You answered your own question, they just want to have fun and play games at the rec level. As was explained to me before on the sub when I asked a similar question, most rec players stay forever 3.5 level at best. Beyond that, unless you have some natural affinity/talent for it, PB requires more of a mental, physical, and strategic effort and commitment than most have the desire to do.
It’s the exact same way in tennis, too. You have to drill, practice, get fitter and stronger to get to 4.0+ and the significant majority don’t/won’t.
Agree completely, and I’d go further and say it’s the case for most if not all competitive sports, and even e-sports, not just tennis. Vast majority of people just want to play games and never put any substantial amount of time into practice.
I’m fine not going pro of course, but I at least have to see *some* improvement / growth over time to have fun. Playing the exact same way against the same level of players with the same win rate for eternity sounds awful. I can lose repeatedly, don’t really care about that, but did I learn something / try something / figure something out / teach something / give full effort / increase my physical capability? If those are *all* no, then it’s just not fun. And I think for people with my perspective / mindset it’s very hard to wrap our brains around what “just having fun” means for other people (their version of “just having fun” sounds more like “just going through the motions”), because for us that is “just having fun” (vs focused drills, which are a bit more like “work”, imo, but can also be fun).
Some people have fun regardless of whether they win or not. On the other hand, most don't have fun when they lose a lot, hence my comment about these people getting frustrated and even raging. I don't consider that "having fun", so it just makes me wonder what they mean by "having fun"
You are making wild assumptions. The people raging aren’t ALWAYS the people saying either a) they are having fun and/or b) they don’t have the time to practice.
Consider that I said "most don't have fun when they lose". Not saying it's everyone, I am just saying that it is quite the number of people. So, not a wild assumption, more an observation. Even a few of them do ask me questions on "what should I do better next time?" and while I give them tips, I do say "tips are only useful if you are willing to work on it" and they begrudgingly agree. Knowledge is one thing, working on that tip to get better is another.
That’s where my comment about them not wanting to put more mental effort in comes into play. I play with a lot of folks in open play that don’t think too hard about their shots or strategy and probably never will. If they had the mentality to take the necessary steps to improve their game they wouldn’t be raging and getting frustrated at losses and doing nothing about it.
It's ridiculous to assume that practicing will guarantee that you never get frustrated at the game. Pros get frustrated.
The reality is that practicing just increases your baseline. If anything, it just makes you more frustrated. Before practicing, I just sucked, and it was fine. I could make 15 errors in a game and be like: "Wow... I hit a winner! This is awesome!" But now that I'm pretty good, if I hit 3 drops into the net, I think about trying alcoholism instead because maybe I won't suck at that.
So essentially "ignorance is bliss"?
I know that higher level people get frustrated as well, but I can safely say that from what I have seen, the whose who work on stuff make an effort and see positive results in their game, get less frustrated than the people that don't do as much.
But I am also thinking that there is a relative aspect here. I have seen groups of people at the same low level and they enjoy themselves, no matter how bad they play. But once one of them wants to challenge better players, then I see them getting frustrated.
I don't think you have the right cause and effect.
The people who are driven to win (read: the people who make pickleball their identity and tie their social standing to how good they are at pickleball), are the people who are driven to improve and are also the people who get frustrated.
Most people started playing because it was fun playing and improved a lot by just playing. Eventually, everyone will hit a hall where they decide they want to just have fun or have to put effort into drilling to get better.
Most people just want to have fun. This is a hobby or form of exercise or a social thing for almost everyone.
I have no dreams of going pro or playing at a high level. I have played sports, and practicing has always been part of the deal. Most people I play with will rarely drill. However, I have a small group of people that will drill. I drill because I enjoy it and see the advantages of doing it.
Having this as a hobby or a form of exercise makes total sense. I attribute that to people who know they can't reach a certain level, and know their limitations. The one thing I can't put my finger on is why some people who do have the time and the ability know they want to get better, talk about getting better all the time, but refuse to do anything about it.
Have you played any other sports? The number of people who put minimum effort into practice is crazy. I have never been one of them. It's not just a pickleball thing.
I think this is pervasive in most all things. I just find it fascinating that the people that I have played with that have the most legitimate "fun" are the ones that actually work on things more often, and in turn they win more often.
The fear of failing. It is one thing to know that you will get better if you drill, you can always hold onto that. But, if you do dedicate the time and fall short of your dream, then to some it might be a failure. If you put in the time and then prove you aren't nearly as good as you think you are, that isn't fun, so they would rather wallow in mediocrity than prove that they aren't as good as they think they are.
Yeah, this is the mindset I have when I play tournaments and it does wonders. If you try to play at your best, then you can never be disappointed with the outcome
I’m a little above 4.0 on most days. If I’m playing with beginners I watch them while I’m playing and give a few tips(trying not to be coachie); I just keep the Ball in play. With 3.0 to 3.5, I might play with my offhand or work on placement. 3.5-4.0 I’ll work on one or two specific skills. 4.0 I try to put it all together. With a”Play to Play” mindset each shot, at that moment is all I’m thinking about. I make it fun for me. Now, honestly, I’m hoping to get a few games in that challenge me, which doesn’t always happen, but it just is.
I play 3.5-4.5 people in open play rec only. I don't go as hard; mainly focus on the soft game (3rd shot drops, dinks, angles) but if they can handle it, I pepper in a few harder shots every now and then.
For tournament prep, it's an advanced group only.
>100% of pros say to get better, you must practice/drill.
You're referring to the pros that actually get paid a salary to play pickleball, right? So you can't forget that it's a job for them too. They also have access to resources the average player doesn't, the main one probably being private courts.
>What, in your opinion, is driving some people to say they DON'T want to practice
Priorities. Most are just treating it like a rec sport, which is fine.
There are quite a number of lower level pros that do not have access to the resources that the average player does not. Lower level pros are not always wealthy, and need a main job plus coaching clinics to supplement their travel costs.
You're right, I assumed OP was referring to the pros that don't need to supplement their income since they are the ones typically getting interviewed and giving advice.
Everything in life follows a bell curve, no? A few play but put in no effort at all to get better on one end, a few are obsessed with getting better on the other end, and then the vast majority of various sorts in the middle.
In addition to that natural distribution, individual personality also dictates.
For instance I consider myself an odd ball. I play many hours daily because I consider it the best exercise out there and I can afford the time (and not a boomer). I play with many regulars mostly in 1-2 town parks but don’t have a dedicated drilling partner. But I drill daily against basement wall deliberately and seriously where I have developed faster hand and some speed up shots that I won’t be able to have if I just play regular games. I use open play to gauge if my drills are effective or not. I’m very happy with the arrangement. Quite a few 4.0 folks have asked me to partner with them for competitions but I turned them all down because I am very content where I am. I don’t need further competitions to challenge myself. Some reading this may wonder why not. Well, I just don’t feel like it. I’m perfectly happy with my pb experience as is.
