When I picked the title for my book, The Art of Pickleball, I wasn’t thinking about Sun Tzu’s principles in The Art of War, Robert Pirsig’s journey in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or even Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The truth is that I had planned to call the book Winning Pickleball. My publisher said that was not so great for advertising: the book would be at the bottom of all alphabetical lists. She suggested I choose a title starting with a letter closer to the start of the alphabet. A short while later The Art of Pickleball sprang into my mind, and that was that.

Lately, while looking for inspiration as I write these blogs, I’ve been thinking again about different aspects of the game of pickleball – strategies, tactics, ethics, rules – and I began realizing that the principles Sun Tzu describes in his book, The Art of War, really do apply to the game of pickleball as well as to many other things in life in general. I began thinking that the name of my book was more apt than I’d realized back then. Then it occurred to me that Pirsig’s insights in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance might also apply. [If you haven’t read these books, I highly recommend them. So speaks the literature major in me.] Is there a connection between pickleball and Mastering the Art of French Cooking? I’ll have to think about that, but meanwhile, let me touch on some of the conclusions the other two authors reached and their application to this sport.

Sun Tzu, a Chinese general during the 6th century BC, wrote what many say is still the definitive manual for how to succeed – not only in battle but in any aspect of life involving competition. A reviewer for Amazon.com said, “Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality.” Take almost any one of Sun Tzu’s principles, apply it to the game of pickleball, and you will gain an advantage over an opponent who has not thought about the game this way.

My translation has one passage that reads: “It is said that one who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be endangered in a hundred engagements. One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes be victorious, sometimes meet with defeat. One who knows neither the enemy nor himself will invariably be defeated in every engagement.” In an earlier blog posting and in my own book, I’ve discussed the need to “size up” your opponent and yourself in order to minimize both your opponent’s strengths and your weaknesses while capitalizing on your strengths. This kind of knowledge truly is power – the kind that helps you achieve victory.

“Warfare is the Way (Tao) of deception. Although you are capable, display incapability to them. When committed to employing your forces, display inactivity. When your objective is nearby, make it appear as if distant; when far away, create the illusion of being nearby.” How does this apply to playing pickleball? Disguise your stroke until the last minute . Keep your opponent guessing. Don’t always do the same thing – change it up and vary the pace. Be fluid and change as conditions change.

“The victorious army first realizes the conditions for victory, and then seeks to engage in battle. The vanquished army fights first, and then seeks victory.” We’re back to the statement about knowledge being power. Preparing for victory in your pickleball game means you have an edge over an opponent who’s just “playing” and hasn’t prepared himself this way.

Other notable statements from The Art of War for you to ponder with their application to pickleball:
• You must believe in yourself.
• Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.
• What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.
• To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

As for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – this book presents two people with very different world views. The first is the narrator whose “classical” approach necessitates the use of rational problem solving and anticipatory thinking to deal with whatever might come along. The second is his friend who has a “romantic” approach to life in which he simply hopes for the best and doesn’t prepare for things life might throw his way but rather “goes with the flow.” These individuals have very different personalities: the romantic friend is focused “in the moment” and not on rational analysis; the classical narrator needs to understand the inner workings of things and applies rational analysis to everything he encounters.

Initially it’s clear that the narrator prefers the classical approach, but as the story goes on, he learns to appreciate both viewpoints and ultimately aims not for the middle ground but for a way of life that includes (requires) both. The book continues with the premise that rationality and Zen-like “being in the moment” can (and should) coexist harmoniously.

This harmonious approach couldn’t be more perfect for how to “do” pickleball. Study about it, read blogs like this one, learn new techniques, analyze what you’re doing right and wrong, and read Sun Tzu and apply his principles to the game. Then go out on the court and let it all go. Breathe deeply and relax. Be the paddle. Be the ball. Focus on just playing the game.

When you’ve done all the things I’ve described above and you’ve come away from the courts victorious and happy, indulge yourself with a glass of red wine and a poulet sauté (recipe p. 254) for dinner. You’ll deserve it!