Student Po Receives More Insight

 Student Po was called to the master's study.

"You wished to see me, master?" he asked.

"Yes, Po, you watched the masters play this morning.  As part of your training, we shall discuss what you observed.  From your observations, hopefully we will derive knowledge, and from knowledge, comes skill.  And as you know, skill will provide mastership."

"Yes, master, I am ready to think."

"What are your first impressions, Po?"

"I was surprised how gently the masters hit most balls.  They did not seek to win points, but still they did win them."

"Yes, thus is it is, thus shall it be."

"They also didn't move very quickly.  They flowed to the net, they dinked, they dinked, they dinked, and then it over.  Then it began again.  How is that possible, Master?  I run all over and often lack for breath.  They were not even sweating and we are having unseasonable heat."

"The ways of a master are profound.  Did you notice that they knew where each shot was going?"

"Yes, they were always in place.  It was magic."

"Heh, heh.  No not magic.  A true master can foresee the shots of the point, when master plays master.  Lessor players do ill advised things and are thus less predicable.  Points are like players, they follow patterns.  Know the player, know the pattern, you then know the point.  Let us talk shot selection then, Po," continued the Master, "were you not surprised by the shots the masters hit?"

"Yes, they simply moved the ball to allow them to dance the court and caress the point."

"Student Po, the essence of pickleball is control.  It is not savage overheads or huge topspin shots that paint a line.  Oh, those shots have their place, for example when you are leading ten to nothing, but have little place in a master's game.  What then are the main shots that a master uses?  You watched their game, what did you see?"

"Serves were nothing special, but they never missed one."

"Yes, the sign of someone in control."

"Then the returns of serve seemed to be nothing special either," said Po with a frown.  "The shots were not hard, they were fairly deep, but nothing that would win a shot.  And the servers had no trouble hitting them back.  Even the deep returns were easily returned."

"So the servers stayed behind the baseline after they served?"

"Yes, I guess they did.  They either returned from where they were, or just moved smoothly forward to return a shorter ball."

"What did their returns look like?"

"Hmm, well they didn't catch my attention, I confess."

"Let your attention capture everything, Po.  Master the details to become the master.  So, continue."

"The returns seemed soft, Master.  They looked like marshmallows crossing the net.  I often thought that their opponents would slap them back and win the point quickly, but that never happened."

"Of course, a master will not take on a small percentage shot.  Sum up a typical point for me, Po."

"Ah, there is a soft or perhaps better called a smooth serve to the middle of the service area.  Then a softish shot towards the baseline.  Then the servers would hit a soft shot that crossed the net, usually dropping near the kitchen line.  Then would come a soft shot to the middle of the court or a dink, depending if the servers were at the net or not.  If the servers were not up and had to hit a shot from the middle kingdom of their court, then they would always dink or droop.  There was no attempt to win the point then, just to get to the kitchen line."

"Yes, when master plays master, the play is completed over the kitchen."

"And Master, there was no hurry with any shots.  It seemed like the points were in slow motion."

"The masters' path is like that of the tiger, waste no energy and yet enjoy the antelope.  And so we could summarize, which sadly will destroy detail, but the goal is to move forward, capture the net, then bend the opponents like the north wind will bend the willow.  All shots contribute to that end.  They do not seek to hit a 'magic' shot from the middle kingdom to score a quick point, nor return a serve so severe in nature that Brother Ben Johns would struggle with it.  No strive for a sudden victory.  The flow of the game is of the highest import.  Po, do you have a questions?  Do you now see a hint of the game at its peak of pleasure?"

"Yes, Master.  Strive to simplify and walk the jungle path with a soft foot."

"Ah, well said Po.  Now, shall we adjourn for lunch?  I think they are serving sand dabs today."

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Ok, some background.  The other day I had two games where the play went as described above.  Smooth and efficient, little running, no attempt to over power a point by anyone.  It was a game of chess rather than hand grenades.  I highly enjoyed those games as the control/strategic aspects of PB are what draws me to it.  (I claim no flowing robes, or mantle of the master.   I cheerfully admit that all of this is my opinion, but that's what I like and allow me to proselytize in my small way.)  :-)

I was also watching a game yesterday, where the whole game was resolved with "who could hit it harder, sooner, faster."  The ball kept moving faster and faster until each point was over.  

Interestingly enough there was only one player who was pushing a power game.  And as soon as the ball came to him, bang it went.  Even when it would have been a much, much better shot to drop it over the net, and keep moving up.  Nope, it was whack, followed by whack and players frequently were hammering it back and forth from mid court.  

I talked to one of the players afterwards and he mentioned that it was frustrating that all of the points were the same.  He was playing with the "hitter" and win or lose, it just wasn't a pretty or satisfying game.

There are a lot of reasons to play any sport.  I'd like to think that some of those reasons would lead to harmony with the heavens.  But I can't claim that my reasons for playing are more valid than anyone else's.  If someone gets their enjoyment from smacking the ball continuously, fine for them.  

Maybe this boils down to being a perfect partner, one more question might be "what style of pickleball do you want to play?"  Of course that would require you to play several styles on demand!   Then there are the opponents, if they want to bang, then you have to be good at resets, or everything escalates...

Let me finish this overlong post with this: I don't want to be critical of anyone's reason to play, or style.  It's all good.  For me there are some styles that are more interesting and fun than others.   And it seems I'm gentling proselytizing again, see you on the court!