How Can Old Dogs Learn New Tricks?

With guest columnist Scooby Doo

In today’s Bite Size Pickleball newsletter:

1. Teaching an old dog new tricks

2. One word to sum up mindfulness

3. Beginners tip of the week

Ruh-roh! Like, hey there, it's Scooby Doo! And don’t ask where I am, because I’m right here! Ruh-huh-huh! So, like, you wanna know how an old dog can learn a new trick? Well, it's all about patience, persistence, and plenty of Scooby Snacks, of course!

First, you gotta believe in yourself. Rikes! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't learn something new just because you're a bit older. Uh-uh-uh! Age is only a number, after all! And, just like 0-0-2, you gotta start somewhere! Ruh-vice, anyone?

Take it step by step. Ruh-ok?! Break the trick down into smaller, easier parts. Like, if you're trying to learn to roll over, start by learning to lie down, then gradually work your way up to the full roll! Or if, like, you’re trying to learn a solid backhand roll, start by rolling your wrist over the top of the ball (woof!) just a bit, and gradually work your way up to a full roll, using your wrist like a windmill over top of the ball. Ruh-ruh-ruht-on.

And don't forget positive reinforcement! Uh-huh! Yup! Every time you make progress, give yourself a pat on the back, or treat yourself to something you enjoy. Like, more Scooby snacks! Yum-yum-yum-yum!

Oh, and it's okay to make mistakes. Heh-heh! Nobody gets it perfect the first time, or, like, even the second. If we’re talking about Shaggy here, not even the 10th time. Ruh-huh-huh! Ruh-ove you, Shaggy.

Just keep trying, stay determined, and before you know it, you'll be mastering that new trick like a pro! Well, maybe not like a pro-pro, but you’ll be a pro in my book! My book of Old Dogs Doing New Tricks. Uh-huh! The “uh huh!” is not in the book title. So don’t be confused when you search for it on Amazon. Ruh-ha-ha!

So, there you have it! With a positive attitude, determination, and plenty of practice, even an old dog like you can learn a new trick! Ruh-yeah!

ONE WORD TO SUM UP MINDFULNESS

That word is “awareness.” That’s all that mindfulness boils down to, awareness. And it starts with the awareness of the self. The more aware you become, the more you can learn to tweak your dials, and keep yourself on a more balanced plane while you’re playing. Mindfulness is also a great jumping off point for learning how to embrace the whole process, not just the wins and losses. That’s where flow comes in, when we embrace the process, and get to the point where we can tuck neatly inside of it. When we do that, a funny thing happens: we tend to win a lot more!

BTW: There’s nothing even close to attending Burning Man, and singing Kumbaya, about mindfulness, the top athletes in the world practice it. If you’re open to learning more on the topic, I invite you to take a look at my book, because there is a whole section dedicated to it. I feel like the mind work is super important for you as you develop your game. Because with a greater awareness, you’ll learn how to guide yourself better, rather than letting the harsh, self-critic lead the way.

BUY BOOK AT AMAZON.

BEGINNERS TIP OF THE WEEK

Get a bunch of balls and head out to the court early, or any time you can find a court to yourself, and practice your serve. Hit them over and over, until you start to get comfortable. A big tip: swing hard, don’t be “careful.” From there you can dial them back. Also, it is highly important to understand when a serve ISN’T legal. That’s when it is a sidearm serve above your belly button, or if your paddle face is above your wrist when you make contact with the ball. For a complete rundown on service rules, check the USA Pickleball site.

Intermediates would be wise to do the same (practice), but now you’re practicing stuff like moving the serve around the box, serving with a different pace, maybe throwing in a lob serve…Why a lob serve? Because those things have the potential of throwing opponents off guard, and causing errors. I like to call them the “sucker serve.”

OK, that’s all for today, (non) suckers. Big shout-out to Scooby Doo! Next issue’s guest columnist is Vin Diesel! You’re not going to want to miss this! Really excited to get Vin in here, and take a big-a** bite out of him.