BY: Jeri Penrose
POSTED: April 27, 2026
I must admit, I am the last person you’d want to take Pickleball advice from. Due to several injuries, I’ve been playing on and off without much progress for close to two years. But after a recent open play session at my gym, I had a breakthrough, both in the way I play and in my mindset.
It was a rough session for me that Friday morning to say the least. To say I was embarrassed is an understatement! I approached one of the coaches to ask if perhaps I needed to start playing with people more “on my level”. Coach Daniel responded with grace and asked if I was open to some feedback. “Yes please!” I said in a rather exasperated tone. His advice ended up being more than a free mini coaching session, but a lesson on how to live our lives. The first tip he gave me was to relax. He noticed that every time the ball came at me, I tensed up, as if the ball was a 20 pound weight about to come crashing down on me. I didn’t even realize I was doing it! The life lesson here may seem obvious, but it’s simply to chill out. As my 20 year old daughter likes to say, “It’s not that deep, mom!” For someone like me who struggles with anxiety, this is easier said than done, but I have learned a few things over the years that help me when I’m stressed. First of all, almost without thinking, I tend to start taking really deep, exaggerated breaths. And it actually helps! It’s not even breathwork, it’s just deep breathing. Try it next time you feel frazzled and I guarantee you’ll start to calm down. Next, I usually find a way to get outside and walk my dog, with or without listening to music. Sometimes I just need silence and a chance to think and process what is happening in my life. Other times, I might shoot a quick text to my bestie. She’s been there for me through thick and thin and just knowing she’s in my corner and will pray for me is extremely calming. My high school health teacher was right when she said that all we need is that one close friend and we can get through anything.
Coach Daniel’s next tip was related to my serves, which were inconsistent and all over the place. He told me I needed to follow through with each serve, swinging the paddle all the way up to my head. When I tried it, I noticed the ball made a beautiful arc as it sailed over the net! Could improving my serve be that simple? This made me think about how crucial it is to follow through with what we say we’re going to do in life. My husband is excellent at doing this and he holds me accountable when I don’t. So how can we improve on this one? First of all, if you want to do something, tell someone! Then have them hold you accountable for doing it! Second, make a plan to follow through. Perhaps break it up into smaller chunks. That always helps. And spend time working on it every day–even if you only have five minutes.
Last but certainly not least, Coach Daniel told me something revolutionary. He said to stay on the balls of my feet and never put my heels down when playing the game. This would make me ready for action, he said. If heels are planted, it takes longer to spring into motion. Makes sense, right? The same holds true in life. Stay on your toes! Be ready for anything. My good friend Rita often reminds me that things can change in an instant. So we need to be ready! I’ve experienced this many times, but one of the most extreme examples was in the summer of 2024 when my husband landed in the hospital and nearly died. We were supposed to be on a plane that morning on our way to Kauai, but what we thought was a minor, albeit painful condition turned out to be much more serious and necessitated an ER visit! He ended up having to get emergency surgery, and spent his July 4th week in the hospital. We quickly shifted gears and made the best of the situation. Dare I say we actually made it fun? My husband is such a jokester that he had all the nurses in stitches (no pun intended!) and it didn’t take long for his room to be the hottest place on the 2nd floor! And as for a Fourth of July celebration? We had a perfect view of the fireworks at a nearby resort from his hospital window. So we cued a patriotic song on my phone and enjoyed the show. It took months before he was fully recovered, but he now has a new lease on life and we are both grateful for every moment he is alive and well.
So there you have it – three life lessons learned from an impromptu pickleball coaching session: relax, follow through on what you say you’re going to do, and stay on your toes! You never know what a day will bring, especially on the pickleball court.
About the Author:
Jeri Penrose is a devoted wife and mom of two young adult children and one adorable Boston Terrier named Tobie. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona and has been an Olli member since the fall of 2024.
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