Zen and the Art of Pickleball

By: Mike Leigh

Narrated by: Mike Leigh

Pickleball has lately become all the rage in America. Indeed, all across the globe. Once a sport for older racket sports enthusiasts who needed a slower version of their favorite sport, now youngsters are picking up the game, playing in pro tournaments, and making a good living from pickleball.

And with the growing popularity of pickleball has come the need for lessons and clinics to teach the mechanics of the sport. I used to teach tennis, but when I found pickleball about five years ago, I put away my tennis rackets and have used a pickleball paddle ever since. In my opinion, pickleball is a game of chess compared to tennis, which is a game of checkers.

Once you master the stroke mechanics of pickleball, then the challenge is to master the mental game. That is where the fun begins. I have been a pickleball instructor now for three years. And I do focus on the mechanics of the game when I teach, but I go beyond that to teach the mental aspects of the game, which separates the good players from the excellent players.

I’ve been encouraged by many of my students to write a book that details some of these mental aspects of the game of pickleball. And when I play in tournaments or recreationally, I often get comments like "how can you be so calm on the court" or "you make this game look effortless". One of my partners complimented me in a recent tournament by saying "thanks for your Zen attitude on the court". Thus, the inspiration for this book.

If you can remain calm, remain focused, and remain relaxed during a game of pickleball, you will find much success, both internally and externally. I think if you take the messages in this book to heart, you will also be happier and enjoy the game of pickleball more.

In my opinion, pickleball can be a metaphor for life. A Zen approach to the challenges we face can allow us to face adversity with a sense of calm and focus that will make us much happier on our journey through life.

©2022 Michael Leigh (P)2022 Michael Leigh

Nothing

I cannot believe I got suckered into paying the discounted two bucks something for this! Stay focused! Keep your eye and mind on the ball! Get to the kitchen as soon as possible! Communicate with your partner! Have fun! There you go you have now read this 17 minute “book”!!!

Not a complete audiobook

I rarely leave reviews of the audiobooks I've listened to but this one is different. I thought is was going to be the pickleball version of the Inner Game of Tennis and it starts out that way. But its only 17 minutes long. And it abruptly stops, as if in mid-thought. Not worth an Audible credit nor the discounted price. Keep playing pickleball and practicing the mind game of sport, just look somewhere else for an audiobook on the subject.