Zen and the Art of Pickleball (Unabridged‪)‬

Pickleball has lately become all the rage in America. Indeed, all across the globe. Once a sport for older racket sports enthusiasts who needed a slower version of their favorite sport, now youngsters are picking up the game, playing in pro tournaments, and making a good living from pickleball.

And with the growing popularity of pickleball has come the need for lessons and clinics to teach the mechanics of the sport. I used to teach tennis, but when I found pickleball about five years ago, I put away my tennis rackets and have used a pickleball paddle ever since. In my opinion, pickleball is a game of chess compared to tennis, which is a game of checkers.

Once you master the stroke mechanics of pickleball, then the challenge is to master the mental game. That is where the fun begins. I have been a pickleball instructor now for three years. And I do focus on the mechanics of the game when I teach, but I go beyond that to teach the mental aspects of the game, which separates the good players from the excellent players.

I’ve been encouraged by many of my students to write a book that details some of these mental aspects of the game of pickleball. And when I play in tournaments or recreationally, I often get comments like "how can you be so calm on the court" or "you make this game look effortless". One of my partners complimented me in a recent tournament by saying "thanks for your Zen attitude on the court". Thus, the inspiration for this book.

If you can remain calm, remain focused, and remain relaxed during a game of pickleball, you will find much success, both internally and externally. I think if you take the messages in this book to heart, you will also be happier and enjoy the game of pickleball more.

In my opinion, pickleball can be a metaphor for life. A Zen approach to the challenges we face can allow us to face adversity with a sense of calm and focus that will make us much happier on our journey through life.