Should You Still Go "All Out" When Facing a Weaker Opponent in Rec Play?

Pickleball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun. Pickleball is also a sport, and sports are meant to be competitive.

However, there are times, usually during open or recreational play, when pickleball is neither fun nor competitive.

This is most often due to a low level of competition or when playing against players with mobility issues.

In these moments, we must ask ourselves, "Should I hold back or play my A-game?"

We'll attempt to make a case for holding back and another case for not holding back. 

The case for not holding back

Besides the simple argument that sports are meant to be competitive, there are two better reasons worth discussing.

1. Holding back can make you worse
2. Holding back can cause injury

Holding back can make you worse

If playing against better players makes you better, then it stands to reason that playing against weaker players can make you worse.  

When you consistently find yourself facing weaker opponents, it’s easy to build poor habits or allow your mechanics (and form) to break down.

For instance, if you can get away with not getting into a good ready position or keeping your paddle up, then there’s a solid chance that could carry over into more competitive games.

If your version of holding back means not using proper technique, then you probably shouldn't hold back.

Holding back can cause injury

Perhaps even worse than weakening your game, holding back can also cause you to get injured.

How?

Let’s say you’ve decided to play a game at half-speed, and now you're lagging behind, putting yourself in bad positions on the court. Inevitably, your opponent will hit a ball just out of your reach or surprise you with a lob or speed-up (even bad players can hit good shots). 

If you suddenly lunge or reach for a shot, that can overextend or strain something. 

If a loud pop follows that lunge, you might be out for the next 4-6 weeks simply because you decided to "take it easy" on your opponents.

If your version of holding back means putting yourself in compromising situations, you should not hold back.

The case for holding back

Now, let’s discuss the case for holding back. Here are three reasons you might want to hold back:

1. Holding back can improve your game
2. Holding back gets you more touches
3. Holding back helps pickleball grow

Holding back can improve your game

Finding and exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses is Winning 101. However, in rec play, winning isn’t (or at least shouldn’t) always be the goal. Rec play is a great opportunity to work on specific shots and techniques or improve aspects of your game.

Holding back can force you into more uncomfortable (not compromising) positions and focus on improving one particular skill. 

For instance, if you decide that “Double-Knee-Brace" Charlie could injure himself if you put the ball too far out of reach, then spend the game working on aggressive dinks at his feet instead.

Or if “Can’t-Handle-a-Drive" Betty misses every hard-hit ball, it's a great time to practice your drop shots. 

By focusing on what your opponent can handle instead of what they can’t, you can put yourself in a position to get extra reps in your own weaker areas.

Holding back gets you more touches

When every rally ends after the third or fifth shot, pickleball isn’t that much fun. Even if you take every shot for your team during those rallies, you still severely limit the number of touches you get per game. 

When you hold back – meaning don’t go for speed-ups and "winners" – you can extend each point to seven, eight, or even double-digit shot rallies.

Sure, take the winning shot if it’s hit in a great spot for you to do so, but focus on hitting resets and keeping dink rallies going longer rather than pulling the trigger with that nasty backhand flick you just mastered.

Now, instead of quick games, you can focus on executing quality touches and improving yourself. Plus, couldn't we all learn a little more patience anyway?

Holding back helps pickleball grow

The pickleball community can be fun and inclusive. But like any other community, it also has its share of bad apples (or cucumbers, if you will). 

Every one of us has been where our lesser-skilled opponents (or teammates) are right now. We all needed a better player or group willing to give us a chance to improve. 

Your actions go a long way toward determining whether someone new or unskilled will continue playing pickleball or find something else to do with their time. Hell, you might even drive them to tennis. Ugh!

If you care about the sport's growth, try your best to take the action that lets them feel included and never isolated.

Should you hold back in rec play vs weaker opponents?

So, to answer the question, should you hold back in rec play vs. weaker or less-agile opponents?

Yes, I think you should.

But only if you can do so safely and without sacrificing your own pickleball skills in the process.

Personally, if I think holding back (even slightly) can make another person happier for showing up to the courts that day, then I’m glad to do so every time.

However, if I run into Betty or Charlie in a tournament, you better believe I’m bringing the heat.