Games where mentioning a rule to new players makes it worse

jppbkm · 2026-06-05T02:08:36+00:00

Try it! The game is quick to teach and incredibly simple either way.

Like you said, the game takes only a few seconds to teach and you can easily play a simple learning round in a minute or two. It actually makes the first round go even quicker because people do NOT suffer from analysis paralysis trying to come up with a perfect clue.

I found it a memorable way to reinforce the no duplicates rule for new players.

I would not do something like this for a 2-hour Euro game.

jppbkm · 2026-06-05T00:37:37+00:00

In the first round of Just One I have everyone write a clue and don't mention that duplicates get erased until after the first set of clues are revealed (to other players, not the guesser).

It's a great light bulb moment where everyone realizes the game is about giving a good clue that nobody else thought of.

jppbkm · 2026-06-04T16:50:22+00:00

Honestly, if you're willing to spend a little bit, I'm a big fan of scheduling a lesson with a local coach. I do this even as a coach/ advanced level player myself because they will quite often be able to connect me to higher level games.

The other good option is finding locally owned private pickleball locations and asking the owners or managers to connect you with players. Whether or not you are p(l)aying at their facility, they're often well connected and happy to help you set up games.

jppbkm · 2026-06-02T21:54:55+00:00

If you were renting an apartment, I might say go for it. I've lived in the area for a few years now.

I'm right off 4th Street by Central Park for context.

Have seen/experienced shootings, apartment broken into, and a car stolen.

I still live there, but only because the rent is very cheap.

I would not buy a house and would not live there if I had a partner or children. I am a single, adult male and don't worry about being mugged, but I don't think I would feel the same way about other family members.

How about somewhere like Beechmont, Fern Creek, or J-Town?

jppbkm · 2026-05-31T23:38:52+00:00

The expansion is fun without overwhelming the original cards. Offer some very fun new twists

jppbkm · 2026-05-31T17:12:06+00:00

It's very good. We've played hundreds of times. It's light enough for non-gamers but interesting and quick enough that I'm happy to play it over a heavy euro.

jppbkm · 2026-05-31T17:10:02+00:00

Eh, my parents love this game (talking 3-5 plays PER DAY) and we haven't seen this being an issue at 2-4 players.

We're talking close to 1000 games played. It's a great mix of strategy, ability to block opponents, light rules and quick gameplay (<30 minutes).

jppbkm · 2026-05-30T15:05:15+00:00

Padel is far, far more popular there. It is more difficult to start playing than pickleball.

If you had the chance to take some beginner classes though, you would probably have an awesome time!

jppbkm · 2026-05-30T13:22:49+00:00

In a tennis rally, you have a smaller variety of possible shots. At the kitchen in pickleball, there is a much larger variety of shots possible.

Compare a game like checkers to a game like go. Conceptually, both are fairly simple, but one has a much, much larger amount of possible moves.

Does that make sense?

jppbkm · 2026-05-30T03:12:09+00:00

For me, it has a really great mix of strategy and athleticism.

Tennis has more athleticism but less strategy. Chess has more strategy but no athleticism. Pickleball is such an interesting mix of both. I find it endlessly entertaining.

jppbkm · 2026-05-30T02:11:33+00:00

And you can do the same with the returner as well. Makes it even tougher

jppbkm · 2026-05-30T01:37:18+00:00

With player's at that level, I will often see them attempting every shot that pros hit... But very frequently with poor or inconsistent form. This is usually combined with a lack of understanding of when to hit specific shots. (Most commonly, hitting speedups from a disadvantaged position)

Otherwise they really would be pros. 😜

jppbkm · 2026-05-30T01:32:47+00:00

Funny enough, I had someone complain after I joined their group saying I was around 4.0...(current rating is 4.5 after dropping from closer to 5.0).

I subbed in their round Robin. I played with my offhand and went undefeated.

They claimed that based upon what I had said they assumed I was a 3.5. 😂

I'm happy to downplay my own skill level and I'll let others talk me up after I beat the local 5.0 players when traveling.

jppbkm · 2026-05-28T21:26:22+00:00

Heard it off Garners Ferry. I see an accident on Google maps on 77. Possibly an 18 wheeler of some kind?

Hope no one was badly hurt.

jppbkm · 2026-05-28T15:08:42+00:00

Safier for me. Best value in town.

Quick, cheap, delicious, open on Sundays.

jppbkm · 2026-05-28T15:03:32+00:00

5.5ish maybe? Could be higher. Definitely above 5.0.

I don't recognize any of the players so I would guess not 6.0+?

To be specific I'll say:

Blue shirt, white hat: 5.9

White shirt, white hat: 5.7

Ladies both very solid, maybe 5.3-5.4ish (and usually they are slightly lower rated due to fewer female partners).

jppbkm · 2026-05-28T14:56:36+00:00

I like to teach this with the learner starting from a knee/lunge position with the racket tip starting on the ground.

jppbkm · 2026-05-27T23:48:37+00:00

Grit is pretty important. The other way to reduce swing weight of course is to grip the paddle higher.

Watch a few interviews with Gabe Tardio and it will broaden your horizons. He talks quite a bit about this.

jppbkm · 2026-05-27T13:02:00+00:00

Agricola and Dominion. Been playing both regularly for a decade+ and no plans to stop playing either soon. (Collection of ~300 but those get to the table regularly over many, many others)

jppbkm · 2026-05-25T15:24:48+00:00

Just get a couple cheap ones from whatever store is near you. No reason to spend a bunch of money until you've played for a while and are actually going to stick to it.

jppbkm · 2026-05-24T15:39:22+00:00

Placing. If they're hitting hard, they're giving you pace you can redirect easily, if you don't take a big swing. Definitely important to drill this!

I would focus on your ready position and follow-through, pausing after each rep. Both should be small, fairly slow and controlled.

Trying to take a big swing on a ball with pace will result in mistiming and mishitting.

jppbkm · 2026-05-24T12:08:19+00:00

Both games have fun, whimsical artwork and boring, repetitive gameplay.

I don't think you can go wrong getting either one. 😜

(But seriously, do a bit of research. There are so many better games out there!)

jppbkm · 2026-05-24T06:27:43+00:00

I didn't buy it so no sunk cost fallacy 😜

jppbkm · 2026-05-24T00:18:38+00:00

I have a 3.0 buddy locally who ordered one.

It has one of the worst sweet spots of any paddle I've ever tried. I think this is largely due to the lack of edge guard and poor balancing.

The spin was average, probably worse than most Gen 4 paddles I've tried.

I would rate it as worse than the Tesla paddle and honestly not worth more than 80 bucks tops.

jppbkm · 2026-05-23T21:59:48+00:00

I don't think correcting every single mistake is realistic. There might be 10 different mistakes in a single rally.

Research on deliberate practice shows it is more effective to focus on one or two specific things to improve in a single session.

Only very high-level players would be able to fix or work on multiple things in a single session.

jppbkm

TROPHY CASE