When you’re competitive, playing in pickleball tournaments can be one of the most fun ways to put your skills to the test. But it could also be one of the most frustrating and disappointing feeling when you and your partner face some of the ugly sides of playing in the tournament. So if you’re about to play in one, here are some things that are fairly common so you can mentally prepare for them.
The Ugly Side Of Playing In Pickleball Tournaments
Sandbaggers
If you’ve never heard of sandbaggers, they’re people with a higher skill level but choose to play at the lower skill brackets. You will see a large number of sandbaggers when a tournament is a Moneyball where you can win cash or when it is a qualifier for a national tournament of some sort.
But count on a sandbagger to be at almost every single tournament. Sometimes, they may truly not know where they stand because they recently started playing pickleball. But they come from a high-level racket sport so they picked up pickleball very quickly.
Or it could be that they’re playing with a much weaker partner, thinking their average skill justifies playing at the level that they have signed up for. While you may not be able to do anything about their participation, it may leave you with a sour note losing to them.
Bad Line Calls
Bad line calls happen at every level, even the pros. And while you may feel indignant that your opponent(s) called a clearly in-ball out, know that it is actually very common. It could be intentional or it could be that they were not sure so wanting to win the point, they called out.
It is even possible that they truly saw the ball out because when you’re in motion and there’s a fastball, your eyes could see a ball out. Angles can also be deceiving depending on where you’re seeing a ball land from. So even if someone watching from the sideline saw a ball line, their perspective may be different from your own or your opponent’s.
Performance Anxiety
No matter how well you play in a rec game or in practice, your performance could be completely different playing in a tournament. Your nerves can affect the way you play, respond, and move. You may look back at a match and wonder why you made such simple mistakes. But performance anxiety is real.
That is why drilling is so important for muscle memory to make the shots you can normally make. And making a practice of positive affirmation important to let go of the last mistake, move on, and focus on the point ahead.
Jeering Crowds & Taunting Opponents
With playing tournaments, many people come in groups or have their friends and families watch their games. Some think they’re watching a Super Bowl so when you make a mistake, you may hear loud claps and cheering.
You may even get opponents that get a little too worked up about points to taunt you when a ball is put away. But it is important to tune it all out and focus on the point ahead.
Cramping/Injuries
Cramping and injuries can happen when you’re playing any sport, whether recreationally or in a tournament. But knowing that you’re about to compete, make sure you’re hydrating all day, if not days before. Make sure you and your partner have proper warm-ups.
During the warmer months, major muscle cramps are even more common. You may see muscle cramps to a point of the arms and fingers locking up around the paddle. You’re allowed a 15-minute medical timeout should you or your partner need one. Check out USA Pickleball Rule Book Section 10. B for more details.
Tournament Fees
The last ugly but necessary side of pickleball tournaments is the fees. It will cost money to run a tournament. So it is no surprise that it will cost you money to play in one. Tournament fees greatly vary across the board from $40 for registration to over $100. Then there are per event fees on top of them.
If you want friends and family to watch you play, there are ground pass fees. And if you’re traveling out of town for a tournament, don’t forget transportation, lodging, and food costs. You will be paying all of these fees, all to hopefully walk away with a cheap medal and cheesy pictures. But that is the price that a lot of us willingly pay and even have fun doing.
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