Quote:
Originally Posted by roob1
"Beginner" to me encompasses quite a wide range of ability.People with natural athletic skills just starting to learn pickleball will be more skilled than "weekend warrior" types, who may have average or less physical abilities. Athletically talented players can be very good beginners, but still beginners. They will climb up the skill level latter more quickly than the average Joe. Thus you may have a mix for awhile, until the more talented players move on and up. Eventually each will find his place with similar level players.
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No, there are more than a few "veterans", who have been playing for years, who enjoy beating the crap out beginners. It's an ego thing...
The Boss and my first foray into pickleball ended badly. We had watched the video, taken both Beginning Pickleball part 1 & 2, but had never actually played...
While waiting in line, there was an obvious veteran (he had ALL the gear, much of it quite shopworn), spouting off about how he hates it when "these newbies" show up, and don't know what they are doing...
We were taken aback, and figured that was our invitation to leave... We stuck around, just to watch for a while (btw, you can learn a lot watching others play), and we saw this guy absolutely crush his opponents. The joy he took in doing so was so off putting, we seriously considered giving up before we started...
But we took Pickleball Part 2 a 2nd time, felt much better about our game and when to a different Open Beginners rec center. The people we played with were so much more accepting and inviting. Offering tips, and putting up with out mistakes. We also found that at pretty much any rec center we played at. The other players we inviting, encouraging and quite nice.
When I had to return north to work, my wife stayed in TV and kept playing.
She's met several very nice people, and has run into them at various courts...
One final thing... She was paired up with another single and they were playing against another "bully"... Neither she, nor her partner could return very many serves, and the game wasn't fun for anyone (except for the bully). She finally called him out, asking why he was playing "beginner's pickleball" when he was obviously a much better player? He then became quite condescending, lobbing serves, asking "Is that one okay?", "Did I hit it too hard?" She told him to "Stop being an ass! We're here to have fun!" (she's had practice saying that when talking to me!
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When the game was over, he gathered up his stuff and left. Several people in line then thanked her, saying he was a regular, who always played like that...
Just show up, enjoy the game, ignore the jerks. Sadly, you'll run into one of them from time to time. Just smile and do your best.