🔥Why Old Guys Keep Beating Fast Kids in Pickleball (And What No One Tells You)
- Tom Kiat
- Aug 23
- 2 min read
They’re quick. They’re jacked. They chase everything down and swing like it’s tennis.
So why does the 63 year-old in the knee brace keep beating them?
Pickleball isn’t a sprint. It’s a setup.
Crafty players know how to make fast players crack.
Experience Always Beats Impulse
Younger players are used to being rewarded for athleticism. In pickleball, that only gets you so far.
A “crafty” opponent doesn’t try to outrun you. They outthink you.
They know where you’re going before you do.
They keep you moving diagonally, not just back and forth.
They serve junk, push pace, slow it down, and change rhythm every rally.
Meanwhile, the younger player’s head is spinning, trying to figure out why their 115 mph forehand keeps coming back.
The Crafty Player's Game Plan
1. Control the Tempo
Younger players love speed and chaos.
Crafty players? They slow it down, then pick the perfect moment to speed it back up.
It’s like turning the volume down and then blasting the speakers. Instant overwhelm.
2. Exploit the Ego
Younger players want to win with winners.
So what does the savvy player do?
Feed them junk.
Lob them just once, and make them paranoid.
Dink 10 times in a row until they self destruct.
You’re not beating their legs. You’re beating their mindset.
3. Reset Like a Machine
Younger players go for the highlight.
Older players reset, block, and frustrate until you miss. They don’t mind doing it for 11 points straight.
“Fast Freddie” vs. “Dink Dan”
Freddie’s 28. Former college tennis player. Hits hard. Talks louder.
Dan’s 66. Moves like molasses. Doesn’t miss a dink.
Game 1: Freddie up 5-0. Then Dan starts making him hit one more ball, every time. Freddie goes for too much. Dan resets, resets, resets.
Final score? 11-8 Dan.
Freddie throws his paddle. Dan nods politely and goes to get a Gatorade.
Pickleball Is an IQ Test, Not a Fitness Test
Youth has energy. Experience has answers.
That’s why the players who last longest in the sport.
Learn to place, not just hit.
Master the art of the slow kill.
Develop the one skill no athleticism can beat: patience under pressure.
If you're younger: Learn to think like an old guy.
If you're older, keep showing the kids this blog.
They’ll thank you....... eventually.
🔥WIN MORE. FAST.
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