Why You Should Play in a Pickleball Tournament


Have you played in a pickleball tournament?

If not, have you considered it?

I think most every pickleball player should enter a tournament.

Having just competed in another one last weekend, the benefits of playing tournaments has been on my mind.

Here are some thoughts regarding the benefits of tournament participation.

1.  It challenges you - Do you like to be challenged?  Playing in a tournament with medals on the line challenges you to make every point matter.  It's not like rec play where it's annoying to lose but doesn't really matter. It makes you want to be more consistent.  There is more on the line. 

2.  It helps you become mentally stronger - How do you handle it mentally when you are down 6 points or more?  Do you give up?  Or do you dig deep and determine to come back? Do you keep fighting?  Last year, my men's doubles partner and I were in a tournament and were up 8-0 on a team, but we let them come back and beat us 11-8.  They were mentally stronger than we were.  Then, not quite a year later, this past weekend, we were playing a best of three games match.  We won the first game 11-7.  They won the second game 11-2!  We were down 7-2 in the third but fought back and won 12-10.  We have come a long way mentally since last year. So, tournaments help make you mentally stronger.

3.  It reveals your true strengths and weaknesses - In tournament play, the opponents will usually find out what your strengths and weaknesses are during the match. They will then exploit your weaknesses.  You may not have thought you had many weaknesses since players in rec play rarely pick on you.  But, in a tournament, you may become the object of your opponent's strategy. Once you realize that, you know what skills you need to work on and improve before the next tournament. 

4.  It is the best way to evaluate your skill level - When you sign up for a tournament, you have to choose a skill level so that you play opponents with similar skills.  In rec play, often people claim they are a certain skill level.  For example, you may play with a group of people who say they are 3.5's.  If you are competitive with them, you assume you are a 3.5 also. Then, when you sign up for a tournament, you would naturally choose to play the 3.5 level.  However, if you play and lose every match by a lot, you probably should be playing 3.0 and not 3.5.  On the other hand, if you easily win all your matches, you should probably move up a skill level.  The point is, the tournament reveals your true skill level.

5.  It provides a sense of community - If you have played tournaments, you are part of the "Club" of those who have experienced tournaments.  If you haven't played, it is hard to describe the experience. And while at the tournament, you can cheer on those from your city while they play. It increases the camaraderie by sharing the experience. 

There are other benefits to playing tournaments, but that is a good list.

With this new year now only 2 weeks old, it's a great time to look into what tournaments are coming up soon near you that you could enter.

Why don't you?

Let this article be the motivation you need to sign up!

You'll be glad you did.

And good luck!!



Ben Holt
​CEO, Pickleball Living