Every season tells a story.
This fall, mine was about rhythm. The kind that comes from showing up each week and never quite knowing who you’ll be standing beside. I played in both sessions of the City of Greenville Parks & Recreation 3.5 Men’s Doubles Ladder Pickleball League, each one lasting four weeks. With no set partners, every match was a fresh opportunity, presenting numerous micro-decisions to be made right on the court.
The first session came together easily. I started to recognize familiar faces and patterns, finding my footing with whoever I happened to be paired with. I found that if I just locked in on my serve and return placement, the rest of the rally fell right into place. Each point instilled more and more confidence. By the end of those four weeks, I had worked my way into a silver medal finish.
The second session felt a little different. The competition got tighter. The points got longer. And I had to learn how to adapt faster, reading new partners and finding ways to connect on the fly. Some days everything clicked, and others it didn’t. But even when the results didn’t go my way, I left feeling sharper and more grounded. I had a rhythm that I had never felt before. That session ended with a bronze medal and a reminder that progress doesn’t always look like winning on the scoreboard.
That’s what I love about pickleball. It teaches patience and awareness. It forces you to adjust, to reset, to keep learning. You can’t fake chemistry, and you can’t control every point. And you certainly can’t control your doubles partner! What you can do is focus on what you can control, play your game with calm confidence, communicate effectively, and trust that something good will come from the effort.
Two sessions. Two medals. A season of growth.
Here’s to showing up again. See you next season, City of GVL Pickleball!
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