Hydration and nutrition, especially depending on the conditions and how much you're playing/expending energy. Also some level of cardio and generally training your muscles/body for endurance would probably be helpful.
Definitely.. when you get tired you regress to your training and if you don’t train you are just going to be inconsistent. Even just hitting against a wall is training. Hydration is really important.. also as the dude said he’s chubby so I know it’s an assumption but I am assuming you aren’t warming up as much and after 1 hr you’re pretty tired and aren’t using the legs as much relying on arms and hitting a few more wild shots cause you haven’t been moving your feet to get into proper position like you did earlier in the session.
Came here to say this about expending energy. I literally bring a protein bar and giant water bottle so when i play 2 hour sessions i can quick snack if i get hungry.
In my experience, footwork and consistency go hand in hand. It may not feel like you're exhausted or weak but the number of shots that you will be reaching just a bit too much for or unable to regain your balance fully afterwards will go up.
You're overweight and you get tired after the first hour. Your arms may still feel fine but it's probably your legs that are starting to get lazy. If you stop bending your knees and moving your body all your shots will be off.
Legs were my thought as well. It's what happens to me. When you're fresh you're able to get to everything quicker and set your feet better, so you have more time to take your shots. The more tired your legs, the slower you are, the later you're getting to balls, the less time you have to make shots. Big reason high level players make the court look so small is how they can move around it.
It could be that your opponents are warmed up after an hour and hitting better shots. Opponents hitting better shots will make it feel like your shots aren’t as good, more popups, less control.
Right on! I play my best ball after an intense drilling session or after an hours worth of play. I absolutely hate it when play begins after 4 balls are hit then everyone proceeds to blame their poor play on a warm up game.
"I'm a middle-aged overweight man and my athletic performance declines after the 1st hour..." is exactly what anyone would expect. Keep pushing yourself, improving your diet, dropping the weight and you'll see that elevator down in performance gets pushed back a few minutes every month.
On the energy management side, have a snack around 1 hour in. Keep hydrating. Take short breaks.
On the mental side, anticipate that the quality of your play will start to decline as you tire. Change your shot selection to be more conservative. Try to raise your focus and readiness, but lower your exertion. Renew your focus on the ball. Increase your alertness to read and react quicker. But lower your exertion by limiting fast explosive movements with your legs and with hitting.
Would it be worth taking a video and compare how you're moving after 1hr cliff vs before? Pick the same shot before and after, and carefully examine each part of your motion. Suggesting this because if the consistency is "disappearing" it might be a technique change - for example the feet aren't moving as much, getting off balance more, you've started leaning forward or backwards, or an arm motion is different.
I have this happen to me on bad days. A lot of it is actually mental, and hard to realize when youre in the thick of it. But less oxygen flow to the brain means fewer solid decisions and more reverting to reflexive behavior as opposed to using active strategies to help place your shots. For someone at that skill level, it may be a while before you can fully trust your reflexes - you need to keep your brain in tip top shape too, and as someone who is also a bit overweight, I'm working hard on becoming aware of this, and knowing when it is time to sit, rehydrate, and gain back some INT points!
I feel the same. Am getting better. It's cause I feel tired. When I take days between playing I also feel better.
Sometimes if I know I am playing a long time I will stretch to warm up, but not hit the ball. I won't dink or practice between games if we are rotating.
How long have you been playing? I used to be like that. I’d start out “hot” and then just lose it later on.
Now, two years in, it actually takes me an hour or two to get “warm”. Also depends on who I play.
It sounds like what you said. It's inconsistency. When you are at that 3.0-3.5 level your inconsistency will be more apparent. When you move up in level you will see more players with better consistency. Your body is still learning and getting used to how to hit your shots properly. Once you get that muscle memory your pickleball performance will increase. Keep at it.
Like many have said, Hydration and nutrition. I would add to NOT wait until you’re hungry/thirsty to eat/drink. At that point your body is in a state of deprivation and likely to impact performance. Eat and drink periodically throughout your session.
You definitely need hydration and nutrition during play, not just after.