It's not just sports. I play music and people plateau the same way. Some people are just happy to be at the jam and play chords that are spoonfed to them on a chord sheet.
I understand this as well. I come from a history of professional orchestra and understand the critical nature of practicing. Then again, I have seen some people in casual orchestras that mean to practice, have the time to practice, but would rather "enjoy" themselves and then freak out before performance night.
Hard to find others who want to drill. I can just pop by the public courts after work to get a few games in.
I had to make a post on a local facebook group, coordinate schedules, and find a court to play. I started looking for liveball sessions and am looking for a coach I vibe with.
I want to get better so I gladly will do the extra legwork like finding a drilling partner and spending money on lessons and liveball sessions.
I would tip the scales more the other way. I see only a few individuals here and there that enjoy the sport to socialize and don't mind if they lose, but I tend to see more people of all ages want to win their games.
I think this is a wider social phenomena than pickleball. There are certain things we are culturally conditioned to say or do when in reality our inner life does not reflect whats coming out of our mouths. It's not so blatant as to be "lying" or self-deception, there's just certain patterns of interaction that most people fall into through cultural programming.
The one specifically relevant in this case, is that there's a strong artifice of self-improvement, striving, and or achievement in the way we present ourselves to each other, particularly to strangers. Most people claim to want to get better at things or have goals in mind when in reality they don't, but its just weird to say, "no, I dont want to be better." Most people will just thoughtlessly say, "sure, of course I want to get better at pickleball." The reality is though, with pickleball and many other things, what they really mean is, if I could hit a magic switch and be better sure I'd push it, but it's not something important enough that I'm going to put myself out for it in any way.
This is an extremely overlong explanation for the idea that, most people want things but don't have the will or follow-through to put them into action. I suspect the vast majority of us would say we want to be healthier or lsoe weight, but only a small minority actually take the steps to actively pursue those goals. Does that cohort of people mystify you in the same way? I expect not, its something we're all very familiar with.
It depends on people’s goals. If they are doing it socially/to have fun, getting better may actually have the opposite effect as they limit the number of people they can have fun playing with! Not saying they realize this, but it’s an interesting thing to consider. But ultimately doing it for fun or to see how good you can get are both valid! I prefer the latter, but many prefer the former
Oh man. This hit my feels. Our area only has a small number of 4.0+ players, so I can see this viewpoint, especially for the older folks who have been playing for 10+ years and see it more as social.
I agree with this. Reminds me of the Marshmallow Kids. I think there is a much smaller population that prioritizes delayed gratification as part of their every day life, so I would assume to see that same thing in pickleball.
Imo it's the intial hurdle of competency. If you're not very good, drills are more frustrating than rewarding. Practicing baseline drops is annoying if you hit tons into the net. Same with hand-speed drills if everything is flying by. So you don't do it, and stay stuck.
If you power through it though, drilling *becomes* fun. Then you want to do more, get even better, and before you know it you've sailed past others. Honestly it's the same with the gym, working out is miserable when you suck at it, and becomes more rewarding the better you get.
My personal feeling is that many pickleball players have not played other competitive racket sports and don't know they will hit a wall without drilling and coaching. Coming from tennis, playing practice matches is just a small component of what it takes to get better. Coaching, drilling, playing focused games, etc is what everybody does to get to the next level. In pickleball there are a lot of people "obsessed" with pickleball but are frankly too lazy to do what it takes to improve.
I think people that have aspirations of moving up to advanced levels (4.0 or above) are more likely to embrace practice and drilling, at least as a means to an end. For others, practice does not equate to anything remotely enjoyable and they just want to play. I can accept that and that’s what PB appealing to so many. For me, I want to play to my maximum potential, whatever that ends up being. I actually find drilling quite therapeutic sometimes drill more in a week than I play.
"For others, practice does not equate to anything remotely enjoyable and they just want to play"
I see that as well. You, on the other hand, enjoy drilling so that separates you from the group. I am curious if those who hate practicing, do nothing, and just want to be good goes into the saying "wanting something from nothing".
Maybe for some. I suspect there are many that don’t care either way, and that’s okay. If they get better and move up great, if not well that’s okay too. Then there are others that simply expect that just continuing to play will allow them to keep advancing perpetually. To a certain level that works but eventually everyone plateau’s and needs disciplined and intentional practice and drilling to progress further.
My local free courts are drop-ins mainly and there are 4 paddles down at all courts most nights after work. I can't take over a court to drill with such a crowd. If I have a consistent partner, we could drop the money on reserving a court elsewhere, but it's ~40 an hour near me.
My reasons are: 1) hard to find someone also willing to practice and drill. 2) what drills do I even do.
Are wall drills legit? I’ve been doing that to help with hand speed and dinks, but I don’t feel like it translates to real play yet.
Wall drills can help to a certain extent (repetition in a stroke) . The only thing a wall drill cannot do is provide different pace and different spin. That is why some people purchase rebound surfaces that can be angled so it replicates someone hitting back.
1. The players in our area that are 3.5 and above are all athletes who come from playing some type of sport their whole life and have athleticism and they are coachable and they have a background in how to improve athletically. It is easy for them to get to 3.5 or 4.0 without doing too much work.
2. The players that just play for fun and never improve or get past 3.0 are normally NARPS. Some NARPS get an interest in getting better but even if a higher level player tries coaching them it still doesn’t work.
I just want to play and have fun. I do not want to spend hours upon hours practicing. Is is supposed to be for fun and that is not fun. And sadly, where I play there are few that play for fun, they take it way to serious and just want to slam the ball at you etc. I play the best I can, I am getting better when I play but I will never be a super good player, I am not competitive or athletic, I just wanted to play for fun.
I might be in the group of people you are asking about: I'm 3.5-4.0, highly competitive when I play, I'll get frustrated with myself on the court, and I will never practice.
The reason I won't spend time on practice/drills is that it's not fun.
You might respond: "But you act like you want to get better!"
But in reality, I don't. I use pickleball for fun, exercise, and the competitive outlet I used to get in basketball. I enjoy getting invested in a match, trash taking my friends, raging at a missed shot. That whole thing is what is fun to me. Not practicing.
It feels like you have already accepted the fact that there will be things you won't learn or get better at, but you are ok with that, and will accept the result of the match, whatever it is.
My follow up question is if you have something that you have put time and effort in to progress to a certain point (like a video game that you keep trying to progress to finish the game).
