エピソード

  • When Nothing’s Working: How to Stay in the Game

    When Nothing’s Working: How to Stay in the Game
    2025/05/16
    Some days, it all clicks — smooth dinks, solid serves, clean resets.
    Other days… nothing lands. You’re in your head, off your rhythm, and three steps behind every ball. What do you do when nothing is working? Here’s the first truth: You don’t need to play your best to win mentally. At Mental Pickleball, I teach my players that tough matches — the ugly, frustrating, off-the-rails ones — are gold mines for mental growth. Here’s your mindset reset for days like that:
    1. Shrink the Target
      Stop trying to fix everything. Pick one simple goal: keep the ball in play, get your feet set, or calm your breath. Anchor to one thing you can control.
    2. Detach from Perfection
      It’s okay to play bad pickleball. It’s not okay to beat yourself up while doing it. You’re not auditioning — you’re training.
    3. Reframe the Win
      Even if you lose the game, you can still win the moment. You can still win your attitude. You can still choose focus over frustration.
    Your challenge today:
    Next time everything feels off, don’t spiral. Simplify. Shrink your focus. Stay in the match. Winning ugly is still winning — especially in the mental game. And here’s the quiet truth:
    Sometimes, the most important victories come on the days when your game doesn’t show up — but your grit does.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.
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    7 分
  • See It Before You Swing: Visualizing Success in Pickleball1

    See It Before You Swing: Visualizing Success in Pickleball1
    2025/05/11
    Want to know one of the most powerful tools you can use — without lifting a paddle? Visualization. Top athletes do it. Mental performance coaches teach it. And guess what? You can do it in your car, on your couch, or while you’re waiting for your partner to finish their warm-up. But here’s the thing: visualization isn’t just positive thinking. It’s mental reps. It’s training your brain to expect success — so when you step on the court, your body already knows the moves. Here’s how to make it stick:
    1. Be Specific
      Don’t just picture “playing well.” Picture the exact moment: a smooth third shot drop, a steady reset, a calm response to a fast drive. Make it real.
    2. Engage Your Senses
      What do your feet feel like on the court? Can you hear the bounce? Feel the grip? The more vivid the image, the more your brain treats it like a live rep.
    3. Anchor with Emotion
      Feel the confidence. The calm. The sharpness. Let your body feel what success looks like — before it happens.
    This isn’t magic. It’s muscle memory for your mindset. Today’s challenge:
    Take two minutes today to visualize one part of your game going exactly the way you want it to. Do it before your next match. Or between games. Let your brain lead your body. If you can see it — you’re already closer to playing it.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.
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    7 分
  • When You’re the Better Player — But They Won’t Hit to You

    When You’re the Better Player — But They Won’t Hit to You
    2025/05/09
    You step onto the court, feeling sharp. You’re dialed in. You know your shots are on. But five points in, you realize: they’re not hitting to you. At all. They’re picking on your partner, avoiding you like the kitchen line on a deep return. And suddenly, the frustration starts to bubble up. This isn’t just about getting “left out” — it can feel like you’re stuck watching the match from the sidelines while your team struggles. But here’s the truth: Your mental game is just as important when you’re underused as when you’re overworked. At Mental Pickleball, I help players like you stay locked in — even when the ball isn’t coming your way. Here’s how:
    1. Lead with Energy, Not Ego
      You don’t need touches to lead. Stay vocal. Stay encouraging. Be the steady heartbeat of your side. Let your presence be felt, even if your paddle isn’t.
    2. Trust the Long Game
      They may avoid you for a while, but they can’t do it forever. And if your partner stabilizes — with your support — you’ll get your chance to strike.
    3. Practice Patience and Positioning
      Stay engaged with your footwork, court vision, and body language. Be ready. The worst thing you can do is check out. The best? Stay so mentally sharp that when the ball finally comes… you punish it.
    Your challenge today:
    If they’re not playing to you, stay in the game with presence, posture, and positivity. Set the tone. Be the thermostat, not the thermometer. Your team needs more than your shots — they need your steadiness.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.
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    9 分
  • When You're the Weaker Player Getting Picked On

    When You're the Weaker Player Getting Picked On
    2025/05/05
    You know the feeling. You're in a doubles match, and after a few points, it becomes obvious — they’re picking on you. Every serve, every shot, every lob… it's all coming your way. It’s not personal. It’s strategy. But let’s be honest — it can rattle your confidence fast. So what do you do when you’re the one getting picked on? At Mental Pickleball, I coach players to use this moment not as proof of weakness — but as a test of mental strength. Here are three ways to flip the narrative:
    1. Own the Opportunity
      You're getting more touches. That means more chances to grow. Every shot they send your way is also a chance to improve your footwork, your resets, and your resilience. That’s not weakness — that’s reps.
    2. Stabilize, Don’t Overperform
      Don’t try to prove yourself with risky shots or big winners. Instead, focus on consistency. Make clean contact. Keep balls in play. Let them get frustrated that you won’t break.
    3. Reframe the Target
      Being the "target" doesn’t mean you’re the problem — it means you’re the focus. And focus is power. Use that spotlight to stay engaged, rather than defeated.
    Today’s challenge:
    If you feel targeted in a match, take a deep breath and settle in. See it as your moment to rise, not retreat. Win the next five minutes with clean, smart play. Then do it again. You may not control their strategy — but you absolutely control your response.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.
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    9 分
  • How to Handle Loud Opponents Without Losing Your Game

    How to Handle Loud Opponents Without Losing Your Game
    2025/05/02
    You’re mid-match. Every time you miss, your opponent celebrates like they won gold at the Olympics. Paddle claps. “Let’s go!” yells. Maybe even a few passive-aggressive comments.

