In this episode of The Pickleball Lab Coaching Podcast, Josh is joined by high-level player and coach Tim Ahlersmeyer to break down one of the most frustrating situations in pickleball: feeling like you should be able to carry your partner—but still losing anyway. They unpack the "one ball" reality that limits your influence over a point and dive deep into the tactical manual for maximizing your touches. From serving to funnel the ball back to you and driving over dropping, to increasing aggression in the transition zone, Josh and Tim explain how to strategically stay involved when your partner is being targeted.

Beyond the tactics, the conversation shifts to the mental battle of "attribution bias" and blaming partners in rec play. Josh explains why the real victory has nothing to do with the scoreboard and how redefining "winning" as personal growth and execution is the only true way to carry a game. Along with listener questions on third shot selection, mixed doubles strategy, and serve depth, this episode provides a complete roadmap for stronger players to maintain control, mental focus, and development, even when the odds are stacked against them.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why Carrying Is So Difficult: The “one ball” reality that limits how much influence you actually have in a rally

- Tactical Ways to Stay Involved: How serving, returning, driving, and aggressive dinking can help keep the ball with you

- Transition Zone Aggression: Why speeding balls up in transition may work better than constantly resetting

- The Mental Side of Carrying: How frustration and blame destroy focus and limit improvement

- Redefining Winning: Why rec play should be about growth and execution—not just the scoreboard

- Third Shot Strategy: When to drive, when to drop, and how pros actually combine the two

- The Level Where Drives Stop Working: Why better players force you to vary speeds and add resets

- Mixed vs Gender Doubles: The unique movement, court coverage, and role differences in mixed

- Serve Strategy: Why depth matters more than side spin for upgrading your serve

- And more!

Timestamps:

00:00 Why Carrying Your Partner Is Harder Than You Think

00:44 The “One Ball” Problem & Maximizing Your Opportunities

01:35 How to Serve, Return, and Dink to Keep the Ball With You

02:17 The Mental Side: Encouraging Your Partner Instead of Showing Frustration

03:10 Taking Balls Out of the Air & Playing More Aggressive

04:10 Why Aggression in Transition Can Help You “Carry”

05:00 The Real Victory Has Nothing to Do With the Scoreboard

07:03 When to Drive vs Drop Your Third Shot

09:56 At What Level Should You Stop Driving Every Third?

12:05 Sponsor Break – The Pickleball Lab

13:13 What Skills Matter More in Mixed vs Gender Doubles?

16:34 Serving Deep vs Adding Spin

19:34 Outro

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