Pickleball players often improve quickly at first but then hit a wall, unable to reach the next level. Why does this happen? The author noticed this limiting effect both for himself as well as for his friends. Drawing on 35 years of research and experience in the psychology of peak performance, he began to see that the way our brains are wired to learn, adapt, and function inadvertently create barriers to improving pickleball performance. Perhaps not surprisingly, brains which were designed to enable our ancestors to survive and thrive in a hostile and dangerous environment are not optimal for functioning on a pickleball court, nor for modern society, for that matter. Our cognitive design "peculiarities" unconsciously lead us to:
- Resisting practice, or practicing in ineffective, inefficient ways.
- Avoiding or resisting feedback that could help improve performance.
- Failing to experiment with new shots or strategies.
- Resisting giving up old, comfortable, ineffective shots and strategies.
- Being unable to focus our concentration, willpower, and awareness throughout the game.
- Failing to identify and overcome negative emotions as well as limiting beliefs about our abilities.
Dr. Montgomery has addressed each of these issues in his book, providing targeted techniques and strategies for overcoming them. The author's insights can help you move past the mental and emotional barriers holding you back, unlocking your potential to play smarter, stay focused, and win more games. Don't settle for the same results-take charge of your improvement and finally break through to the next level!
