How to Defend The ATP!

Jul 20, 2023

Hey!

Before we keep going, welcome back to another edition of the blog. If you’re new to the blog and want to go back and check out past editions, go here!

Today’s edition has three parts: 

1. A Helpful Tip (Video) – How to Defend The ATP!

2. For the Pickleball Nerds – Small Change. Big Result. Wait, What?

3. My Journey Playing Pro – Pro Pickleball is Hard.

A Helpful Tip (Video):

When your partner hits a dink wide enough for your opponent to hit an Around The Post (ATP) shot, don’t panic. 

AND PLEASE, don’t bail and think the point is over.

It’s not! 

In today's video, learn how to turn — what most think is a bad situation — into an advantage for your team.

Enjoy!👇

For the Pickleball Nerds:

Imagine this…

You’re flying from LAX to New York City.

If the pilot adjusts the heading just 3.5 degrees south, the plane will go to Washington DC instead of NYC.

That’s a 228-mile difference.

This small change is barely noticeable at takeoff, but when magnified across the entire United States, you end up hundreds of miles apart.

That’s wild. The point is…

Small changes lead to big results.

So what does that have to do with pickleball, or you?

Let me explain…

Like any sport, there’s a lot that goes into getting good. We know this.

And when we look to improve one skill, it’s often NOT some massive change we need to make.

It’s a tweak here with our paddle position, or a minor adjustment with our footwork. And most of the time, the average fan, or even the people you play with, won’t notice the tweak you made, but definitely will identify the outcome you start to get. 

Like braces, growth starts slow.

It begins with a decision to do one new thing. For me in the past couple weeks, it’s been footwork. I watched myself play on film the other day and noticed laziness in my feet. I hate that. 

So in practice yesterday, I wrote on a piece of paper, “move your feet,” and brought it with me to the courts. 

Guess what? That small change helped! 

And if you’ll humor me for a moment, because we’re all people, not just pickleball players.

Life is similar…

A small change in your daily life can lead to remarkably different results.

  • Start taking 5-minute walks each day to clear your head.
  • Start writing 5-minutes a day to clarify your thoughts.
  • Start reading 5-minutes a day to strengthen your mind.
  • Start sending one kind-text to brighten someone’s day.

We often think big results come from massive changes. But often, it’s the opposite.

So as we wrap up, consider these two questions: 

  1. What’s a small change in your life you could make that’d lead to big results? (and...)
  2. What’s a small change you could make in your pickleball game that would lead to big results?

My Journey Playing Pro Pickleball: 

Pro pickleball is hard. At this level, everyone is good! The margins for winning are slim. And to compete at the highest level, you have to bring it each time out. 

This past weekend in Denver was fun overall, but left with some not so great results. 

In mixed doubles, Dana and I won our first round match, then lost to Federiko Staksrud and Meghan Dizon. 

Not a bad day, but it’s time to start winning those matches. 

In mens, Pesa and I had a disappointing day. When I woke up Saturday morning and saw our draw, I was excited. We had winnable matches in front of us, but ended the day 0-2. It felt like we both played not to lose, rather than playing to win. We didn’t dictate points like we often do when we play together. 

In reflection, I was disappointed in myself. The hardest part is seeing a glimpse into my potential, but falling short of playing how I know I can! And while I don’t have the answer right now for why we fell short, I understand the importance of asking why, constantly…

  • Why did we come out flat? 
  • Why did I play passive in this match?
  • Why, Why, Why?!

That’s a part of the journey though. Practice. Compete. Intentionally Reflect. Repeat.

And at the end of the day, I constantly remind myself. Long Game! I want to do this for a long time, so I have to keep reflecting and improving each day. 

And of course, I gotta keep things in perspective.

I get to do pickleball full time. I’m living the dream. Hard to be disappointed for too long. 

But by golly, I have big dreams that I’m working to make a reality, so time to get back to work!

Until next week,

Kyle 

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