I started playing pickleball indoors, but over the last three years, the majority of my play was outside. So imagine my surprise when I found myself adjusting to indoor pickleball play.
New southern living
Now that we have a new home in South Carolina, we really want to get to know the local area. Linh and I have been West coasters our whole lives…so adjusting to the East and southern living has been a big adjustment. I want to participate in some local events in the upcoming year and it just so happen to work out earlier than I expected. I was contacted by a friend whose partner had to pull out of Women’s Doubles at the last minute. So I found myself playing in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals one weekend.
INDOOR, Outdoor, Indoor Pickleball Play
I was frankly surprised to learn that it was an indoor event. I haven’t played much indoors these days. I remembered learning to play on indoor surfaces and having to spend a few days to get used to playing outdoors when an outdoor tournament was coming up. While I think it is easier to go from outdoor play to indoor pickleball play, there are still a few things to keep in mind.
- The indoor ball is much harder to put away. It is slower and softer…so points can just take longer. You need to be patient.
- While we are sometimes blinded by the sun when playing outdoors, the glare from lights bouncing off an indoor court can be just as difficult. It will likely take you a bit of time to adjust to the indoor lighting, particularly if you are playing in a gymnasium as opposed to an indoor tennis facility.
- Slippery floors can be an issue. My friend and partner that day kept losing her footing. Dust accumulates on these floors and can make them quite slippery. I recommend keeping a damp towel nearby to wipe the soles of your shoes between points.
be prepared
It really doesn’t matter what ball is being played or what surface you find yourself on. The one thing you can control is your preparation. Make the time to practice in conditions similar to what you will be experiencing during your tournament. It doesn’t matter if you are playing indoors pickleball or outside…it pays to be prepared.
