Chunk 2 was about using dance to tap into our flow. We established the outside parameters of the flow – the broad brushstrokes. You can think of that like laying out the broad structure of a painting: maybe a mountain, some sky, and a large tree in the foreground.

Chunk 3 is about filling in the picture. Here we add depth to the mountain with shadows. We can also add flourishes: birds, fruit or flowers on the tree, maybe a couple having a picnic in the tree’s shade.

The beat of the rally

What we will learn in Chunk 3 is that while the outside parameters control the dance, the middle can change in all sorts of ways. Think of the outside parameters as the beat of the song. Think of the middle as the space between the beats, and a lot happens between the beats during a dance.

To avoid the risk of losing you here, let’s bring pickleball back into our conversation.

All four players on the court have made it up to the kitchen line and are playing from there. Each dink hit during the rally is the outside parameter of the rally. This is the same as the song – there are outer edges to the music, where the dancers will pause, change direction, or take another big step in their dance.

As pickleball players, we want to flow so that we are in step with the beat of the rally. If the ball swings to the left, we shift to the left. If the ball swings to the right, we shift to the right. If the ball is about to get hammered at us, we get ready to defend. If our opponent pops the ball up, we move to finish.

When we are out of sync with the rally:

• We will not be in the best position from which to hit the next shot.
• Our shots will not work the way we want them to, either because we are late or early.
• It is more difficult for us to successfully navigate the rally, because we are out of step with it.

What we learn here in Chunk 3 is that the space between the beats isn’t “dead” space. A lot goes on there. In the video that accompanies this written material, you will:

1. See how the dance can switch between simple and complex. Same as in a rally. Things can be nice and calm, then switch to craziness, then back to nice and calm. All following the rhythm of that rally.
2. Learn that even stillness can be in rhythm to the beat. Same when we play. There are times when the best thing for us to do is to pause and wait – especially in tough areas of the court, like the transition zone.
3. See how the dancers can add bits of flourish to the dance, all while staying on beat. The equivalent in our sport would be throwing up a defensive lob when pulled off the court on a wide dink. The lob is a flourish shot that can be executed within the rhythm of the rally you’re in.

Next week in Chunk 4, we’ll see how these concepts apply to various pickleball rallies. In other words, how dance translates to pickleball.

Your Work

Your Week 3 work is:

The most complete thing you can do is to add some flourishes to the broad stroke dance steps from Chunk 2. If you’re doing the box step, you can add a flourish to it. If you opted to sway in place or even tap your hand to the rhythm, then maybe add a step – or just a toe tap here and there.

You can also work on shifting between movement and stillness – while remaining in rhythm. Just like in the dance step where the man pauses to allow the woman to twirl. He then rejoins the movement without missing a beat. The better you get at this, the better you will be able to pause during play – say the ball was hit to your partner and no court adjustment by you is warranted – and then resume movement to the beat of the rally.

Lastly, if you are up for it, switch gears as you dance. Sway, then a box step, then a pause, then a box step, then a sway, maybe a toe tap – or spin (but safely!) – and back to the box step. This is you on the pickleball court – serve, drive, drop, reset, dink, lob, and on and on until the rally ends. You will be shifting between a hard shot, a soft shot, a shot to your left that you have to struggle to get, and a shot to your partner where your job is to get set for the next shot.

That’s pickleball. In the end, we are all dancing to the rhythm of the game. The better we get at hearing, moving, and hitting to the rhythm, the more complete of a player we become.

As I said before, enjoy this project. Pickleball is supposed to be fun. Your growth in the sport – and in life – should also be fun.

Some of you have shared your flow experience in the community – the music playlist was a hit ☺. Here’s the case for you to go into the community and add to the conversation:

1. It fills out your experience. It’s been shown 1,000 times that we get more out of things in a group. Think of why you like pickleball so much to begin with – probably has to do with the crew you run with.
2. Others get the benefit of your experience. Believe it or not, that’s huge. Think of how many times you have read another player’s story and thought “I’m glad it’s not just me.”

So … if you have a moment, share in the Community space dedicated to this adventure – “Tap Into Your Flow.”

Speaking of community – be on the lookout this Saturday for Kyleen’s Kaper of the Week where she challenges each of us to keep pushing and growing.

See you in the community.