The Silent Advantage

What if the most impressive thing about Ben Johns, the number one men’s player in the world, isn’t what he does with the paddle, but what doesn’t change when everything around him does? Watch him in any high-stakes match: no visible panic, no rush, no frustration. He maintains the same posture, the same rhythm, and the same decision-making process whether he is up by five or down by match point.

Johns vs Waters Team Match (You have to watch this match play!)

This level of consistency raises a fundamental question for players at every level: Is such mental steadiness a natural gift, or is it a skill that can be trained? In the world of high-performance pickleball, the answer is clear. Performance isn’t just about mechanics; it is about the ability to access a specific competitive mind state on demand.

Most players dedicate their practice hours to mechanics such as serves, returns, and third-shot drops. Yet, in a match, that easy drop shot you’ve hit a thousand times suddenly finds the net when the score is tied at 9–9. What changed? It wasn’t your physical ability. Your mind state shifted.

Under pressure, your heart beats faster, your breathing becomes shallow, and your muscles tighten. Your internal dialogue shifts from execution to avoidance: “Don’t miss this,” or “Don’t pop it up.” Suddenly, your brain is asking your body to execute a familiar movement from a completely foreign physiological state. Bridging this gap requires more than better technique; it requires brain fitness.

Mental toughness isn’t just about being “tougher” or trying not to get nervous. It is about identifying the mental state in which you perform best. This state is unique to the individual. While Ben Johns thrives on a foundation of absolute calm, other players may need high intensity, laughter, or a “locked-in” silence to reach their peak. The goal is to discover your own optimal version of performance and develop the ability to return to it consistently.

Anna Leigh Waters, the world’s top-ranked women’s player, provides a masterclass in managing the burden of expectation. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of having everything to lose, she utilizes a technique called reframing. By shifting her perspective from “I can’t lose to this person” to “They have to beat me,” she changes her brain’s interpretation of the situation. This mental shift directly impacts her physiology, sharpening her attention and decision-making when the game is on the line.

Emotions are inevitable in sports, but they must be managed. Anxiety can lead to overly conservative play, while frustration often triggers high-risk, low-percentage “speed-ups.” Elite athletes feel these emotions, but they differ in their ‘reset rate’—how quickly they return to their optimal state after a disruption.

Mastering this recovery requires a deliberate sequence between points:

1. Exhale: Signal to your nervous system that the point is over.

2. Release: Treat mistakes as information rather than emotional baggage.

3. Refocus: Narrow your attention to a single upcoming task, like your target or serve placement.

4. Reconnect: In doubles, use a paddle tap or word of encouragement to regulate your shared emotional environment.

In doubles, brain fitness is a shared responsibility. Emotional contagion is real; a partner’s negative body language after a missed shot can amplify disruption for the whole team. Conversely, a quick reset—a simple “we’re good” or a paddle tap—helps maintain a stable emotional environment. Being a great partner means helping regulate your teammate’s state as much as your own.

The best players in the world aren’t just playing the ball; they are managing themselves between the rallies. While paddles and mechanics are essential, your brain is the coordinator of it all. By practicing awareness and recovery, you can develop an advantage that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet but makes all the difference on the scoreboard. Train your shots, but remember to train the brain that controls them.

Remember to reset fast and play free.

This is now the rhythm of your life.

Remember, your access to this Substack series is freely given, so would you consider making a contribution to our non-profit mission of spreading the benefits of pickleball to the world? Just go to: https://brainfit.gordonjones.org/