March 10, 2026

63: Tournament Prep PART 2!

47 minutes

Michael and Mircea record live from the Pickle Brawl — a charity Pro-Am event at Dink & Dine Pickle Park in Mesa, raising awareness and funds for fentanyl addiction treatment. This is Part 2 of their tournament prep series.

Event Highlights

Played alongside NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry (age 82!) — still incredibly competitive

Met outstanding junior players aged 12–17 — the future of pickleball is very bright

Honored veterans in attendance — thank you for your service

Playing with a Ref

Refs focus on two things: calling the score and calling foot faults. You'd be amazed how often rec players are in the kitchen. Pro tip: film yourself at the kitchen line and watch it back — you probably foot fault more than you think.

Tournament Prep Checklist

Know the ball (Franklin vs. Lifetime plays very differently — practice with it first)

Know the scoring format: standard 2-to-11, rally scoring, or win-by-1 (NPL/CSP style)

Know timeout rules: traditional = 2, NPL = 1

Verify paddle approval: USAP vs. UPA — this caught Mircea off guard at this very event!

Side selection: pick the better end at the start so you have it for a potential Game 3

Mental Game

Everyone gets nervous — embrace it. Michael's reset: tap the paddle on the fence between points to physically "wipe" the last point away. When things get tight, focus on your footwork. Moving your feet loosens you up mentally and physically. Anna Leigh Waters is the gold standard here.

Common Mistakes

Changing equipment last minute

Arriving late and skipping warmup

Going too aggressive too early

Letting nerves take you out of your wheelhouse

Poor hydration and nutrition (dehydration = injury risk)

Abandoning what worked in Game 1

Strategy Reminders

Start simple: returns down the middle, thirds toward the moving player. Consistency beats spectacular every time. If you're down big, just get 2–3 points on the board — momentum is real.

🎒 Sponsor: CRBN Pickleball

Michael and Mircea have been loving the CRBN Barrage 4 — great sweet spot, pop, control, and spin.

Use code 4O2P at checkout for 10% off → crbnpickleball.com

📬 Registered for your first tournament? Write in — we'd love to help you prep!

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By Michael O'Neal & Mircea Morariu

4.8

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