The Power of Mental Toughness - Part Four of The Mental Side of Pickleball

Pickleball Comebacks: Mental Toughness in Action

You and your partner are down 3–9. Not great. Now what—can you flip it before the game slips away? A few weeks ago, Jeff Moman and I were in that exact spot. It was hot, I was exhausted, and things didn't look good. But point by point, we managed to claw back and pulled off a 13–11 win—one of my more memorable games. Maybe you’ve been there too, sometimes falling short, other times pulling off the comeback.

Mental toughness in pickleball is staying locked in no matter what the score looks like. You’ll feel nerves, you’ll feel frustration—that’s normal. The difference is not letting those emotions take over. That’s what can swing a game.

As we talked about last week, bouncing back from a bad point is just a reset. Real toughness goes deeper: stay calm under pressure, make smart choices even when you’re physically spent, and don’t let mistakes—or your opponent—knock you off your game.

What Mental Toughness Looks Like

It’s not about being perfect—it’s about how you respond when things don’t go your way. Mentally tough players stand out with qualities like:

• Resilience: Shake off mistakes and move on—you can’t live in the last point. • Focus: Stay present. The only point that matters is the one you’re in. • Confidence: Trust your shots, even when the game isn’t going your way.

Practical Ways to Build Mental Toughness

The good news is, toughness isn’t something you either have or don’t—it’s something you can train. Just like you warm up prior to your game, you can train the mental side of your game. Here are a few ways to do it:

• Reset quickly. After a bad shot, take a breath, and let it go. The faster you reset, the sooner you’re ready for the next point. • Focus on routines. Whether it’s bouncing the ball before a serve or taking a deep breath, little rituals keep you grounded. • Stay in sync with your partner. A quick, "We got this!" or paddle tap with your partner can turn the momentum. After all, unless you’re playing singles—which most of us aren’t—you’re a team.

Anna Leigh Waters

Watching professional pickleball is like taking a masterclass in mental toughness. Check out Anna Leigh Waters’ games on YouTube—she’s a standout. Calm under pressure, quick to bounce back from mistakes, and always making smart plays, she adapts on the fly, pushes through fatigue, and refuses to quit. Watching her reminds me that mental toughness isn’t just about skill—it’s about mindset, focus, and resilience.

At the end of the day, mental toughness isn’t about being perfect—or even winning or losing—it’s about staying in the game and giving your best until the last point. Jeff and I didn’t win that 13–11 game because our shots were flawless; we won because we stayed calm, stayed focused, and trusted each other under pressure. Next time the score isn’t in your favor, remember: each point is a new chance, mistakes are just resets, and every paddle tap is a reminder—you’ve got this.