    It’s annoying. Distracting. And let’s be honest — it can get in your head.

    So how do you deal with loud or obnoxious opponents without letting them take control of your mental game?

    Here’s the secret: You can’t control their volume. But you can control what it means to you.

    At Mental Pickleball, I teach players to reframe these moments using three quick moves:

    Detach the Drama – Their noise isn’t about you. It’s about them. Hype might be their way of staying confident or masking nerves. Don’t internalize it — observe it.

    Anchor Your Energy – Take a breath. Lock your eyes on your paddle or the baseline. Come back to your rhythm. Let their energy float by while you stay rooted.

    Respond with Focus, Not Fire – You don’t have to out-shout them. Out-focus them. Nothing disrupts their vibe more than your calm, steady presence.

    Here’s your challenge:
    Next time you play someone loud, try this: Instead of reacting, re-center. Use it as a cue to go deeper into your game. Every time they shout, you settle.

    Let them play loud. You play sharp.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.

    Want to build mental toughness that blocks out the noise — literally?
    Book a free virtual session with Coach Kevin at mentalpickleball.com.
    Your mindset is your best defense.
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    6 分
  • The Pregame Mental Warm-Up

    The Pregame Mental Warm-Up
    2025/04/28
    We all know the importance of a good physical warm-up — a few dinks, drops, and drives before the game starts. But what about your mental warm-up?

    Most players skip it. They walk on court with loose limbs but scattered minds — still thinking about traffic, emails, or the outcome of a match that hasn’t started.

    If you want to play present and composed from the first serve, you need to warm up your mind just like your body.

    At Mental Pickleball, I coach players through a simple 3-part pregame mental warm-up:

    Ground Yourself – Take a quiet moment before you step on the court. Breathe. Feel your feet.

    Remind yourself: “I’m here. I’m ready.”

    Set Your Intention – Pick one thing you want to bring into the match. “Stay calm.” “Communicate with my partner.” “Trust my game.” Just one clear mental anchor.

    Visualize Success – Close your eyes for 30 seconds and imagine yourself playing your best — smooth footwork, focused eyes, a great serve. Feel it like it’s already happening.

    This doesn’t need to be long or dramatic. You can do it in your car, by the bleachers, or on the way to warm-up. But doing it puts you in a mental space where confidence, calm, and clarity can actually show up.

    Your challenge for today:

    Before your next game, give yourself just 60 seconds to mentally warm up. Use all three steps
    — Ground, Intend, Visualize. Watch what shifts.

    When your mind shows up first, your game follows fast.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.

    Want help crafting a personal pregame routine that sticks? Book a free virtual session with Coach Kevin at mentalpickleball.com.

    Let’s get your mind match-ready.
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    7 分
  • The Mental Reset Routine Between Points

    The Mental Reset Routine Between Points
    2025/04/26
    Every point in pickleball starts fresh. But most players don’t play like it. They carry the last shot — or the last three — into the next rally like mental baggage.

    If you want to build real mental consistency, you need a reset routine between points.

    The pros do it. Not always consciously. But consistently. They breathe, bounce, pace, or tug their hat — not superstition, but signal. A pattern that tells the body: “New point. Let go. Let’s play.”

    At Mental Pickleball, I teach a three-part reset you can make your own:

    Release — Take one breath and mentally drop the last point. Good or bad. It’s done.

    Refocus — Pick a single target: paddle position, feet, or your next shot.

    Reaffirm — Use a cue word. Something like: “Play,” “Present,” or “Let’s go.”

    It only takes 5 seconds. But it puts you back in control of your head before the paddle moves again.
    Without a reset, you drift. You react. You start playing on emotional momentum — and not the good kind.

    But with it? You can lose a point and still win the match.

    Your challenge today:
    Try out the 3-step mental reset between points. Start with one match, even just one game. Track how it shifts your awareness, control, and attitude.

    The next point isn’t defined by the last.
    It’s defined by how well you reset.

    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.

    Want to build your own custom mental routine?

    Book a free virtual session with Coach Kevin at mentalpickleball.com.
    Let’s get your head as ready as your hands.
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    7 分
  • Your Inner Doubles Team: Self 1 vs. Self 2

    Your Inner Doubles Team: Self 1 vs. Self 2
    2025/04/25
    Inside every pickleball player, there’s a doubles team playing a mental match. One voice is critical, calculating, and afraid of messing up. That’s Self 1 — the thinker, the judge, the control freak. The other voice is intuitive, responsive, and naturally skilled. That’s Self 2 — the doer, the feeler, the part of you that knows how to play.

    And here’s the kicker: your worst games happen when

    You miss a dink, and Self 1 shouts,
    “Seriously? How do you keep messing that up?”
    Now you're overthinking the next shot. Your muscles tighten. Your confidence dips. You’re playing not to lose — not to win.

    But when Self 2 leads, you flow. You respond. You trust your training. That’s the sweet spot.

    The goal isn’t to silence Self 1 forever — it’s to turn down the volume. Let Self 2 play while Self 1 rides shotgun, quietly.

    So how do we do that?

    Notice the chatter without feeding it.

    Redirect your focus to rhythm, breath, and feel.

    Use phrases like: “Let it come,” or “Just play.”
    They’re gentle cues that speak Self 2’s language.

    Today’s challenge:
    Next time you're warming up or mid-match, notice when Self 1 jumps in. Then invite Self 2 to respond. Try using rhythm or breath to shift control. Even one point played in that space is a win.

    Your best partner might already be inside you.
    Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.

    Want help quieting Self 1 and unlocking Self 2?
    Let’s work on your inner team.
    Book a free virtual session with Coach Kevin at mentalpickleball.com.
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    8 分