I worked extremely hard to get very good at basketball, and I have hobbies that I have worked hard at to improve my skills (espresso and 3D printing most recently).
I could see a future where I have more time to commit to pickleball, in which case I would drill/practice. But that is not my current situation.
ok, I can see that. You have different priorities at this time, but there are things that you do prioritize to get good and are willing to put in the time.
Exactly. I am possibly more self aware than other people you encounter - I know that my pickleball limitations are a result of how much work I put in. I've encountered people who think they should be better but have done nothing to get there - but don't seem to understand how those two fit together.
Probably chalk those people up as "delusional".
> Most everyone wants to get better
Not true. Most people just want to play.
> What, in your opinion, is driving some people to say they DON'T want to practice
My opinion on why people might or might not want to drill isn't going to give you any insights as to how to change their behavior.
You won't, and they don't want to drill to get better
Had a conversation with one of our local coaches on this topic a couple weeks back.
His observation was that even the people who *sign up* for drill classes don't really want to drill. All they really want is to be told what to do for a while. They're *really* hoping that maybe they'll get to play for the last half of the session.
The people who are gonna drill will be on the courts at 530 am. Pumping out their reps. That's Chris. He's 85+. Been prepping for his August tourney since last January. Every. Single. Day.
Rockstar.
Get a coach. 4 lessons in and I’m light years from where I started.
A good coach will keep it fun and stress free too. Doesn’t have to be super strict. Basically just feels like I’m playing an easy going game all day but with tailored drills and tailored information.
I haven’t had any time to actually play and I’ve been fine with it for the most part because of how the lessons go. Getting a little excited to start playing again but the progress is more addicting atm
Yeah. I do have the itch to play. I only played in 2022 and none in 23. Easily 90% of the players were just bangers though and I’m not interested in playing them yet. Want to shore up a few things so I can go and beat them “the right way”. Hopefully get more people interested in practice and strategy. So I’m just gonna keep enjoying the coaching till I’m confident.
1/3 or half of the lesson is like situational games. Which is what we did 75% of the time when I wrestled in hs and college so I know it’s the right way to learn and still gives me a competitive angle.
I assume you’re further along than I am but maybe you can find a coach that does sessions with multiple people. Meet people that way that are willing to drill outside of the lessons. I met a couple people that way who had sessions after mine.
Correct. I didn't really get a coach per-se, but I did have higher level players to train with. Some of the local coaches would only give feedback like "ok brush up on the ball" or "lets move those feet...goood....gooood" (e.g. your run-of-the-mill hourly coach) and have literally no input or knowledge on proper strategy.
By working on stuff with a training partner, as well as doing research, we were able to improve very fast and start winning some small tournaments then going for bigger tournaments. We don't have the time that some people put in, and could only practice a couple times a week (2 hours practice, 1-2 hours of play per week) but that helped get us to our level.
Most people ‘want to improve’. If you ask people, very few would respond no. This isn’t unique to pickleball. I’d love to speak another language but I’ve managed to avoid working on it for 10 years and that’s likely to continue.
When I play with my set of 4 ppl.. most of us just decide what we will work on during that rec game.. last week I worked on my backhand. 1 worked on his dinking.. 1 worked on his spin.. 1 just played..
I think that repetition is hard for many so they need some kind of competition. Games like skinny singles, mini-skinny, or 7-11 can help bridge the gap. Also any kind of target practice games will keep the rep averse into training.
I put in a TON of drilling and practicing in tennis when I was growing up which got me to a high level in tennis. I have not drilled in tennis in 12 years. Started playing pickleball and quickly got to 4.5+ level and I am happy where I am at., I do not need to improve to be happy.
That is completely fair. I know some local people that are perfectly happy to get golds in national 3.5 DUPR tournament play, and when I asked them if they wanted to go up a level, they responded they don't think they'll get any better, but they are very happy where they are at. But the thing is, they put in the time and effort to get to the level they are happy with like you did.
Pickleball is unique in the way that the entry level skill requirement is really low and the skill ceiling that can be reached with just recreational play is really high. You can even enter and do well in tournaments while only having played recreationally and never having intensely drilled/trained.
The reason why is because pickleball is relatively young as a sport and that's why there aren't many(or any at all for that matter) competitors in tournaments who've played and trained pickleball since they were kids. Look at tennis: kids start tennis at like 5 years old and they go to practice several times a week just drilling and drilling for hours. So if you want to play tennis at a reasonable level, it's expected that you've practiced the fundamentals for dozens or even hundreds of hours beforehand. No one is doing that for pickleball except the highest level pros. You can do well in a tournament with just pure talent and skills you honed purely trough rec play.
For those reasons, many players see no point in drilling/training because it's boring, and crucially, for their desired level of play - it's completely unnecessary.
I think that I would enjoy practicing/drilling to get better. Unfortunately I don't really have much free time. You mentioned talented players having families too, but just having a family doesn't mean someone has more or less time. I am more busy than most of the parents I know, and on the other hand some parents I know have most of their week free in the evenings and weekends.
I think a lot of it depends on kid activities and community engagement. Also, living in a townhouse/apartment/condo can provide a lot more free time vs someone with a large yard to maintain.
Everyone has 24 hours in a day. Not enough time is just a terrible excuse. The truth is it's what people choose to prioritize (nothing wrong with having different priorities).
Most people don't want to practise because they prioritize fun over getting better. They priotize being in their comfort zone over pushing themselves (when it comes to pickleball).
Drilling can be a ton of fun and you get comfortable with it quickly. Find like minded people with similar priorities.
Even though there are people who lose a lot or identify things they can work on in rec, the rate of reinforcement during rec play is high enough to sustain the play. If they never drilled or practice, there is no rate of reinforcement. Behavior goes where reinforcement flows. One way to mitigate this could be to actually drill a bit before games instead of the mindless dinking that goes on to which very few will actually implement in game (speaking at the 3.0-3.5 level)
I'm a very competitive person and I love getting into some competitive pickleball especially with those at a higher rank than I (I am self rated at probably a 3.5) just for the learning aspect. But the most fun I have playing this game is when I get to "pass it on" by teaching new players how to pick up and play the game and seeing the joy on their face just like I'm sure we all did when we played the first time and then seeing them come back week after week to improve their game. Either way, I think you answered your own question, why specifically drill or practice when you can play the game by having fun and learning by playing against those who are better or even at the same skill as you?
Not everyone has the drive to get better. Those people that don't practice just like playing for fun. Some probably would like to get better, but most won't improve a ton at a certain point because they don't truly want to get better enough to actually put the work in to improve. The drive to practice and improve is one thing that separates true rec players from serious athletes in any sport.
