Recently, someone asked me this question:

I started playing pickleball over three years ago.

And the game was VERY different than it is today.

But it’s not just the game that’s different. The way pickleball is taught is different. The amount of content out there is different. And, of course, the equipment has drastically changed.

Back then, when you took a lesson, the number one focus was on dinking.

In today’s game, dinking is almost non-existent, especially at the 3.5-4.0 level.

Here’s why:

I once played a professional match where I hit 11 Ernes.

(In case you’re unfamiliar, an Erne is where you hop the corner of the kitchen to hit a shot – usually a winner)

While it felt amazing, I would never teach a new player or someone below a 4.5 skill level that shot. (unless we were just out there having fun)

Why?

Because it goes against one of my main principles:

Pickleball Principle #1: “Get good at what happens most.”

I’ve seen it play out again and again.

Someone watches a video to learn a new, fun shot, then goes out to play and only focuses on hitting that shot again and again, whether their team is winning or losing.

And–spoiler alert–it’s much more likely they’re losing than winning.

This is because winning pickleball isn’t one shot. It isn’t flashy.

Winning pickleball is–to put it plainly–boring.

You must get really good at the “boring” parts of pickleball if you want to improve your game.

So, my first focus if I were starting pickleball today would be to get really good at the boring stuff. The things that happen the most on the court.

Then, I’d learn how to Erne. :-)

There’s a reason everyone has a version of this story:

“The first time I stepped onto the court, I played against two older people with knee braces and a bad back, and they whipped my butt.”

You don’t have to be the fastest, tallest, most athletic person to play amazing pickleball.

You just have to be smart–pickleball smart.

Coming from basketball, I relied heavily on my athletic ability in those early days. I thought if I ran around enough, it would give me an edge.

Yet, time after time, I’d leave the park frustrated, not knowing why the heck I sucked so much.

The truth was that I was playing checkers while everyone else was playing chess.

If you ever look on a court and see one person still and in control while another is frantically running around, you can almost guarantee who will win that match.

Once I learned the game was much more about how I thought rather than how athletic I was, everything changed for me.

So, if I were starting pickleball today, I’d spend way more time watching pickleball and talking about pickleball strategy with friends rather than just going out there and running around aimlessly for two hours every day.

I’d still play a lot (because it’s the greatest game in the world), but I’d be more mindful of how I play rather than just hopping on a court, hoping to figure it out.

This is where I got really lucky.

Early on, I found a group of players who were just as obsessed with the game as I was. They challenged me, made the sport even more fun, and gave me a reason to keep coming back every day.

And looking back, I realize how much of a difference that made in my growth.

But I know that’s not the case for most people.

Some feel stuck in casual rec games where no one really cares about getting better. Some don’t even know where to look for a serious group. And worse—some players get discouraged because they think they have to do it all alone.

If that’s you, hear me on this: Find your people.

Find the ones who love to talk strategy, who want to drill, who geek out over paddle specs and tournament highlights. Find the ones who push you, who make you better, who remind you why this game is so addicting in the first place.

Because playing with the right people? That’s how you level up the fastest. And it makes the whole journey way more fun.

That’s exactly why I built ThatPickleballSchool—to create a place where other obsessed players could gather, learn, and grow together.

So, if you haven’t found your tribe yet, consider this your invitation to come join ours.

-Kyle

P.S. You have just 10 days left to join ThatPickleballSchool for Free. After next week, we’re shutting down the free trial for a bit because we have something special we’re announcing soon. You won’t want to miss it.