If You’re Not Improving Fast Enough, Watch This
Summary
Coach Jess from Athena Pickleball says it’s actually hard to get better at pickleball. When a student felt someone who started at the same time was improving faster, Jess pointed out how much drilling and lesson time that player had put in behind the scenes.
Adult brains are less neuroplastic than kids’, so changing a habit, such as how you block, won’t happen from four or five reps in a game. You need a controlled environment and many meaningful reps until it feels natural. Background, athleticism, mobility and game understanding matter too, but progress takes focused attention.
Key takeaways
- Game reps alone rarely change a habit
- Controlled drilling builds meaningful reps
- Others’ fast progress often hides lots of drilling
- Progress takes focused attention
Action items
- Pick one habit and drill it in a controlled setting this week
- Plan a regular drill session alongside your games
- Track reps, not just games played