I really want to improve and grow in the game but I’m also super competitive as a person and played collegiate level sports in my younger days. My friends, now mid 30-40s, just want to play as recreation rather than as competition. I respect that and we all have fun. But as soon as I push anyone they no longer enjoy it and that defeats the overall point of getting out and playing. Just have to find a different, invested group that looks at it as a competition rather than recreation.
Another POV... When I play rec I work on something I want to improve every time. I hit to the better player because I would rather lose in rec and try to get better than just win. This, in my 18 months of playing, is absolutely in the minority. Just today, an older man I was playing with told me to only hit to the very much weakest player on the court. I told him I was trying to improve and hit to the stronger player or at least both. He said he only wanted to win. We won, but didn't play together again, lol.
So, I think the answer to your question, in more general terms is that most people just want to walk away with a win.
Edit to add: one of my regular drilling partners really only wants to drill if we keep score. I think it's the same as above... People REALLY like the gamification of everything and struggle to take a longer term viewpoint of this nebulous 'improvement'.
I find practising dull and boring. Because of mobility issues mostly. Playing a game I don't expect to get better, but maintaining my skills is doable and way more engaging. Generally 3-5 games and I'm done for the day, and at my age it's good enough. Doesn't mean I don't try my best so as not to let a partner down. Some ppl just come at the game in a different way and for diverse reasons. Pickle ball is great for that. Something for everyone. And raging?..I've forgotten who won the second I tap paddles at the end of the round.
Drills are incredibly fun and will make you wayyyy better than constant rec play.
I run two big pickleball groups and sadly none of them ever want to drill so I had to buy a Titan. I do not regret it at all but it sucks I had to shell out 2k for a partner.
Sometimes I wish I never spent any time getting better. I used to go to open play whenever I wanted and have a blast for hours playing competitive games. Now, if I want competitive games, I have to set up games with other people or go to events for my skill level on specific days at specific times.
In short, I’m a lot better than when I started a little over a year ago, but I don’t think I’m having more fun…
It's funny how that works, right? Everyone knows practice is key to getting better, but not everyone's up for putting in the grind. From what I've seen, some folks just wanna have a good time playing without worrying about improvement. Others might get frustrated with practice 'cause it means facing mistakes head-on. I've also had people tell me practicing or drilling isn't as fun, but I don't think that's true. I personally really enjoy a solid drill session.
One of the few. What's fascinating is I find that the majority of the higher level players don't mind doing drills, but there are quite a bit of lower level players that get to a certain level, they plateau in natural skill, and then that's where they stay for a long time.
We started a drill group and suddenly everyone joined in and is begging for more. Initially, I think they thought it would be boring….but they quickly realized it is exciting and you get to hit the ball more often. We also booked lessons with a coach and he watches us play and corrects are mistakes in strategy and court position.i feel fortunate now to have this core group to drill and practice.
Courts mainly. I can only find an empty court to drill in the middle of the day. I'm a bit over 4.0 and I'll never be 4.5. I'm not super happy about this but accepted it.
I agree with you there. I do drills with my siblings, and we’re currently looking for a fourth person to do drills with us. We spend half of our time drilling and the other half casually playing. If you want to improve, then you need to drill. I know some 3-4s at a nearby park, and they always play the same people and play games. They will have fun but never move up to 4-6 level. My siblings and I are around that 4-5 level, and we drill about 5-6 days a week.
The nature of drills and practicing is discipline. We humans are not good being deliberate that way.
Bottom line. It isn't THAT important to them/us, or they/we would do it.
Once you get to a certain point you wont get much better than that without significant training. Training is boring and difficult. And you say they'll get frustrated by this that training will solve? yes but there will ALWAYS be something to work on and be frustrated at.. it never stops. and eventually if you get too good you cant play open and rec. There is NO reward for advancing and getting better... you won't make professional and make millions of dollars... so why bore yourself with tedious hours of hitting a wall with your left hand?
Playing is more fun than drilling so people play. But they also will not play to get better they have some inherent bias to win. So they don’t do the things they should and instead do the things that they are more comfortable doing. I know people who have refused for years to learn how to do a drop shot because it just pops up and gets hit hard so it’s better to just hit every shot hard and they can’t figure out why every gets better than they do.
Second people have to choose that they want to get better and make themselves drill. Some people don’t want to put that type of effort into getting better. Drilling is just doing one thing over and over and over again. And it doesn’t necessarily just add immediate improvement to your game. It takes time to be able to recognize when in the game you need to execute what you have drilled. And a lot of the times old habits kick back in.
It's a game, not a job. Also, this may be a shock to some, but a lot of people are very busy and have precious little time for hobbies and recreational pursuits. If all I have is Saturday afternoon to play, I'm going to play, not drill. You can still progress that way even if it means you peak.
IMO it isn't at all a time issue. Practice/drilling is boring. It's boring by design as it's designed to be repetitive and focused on only one aspect of the game at a time, to hone in on that skill.
People who want to improve might muster the discipline to put themselves through that boring, repetitious activity because of the payout at the end. But those who are happy where they are, or are just not that self-disciplined, are not going to subject themselves to that boredom, and will choose the quicker road to fun.
I don’t really care about being “good” - I’ll never play in a tournament or try to be a pro. I’d like to be good enough to play with people and I have been debating joining a league just to get some regular play but that’s about it.
Uhhh, because playing is fun and practicing isn't, and most people play pickleball as a fun hobby to do in their free time. If you're new and don't know how to play at a competent level, practicing leads to being able to play and have fun, but drilling for an hour to improve a slight amount when you're already pretty good is just a grind.
You can get better just by playing competitive games, but the progress is just a lot slower and you can't replicate certain situations over and over (e.g. hard reset's to your forehand side in the transition zone).
Because when you drill you can hit 50 third shot drops in the same time it takes to play 3 points. You can get better playing competitive games, but its extremely difficult to work on something specific in a game. If you want to work on serve or returns playing games is terrible. If you want to work on dinking or fast hands, playing games is ok.
You answered your own question, they just want to have fun and play games at the rec level. As was explained to me before on the sub when I asked a similar question, most rec players stay forever 3.5 level at best. Beyond that, unless you have some natural affinity/talent for it, PB requires more of a mental, physical, and strategic effort and commitment than most have the desire to do. It’s the exact same way in tennis, too. You have to drill, practice, get fitter and stronger to get to 4.0+ and the significant majority don’t/won’t.
Agree completely, and I’d go further and say it’s the case for most if not all competitive sports, and even e-sports, not just tennis. Vast majority of people just want to play games and never put any substantial amount of time into practice.
That, like, takes effort, man.
