Mastering Mental Resets
Pickleball Proverb 1
The skilled player is like a tranquil river, accepting every surge of emotion without being swept away by its current, finding their path in balance and grace.
Have you noticed that pickleball points tend to come in batches? Why might this be the case? I think these runs of scoring or losing multiple points in a row is largely influenced by how we handle our emotions.
What emotions do you experience on the court? Joy? Anxiety? Anger? Satisfaction? In competitive play you probably experience a range of both positive and negative emotions during a match.
During my last tournament, I paid particular attention to my emotions. Before the match I feel a bit of nervous tension, then the joy of scoring points and gaining an edge, frustration if that lead begins to collapse, and then finally either satisfaction or disappointment depending upon the ultimate outcome. These emotional fluctuations can be difficult to handle so it is important for us to implement some strategies to mentally reset ourselves during matches and tournaments.
Below are three tips for mastering mental resets:
1. Focus on the Present Point -- if you lose a point, it is important to let this go in your mind. Do not get me wrong, you should learn something from every mistake, particularly if you lose a series of points. But, the beginning of each point is a new opportunity to change. Let the past go and stay focused on the here and now. Be here now!
2. Let Go of Things Beyond Your Control -- Much suffering is caused in life by trying to dominate and control things that are simply out of our control. In pickleball, there are a few times in which you did everything right but you still lost the point due to an amazing shot or a fluke event. Remember, NET SHOTS both giveth and taketh away ;)
3. Maintain Humility -- Inflated egos should be avoided both on and off the court. Stay humble. Stay grateful. Remember why you fell in love with this game and given the magnitude of problems facing our world, losing a point or a match is nothing to stress about. Wins and losses are a part of any sport and both should be accepted with grace and humility.
Humor of the Week 🤣
What did the ball say to the paddle? Spin me right round, baby, right round.
