On Being Pickled

- or -
The Evolution of a Pickleball Player

I was introduced to Pickleball on our recent visit to Arizona. I discovered an active group of pickleball players in my home town. So, although April's A to Z challenge may have kept me busy... what really occupied my time was playing pickleball - whenever I could! I find the game to be fascinating... and as addictive as a bag of potato chips! Every time I play I want to play one more point, and then one more game and then another. I miss a shot and I want to play some more to see if I can make that shot the next time. (OK, yes, I am a bit very competitive, but I am not the only person who recognizes this addiction!)

I think that learning to play pickleball is a journey. I see myself evolving. I am slowly changing and I am in the process of acquiring skills each time I play. I guess it is a pickling process! Although, that is not how the game acquired its unusual name. According to the USAPA the game was named after Pickles, a Cocker Spaniel owned by one of the co-inventors. Apparently Pickles liked to take the ball, and so the game was called, "Pickle's Ball" and over time was shortened.

However, maybe there is more to the evolution thing than I thought....

source

Since someone has designed a T-shirt that seems to say it all!

Stages of an evolving pickleball player 

(according to Dreaming)

1. Know where to stand - and when to move.
2. Know the score - and how to score.
3. Stay out of the kitchen (Can't wait to tell Mr. Dreamy about this one!)
4. Watch your opponent making the shot; watch the ball; and move your feet. 
5. Know when to hit and when to let it fly (out of bounds).
6. Place the ball. Make your opponents move. Watch for open alleys and use angles.
7. Know how to hit soft or hard and develop a spin, a dink, a lob and a drop.

If I can develop the skills I listed above, then perhaps I will be less likely to make unforced errors. Unforced errors are, in my opinion, stupid, stupid, stupid mistakes... and I make far too many of them, far too often. Just ask my partners!

I'm sure there are more stages to my development as a pickleball player, but since I'm not there yet, I don't know what I don't know! Regardless, I'm having a ball!

Flat Malia came along to play pickleball with me when she visited.