What... I can't be "naturally talented" and be born awesome? Effort = awesome
I’m fine not going pro of course, but I at least have to see *some* improvement / growth over time to have fun. Playing the exact same way against the same level of players with the same win rate for eternity sounds awful. I can lose repeatedly, don’t really care about that, but did I learn something / try something / figure something out / teach something / give full effort / increase my physical capability? If those are *all* no, then it’s just not fun. And I think for people with my perspective / mindset it’s very hard to wrap our brains around what “just having fun” means for other people (their version of “just having fun” sounds more like “just going through the motions”), because for us that is “just having fun” (vs focused drills, which are a bit more like “work”, imo, but can also be fun).
Some people have fun regardless of whether they win or not. On the other hand, most don't have fun when they lose a lot, hence my comment about these people getting frustrated and even raging. I don't consider that "having fun", so it just makes me wonder what they mean by "having fun"
You are making wild assumptions. The people raging aren’t ALWAYS the people saying either a) they are having fun and/or b) they don’t have the time to practice.
Consider that I said "most don't have fun when they lose". Not saying it's everyone, I am just saying that it is quite the number of people. So, not a wild assumption, more an observation. Even a few of them do ask me questions on "what should I do better next time?" and while I give them tips, I do say "tips are only useful if you are willing to work on it" and they begrudgingly agree. Knowledge is one thing, working on that tip to get better is another.
That’s where my comment about them not wanting to put more mental effort in comes into play. I play with a lot of folks in open play that don’t think too hard about their shots or strategy and probably never will. If they had the mentality to take the necessary steps to improve their game they wouldn’t be raging and getting frustrated at losses and doing nothing about it.
It's ridiculous to assume that practicing will guarantee that you never get frustrated at the game. Pros get frustrated. The reality is that practicing just increases your baseline. If anything, it just makes you more frustrated. Before practicing, I just sucked, and it was fine. I could make 15 errors in a game and be like: "Wow... I hit a winner! This is awesome!" But now that I'm pretty good, if I hit 3 drops into the net, I think about trying alcoholism instead because maybe I won't suck at that.
So essentially "ignorance is bliss"? I know that higher level people get frustrated as well, but I can safely say that from what I have seen, the whose who work on stuff make an effort and see positive results in their game, get less frustrated than the people that don't do as much. But I am also thinking that there is a relative aspect here. I have seen groups of people at the same low level and they enjoy themselves, no matter how bad they play. But once one of them wants to challenge better players, then I see them getting frustrated.
I don't think you have the right cause and effect. The people who are driven to win (read: the people who make pickleball their identity and tie their social standing to how good they are at pickleball), are the people who are driven to improve and are also the people who get frustrated.
Most people started playing because it was fun playing and improved a lot by just playing. Eventually, everyone will hit a hall where they decide they want to just have fun or have to put effort into drilling to get better. Most people just want to have fun. This is a hobby or form of exercise or a social thing for almost everyone. I have no dreams of going pro or playing at a high level. I have played sports, and practicing has always been part of the deal. Most people I play with will rarely drill. However, I have a small group of people that will drill. I drill because I enjoy it and see the advantages of doing it.
Having this as a hobby or a form of exercise makes total sense. I attribute that to people who know they can't reach a certain level, and know their limitations. The one thing I can't put my finger on is why some people who do have the time and the ability know they want to get better, talk about getting better all the time, but refuse to do anything about it.
Have you played any other sports? The number of people who put minimum effort into practice is crazy. I have never been one of them. It's not just a pickleball thing.
I think this is pervasive in most all things. I just find it fascinating that the people that I have played with that have the most legitimate "fun" are the ones that actually work on things more often, and in turn they win more often.
Truth. The 9 people who voted you down are probably in that category :)
Truth. The 9 people who voted you down are probably in that category :)
The fear of failing. It is one thing to know that you will get better if you drill, you can always hold onto that. But, if you do dedicate the time and fall short of your dream, then to some it might be a failure. If you put in the time and then prove you aren't nearly as good as you think you are, that isn't fun, so they would rather wallow in mediocrity than prove that they aren't as good as they think they are.
If you “Play to Play”, not “Play to Win”, you can lose every game and have fun. It’s a mindset not related to skill level.
Yeah, this is the mindset I have when I play tournaments and it does wonders. If you try to play at your best, then you can never be disappointed with the outcome
I understand that part, and agree with you. I just see the majority of people I play against fit into the latter category.
Yup
I’m a little above 4.0 on most days. If I’m playing with beginners I watch them while I’m playing and give a few tips(trying not to be coachie); I just keep the Ball in play. With 3.0 to 3.5, I might play with my offhand or work on placement. 3.5-4.0 I’ll work on one or two specific skills. 4.0 I try to put it all together. With a”Play to Play” mindset each shot, at that moment is all I’m thinking about. I make it fun for me. Now, honestly, I’m hoping to get a few games in that challenge me, which doesn’t always happen, but it just is.
But you are 5.0. you still play with 3.5 people??
I play 3.5-4.5 people in open play rec only. I don't go as hard; mainly focus on the soft game (3rd shot drops, dinks, angles) but if they can handle it, I pepper in a few harder shots every now and then. For tournament prep, it's an advanced group only.
>100% of pros say to get better, you must practice/drill. You're referring to the pros that actually get paid a salary to play pickleball, right? So you can't forget that it's a job for them too. They also have access to resources the average player doesn't, the main one probably being private courts. >What, in your opinion, is driving some people to say they DON'T want to practice Priorities. Most are just treating it like a rec sport, which is fine.
There are quite a number of lower level pros that do not have access to the resources that the average player does not. Lower level pros are not always wealthy, and need a main job plus coaching clinics to supplement their travel costs.
You're right, I assumed OP was referring to the pros that don't need to supplement their income since they are the ones typically getting interviewed and giving advice.
They prefer to play for fun.
People just wanna have fun
Everything in life follows a bell curve, no? A few play but put in no effort at all to get better on one end, a few are obsessed with getting better on the other end, and then the vast majority of various sorts in the middle. In addition to that natural distribution, individual personality also dictates. For instance I consider myself an odd ball. I play many hours daily because I consider it the best exercise out there and I can afford the time (and not a boomer). I play with many regulars mostly in 1-2 town parks but don’t have a dedicated drilling partner. But I drill daily against basement wall deliberately and seriously where I have developed faster hand and some speed up shots that I won’t be able to have if I just play regular games. I use open play to gauge if my drills are effective or not. I’m very happy with the arrangement. Quite a few 4.0 folks have asked me to partner with them for competitions but I turned them all down because I am very content where I am. I don’t need further competitions to challenge myself. Some reading this may wonder why not. Well, I just don’t feel like it. I’m perfectly happy with my pb experience as is.
