“The Dink Game” and Other Pickleball Wisdom

Pickleball’s grip on Americans is nothing short of remarkable.

There are now more than 24 million players, up from less than four million in 2019. To help put that number in perspective, about 48 million people play golf. And that game has been around since the 15th century. ^1,2

Why has pickleball been so successful?

For one thing, the game is easy to learn, so players can pick it up quickly. The courts are smaller, so it tends to be part social event and part competitive game. For example, by comparison to golf, the start-up costs are relatively inexpensive.

Pickleball Lingo³

After spending a few minutes on the court, you’ll quickly learn that pickleball has developed its own language—a set of terms that capture not just strategy but wisdom. And once you start listening, you might find that the wisdom travels.

Here are five terms worth knowing—whether you have picked up a paddle or not.

“Don’t Get Pickled”: In pickleball, getting pickled means being shut out 11-0. In personal finances, losing focus on your overall strategy might lead to you getting shut out, too.

“The Dink Game”: Veteran pickleball players know the game is won with soft, patient dinking at the net—not big smashes. With investing, listening to a hot tip from your brother-in-law’s friend’s housekeeper’s husband is not going to score a “big smash” for your portfolio.

“The Kitchen Line”: The most valuable real estate on the court is at the kitchen line. When creating a retirement strategy, reviewing all your assets, knowing your income sources, and creating a strategy will help you manage “the court.”

“Avoid the Transition Zone”: The mid-court no-man’s land is where most points are lost. You’re too far from the net and too far from the baseline. When preparing for retirement, don’t get caught in the transition zone. For example, don’t get caught in no-man’s land when preparing to take your Social Security benefit.

“The Shake-n-Bake”: A coordinated doubles play where partners have a pre-planned, split-second strategy. When you work with a financial adviser, you also have a pre-planned strategy that’s designed to help you pursue your goals while managing risk with an eye on your time horizon.

Most of us at cfc Advisers are just learning the game, but we like the idea of linking the on-court lingo to your personal finances. We’ll see you in the kitchen.