I stole a few minutes away from work today to watch some of the pickleball tournament (Ugly Sweater) and filmed a couple of the matches. It’s interesting to review the footage and pick apart the technical weaknesses of the players.

Pickleball, at my low level, is a game of patience. Simply keep the ball in play and let the opponents make errors by being too aggressive or too perfect, and you win most games. You can stack the deck: be ready for attacks with a paddle up and out, favoring the backhand. Be low in an athletic stance. Have a pre-point plan for what you are going to avoid doing (I’m going to avoid Jason’s forehand roll!), a plan for what you’d like to do (I’d like to test Tommy’s backhand dink skill).

Watching the video of these two games, though, and it’s so clear who has a plan, and who doesn’t. Who stands erect, who stands feet behind the kitchen line, who keeps their paddles in unprepared positions.

I’m going to take more video of my play and really dissect it. It’s going to be brutal. I expect it to make me better. Film work + drills. Let’s go.