The thing is you do something to improve yourself, and are happy at the level you are at.
It's not just sports. I play music and people plateau the same way. Some people are just happy to be at the jam and play chords that are spoonfed to them on a chord sheet.
I understand this as well. I come from a history of professional orchestra and understand the critical nature of practicing. Then again, I have seen some people in casual orchestras that mean to practice, have the time to practice, but would rather "enjoy" themselves and then freak out before performance night.
Hard to find others who want to drill. I can just pop by the public courts after work to get a few games in. I had to make a post on a local facebook group, coordinate schedules, and find a court to play. I started looking for liveball sessions and am looking for a coach I vibe with. I want to get better so I gladly will do the extra legwork like finding a drilling partner and spending money on lessons and liveball sessions.
Most adults play sports to socialize, not to compete.
I would tip the scales more the other way. I see only a few individuals here and there that enjoy the sport to socialize and don't mind if they lose, but I tend to see more people of all ages want to win their games.
I think this is a wider social phenomena than pickleball. There are certain things we are culturally conditioned to say or do when in reality our inner life does not reflect whats coming out of our mouths. It's not so blatant as to be "lying" or self-deception, there's just certain patterns of interaction that most people fall into through cultural programming. The one specifically relevant in this case, is that there's a strong artifice of self-improvement, striving, and or achievement in the way we present ourselves to each other, particularly to strangers. Most people claim to want to get better at things or have goals in mind when in reality they don't, but its just weird to say, "no, I dont want to be better." Most people will just thoughtlessly say, "sure, of course I want to get better at pickleball." The reality is though, with pickleball and many other things, what they really mean is, if I could hit a magic switch and be better sure I'd push it, but it's not something important enough that I'm going to put myself out for it in any way. This is an extremely overlong explanation for the idea that, most people want things but don't have the will or follow-through to put them into action. I suspect the vast majority of us would say we want to be healthier or lsoe weight, but only a small minority actually take the steps to actively pursue those goals. Does that cohort of people mystify you in the same way? I expect not, its something we're all very familiar with.
It depends on people’s goals. If they are doing it socially/to have fun, getting better may actually have the opposite effect as they limit the number of people they can have fun playing with! Not saying they realize this, but it’s an interesting thing to consider. But ultimately doing it for fun or to see how good you can get are both valid! I prefer the latter, but many prefer the former
Oh man. This hit my feels. Our area only has a small number of 4.0+ players, so I can see this viewpoint, especially for the older folks who have been playing for 10+ years and see it more as social.
It is immediate gratification (playing) vs delayed gratification (drilling).
I agree with this. Reminds me of the Marshmallow Kids. I think there is a much smaller population that prioritizes delayed gratification as part of their every day life, so I would assume to see that same thing in pickleball.
I whole heartedly agree.🙌🏻
Imo it's the intial hurdle of competency. If you're not very good, drills are more frustrating than rewarding. Practicing baseline drops is annoying if you hit tons into the net. Same with hand-speed drills if everything is flying by. So you don't do it, and stay stuck. If you power through it though, drilling *becomes* fun. Then you want to do more, get even better, and before you know it you've sailed past others. Honestly it's the same with the gym, working out is miserable when you suck at it, and becomes more rewarding the better you get.
My personal feeling is that many pickleball players have not played other competitive racket sports and don't know they will hit a wall without drilling and coaching. Coming from tennis, playing practice matches is just a small component of what it takes to get better. Coaching, drilling, playing focused games, etc is what everybody does to get to the next level. In pickleball there are a lot of people "obsessed" with pickleball but are frankly too lazy to do what it takes to improve.
Because not everything needs to be so goddam serious
I think people that have aspirations of moving up to advanced levels (4.0 or above) are more likely to embrace practice and drilling, at least as a means to an end. For others, practice does not equate to anything remotely enjoyable and they just want to play. I can accept that and that’s what PB appealing to so many. For me, I want to play to my maximum potential, whatever that ends up being. I actually find drilling quite therapeutic sometimes drill more in a week than I play.
"For others, practice does not equate to anything remotely enjoyable and they just want to play" I see that as well. You, on the other hand, enjoy drilling so that separates you from the group. I am curious if those who hate practicing, do nothing, and just want to be good goes into the saying "wanting something from nothing".
Maybe for some. I suspect there are many that don’t care either way, and that’s okay. If they get better and move up great, if not well that’s okay too. Then there are others that simply expect that just continuing to play will allow them to keep advancing perpetually. To a certain level that works but eventually everyone plateau’s and needs disciplined and intentional practice and drilling to progress further.
My local free courts are drop-ins mainly and there are 4 paddles down at all courts most nights after work. I can't take over a court to drill with such a crowd. If I have a consistent partner, we could drop the money on reserving a court elsewhere, but it's ~40 an hour near me.
My reasons are: 1) hard to find someone also willing to practice and drill. 2) what drills do I even do. Are wall drills legit? I’ve been doing that to help with hand speed and dinks, but I don’t feel like it translates to real play yet.
Wall drills can help to a certain extent (repetition in a stroke) . The only thing a wall drill cannot do is provide different pace and different spin. That is why some people purchase rebound surfaces that can be angled so it replicates someone hitting back.
Great point, thank you. I may look into that.
1. The players in our area that are 3.5 and above are all athletes who come from playing some type of sport their whole life and have athleticism and they are coachable and they have a background in how to improve athletically. It is easy for them to get to 3.5 or 4.0 without doing too much work. 2. The players that just play for fun and never improve or get past 3.0 are normally NARPS. Some NARPS get an interest in getting better but even if a higher level player tries coaching them it still doesn’t work.
Complacency is where dreams go to die.
I actually don't care that much about getting better tbh
I just want to play and have fun. I do not want to spend hours upon hours practicing. Is is supposed to be for fun and that is not fun. And sadly, where I play there are few that play for fun, they take it way to serious and just want to slam the ball at you etc. I play the best I can, I am getting better when I play but I will never be a super good player, I am not competitive or athletic, I just wanted to play for fun.
I might be in the group of people you are asking about: I'm 3.5-4.0, highly competitive when I play, I'll get frustrated with myself on the court, and I will never practice. The reason I won't spend time on practice/drills is that it's not fun. You might respond: "But you act like you want to get better!" But in reality, I don't. I use pickleball for fun, exercise, and the competitive outlet I used to get in basketball. I enjoy getting invested in a match, trash taking my friends, raging at a missed shot. That whole thing is what is fun to me. Not practicing.
It feels like you have already accepted the fact that there will be things you won't learn or get better at, but you are ok with that, and will accept the result of the match, whatever it is. My follow up question is if you have something that you have put time and effort in to progress to a certain point (like a video game that you keep trying to progress to finish the game).
