Be prepared to miss

Register for The Kitchen Open Austin TODAY!

September 23, 2025

Frustration on the pickleball court is common, and it often stems from unrealistic expectations. The truth is you’re probably going to miss some shots. It happens — no player on the planet (not even your favorite pro player) makes 100% of their shots, even the “easy” ones.

But you can avoid disappointment by setting the right framework before you play. We explain how to steer clear of Disappointment Drive below.

Also in this issue:

The many health benefits of pickleball for older adults 💪
Top pros head overseas for PPA Tour Asia event ✈️
Pickleball doesn’t get much better than this point 🤯
Luxury pickleball vacation in Belize? Say less 🏝️
Last chance to sign up for The Kitchen Open Austin! 📋

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Perfect offense. (Nearly) perfect defense.

Every so often in pickleball, there will be a point where everybody does everything right (more so in the pro game). This point from the PPA Tour Walgreens Open in Las Vegas a few weeks ago was one of those times.

Parris Todd and Catherine Parenteau put the pedal down on offense, but Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black showed why they’re regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the game.

The result was perfect pickleball if we’ve ever seen it, with Todd and Parenteau ultimately winning the point (and the game).

🔗 Check out this point on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

THE KITCHEN OPEN AUSTIN

2 DAYS LEFT to register for The Kitchen Open Austin!

WE’RE ONLY 2 DAYS from registration closing for The Kitchen Open Austin amateur pickleball tournament. Spots are filling up fast and MOST DIVISIONS ARE 90% FULL.

USE CODE “LASTCHANCE” FOR $50 OFF YOUR REGISTRATION. 🤯

We also have a SPECIAL OFFER FOR PLAYERS AGED 50+ … reach out to [email protected] for more details, as this offer will only apply to certain divisions.

👉 REGISTER HERE

INSTRUCTION

How to avoid unnecessary disappointment on the court

So you're playing pickleball and you miss an easy shot. Maybe even your best shot -- a forehand drive, dink or easy volley.

Naturally, you're disappointed. You shouldn't have missed that shot. The ball was just sitting there. So what went wrong? Nothing, actually.

Well, nothing except the unrealistic expectations you created for yourself.

The key to avoiding that frustration is to be more prepared before you step out onto the court. Because once you start playing, for most of us it is too late to take a moment of reflection during or between games.

The solution is to set the right framework before your first game of the day. So as you’re preparing at home -- or in the car on the way to the courts -- say this:

I get to play pickleball today. That is awesome.
I am probably going to miss some shots today while I play. Even some that might be “easy.”
Strike that. I know that I am going to miss some shots today. It is only natural.
When I miss a shot today, I will be prepared because I expect to miss at least that one shot.

The technique you are using is one we call 85-15. It means that you can roughly expect to hit 85 in and miss 15. So, when you miss a shot, look at it as just one of the 15 you anticipated missing (or whatever number you want to put here -- other than zero).

🔗 More on how preparing to miss can help you have more fun

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PICKLEBALL

The biggest benefits of pickleball for older adults

Pickleball isn't just a fun and addictive activity to play with friends or family -- it's also a great workout and even offers several mental health benefits.

Recently the AARP -- an organization focused on issues that impact people aged 50+ that has about 40 million members -- published an article discussing how the sport can make people healthier, particularly older players.

The organization cited research from several studies that looked at how pickleball benefited bone health, muscle tone, cardiovascular performance and more.

These are the areas where the sport had the greatest impact:

❤️ HEART HEALTH: Older adults would need to play pickleball for 4½ hours per week to meet the standard physical activity recommendation of exercising at least 150 minutes at moderate intensity per week. Hitting that physical activity threshold is easier for pickleball players because the sport is so engaging, making it a great activity for improving the strength of the heart and respiratory system, which can help prevent heart disease, the AARP said.

💪 MUSCLE BUILDING: There is a ton of squatting, lunging, shuffling and running involved in pickleball. That hits all of the major muscle groups in the legs -- calves, hamstrings, quads and glutes -- while swinging the paddle also activates the core and arms.

🦴 BONE HEALTH: Studies have shown that activities that involve jumping and changing direction are good for bone health because of the weight-bearing impact that’s necessary.

There have been a ton of news stories in recent years talking about the rise in pickleball injuries as the sport has taken off. We’re not here to say those stories are wrong, but the three things we listed above can actually do the opposite — they all help prevent injuries as we age.

🔗 Find out what other benefits the AARP highlighted in the article

PICKLEBALL TRIPS

Enjoy a luxury pickleball vacation in Belize!

This coming January, you can join the Pickleball Trips team on Belize’s beautiful Ambergris Caye for a one-of-a-kind luxury pickleball vacation.

Accommodation will be in one of the most stunning, private beachfront homes on the entire island. The house comes complete with a private tennis court (converted to pickleball), an infinity pool, a hot tub, a boat dock and a chef.

Local activities include catamaran tours, marine reserve snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding and much more. This trip features four 3-hour sessions of private group instruction led by professional instructors, as well as recreational play in the evenings.

🔗 Book your trip today