Unfortunately, I didn’t have any real time to celebrate the MLP victory! The Monday after the victory, I flew back to Austin and did a full day of filming YouTube content. The things I do for you guys…Kidding of course. While I would have liked to have had the day off, I really do enjoy creating instructional content and fun content like the Pros vs. 5.0s series! If you’re not subscribed already, check out some of the new videos below!
We did finally get a chance to go to an Austin FC game which we’ve been trying to go to for awhile. They ended up tying Charlotte FC 2-2 in an important game! Other than that, I mostly tried to recover because the Salt Lake City MLP was right around the corner!
We played 6 regular season matches and went 4-2 overall as a team. The 5s won’t be back in action until mid-September, so it’s back to a packed schedule of PPA tournaments.
Okay, so this is going to sound weird, but recently my focus has been on my breathing. I used to be famous for my chipmunk face that I would make when I was striking the ball. This was the result of a heavy exhalation every time I hit the ball.
At some point, I stopped doing this, and I noticed my concentration and focus wasn’t as strong as it once was. Am I less concentrated because of my breathing, or am I no longer breathing properly because I’m less concentrated? Either way, I’ve been trying to fix it and return the breathing technique to my muscle memory.
Prior to the serve, I’ve been making a conscious effort to take a deep breath and remind myself to focus on my breath this point. When I’m not hitting, I’m thinking about breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. When I am hitting, thinking about exhaling as I’m making contact.
I find that when I focus on my breathing, the other things come naturally, and I don’t overthink anything. Try focusing on your breathing next time you play, and you may be surprised how it can help you concentrate on a deeper level!
Here’s a video I did on the subject a few years back! ⤵️
I’m still taking requests for subscribers that are interested in being on my channel to have your pickleball play reviewed. Submit your request below. Record and submit one of your pickleball games, and I will select a few to do a real-time review on my channel. I promise to be gentle!
Check out my newest YouTube videos, and be sure to check back to see if it’s your video that I’m reviewing!
Austin Friends: The Lab has air conditioning now! That’s huge! If you don’t know what The Lab is, it’s where I’ve been training for the past six months or so. They offer an indoor-climate controlled court with video capabilties. They’re also an awesome space for lessons, corporate events, physical therapy, and more.
The AIM7 app not only is designed for better pickleball performance, recovery and injury prevention, it takes data from your wearables and customizes what you should do based on your specific needs. Download it now with this special discount. Use this link and add code ZANE25 to receive a 30-day free trial followed by an annual subscription for 25% off. Annual subscribers also receive 30% off Thorne supplements!
On my July 8th Pros vs 5.0s we announced another UPTIME Energy giveaway for my subscribers!
🎉 Congrats to Leslie Drinan, Ronnie, Hatchell, Russ Moon, Mario Kaldas, Melinie Neuer, Philip Weinert, Allison Head, Daryle Dibbens, Mike Pierron, and Thien Truong! Keep an eye out for an email to receive your UPTIME Energy!
Lots going on in the pickleball world, don’t miss Thomas Shields and me on the PicklePod, where we discuss it all. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.
