your strengths will bolster your confidence.
–Be supportive not only to your partner with encouragement, but also to yourself. Treat yourself with respect and kindness.
GET YOUR GAME ON!
• HOW TO CONQUER DISAPPOINTMENT •
Whether playing in a tournament or rec play at the park, we all end up either letting down our partner or they let us down with play. Here’s a few tips:
Gearing up for the new year of tournaments? Here's some tips from the Pickleball Workbook:
1. Post all your tournaments in your Pickleball Workbook log.
2. Plan ahead: be sure you know when the tournament registration will open and be prepared to sign up early--many of the tournaments fill up quickly.
3. Put together a schedule to train: a combination of lessons, drilling, matches and viewing, will all help you in your quest for gold.
4. Organize your trip: accommodations (picklebilly.net), transportation, meals, etc.
5. Set your goals, notes, lessons in your Pickleball Workbook (www.pickleballworkbook.com). The best way to stay organized, advance your game and be ready is to use the Workbook as often as possible. Keep it in your pickleball bag. Review your notes and goals.
What are your goals? Make it to Nationals? Win a tournament? Level up? Most of us want to improve. It's scientifically proven that keeping a journal will improve your game. It's worth a try! **We earned a golden ticket at Pictona in December and are all set for Nationals. Yes, we give credit to the Pickleball Workbook and so can you. Now go get 'em!
• WHAT TO EXPECT FOR A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Here's what we learned playing at Nationals 2022:
Playing in a National Pickleball tournament can be challenging
• COMPETITION: is very high level
• THINGS OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL: weather (wind, rain, cold, hot), court assignment, time of day, opponents, sand-baggers
• NOT ENOUGH: sleep, time to eat, time between games, time to recoup
• EXHAUSTION: You may have jet leg or fatigue from travel
Being prepared for these potential situations can help you through the frustrations. The one day of the week we were set to play mixed doubles a huge storm landed! 30 mph winds, intermittent rain and stop and start play for hours were what we had to manage. We had waited all year for this day. Yes, it was disappointing, but it just was. Having the coping skills to navigate these challenges will help make the tournament experience smoother and more enjoyable. At the end of the day, we just had to laugh. Bad luck and oh well. The storm was not good for our style of play and we suffered through four matches. The truth is, we could have been out in two. So we cheer for that small success and we prepare for the next one.
• REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME
BE OK WITH THE RESULTS
RALLY YOUR SPIRIT FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY
SUPPORT YOUR PARTNER AND THOSE WHO ARE THERE FOR YOU
REMEMBER THAT AFTERALL--IT IS A GAME!
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
MAKE NOTES IN YOUR PICKLEBALL WORKBOOK ON HOW TO IMPROVE NEXT TIME AROUND
• THOUGHTFUL PICKLEBALL TO IMPROVE YOUR GAME
While many players enjoy the sport for the social and fun aspect alone, there are many who are working to level up their game whether to compete or just improve. Here are two key elements to quickly improve your game.
1. CONSCIOUS PLAY: Pay attention to the details of a point.
Start with awareness when you are serving.
–Serve –Note who gets the serve return (you or your partner)
–if it’s you, decide where you will hit your 3rd shot. Will you drive or drop the 3rd? Where are you aiming. Pick a target.
–If it’s your partner, see what shot they hit for the 3rd. If it’s a good drive or a good drop, take a few steps into the court and prepare for the reset to get you to the net.
Practice conscious play throughout the game. Start with just a few things and build up to a full game.
2. POSITIVE PLAY. We often play from a place of uncertainty, fear or lack of confidence. Try playing with positive reinforcement.
–Make a note to yourself when you hit a good shot.
–Remember to use your strengths, maybe it’s your cross-court drop shot, or a strong serve. Using your strengths will bolster your confidence.
–Be supportive not only to your partner with encouragement, but also to yourself. Treat yourself with respect and kindness.
GET YOUR GAME ON!
• HOW TO CONQUER DISAPPOINTMENT •
Whether playing in a tournament or rec play at the park, we all end up either letting down our partner or they let us down with play. Here’s a few tips:
- Most people—ok, everyone—wants to play well and win! We are all trying our best. But maybe that day our best shot is too high, sails out and our serves are not working. We feel the stress in ourselves and know our partner is disappointed. It’s best to give yourself a little love. Express to you partner that you feel bad but you are doing your best, even if the results aren’t too good
- If your partner is having THAT day, give them some extra love. Understand that the bottom line is that it is still a game.Perhaps this gets a little stickier when there’s a $10k prize to the winner. However, the majority of the —— number of pball players in the world do not have that pressure on the line. So, ease up, let it go and encourage your partner to play within themselves.
- Do the opposite. If you feel mad, turn it around with a kind remark. If you are angry and feel your partner is not performing, point out what is working well. Take deep cleansing breaths and try again another day. If it’s a tournament, you will come to realize that even those are days you can say oh well and move on.
