From Pressure to Joy - Part Seven of the Mental Side of Pickleball

By David Pascolla

An Olympic Lesson in Joy

I haven't had a chance to watch much of the Olympics this year but recently I've been reading a lot about Alysa Liu. She's become somewhat of a sensation — not only winning gold in figure skating, but her story.

After stepping away from the sport in 2022 due to pressure and a loss of passion, Liu returned with a radically different philosophy. She and her coach stopped centering everything around winning. Instead, they focused on joy, artistic control, and self-expression. She described her approach simply: “There’s no way to lose.” If she went out on the ice and told her story, she was satisfied — regardless of placement. She even said medaling did not validate her. “I skate because I like to skate." During her free skate in Milan, she described feeling “peak happiness” — free and joyful in the middle of the most pressurized competition on earth. Ironically, that detachment from results helped her deliver a near-flawless performance and win Olympic gold.

There’s a lesson in that for all of us — even on a pickleball court.

I believe what made her performance remarkable wasn’t just the medal — it was her mindset.

When the Score Changes Us

Have you ever noticed that when we go out on the court to dink back and forth to warm up, our paddle grip is loose, relaxed, and carefree? Then the game starts. The score is called. Something shifts.

We move from playing to performing. From flowing to tightening.

It can come from wanting to beat a certain team, not disappoint a partner, or simply not look bad in front of stronger players. The internal voice starts up: “I should make that.” “We should win this.” “Don’t mess up.” That word — should — is usually where the tension begins.

When our goal becomes protecting our image or proving something, the game gets heavy. We avoid the shot we’ve been practicing. We tense up at 9–9. We start playing not to lose. I’ve felt it myself more times than I’d like to admit.

But that’s not why most of us came out to play.

A Different Goal

What if we reframed the court the way Liu reframed the ice?

What if, instead of treating each game like a verdict on our ability, we treated it like an opportunity to express ourselves? Not performing to impress others — but playing in a way that feels free and authentic.

What if the goal wasn’t “win this game,” but:

• Play loose

• Move freely

• Encourage my partner

• Stay engaged in the rally

  
  

In other words, what if there was “no way to lose” — as long as we showed up fully? For the competitive player, this might mean trusting your strokes even when the score tightens. For recreational players, it might mean not shrinking when paired with stronger opponents. For all of us, it means shifting from protecting our ego to expressing our game. This doesn’t mean the score disappears. Competition is part of the fun. But it changes the sequence:

Joy first. Expression second. Results third.

When you focus on joy and engagement, something interesting happens. Your body relaxes. Reactions sharpen. Swings feel freer. Just like Liu described, you feel lighter. And lightness is powerful.

I recently saw an interview with professional pickleball player Tyra Black. After winning a recent major championship, she was asked about her strategy. Her answer was simple and compelling, especially for a pro player: “I just want to come out here and have fun.” A remarkably similar mindset to Liu’s.

Partnerships Change Too

This shift also affects how we play with others. If your partner misses, and your shared goal is expression rather than perfection, it’s easier to reset. A paddle tap. A “No worries.” On to the next point. When both players feel safe to make mistakes, they swing more confidently. And confident, relaxed swings are almost always better swings. More importantly, the game feels better.

For the most part, I believe that our club in Atascadero demonstrates this beautifully. A few weeks ago I saw it firsthand while watching several games in the gym — paddle taps, quick laughs after missed shots, people genuinely enjoying their games. So much laughter, enjoyment, and freedom with these amazing players. That's the culture that makes us special.

The Real Gold

Most of us aren’t training for the Olympics. We’re here because pickleball adds something good to our lives — community, movement, challenge, laughter.

If pressure and ego start stripping those things away, it’s worth asking: what goal are we really chasing?

Liu rediscovered her love for skating when she stopped skating for validation and started skating for joy. The medal followed. But it wasn’t the foundation — it was the byproduct.

On our courts, the same principle applies. When we release the need to prove something, we often play better. But even if we don’t, we enjoy it more.

You are not your last missed shot.

You are not your rating.

You are not defined by a 9–11.

You’re someone who came out to play. The next time the score tightens and that familiar pressure creeps in, try a small shift. Instead of “We have to win,” ask,

“How do I want to show up right now?” There may not be a medal at the end of your game. But there can absolutely be joy. And if you leave the court feeling lighter than when you stepped on it, that might be its own kind of gold.