​Hey Reader,​

Here's something Helle Sparre told me that completely changed how I think about pickleball.

She said when she's deep in a point, a big point, a close game, a moment where the score really matters, she has no idea what the score is.

Not because she doesn't care. Because she's that present.

"When I'm done with the point, I don't know what the score is, I don't know where I am. Because I've been totally there, absorbed in the point."

That's not an accident. That's a discipline.

Here's the problem most recreational players have:

You step on the court thinking about winning. Winning the point. Winning the game. Proving something to the players on the next court over.

And the moment your focus is on the result, it's no longer on the execution.

Your footwork gets sloppy. You reach for shots you're not in position to hit. You rush the attack because you want this point to be over. You take the flashy low-percentage shot instead of the smart one.

Helle puts it simply: "If your focus is winning, you forget about the execution."

The fix is counterintuitive:

Stop trying to win the point. Start trying to do the next right thing.

That means before every shot, you're asking one question:

"What's the highest percentage shot right now - given where I am, where my partner is, and where my opponents are?"

Not "how do I end this point." Not "what will look good." Just what's the smartest shot I can hit right now that gives my team the best chance on the next shot. 🤯

Defend first. Cover your zone. Trust your role. Build the point.

The winning takes care of itself.

Here's Helle's way of thinking about it:

"Do the next right thing right in front of you. Be totally present, and good things will follow."

She's been down big in a game and come back. Not by trying harder to win... but by going smaller. One dink at a time. One good decision at a time. Trusting the process.

Pickleball is so momentum-driven that no deficit is too big when you stop chasing the result and start executing the system.

Try this today:

The next time you feel the urge to go for a hero shot - the big winner, the flashy put-away, the "I should end this now" attack - pause for just a second.

Ask: "Am I in position to attack? Or is the highest percentage shot a reset?"

If it's a reset, reset. Live for one more shot.

You'll be shocked how often the point comes to you when you stop chasing it.

This mindset is one of the core pillars of Dynamite Doubles, and it connects directly to everything else in the system: your role, your zone, your partnership. When all of it works together, 1+1 really does equal 3.

If you want the full system, Dynamite Doubles is here 👈

See you out there,

Trey

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