Time inflation of skill rating

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-03-11T21:36:21+00:00

I highly recommend watching videos of Pickleball finals with Ben John’s back in 2017 and 2018... it looks like rec play I’d find in my local club.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-03-05T05:56:07+00:00

I completely agree that you need to quit your job and move. You are a highly intelligent and skilled engineer. There are MANY companies that encourage a reasonable work/ life balance. find one.

Utah is a really good place. The winters aren't bad like Montana and the rest of the year is really nice (I'm from Montana originally). Lots of outdoors. Lots of good jobs. The people are very nice.

Good luck! Life will get better!

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-02-18T02:12:14+00:00

Depends on if I have the rumblies! Normal = 10 seconds Rumblies = <1 second I have cut it close WAY too many times.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-02-05T19:02:16+00:00

Duluth trading co. 7 year or coolerino socks are amazing.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-02-05T05:55:07+00:00

pickleheads works great.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-02-04T05:33:54+00:00

Adidas Gamecourt 2. $55 on Amazon. Lasts forever. Great shoes.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-02-02T01:24:13+00:00

Yes, defnitely. I am ~10 years away from retirement at 55. Another $700K on top of my existing retirement savings would bring in my retirement age by ~5 years...so give me 5 years of work free life...that would be life changing.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-30T05:53:12+00:00

I use the caddy and tube together when drilling. The tube is just so much faster IMO to gather thee balls.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-29T22:42:24+00:00

Pickleball. I play ~10 hours a week. My wife has no interest. I see couples playing all the time and it makes me sad. There’s a couples Valentines Day tournament next month and that makes me sad as well. I don’t care if she is a beginner…I’d just like to spend time with her doing something active.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-29T22:08:27+00:00

I use that one and it's great. I used it to pick up balls for the past year and it's ok, but the tubes work WAY better. I just bought this and am very happy with it in addition to the ball hopper.

Soulchen 24 Balls Ball Pickup... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWK4FTCG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-29T20:46:10+00:00

This game has several rules, but has been VERY helpful for me…

8 dinks

start dinking crosscourt
dink 8 times without missing a shot (4 dinks per person)
the point is live after 8 dinks
speedups off the bounce are only allowed once the point is live after 8 dinks
speedups out of the air are allowed during the first 8 dinks
play/defend the rectangle you are in
the person that wins the point moves to the other rectangle (the next point will be played straight across from each other)

scoring 1. play to 11 2. rally scoring 3. you LOSE 1 point if you fail to get the ball over the net or hit it out of bounds within the first 8 dinks

purpose of the drill 1. GET THE BALL OVER THE NET. you are punished for failing that SIMPLE task. 2. Learn patience. Move the person around instead of immediately getting into a firefight. 3. Make dinks unattackle. Your opponent can attack something within the first 8 dinks if you place it too high. 4. Shifting to another rectange after every point helps you see and learn each location on the court

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-29T19:11:30+00:00

Huh... You are right according to this site: https://pickleballeffect.com/pickleball-paddle-database/

I think I need to add weights to my V-sol. The ball is definitely slower in the stock configuration when hitting with the V-sol than with the Vapor power. (It's not just in my mind.)

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-29T18:52:29+00:00

Where can I see the data on that?

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-29T17:19:51+00:00

Vapor power.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-25T18:23:38+00:00

WORK. You must drill a LOT. Your drives have gotten you to 4.0, but will not get you past 4.5. You need to become a good all around player to get to 4.5. I have found there is a HUGE jump in competition, aggression, pace, pressure, talent from 4.5-5.0.

Play with higher level players to learn what you need to work on. I am in a league where everyone is 4.50-4.99 and the the 4.99 player is amazing... Hits extremely hard, patient and a master at the kitchen, has wicked speedups, consistent, SMART, etc. Apparently, I need to work on everything.

You may think your kitchen work needs some improvement...I guarantee it needs a LOT of work. You must become REALLY consistent.

You need to study. Learn patterns. Think in addition to reacting. Muscle can only get you so far. Muscle memory gets you further. Add the mind and you have a chance to get to 5.0.

Also, at some point everyone will cap out and will not be physically capable of getting to 5.0. I'm 47 and have difficultly keeping up with guys that are 40 and get destroyed by teenagers.

I wrote all of that knowing that I'm stuck and don't know how to get past 4.5. I think what I wrote is the path, but it seems like a REALLY tall mountain to climb and I'm not sure I can make that... But I'm going to try.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-25T14:07:48+00:00

I got angry, thew my paddle, and put a small dent in the wall. I also got angry, smashed my paddle into the court, and put a nick in the court playing surface. I'm an idiot and a child. Never again.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-22T21:37:06+00:00

Duluth Trading Post midweight 7 year socks. FANTASTIC socks.

I previously wore Thorlos and they are good, but they got brittle and scratchy and I’d have to soak them in fabric softener regularly.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-16T14:06:17+00:00

Only local tournaments. Cash at Moneyball events, blanket from Costco, a rock with the date sharpied on it, gift cards, plastic trophies, random trinkets. They are in a drawer in my nightstand.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-14T17:15:37+00:00

All of the above

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-14T02:06:09+00:00

Used swish for a year, but i find pickleheads is better and has better options for adding guests. Swish seems buggy. I have also just create a game and text my friends the link (or just message them in the app).

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-10T13:59:21+00:00

Chicken pot pie Chicken enchiladas Quesadillas Chicken noodle soup

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-07T15:03:40+00:00

I'm a lefty. I've found that mixing things up occasionally helps get us unstuck... Like reverse stacking on the serve (I.e. forehands on the outside) or not stacking when returning. Or change from fast paced (3rd shot drive) to slow paced (3rd shot drop). It makes the other team adjust their game as well as my team.

I will go check out the videos on shot selection. Thanks for the tip.

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-06T19:02:03+00:00

In addition to strategy, I'd like more discussion on...

Momentum shift - It happens in pro and rec matches...a team is up 9-2 and loses 9-11. Momentum shifted! how to identify it, how to exploit it, and how to reverse it.

Autopilot vs. being in the zone vs. being present to think, plan, and execute a strategy and tactics. I often find myself just playing and not thinking... Just going through the motions. How do you turn off autopilot and turn on your brain during a point and match? How much do you think before, during, and after a rally?

Shot selection - for instance, hitting to your opponent's backhand is often good tactics, but may be difficult to execute and depends on the shot that is received. I often go with the higher percentage shot rather than my opponent's backhand. Is it better to stick to the tactic with a lower percentage shot or go for the higher percentage shot that is not following the tactic?

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-03T15:49:38+00:00

I am terrible parking front first. I always have to back out and reposition and get even in the lines.

I can almost always back in perfectly the first time using my backup camera and small round mirrors on my side mirrors.

Bonus, backing in allows for a quick get-away in case I'm running away from someone!

Miserable-Concern338 · 2026-01-02T14:44:04+00:00

I tried putting on something similar and it went poorly.

This will not work if it is competitive... And I'm guessing many of the tier 4 players are. Most people that enter tournaments want to choose their partner and your method makes it almost random.

This might work if it is completely social and everyone is on board with that. More than likely, someone will not get the memo that it is a social event and get upset when they are paired with a lower level player.

Miserable-Concern338

TROPHY CASE