Pickleball Tuesdays
Pickleball Tuesdays
I know most of my blogs are about leadership, airport life, or faith. But today, we’re pivoting to something very important:
Pickleball.
Why? Because this blog is my design cycle. And part of that means reflecting on what I’m learning, even when it’s not about running a nonprofit or directing snow plows. And to be honest, Tuesday night pickleball might be the most consistent thing in my week right now.
Every Tuesday, Sadie and I meet up with some of the main characters of our lives, Terry, Terri, my dad, and Philip, and we battle it out on the pickleball court. Sometimes a few others sub in when needed. And over the past year, I’ve gotten a lot better.
Not great. Not pro. But not bad. And I’ve learned a few things along the way.
If you’ve never played, go watch a quick video. This won’t make much sense if you don’t have at least a basic idea of the rules. But for those of you who’ve played once or twice, or even if you just like watching old people play at the park, here’s what I’ve picked up.
If You’re Receiving, Get to the Kitchen Fast
This one’s not new. It’s kind of a core rule. But it still surprises me how important it is.
When you’re on the receiving team, the person receiving the serve should stay back to return the ball. But the partner? They should already be standing up at the kitchen line. That’s the line right in front of the net.
Why?
Because you can’t win points from the back. You want to be as close to the net as possible as early as possible. If I’m the one receiving the serve, I try to hit the ball all the way back to their baseline so they have to stay back longer. Meanwhile, I’m sprinting to the front so my partner and I can set up our wall.
Then we just wait for them to mess up.
Stop Leaning Over Like That, Jordan
Once I get to the kitchen line, I have a bad habit.
I lean forward.
Because I want to hit the ball faster. But what happens is I shift my weight forward and hit it into the net. Every time.
It’s just dumb. Don’t do it.
The ball is coming to you. Wait for it. When I actually stay balanced and let it come to me, I play so much better. I have more time to think. I can decide if I want to tap it into the kitchen to slow the game down, or slam it to try and end the point.
Control > chaos.
Lord Terry: The King of Patience
Terry (or as we call him, Lord Terry) never hits it hard.
Ever.
He just hits it smart. I swear the game slows down for him. He sees your body moving one way and sends the ball the other way. If your partner and you are slightly too far apart, he hits it right in the middle and hopes one of you hesitates. And somehow… you do.
It’s infuriating. And brilliant.
I’m trying to be more like Terry. Slow the game down. Think. Aim. Be annoying in the best way.
Lady Terri: Always in Sync
Terri taught me something that honestly changed the way I play.
She said, “Watch your partner. Move with them. If they go right, you go right. If they go back, you shift to cover them.”
It’s like you’re attached by an invisible string. If one person moves, the other follows.
When you start to figure that out, the court shrinks. You cover everything. And when you don’t figure it out? You leave massive gaps, and someone like Lord Terry will find them.
You don’t have to be perfect. But if you’re both moving in sync, you’ll be a better team. Period.
The Kitchen Isn’t Just a Line. It’s a Tool.
When my dad and I were talking the other day, he realised that we dont always have to slam the ball, we can slow it down and we need to. There are so many moments where I don’t have a good hit lined up. Maybe my body’s off balance or my partner’s out of position. Those are the moments to slow it down and drop the ball in the kitchen.
If you drop it into the kitchen, your opponent can’t step in to slam it unless it bounces first. That gives you time. Time to breathe. Time to reset. Time to get back in position.
It's not flashy, but it’s effective. And sometimes it drives the other team nuts, which is a win all by itself.
Philip Calls It the “Old Man Serve”
Philip is my best friend, so naturally, he mocks my serve.
He calls it the “Old Man Serve.”
But I love it. I bend my knees, drop down, and then swing as I stand back up, putting this weird forward spin on the ball. It’s not fast, but it rolls off the paddle just right and kind of dances when it hits the ground.
I want to get faster at it. But even now? It works. Old man serve for the win.
Laugh. A Lot.
We’ve played games where one team was winning 9-4-1 and still lost. You’re never really out of it, and you’re never fully safe. So don’t freak out.
Laugh. Celebrate your teammate when they get a good shot. Tease the other team when you hit them in the foot. (Lovingly.)
When you stop having fun, nobody wants to play with you.
One time I missed an easy shot and just stood there with my hands on my knees, wondering what I was doing with my life. Philip walked by and said, “Jordan, I believe in you. I don’t know why. But I do.”
That’s good pickleball friendship right there.
That’s It
There’s no deep leadership metaphor today. Just some practical pickleball advice and a reminder that having fun matters.
Tuesday nights with our crew are one of the best parts of my week. And I’m thankful that in between work, wedding planning, nonprofits, and airport snowstorms, I’ve got a night where the only thing that matters is moving in sync, watching the kitchen, and learning to play like Terry. I have a feeling that I will continue to learn and share more about pickleball. It is one of my favorite things I get to do.
See you on the court.
Why I Write
I write these posts as part of my own design cycle — to reflect, learn, and grow as a leader, a husband, and a follower of Jesus. My goal isn’t to sound like I have it all figured out, but to share the stories, lessons, and experiments I experiance long the way.
I believe leadership isn’t just about titles or influence — it’s about how we show up every day. It’s the small choices we make, the way we treat people, and the courage to keep trying even when things don’t go as planned.
I also believe we should dream big — to imagine what could be, not just what is. Every great idea, every movement, every changed life starts with someone who believed it was possible. The design cycle gives us a framework to turn those dreams into something real: plan it, build it, reflect on it, and share it.
Through writing, I hope to help people build the confidence to lead right where they are— to think differently, lead boldly, reflect honestly, and keep trying even when it would be easier to quit. My goal is to remind each of us that leadership doesn’t start someday in the future; it starts right where we are. We’re not leaders of tomorrow — we are Leaders of Today. And in everything I do, my hope is to worship Jesus through the way I live, lead, and love others.
Use what you read here to build your own cycle of growth.
Observe. Reflect. Adjust. Share.
Dream big — and then, start again.