American professional golfer Bobby Jones once said, "Golf is the closest game to the game we call life." 

Maybe.

This mediocre yet very passionate Pickleball player says, "Move over golf; Pickleball is the game even closer to the game we call life."

I've played both games, so I'm qualified to make this sweeping and somewhat questionable statement. I, along with 9 million other Americans, love to play Pickleball! In the last three years, Pickleball has grown by 159%, making it the fastest-growing sport in America. So there!

Here are my Pickleball/Life comparisons. You judge which ball flying in the air is closer to the game of life. 

Pickleball: I rely heavily on Pickleball to lift my spirits by infusing large doses of endorphins and dopamine because of the physical movement involved and the social nature and downright fun it is to play.

However, I sometimes leave the court feeling defeated and ready to quit. I have moments of frustration, anger, and just plain being butthurt. 

The other day, I was playing a round-robin session where you play every game with a new partner, usually someone you've never played with. In this case, the other player kept jumping in front of me and taking my shots. This maneuver placed him on my side of the court or off balance, leaving us vulnerable for our opponents to hit their shot where we weren't ready to return it. Because he was a ball hog, we lost the game.

I also took it as a not-so-subtle message that he thought I wasn't a good enough player to hold my own. "Dude! Can you give me a chance to play the game, please!?" Grrr.

Life: Often, when we expect things to go a certain way, like having fun doing what we enjoy, it can have a different outcome. Sometimes the people who are supposed to be on our team are actually working against our better good. Standing up for ourselves is crucial when we think we are being wronged. And it's essential not to give in to feelings of defeat. We need to adjust our attitude and try again another day. 

Pickleball: The main rule regarding the serve in Pickleball is you must hit the ball somewhere around the height between your knees and waist; beyond that, the sky's the limit. You can bounce it or not before you hit it. You can hit it using an underhand, forehand, or backhand swing. So many options to serve that ball!

My style is to bounce the ball and then hit it underhand. Serving is a repetitive motion I've done thousands of times, but it can go long, short, or wide despite that. 

Why? Maybe my body was rotated slightly, changing the intended trajectory. I may have taken my eye off the ball. But somehow, I miss, and my serve doesn't count. Ugh.

Life: No matter how well you line everything up, you can still miss the mark despite your preparation and best efforts. It doesn't mean you've failed; it means you adjust and try again. 

I see a recurring theme here! It's safe to say that Golf and Pickleball have something in common besides airborne spheres. 

When comparing these games to life, even if you miss your intended shots and are disappointed in where they land, remember, always have fun and keep trying to make them count.