Top 5 Pickleball Tips from Dirty Harry
Ask yourself a question: 'Do I feel lucky?'
In today’s Bite Size Pickleball newsletter:
Dirty Harry Takes on Pickleball (Punk!)
A Note on Anguish
A.I. Pickleball Tune of the Week
When Should You Hit Your Opponent with the Ball?
Top 5 Pickleball Tips from Dirty Hairy
“Opinions are like assh*les, everyone has them.” - (Dirty) Harry Callahan
“It’s a question of methods. Everybody wants results, but nobody wants to do what they have to do to get them done." (Dirty) Harry Callahan
Here’s my opinion on what you have to do to get things done on the pickleball court.
- Clint Eastwood, aka Dirty Harry.
Make every shot count, punk: In pickleball, precision is key. Don't waste your shots. Aim for the target with deadly accuracy and make sure each swing counts. And, soon enough, every vote, too. You know I was the Mayor of Carmel, California once? Got a lot of votes. Doesn’t that qualify me to teach you about pickleball? I’m squinting at you now, punk. And you need to ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk? If so, read on. If you’re crying to your mommy already, just cancel us now. Do it! Are you chicken???? Do you wanna know why the chicken tried to cross the road?
Stay cool under pressure: Don't let the heat of the game get to you. Stay calm, collected, and focused on your next move. A steady hand and a clear mind can turn the tide of any match. I was playing Elvis in a game of chess once when I made my move. I was just about to checkmate him, when he removed his king from the board and adjourned to the bathroom with it. Yes, The King actually removed his king and went off to sulk in his temporary office. I don’t consider that “cool under pressure.” Total hound dog. Ain’t nothing but.
Size doesn't matter, skill does: Pickleball is a game of finesse, not brute force. Don't rely solely on power. Instead, hone your skills, master your technique, and outmaneuver your opponents with cunning and strategy. Actress Catherine Deneuve once challenged me to a game of Nude Twister. But that’s another story, and it happens to be in my autobiography! FYI: Humble brag here, but MY book is number one in the Sports Psychology section of Amazon this week. If you don’t think there’s “sport” and “psychology” in Nude Twister, you and the missus have been taking yourself, and your pickleball, a little too seriously. Right hand yellow…
Play dirty (within the rules, Twister included!): Use every trick in the book to gain the upper hand. Let’s say, your opponents are on a roll. “Oh, darn, my loafer is untied, one second...” Then, keep your opponents guessing with unexpected shots, clever angles, and deceptive moves. Just remember to play fair and square within the boundaries of the game. A man’s gotta know his limitations.
Adapt or die: The pickleball court is a battlefield, and victory favors the adaptable. Be prepared to adjust your tactics on the fly, read your opponent's moves, and exploit their weaknesses. Did you ever see me out on a disco floor? No, you didn’t. That might have been considered a weakness. Anyway, get off your humble brag horse, and make my day, punk. In the game of pickleball, only the savvy survive, not the wannabes. BTW: Don’t you ever f’ing mistake me for Burt Reynolds again.
Note on Anguish
Anguish is a really unattractive trait to display on the pickleball court. Not only does it make the people you play with uncomfortable, but it also makes YOU uncomfortable, and holds you back from playing better pickleball. You would be wise to learn how to befriend yourself, and your process, more, because that “friendship” will take you a lot further than the self-flogging you’re doing. Hint: It’s all rooted in the inner child’s reaction to losing. Start there, and think long and hard on it. And remember: a missed shot, or three, is NOT the end of the world.
IMO: Becoming great at pickleball isn’t just a physical thing. It’s mental, as well, and that’s what a lot of players are lacking: an effective, and healthy, pickleball mindset. There’s a whole section in my book dedicated to this. Check it out.
A.I. PICKLEBALL RIFF OF THE WEEK
I fed a few prompts into an A.I. music creator and here’s what it spit back at me.
When Should You Hit Your Opponent with the Pickleball?
If you’re not an advanced player, the answer to this one is “never,” because the shot could get away from you and hit your opponent in the face. BTW, you might think of wearing protective glasses. Just sayin’…
High level pickleball players hit each other all the time. It’s part of the game, but typically they aim for the midsection. Or the underarm of the paddle hand in an effort to “chicken wing” their opponent.
Quick Pop Quiz: Why did the chicken try to cross the road again? A: To play pickleball!
But seriously, don’t be a dick trying to hit people out there unless you’re really good. And if you’re really good, especially don’t try to hit, or Nasty Nelson, players that aren’t on your level, no matter what some internet coach tells you. Wait! I’m an internet coach! And I resent that reference.
On this Sunday’s podcast we’ll tackle our fear factor, and how it limits our game. You can listen to the podcast on your Apple podcast app (included on every iPhone, iPad, Mac), at Amazon, or Spotify. Just search “Bite Size Pickleball.”
I hope you are all having a wonderful pickleball experience, and growing by leaps and bounds. Look! Up in the sky! Right foot green…
