By Mark Renneson
If you're like most people, you've had a PB hiatus. Here's what you can look forward to upon your return and what to do about it:
The Problem: Inconsistency. Pickleball is very much about timing: receiving fast balls at the net; hitting returns on the rise; co-ordinating switches with your partner and knowing who has the middle balls. After a break, it is likely that your timing will be off.
The Solution: Be forgiving. Expect that you're not going to be playing your best right out of the gate and be ok with that. Pickleball is a game and games should be fun. Give yourself permission to have a good time even if you're missing some easy shots. It's a process.
The Problem: Pain. Unless you've been doing some driveway training, you're probably not PB fit the way you were a couple months ago. There's a good chance you'll wake up sore.
The Solution: Take it slow. I know you are keen to get out there. But just as you should pace yourself when you go to your favourite buffet, being over-eager now can have real consequences. I suggest setting a hard time limit for the first few days. If you're accustomed to playing for three hours at a time, set the limit to 90-minutes your first day out. You'll be disappointed to leave but you'll be even more disappointed if you don't and the next day you can't walk.
The Problem: Different groups of players. Just because courts are opening up, doesn't mean everyone is comfortable going back. You should expect that your regular contingent of players probably won't be there.
The Solution: See this as an opportunity. I know it's fun to play with a regular group, but this is a chance to expand your horizons. Maybe you'll discover that you and another person have great on-court chemistry. Perhaps you'll make a new friend since the cliques have to break down. This is a chance to grow your network of pickleball comrades.
The Problem: Frustration. Even if you're happy to be back on the court, there is a good chance that you and your PB buddies have some residual stress. After all, we're still in the middle (?) of a global pandemic and we've all gone through a lot. Some of us definitely more than others. Given that, it shouldn't be a surprise if we find ourselves getting frustrated with our on play or with other people.
The Solution: Be aware. The best way to combat unnecessary frustration is to anticipate it in advance. Knowing that you or others might be more apt to have a short fuse these days makes it easier to handle if it happens -- or even better, prevent it in the first place. Be kind to yourself and to each other.