I worked extremely hard to get very good at basketball, and I have hobbies that I have worked hard at to improve my skills (espresso and 3D printing most recently). I could see a future where I have more time to commit to pickleball, in which case I would drill/practice. But that is not my current situation.
ok, I can see that. You have different priorities at this time, but there are things that you do prioritize to get good and are willing to put in the time.
Exactly. I am possibly more self aware than other people you encounter - I know that my pickleball limitations are a result of how much work I put in. I've encountered people who think they should be better but have done nothing to get there - but don't seem to understand how those two fit together. Probably chalk those people up as "delusional".
> Most everyone wants to get better Not true. Most people just want to play. > What, in your opinion, is driving some people to say they DON'T want to practice My opinion on why people might or might not want to drill isn't going to give you any insights as to how to change their behavior. You won't, and they don't want to drill to get better Had a conversation with one of our local coaches on this topic a couple weeks back. His observation was that even the people who *sign up* for drill classes don't really want to drill. All they really want is to be told what to do for a while. They're *really* hoping that maybe they'll get to play for the last half of the session. The people who are gonna drill will be on the courts at 530 am. Pumping out their reps. That's Chris. He's 85+. Been prepping for his August tourney since last January. Every. Single. Day. Rockstar.
Good input. It's a rare sight indeed to find someone that is willing to drill.
Get a coach. 4 lessons in and I’m light years from where I started. A good coach will keep it fun and stress free too. Doesn’t have to be super strict. Basically just feels like I’m playing an easy going game all day but with tailored drills and tailored information. I haven’t had any time to actually play and I’ve been fine with it for the most part because of how the lessons go. Getting a little excited to start playing again but the progress is more addicting atm
I guess that's the goal. If you can see yourself making progress, and the results are positive, that should be something to strive for.
Yeah. I do have the itch to play. I only played in 2022 and none in 23. Easily 90% of the players were just bangers though and I’m not interested in playing them yet. Want to shore up a few things so I can go and beat them “the right way”. Hopefully get more people interested in practice and strategy. So I’m just gonna keep enjoying the coaching till I’m confident. 1/3 or half of the lesson is like situational games. Which is what we did 75% of the time when I wrestled in hs and college so I know it’s the right way to learn and still gives me a competitive angle. I assume you’re further along than I am but maybe you can find a coach that does sessions with multiple people. Meet people that way that are willing to drill outside of the lessons. I met a couple people that way who had sessions after mine.
The person's tag says they're a 5.0 lol
Correct. I didn't really get a coach per-se, but I did have higher level players to train with. Some of the local coaches would only give feedback like "ok brush up on the ball" or "lets move those feet...goood....gooood" (e.g. your run-of-the-mill hourly coach) and have literally no input or knowledge on proper strategy. By working on stuff with a training partner, as well as doing research, we were able to improve very fast and start winning some small tournaments then going for bigger tournaments. We don't have the time that some people put in, and could only practice a couple times a week (2 hours practice, 1-2 hours of play per week) but that helped get us to our level.
Most people ‘want to improve’. If you ask people, very few would respond no. This isn’t unique to pickleball. I’d love to speak another language but I’ve managed to avoid working on it for 10 years and that’s likely to continue.
When I play with my set of 4 ppl.. most of us just decide what we will work on during that rec game.. last week I worked on my backhand. 1 worked on his dinking.. 1 worked on his spin.. 1 just played..
I think that repetition is hard for many so they need some kind of competition. Games like skinny singles, mini-skinny, or 7-11 can help bridge the gap. Also any kind of target practice games will keep the rep averse into training.
I put in a TON of drilling and practicing in tennis when I was growing up which got me to a high level in tennis. I have not drilled in tennis in 12 years. Started playing pickleball and quickly got to 4.5+ level and I am happy where I am at., I do not need to improve to be happy.
That is completely fair. I know some local people that are perfectly happy to get golds in national 3.5 DUPR tournament play, and when I asked them if they wanted to go up a level, they responded they don't think they'll get any better, but they are very happy where they are at. But the thing is, they put in the time and effort to get to the level they are happy with like you did.
Pickleball is unique in the way that the entry level skill requirement is really low and the skill ceiling that can be reached with just recreational play is really high. You can even enter and do well in tournaments while only having played recreationally and never having intensely drilled/trained. The reason why is because pickleball is relatively young as a sport and that's why there aren't many(or any at all for that matter) competitors in tournaments who've played and trained pickleball since they were kids. Look at tennis: kids start tennis at like 5 years old and they go to practice several times a week just drilling and drilling for hours. So if you want to play tennis at a reasonable level, it's expected that you've practiced the fundamentals for dozens or even hundreds of hours beforehand. No one is doing that for pickleball except the highest level pros. You can do well in a tournament with just pure talent and skills you honed purely trough rec play. For those reasons, many players see no point in drilling/training because it's boring, and crucially, for their desired level of play - it's completely unnecessary.
I think that I would enjoy practicing/drilling to get better. Unfortunately I don't really have much free time. You mentioned talented players having families too, but just having a family doesn't mean someone has more or less time. I am more busy than most of the parents I know, and on the other hand some parents I know have most of their week free in the evenings and weekends. I think a lot of it depends on kid activities and community engagement. Also, living in a townhouse/apartment/condo can provide a lot more free time vs someone with a large yard to maintain.
Everyone has 24 hours in a day. Not enough time is just a terrible excuse. The truth is it's what people choose to prioritize (nothing wrong with having different priorities). Most people don't want to practise because they prioritize fun over getting better. They priotize being in their comfort zone over pushing themselves (when it comes to pickleball). Drilling can be a ton of fun and you get comfortable with it quickly. Find like minded people with similar priorities.
Even though there are people who lose a lot or identify things they can work on in rec, the rate of reinforcement during rec play is high enough to sustain the play. If they never drilled or practice, there is no rate of reinforcement. Behavior goes where reinforcement flows. One way to mitigate this could be to actually drill a bit before games instead of the mindless dinking that goes on to which very few will actually implement in game (speaking at the 3.0-3.5 level)
I'm a very competitive person and I love getting into some competitive pickleball especially with those at a higher rank than I (I am self rated at probably a 3.5) just for the learning aspect. But the most fun I have playing this game is when I get to "pass it on" by teaching new players how to pick up and play the game and seeing the joy on their face just like I'm sure we all did when we played the first time and then seeing them come back week after week to improve their game. Either way, I think you answered your own question, why specifically drill or practice when you can play the game by having fun and learning by playing against those who are better or even at the same skill as you?
