Hey 👋,

Today, I wanted to do something a little different.

I’m throwing it back to earlier this year and sharing one of my favorite newsletters.

Some of you might remember it, but hopefully you’ll still enjoy it.

Here is:

You’re just sitting there one day when suddenly, that text lights up your phone.

"Wanna be the 4th?"

And for a moment, you just stare at it. Your chest tightens.

It’s from them.

That group of “better players” you’ve seen at the courts. You’ve always wondered if they’d ever invite you into their game.

And now it’s here.

You calmly respond “yes” to the text. But inside, your excitement is quickly met by a quiet voice in your head:

‘Don’t mess this up.’

And here’s the thing: that voice isn’t wrong. This isn’t just a casual invitation.

It’s a test.

Because humans are creatures of habit, we form groups that feel safe and familiar. So, letting someone new into our group is a risk.

When their usual 4th couldn’t make it, their conversation probably sounded something like:

"Who could we invite that won’t ruin this game?"

Okay, maybe they don't actually say "ruin," but, we all know—it’s what they're thinking.

Because the reality is–

–these players have jobs and kids and maybe only two hours a couple of times a week to play.

Those hours are sacred, and they want to enjoy them—not spend them regretting their choice of who to play with.

So when you get that text, it’s not just a game.

It’s an opportunity.

One that deserves more mental preparation than your average match.

I remember a couple of years ago when I got invited to play with Riley Newman, Jay Devilliers, and Pat Smith—three of the best players in the world.

When the text came through, I stared at my phone for a full minute with mixed emotions, somewhere between excitement and pure terror.

I knew I wasn’t their first choice. But I didn’t care. What mattered was that I’d been given a shot to test myself against this better group.

Now, before the game, I called my coach and asked how to approach this. Without hesitation, he gave me three things to focus on:

Don’t attack when you’re off balance.

Be READY at every moment to counter their attacks.

Speed up balls from out of the air, above the height of the net.

In other words, play smart. Play solid. Play high-percentage pickleball.

I loved this because it wasn't just tactics—he gave me clarity, which quickly calmed my nerves.

Which was good because when I arrived the next day, my nerves hit me hard. Watching them warm up, I felt like an imposter. Riley hadn’t missed a 3rd-shot drop in 3 years. Jay’s precision dinking felt impossible to play against, and

Pat’s backhand counter could kill a man.

I didn’t have any of that. BUT I did have a plan, and I was committed to sticking to it.

In that first game, I was paired with Riley. From the start, I let him lead. When he wanted more court, I shifted over. When I faced a low ball at my feet, I reset it instead of forcing a risky shot. And when I earned a high ball, I attacked confidently.

After 15 minutes, we won that first game, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

😮‍💨

Of course, I knew—we didn’t win because of me. Riley carried us. But here’s the thing: I didn’t care.

Because I knew we could have easily lost because of me.

That’s the thing about playing with better players.

It’s never about proving you're the best. In fact, the harder you try to stand out, the more likely you are to stick out—and not in a good way.

To be successful in these games, you need to show you can contribute without being a liability.

And please hear me on this–

It’s not about playing scared.

It’s about being smart.

Because the thing is, groups like this have unspoken rules they won’t spell out for you—but will absolutely judge you against. Most players never consider this. They step onto the court with something to prove, chasing highlight moments and taking unnecessary risks.

They may even leave the game thinking they’ve done enough to impress the group.

But then the silence comes.

Days pass.

And the second text never arrives.

And you don’t know why.

The truth is, when your name came up again in the chat, the group said something like:

"No way. They’re not ready yet."

But this doesn’t have to be your story.

If you shift your mindset from trying to be the star to simply being the rock—the player they can rely on.

The one who plays simple.

👉 Who plays solid.

👉 Who attacks when it makes sense.

👉 Who resets when it doesn’t.

👉 Who shows them you can play at this level without forcing things.

THEN, you give the group more reason to trust you. And even better, more reason to invite you back.

And if you do this over a few sessions, you’ll go from just being that one-time fill-in to becoming a consistent member of that better group.

You won’t need that text anymore. You’ll already be a part of THAT game.

😊

— Kyle

P.S. I want to solve your biggest pickleball problem in 7 days.

Seriously. As soon as you join ThatPickleballSchool, you get a DM from me. Once you respond, I will work directly with you to start solving your most frustrating issue.

No life issues just yet :)

And those first 7 days are free.