Bend, Oregon
I’ve been playing pickleball for three years.
When I first started playing, I thought I was amazing… 🙂
Then the more I played, the more I realized the less I knew. And the more I played, the more I realized that my skills were far less than I thought they were. 🙁
Pickleball players are ranked by the United States of America Pickleball Association (USAPA) according to ability level. The ranking goes from one to five. Everyone starts out as a one. Then as you get better, your number goes up.
Carol and I entered our first tournament as 3.0’s. We won every match, and we’re moved by the USAPA up to 3.5’s. And we’ve been stuck there for almost two years.
My goal was to become good enough to be ranked 4.0. I didn’t care if I won at 4.0. I just wanted to be ranked a 4.0.
I surpassed that goal yesterday by actually WINNING a tournament as a 4.0. Here’s a photo of my good medal!
I had to play at the 4.0 level because my wonderful partner, Joanne, has a 4 .0 ranking. (Players can play up but not down rankings.)
I’m on cloud nine!
The accomplishment feels similar to training for and competing in my first (and only) marathon.
The journey from deciding to run one, training for six months to run one, and actually running all 26.2 miles in one was life changing.
And the nine month journey to become a better pickleball player has been as well, although in a different way because this journey was less solo. I had lots of coaching and help from fantastic people.
I was so happy I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry…
So I did both!
Wow! Congratulations!
Your observation “…the more I played, the more I realized the less I knew” is true for more than just pickleball. I remember attending an MCLE (mandatory continuing legal education) class and having a fellow attorney who had been practicing law about 10 years make almost the same comment about practicing law. However, he preceded it by explaining how terrifying it is to learn that truth. He was right.
Just think, Joanne…
If we all shared Donald Trump’s level of narcissism, we’d never be terrified because we’d never admit to not knowing everything! 🙂
Giggle….. Good one.
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I am so excited for you, Kathy. I still remember googling pickleball after reading Pat Dingacci’s obituary. And I am very thankful that Pat loved pickleball!
Love the pictures and thanks for sharing both pickleball and your enthusiasm and love of both learning and enjoying the game!
I always tell people that I have the best “How’d you learn about pickleball story?” after reading about it in a friend’s mother’s obituary…. 🙂
Love your cover photo! Where is it?