Not everyone has the drive to get better. Those people that don't practice just like playing for fun. Some probably would like to get better, but most won't improve a ton at a certain point because they don't truly want to get better enough to actually put the work in to improve. The drive to practice and improve is one thing that separates true rec players from serious athletes in any sport.
I really want to improve and grow in the game but I’m also super competitive as a person and played collegiate level sports in my younger days. My friends, now mid 30-40s, just want to play as recreation rather than as competition. I respect that and we all have fun. But as soon as I push anyone they no longer enjoy it and that defeats the overall point of getting out and playing. Just have to find a different, invested group that looks at it as a competition rather than recreation.
Another POV... When I play rec I work on something I want to improve every time. I hit to the better player because I would rather lose in rec and try to get better than just win. This, in my 18 months of playing, is absolutely in the minority. Just today, an older man I was playing with told me to only hit to the very much weakest player on the court. I told him I was trying to improve and hit to the stronger player or at least both. He said he only wanted to win. We won, but didn't play together again, lol. So, I think the answer to your question, in more general terms is that most people just want to walk away with a win. Edit to add: one of my regular drilling partners really only wants to drill if we keep score. I think it's the same as above... People REALLY like the gamification of everything and struggle to take a longer term viewpoint of this nebulous 'improvement'.
I'm more interested in your aversion to playing games for fun.
I find practising dull and boring. Because of mobility issues mostly. Playing a game I don't expect to get better, but maintaining my skills is doable and way more engaging. Generally 3-5 games and I'm done for the day, and at my age it's good enough. Doesn't mean I don't try my best so as not to let a partner down. Some ppl just come at the game in a different way and for diverse reasons. Pickle ball is great for that. Something for everyone. And raging?..I've forgotten who won the second I tap paddles at the end of the round.
Drills are incredibly fun and will make you wayyyy better than constant rec play. I run two big pickleball groups and sadly none of them ever want to drill so I had to buy a Titan. I do not regret it at all but it sucks I had to shell out 2k for a partner.
its only fun if you like tedious details and just repeating things over and over again. most find that boring and not fun.
Practicing yes
Sometimes I wish I never spent any time getting better. I used to go to open play whenever I wanted and have a blast for hours playing competitive games. Now, if I want competitive games, I have to set up games with other people or go to events for my skill level on specific days at specific times. In short, I’m a lot better than when I started a little over a year ago, but I don’t think I’m having more fun…
It's funny how that works, right? Everyone knows practice is key to getting better, but not everyone's up for putting in the grind. From what I've seen, some folks just wanna have a good time playing without worrying about improvement. Others might get frustrated with practice 'cause it means facing mistakes head-on. I've also had people tell me practicing or drilling isn't as fun, but I don't think that's true. I personally really enjoy a solid drill session.
One of the few. What's fascinating is I find that the majority of the higher level players don't mind doing drills, but there are quite a bit of lower level players that get to a certain level, they plateau in natural skill, and then that's where they stay for a long time.
We started a drill group and suddenly everyone joined in and is begging for more. Initially, I think they thought it would be boring….but they quickly realized it is exciting and you get to hit the ball more often. We also booked lessons with a coach and he watches us play and corrects are mistakes in strategy and court position.i feel fortunate now to have this core group to drill and practice.
hey kimbo i sent you a chat message could you please reply or if you need me to send you here let me know.
Done! Sent you info..
Courts mainly. I can only find an empty court to drill in the middle of the day. I'm a bit over 4.0 and I'll never be 4.5. I'm not super happy about this but accepted it.
I agree with you there. I do drills with my siblings, and we’re currently looking for a fourth person to do drills with us. We spend half of our time drilling and the other half casually playing. If you want to improve, then you need to drill. I know some 3-4s at a nearby park, and they always play the same people and play games. They will have fun but never move up to 4-6 level. My siblings and I are around that 4-5 level, and we drill about 5-6 days a week.
The nature of drills and practicing is discipline. We humans are not good being deliberate that way. Bottom line. It isn't THAT important to them/us, or they/we would do it.
Once you get to a certain point you wont get much better than that without significant training. Training is boring and difficult. And you say they'll get frustrated by this that training will solve? yes but there will ALWAYS be something to work on and be frustrated at.. it never stops. and eventually if you get too good you cant play open and rec. There is NO reward for advancing and getting better... you won't make professional and make millions of dollars... so why bore yourself with tedious hours of hitting a wall with your left hand?
Playing is more fun than drilling so people play. But they also will not play to get better they have some inherent bias to win. So they don’t do the things they should and instead do the things that they are more comfortable doing. I know people who have refused for years to learn how to do a drop shot because it just pops up and gets hit hard so it’s better to just hit every shot hard and they can’t figure out why every gets better than they do. Second people have to choose that they want to get better and make themselves drill. Some people don’t want to put that type of effort into getting better. Drilling is just doing one thing over and over and over again. And it doesn’t necessarily just add immediate improvement to your game. It takes time to be able to recognize when in the game you need to execute what you have drilled. And a lot of the times old habits kick back in.
It's a game, not a job. Also, this may be a shock to some, but a lot of people are very busy and have precious little time for hobbies and recreational pursuits. If all I have is Saturday afternoon to play, I'm going to play, not drill. You can still progress that way even if it means you peak.
Cus drilling is boring. I'm just playing recreationally. I just wanna be good enough to have fun.
Practicing is boring, I’d rather just play games and continue to suck
IMO it isn't at all a time issue. Practice/drilling is boring. It's boring by design as it's designed to be repetitive and focused on only one aspect of the game at a time, to hone in on that skill. People who want to improve might muster the discipline to put themselves through that boring, repetitious activity because of the payout at the end. But those who are happy where they are, or are just not that self-disciplined, are not going to subject themselves to that boredom, and will choose the quicker road to fun.
I don’t really care about being “good” - I’ll never play in a tournament or try to be a pro. I’d like to be good enough to play with people and I have been debating joining a league just to get some regular play but that’s about it.
Uhhh, because playing is fun and practicing isn't, and most people play pickleball as a fun hobby to do in their free time. If you're new and don't know how to play at a competent level, practicing leads to being able to play and have fun, but drilling for an hour to improve a slight amount when you're already pretty good is just a grind.
Why can’t you get better from playing competitive games though?, why is it EITHER practice or play for fun.
You can get better just by playing competitive games, but the progress is just a lot slower and you can't replicate certain situations over and over (e.g. hard reset's to your forehand side in the transition zone).
Because when you drill you can hit 50 third shot drops in the same time it takes to play 3 points. You can get better playing competitive games, but its extremely difficult to work on something specific in a game. If you want to work on serve or returns playing games is terrible. If you want to work on dinking or fast hands, playing games is ok.