How Do You Handle Bad Line Calls in Tournaments?


Do you play in pickleball tournaments?

If so, you have probably faced the situation in which you hit a shot you're sure was in, but your opponents called it out.

How do you handle that?

It can be very frustrating, especially when you are good at painting the lines as part of your game.

There are three ways of dealing with this situation.


 1.  Stew about it. Let your frustration boil over to the next shot and lose the serve or lose another point. Or possibly lose the whole match.

 2.  Accept that it is a part of what happens in a pickleball tournament.  Flush it out of your mind, and move on.

 3.  Take a time out. Let your frustration cool off for a couple of minutes. Regain your composure, and move on with the next point.


It takes mental discipline and maturity to handle such situations.

But the worst outcome is not to lose a point, but to let yourself boil over to the point of losing the game.

If you haven't faced such a situation, you will if you play in tournaments.

So, prepare yourself for how you will react.

And you don't have to assume your opponents are cheating.

Whether a ball is called in or out is matter of perspective. 

You saw it from one angle. They saw it from another. 

Just move on and don't hit your next shots so close to the line that they are subject to being called out.

I don't agree with the adage, "When in doubt, call it out."  However, lots of people do follow that strategy, especially in tournaments.

Beware!

And, be prepared for this before your next tournament.


Ben Holt