Being a good partner means having empathy, giving support and trying to help find ways to get everyone back on track. A little bit of kindness can do wonders for your team.
• HOW TO DEAL WITH INTIMIDATION •
There are players who walk on the court and you know right away they have “tude”. They are dressed in macho clothing, intense facial expressions and a gigantic serious pball bag. They are playing for keeps.
Now is the time for you to take a nice deep breath and stay within. Like the golfer chipping over a stream or a sand trap—you need to ignore it and hit your shot.
Send them your best vibes, release yourself from their program and stick to your game plan. If they target you, counter the attack. Don’t take it personally.
Redirect your energy back to center, back to your plan, your game.
There are players who walk on the court and you know right away they have “tude”. They are dressed in macho clothing, intense facial expressions and a gigantic serious pball bag. They are playing for keeps.
Now is the time for you to take a nice deep breath and stay within. Like the golfer chipping over a stream or a sand trap—you need to ignore it and hit your shot.
Send them your best vibes, release yourself from their program and stick to your game plan. If they target you, counter the attack. Don’t take it personally.
Redirect your energy back to center, back to your plan, your game.
• HOW TO PREPARE FOR A DESTINATION TOURNAMENT •
Are you planning a destination tournament? Do your homework.
I recently played in an out of state tournament and here’s what I learned
Are you planning a destination tournament? Do your homework.
I recently played in an out of state tournament and here’s what I learned
- Be prepared for the expenses. Entry fee, Airfare, rental car, meals, incidentals. Put together a travel budget.
- What do you get for your entry fee? Tshirt, goodie bag, etc
- Check out where you are going: climate, wind, terrain, altitude, dedicated courts or temporary, food vendors on site, other vendors with clothing, hats, sunscreen, etc,
- Reputation of tournament. Is it run well? Is it first time? How have matches been running?
- Are there typically weather related match delays?
- Is it sanctioned? Will there be refs for all matches or just finals? Can you ref to help out if needed on your off days?
- Is there seating? Bleachers, chairs, do you need to bring chairs, a mat, a blanket?
- Is there a possibility of a weather change that may require layers? Gloves? Change of clothes?
- What happens if there’s a rain or other delay? Is there a refund?
- Remember to give yourself time to acclimate a day to two before your match and time at the end if any delays. If altitude, typically a min of three days to adjust
- Be sure you have your cell number on the app for notifications of times, delays, etc. Check frequently for changes in match times
- Bring something to eat, wholesome foods, nutritious snacks, plenty of water, a cold neck or head band if necessary, a cooler with ice, pain meds/cremes
• HOW TO ADD TO YOUR GAME •
Try these additions to improve your game:
1. SERVE: Add a new serve: lob, spin, flat
It is important to vary your serve--and not let your opponent prepare for the same serve each time. Also, by having a variety of serves, you can tailor them according to the weather conditions. Particularly if it's a windy day, you may avoid the lob serve for example, and use your drive serve. Having different serves keeps your opponents guessing and a little worried!
2. SPIN: Add spin to your drops/dinks
When you drop or dink a ball with nothing pressing on it, that's called a dead dink. There are times when those dinks are useful, however, you will want to press your opponents whenever possible. Adding spin to your drops and dinks will put more pressure on your opponents and hasten their mistakes. Spin also causes the ball to slip and slide in unpredictable ways. Use this to your advantage. You can also add spin to your serves, returns and drives.
3. GOAL: Set a goal and a timeline
Use your Official Pickleball Workbook© to set your goals. It is proven that writing down your goals and referring to them will increase your improvement at a quicker rate. Goal setting is a way to chart your progress, revise your steps to improvement and assess where you are in your game. It's always interesting to look back and see how far you've come.
1. SERVE: Add a new serve: lob, spin, flat
It is important to vary your serve--and not let your opponent prepare for the same serve each time. Also, by having a variety of serves, you can tailor them according to the weather conditions. Particularly if it's a windy day, you may avoid the lob serve for example, and use your drive serve. Having different serves keeps your opponents guessing and a little worried!
2. SPIN: Add spin to your drops/dinks
When you drop or dink a ball with nothing pressing on it, that's called a dead dink. There are times when those dinks are useful, however, you will want to press your opponents whenever possible. Adding spin to your drops and dinks will put more pressure on your opponents and hasten their mistakes. Spin also causes the ball to slip and slide in unpredictable ways. Use this to your advantage. You can also add spin to your serves, returns and drives.
3. GOAL: Set a goal and a timeline
Use your Official Pickleball Workbook© to set your goals. It is proven that writing down your goals and referring to them will increase your improvement at a quicker rate. Goal setting is a way to chart your progress, revise your steps to improvement and assess where you are in your game. It's always interesting to look back and see how far you've come.
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• HOW TO GET TO THE NET •
We are all trying to figure out how to get to the net--where the most points are won. Do we stay back after we serve? Do we run in as fast as possible. Let's hear from some pros...
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