Maybe it’s just me, but there are days I leave the court and ask myself, “What am I even doing here?” To be fair, that thought must not linger too long, because the next day, I’m back on the court!

Today was a pretty "middle" day. No, I wasn’t at my best, nor was I at my worst. I was just in the middle. And even being there took a good bit of self-talk and effort.

To be honest, I can’t pinpoint what made the difference. I slept fine last night, I got up just fine this morning. Sure, I had a few emails to address before I went to play, but nothing upsetting. Before I left, I even had a nice two-mile fast walk with my dog. All the parts were in place to have a good day playing.

Until I faced a strong serve—and we were down 5-0. Three of the five points were my errors. Forced and unforced.

And then, I was asking myself, “What is wrong with me? I can’t place that ball for anything!”

The day wasn’t entirely like that. In fact, by count, I actually won more matches than I lost. I just knew I was a bit off my best. Middle.

Assuming I’m playing people at my level (which I was), then it only makes sense that I win 50% of the time, statistically speaking. Of course, pickleball isn’t simply about statistics. That’s math. But matches are influenced by mindset.

And I could tell that my mindset wasn’t locked in today. Not entirely. Middle.

We’ll be unwinding that issue in future articles. Why? Because I want more control over my mental game. I want more mental toughness.

Tomorrow, I’ll be back on the court—win or lose.

Why Pickleball?

If you follow me at all on my Thriveology Podcast, or even my work helping people save their marriages, you know I’ve had various pursuits over the last couple of decades. I’ve done scuba diving, trail running, adventure racing, paddleboarding, hiking, jiu-jitsu, and most recently, pickleball.

I always like to have a pursuit that is fully immersive. It’s kind of a mental vacation for me. As my scuba buddy used to say every time we dove, “I love being able to go below the surface and leave all my concerns on the boat. For that time underwater, it’s just me and my enjoyment of the water world.”

That’s immersion.

For me, immersion means something that requires my attention, is a bit of a challenge, and makes me work at it. In trail running, I had better be watching my path—or risk a trip. Road running was never my thing for the opposite reason: I could zone out and ruminate on daily life.

In jiu-jitsu, I had to be fully present, or I’d get choked out (and often, both). It kept me present and fully aware.

Pickleball is far more convenient than a dive trip and easier on my aging joints than jiu-jitsu.

And guess what? Research backs up my choice in pickleball as not only fun but also good for me! So, the next time someone tells you that pickleball is “mini-tennis” or just a silly game, here’s what research tells us:

The Health Benefits of Pickleball

1. Stress Reducer and Mood Enhancer

Pickleball gets people moving in a social environment. Exercise is a proven mood enhancer, and pickleball provides a good, low-impact workout. It’s generally played as a team sport and is quite social on the sidelines. Being around people and building a social network has been shown to extend lifespans and enhance well-being.

2. Stimulates Neurogenesis

A Mayo Clinic article highlights how great pickleball is for cardiovascular health. Better blood flow benefits the brain, but more than that, exercise boosts levels of neurotrophic factor, which spurs new neurons. It literally helps grow your brain! As you learn new skills, you stimulate brain plasticity, building new neural networks and connections.

3. Improves Cognitive Function

The fast pace of any racquet sport sharpens cognitive abilities. You’re constantly thinking fast, building strategies on the fly, and making split-second decisions. This enhances problem-solving skills and pattern recognition.

4. Enhances Hand-Eye Coordination and Balance

Coordination and balance tend to decline as we age. But pickleball requires both, encouraging the brain to reclaim these skills. Fun fact: Pickleball is recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease because it helps fight against the disease’s impact on coordination and balance.

Why Do I Play?

Do I play pickleball for the health benefits? Nope. But it’s certainly nice to get those as a side benefit. Plus, it’s a great excuse to hit the courts! So, whether you’re in it for fun, fitness, or a bit of both, pickleball has something to offer everyone. And for me, I’ll be back tomorrow—win or lose.

Before you ask, no, I am not a pro pickleball player. No, I am not even a coach.

I am a solid intermediate player. I’ve been playing long enough to have a good grasp of the basics, and a pretty good grasp of playing a good game. And I am always working to improve my game.

Which is why I am here. I figured there are lots of other pickleball players that want the same thing as I do: consistent playing to the best of my ability — without my brain (and my psychology) tripping me up!

When someone is working on the basics, it is all technique. And there is plenty to learn there. But at some point, you realize how mental a game this is. Feeling some intimidation? Things don’t go so well. Drag in frustrations and pressures from outside the court? Things don’t go so well. Having some frustrations with your partner (playing or life)? Things don’t go so well.

Unfortunately, we are not automatons, simply executing techniques flawlessly. We have that flaw of humanity: keeping our emotions under wrap while trying to get our bodies to do what we want.

Ah, the human conundrum!

Oh, and I have over 35 years of studying psychology: positive psychology, performance psychology, and therapeutic psychology. In fact, for most of those years, my research has been about how people thrive in life. So, why not turn that on pickleball? It is helpful to me.

And I hope it is helpful to you.

So, let’s get playing, shall we?

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