An 8-year-old Wants to Know
What happened to his great uncle’s fav sport?
In today’s issue of the Bite Size Pickleball newsletter:
An 8-year-old has an important question
Service Tip of the Week
AN 8-YEAR-OLD HAS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
I spoke with my 8-year-old grand nephew this morning and asked him if has been watching the Olympics. “Heck, yeah,” he said.
I replied, “I have been watching so many sports, all except-”
“Pickleball!” he chimed in.
“Exactly!”
“Why isn’t pickleball in it? They have every other sport.”
Good question from an 8-year-old. And how can I possibly get him off his video games by telling him if he practices his pickleball now he may play it in the Olympics one day? I can’t. Because pickleball is most certainly not in the Olympics and, worse, it won’t be in Los Angeles in 2028. That sucks. So many other fringe sports, and no pickleball.
I guess the main reason is that pickleball hasn’t spread as worldwide as it needs to yet. And, oh yeah, India paid $100,000,000 to televise cricket in 2028. I am not quite sure pickleball can get that kind of action for viewership. Okay, I am totally sure it can’t. Here’s hoping for 2032!
I have been watching a lot of the Olympics. I mean, a lot! I really loved the badminton. One of the things I admired is how the doubles partners work together to cover the court. There is no delineation like there is in pickleball, the whole “that was my forehand” thing. Both players are all over the court and beautifully countering one another. Check it out. I am not saying pickleball players should play exactly like this. But there is definitely room for more free style play, especially on upper levels. It’s super fun when I have a partner who can counter my moves, and visa versa. It adds a whole other challenge to the game.
Here is my grandnephew doing a little p-ball schtick.
SERVICE TIP OF THE WEEK
Stop serving with the same pace and in the same place every time. You give your opponents a major head start if they know exactly how to play your predictable serve. In every instance, you want to keep your opponents guessing. This will put them on edge, because they have no idea what you’re going to throw at them next.
Start mixing up the pace and placement on your serves. You may even throw in a couple of lob serves. I like to call them “sucker serves,” because they often cause your opponents to make unforced errors on them. Be different. Play different. And…
Yes! Definitely breathe! Too many players are holding their breath on the court. This causes you to play tight. Try to find the stoppages in the game, and use them to take a nice, calm intentional breath. In through your nose, and out through your nose.
Before and/or after you call the score is a great place to breathe. Too many players serve too quickly after they call the score and they end up hitting it right into the net. Develop a routine and stick with it. Insert breathing into that routine.
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