Chapter 20 - Tao of Pickleball

The Path to Victory

Beginner: How can I defeat an opponent stronger than me? Master: Let them play to their full potential.

Beginner: But if they play their best, surely I will lose? Master: No. Let them over-play. Let them seek the winner too early. Let them make the mistake.

The beginner bowed in understanding.

Equipment

Beginner: Why is the club champion playing with a cheap, beaten-up paddle? Master: He has grasped the essence. He plays with the paddle; he does not rely on the paddle to play for him.

Perception

Beginner: I practice hard, but I lose in tournaments. Why? Master: A goldfish in a bowl cannot imagine the currents of the ocean. You practice in comfort; competition is chaos. Embrace the chaos.

The Wrong Path

Beginner: They called me a prodigy after three months. Why am I not a master after a year? Master: The prodigy relies on talent and skips the foundation. When the foundation crumbles, it is often too late to rebuild.

Fame

Beginner: I have won many medals, yet I lost to an old man nobody knows. Master: The true master seeks understanding, not applause. The medal gathers dust; the skill remains.

The Ultimate Technique

Beginner: What is the invincible shot? Master: The one that is not returned. It need not be fast, nor fancy. It simply must land.

Source of Power

Beginner: How do I hit with power? Master: With the earth. Push from your legs. Beginner: How do I hit with speed? Master: With your body. Rotate your core. Beginner: How do I hit with deception? Master: With your stillness. Beginner: How do I hit the winner? Master: With your mind. See the open space before you strike.

Imitation

Beginner: I copy your form perfectly, yet I fail. Master: You copy the shell, not the soul. Learn why I move, not just how.

Cross-Training

Beginner: I am a table tennis expert. How do I improve? Master: Learn tennis. Beginner: Now I know tennis. How do I improve? Master: Learn badminton. Beginner: Now I know badminton. What next? Master: Forget them all. Play pickleball.

Art and Sport

Beginner: Is pickleball an art? Master: It is like jazz. You must master the scales (drills) so that you can improvise (play) when the rhythm changes.

The Impossible Triangle

Beginner: What is the impossible choice? Master: Power, Speed, Control. You may often have two, but rarely all three. Choose wisely.

Perspective

Beginner: Pro games look so easy. I could do that. Master: Go play. Come back in a year. (A year passes) Beginner: It is impossibly complex! Every micro-movement is calculated. Master: Good. Go play. Come back in a year. (A year passes) Beginner: It is actually quite simple. It flows naturally. Master: Now you understand.

Harmony

Beginner: How do I become one with the paddle? Master: Do not grip it like a weapon; hold it like a bird. Firm enough not to let it fly away, gentle enough not to crush it. Beginner: But I don't have time to think! Master: Then do not think. Be like water. Flow to where the ball will be, and you will already be there.