Pickleball articles: https://www.pickleballportal.com/author/david-boyle/

PICKLEBALL JOURNAL – ENTRY 6

It was a warm day in December, just the four of us playing outside for about an hour. We played well, joked a lot, laughed a lot, and enjoyed several intense firefights. Being relaxed and loose helped us play better; at least I could see a difference between these matches and others we had played with larger, more serious groups, where kind words, compliments, and encouragement were scarce. Some players never smile or say hello on court or even exchange pleasantries, which is why today was especially nice. There’s a feeling you get when the mood is set, the body becomes liquid and the mind flexible and nimble, prepared for anything and everything. That energy, when present, is unmistakable, you drink it in and the players use it to their advantage. After all, it’s pickleball, not surgery, so why can’t people lighten up and take pleasure in the game, in good vibes, in good company?

The perimeter of the court was slippery. I chased down a ball and almost went into a split. At times I was cautious when going after easy-to-defend shots that bounced off court. At least twice I tried doing things I’ve noticed in pro pickleball. Not that I could ever hope to do them as well as they do, but well enough in my own way. One shot that did go all right was a disguised shot at the net, showing that I wanted to rip a put-away but went for an angle using a soft touch. After winning the point, I laughed at myself knowing that I probably couldn’t do it again. Time moved fast but it was time well spent.