My 13th Day of Pickleball: Feeling More in Control

Playing pickleball has quickly become a highlight of my week. I look forward to hitting the court with my son and friends, improving my skills, and having a good time. On my 13th day of playing, I was pleasantly surprised to see some improvement in my game. I felt more in control of my shots, and my teammates noticed a difference too.

Late Start, But Still a Great Time

Thursday, March 23, 2023, was a busy day for me at work. I didn’t arrive at Pontiff until around 6 pm, and I was surprised to find that there weren’t many people playing. However, that quickly changed when I arrived. A singles match was underway with three spectators, including an 11-year-old named Ellis who often joins in for fun. As soon as I warmed up with them, the three spectators were ready to play, and I was excited to get started.

A Great Start to the Night

My first game was with Patrick as my partner, and we won pretty easily. I had some fantastic shots and felt more in control of my game. I even improved my slams and had more precision and control over them. Had improved, or were my opponents just around my skill level? Regardless, it felt great to contribute to the win. The score ended 11 to 2, and I was off to a great start.

Evenly Matched Game

Next up was a game with Patrick against Dev and a new player. The game was pretty evenly matched, and I focused on slowing the ball down, dinking anything that was hit to me. Dev took advantage of a few high returns and slammed the ball at Patrick (sorry Pat), but I was able to put away a few nice slams that Dev left hanging too. I still had a few moments where I forgot to stay back after serving, but I quickly corrected it. We lost this match 9 to 11, but I was feeling good about my play.

Best Game Yet

After this match, Dev and AJ went to work on their dinking skills, and I watched for a bit. Then, it was time for another game. This game was me and a new player against Patrick and Ellis, and it was the most evenly matched game I’ve played yet. I surprised myself by returning many of Patrick’s hard hit shots and felt confident on the court. We were back and forth for about 25 minutes, running, climbing, and retreating when necessary. I tried to hit the ball to Patrick as much as possible to test myself, and we came up just short, losing 13 to 15. It was a fantastic game, and I felt proud of how well we played.

Wrapping Up the Night

After that game, I took a few minutes to rest and watch Dev and AJ practice their dinking skills. We played one more game, but I was having trouble seeing the ball and didn’t do as well. Nevertheless, I felt great about my overall performance that night. On the car ride home, AJ commented that he saw improvement in my returns and dinking, which was encouraging to hear.

As I continue to play pickleball, I look forward to improving my skills and having even more fun on the court. Each day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and challenge myself, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made through this sport and the positive impact it’s had on my cardio. I can’t wait to share more of my experiences and progress in my journal in the days to come.