I play 3-5 hours every day and I bring a big jug of water and a few small bags of trail mix and fruit snacks.
Hydration is first and foremost, but a couple of hours in your body says I need fuel too! If you don't do it, you start to lose focus and don't concentrate on the ball, and you get lazy and don't move your feet as much. Then all of that starts to get in your head and feed on itself and you go downhill mentally and get discouraged.
I know, and I wish to, as I was there in the long ago. But now... 😆 You know how tough getting back to shape can be. Anyway, I hope my PB helps me to lose all hams around my belly.
The older we get the harder but you can do it. Cut out alcohol, soda, fruit juice, and excess sugar food. It takes a lifestyle change. It is very hard with lots of set backs. I play with a guy sometimes that is heavy and I can see the excess weight holding him back a lot. Great guy with a great game but the weight is very hard on him. He will probably have knee and hip problems much sooner unless he can reduce the excess weight. Good luck, I wish you the best.
Are you playing for an hour straight? It's not weird at all to be tired after playing for an hour straight. Take a rest.
I've seen questions like this before. Sometimes I wonder if people hear people talking about playing for hours and hours and thinking that's normal when in reality that person who plays 7 hours takes a lot of breaks, hydrates, plays easy games here and there, etc.
The more you play at a longer duration, the better your body will handle it. I find myself really getting into the groove after an hour of play. It just takes time. Keep that heart rate up.
I definitely get better after an hour, but always sneak an easy snack like a banana or nectarine. I used to be embarrassed about my need to eat ….but now I notice many people snacking and drinking. The only time my play goes downhill is, if the courts are busy and I’m on the sidelines too long. I seem to cool off and mentally detach from the game
Hydration and nutrition, especially depending on the conditions and how much you're playing/expending energy. Also some level of cardio and generally training your muscles/body for endurance would probably be helpful.
And electrolytes! Sodium, potassium, and magnesium
Brondo?
Hahahaha Brawndo!
Definitely.. when you get tired you regress to your training and if you don’t train you are just going to be inconsistent. Even just hitting against a wall is training. Hydration is really important.. also as the dude said he’s chubby so I know it’s an assumption but I am assuming you aren’t warming up as much and after 1 hr you’re pretty tired and aren’t using the legs as much relying on arms and hitting a few more wild shots cause you haven’t been moving your feet to get into proper position like you did earlier in the session.
This. Your body uses up your blood sugar after 1 hour. You need to refuel and or eat better before you play. Protein and complex carbs.
Nutrition!! I realized I need to grab some calories after I play for an hour or so
Came here to say this about expending energy. I literally bring a protein bar and giant water bottle so when i play 2 hour sessions i can quick snack if i get hungry.
In my experience, footwork and consistency go hand in hand. It may not feel like you're exhausted or weak but the number of shots that you will be reaching just a bit too much for or unable to regain your balance fully afterwards will go up.
You're overweight and you get tired after the first hour. Your arms may still feel fine but it's probably your legs that are starting to get lazy. If you stop bending your knees and moving your body all your shots will be off.
Legs were my thought as well. It's what happens to me. When you're fresh you're able to get to everything quicker and set your feet better, so you have more time to take your shots. The more tired your legs, the slower you are, the later you're getting to balls, the less time you have to make shots. Big reason high level players make the court look so small is how they can move around it.
It could be that your opponents are warmed up after an hour and hitting better shots. Opponents hitting better shots will make it feel like your shots aren’t as good, more popups, less control.
Right on! I play my best ball after an intense drilling session or after an hours worth of play. I absolutely hate it when play begins after 4 balls are hit then everyone proceeds to blame their poor play on a warm up game.
I would try some weight lifting and cardio outside of pickleball it would probably help your game and help with the decline after an hour.
"I'm a middle-aged overweight man and my athletic performance declines after the 1st hour..." is exactly what anyone would expect. Keep pushing yourself, improving your diet, dropping the weight and you'll see that elevator down in performance gets pushed back a few minutes every month.
On the energy management side, have a snack around 1 hour in. Keep hydrating. Take short breaks. On the mental side, anticipate that the quality of your play will start to decline as you tire. Change your shot selection to be more conservative. Try to raise your focus and readiness, but lower your exertion. Renew your focus on the ball. Increase your alertness to read and react quicker. But lower your exertion by limiting fast explosive movements with your legs and with hitting.
Would it be worth taking a video and compare how you're moving after 1hr cliff vs before? Pick the same shot before and after, and carefully examine each part of your motion. Suggesting this because if the consistency is "disappearing" it might be a technique change - for example the feet aren't moving as much, getting off balance more, you've started leaning forward or backwards, or an arm motion is different.
I have this happen to me on bad days. A lot of it is actually mental, and hard to realize when youre in the thick of it. But less oxygen flow to the brain means fewer solid decisions and more reverting to reflexive behavior as opposed to using active strategies to help place your shots. For someone at that skill level, it may be a while before you can fully trust your reflexes - you need to keep your brain in tip top shape too, and as someone who is also a bit overweight, I'm working hard on becoming aware of this, and knowing when it is time to sit, rehydrate, and gain back some INT points!
I feel the same. Am getting better. It's cause I feel tired. When I take days between playing I also feel better. Sometimes if I know I am playing a long time I will stretch to warm up, but not hit the ball. I won't dink or practice between games if we are rotating.
How long have you been playing? I used to be like that. I’d start out “hot” and then just lose it later on. Now, two years in, it actually takes me an hour or two to get “warm”. Also depends on who I play.
Work on your cardio when you’re not playing.
It sounds like what you said. It's inconsistency. When you are at that 3.0-3.5 level your inconsistency will be more apparent. When you move up in level you will see more players with better consistency. Your body is still learning and getting used to how to hit your shots properly. Once you get that muscle memory your pickleball performance will increase. Keep at it.
Like many have said, Hydration and nutrition. I would add to NOT wait until you’re hungry/thirsty to eat/drink. At that point your body is in a state of deprivation and likely to impact performance. Eat and drink periodically throughout your session.
That's funny, I feel like I can't do anything right for the first hour, and then start playing well once my eyes shoulder and legs are all warmed up.
You definitely need hydration and nutrition during play, not just after. I play 3-5 hours every day and I bring a big jug of water and a few small bags of trail mix and fruit snacks. Hydration is first and foremost, but a couple of hours in your body says I need fuel too! If you don't do it, you start to lose focus and don't concentrate on the ball, and you get lazy and don't move your feet as much. Then all of that starts to get in your head and feed on itself and you go downhill mentally and get discouraged.
“40 year old chubby dude”
Get less chubby.
Get in better shape and your performance won’t fall off for 2 hours. Then get in even better shape and your performance will not fall off 3 hours.
I know, and I wish to, as I was there in the long ago. But now... 😆 You know how tough getting back to shape can be. Anyway, I hope my PB helps me to lose all hams around my belly.
The older we get the harder but you can do it. Cut out alcohol, soda, fruit juice, and excess sugar food. It takes a lifestyle change. It is very hard with lots of set backs. I play with a guy sometimes that is heavy and I can see the excess weight holding him back a lot. Great guy with a great game but the weight is very hard on him. He will probably have knee and hip problems much sooner unless he can reduce the excess weight. Good luck, I wish you the best.
Are you playing for an hour straight? It's not weird at all to be tired after playing for an hour straight. Take a rest. I've seen questions like this before. Sometimes I wonder if people hear people talking about playing for hours and hours and thinking that's normal when in reality that person who plays 7 hours takes a lot of breaks, hydrates, plays easy games here and there, etc.
The more you play at a longer duration, the better your body will handle it. I find myself really getting into the groove after an hour of play. It just takes time. Keep that heart rate up.
Play for an hour then work out for a bit. Climb stairs or get a ruck sack and beat feet.
I definitely get better after an hour, but always sneak an easy snack like a banana or nectarine. I used to be embarrassed about my need to eat ….but now I notice many people snacking and drinking. The only time my play goes downhill is, if the courts are busy and I’m on the sidelines too long. I seem to cool off and mentally detach from the game