How to Mentally Prep for a Rematch

There’s nothing like a rematch. Whether you lost the last one or barely pulled it out, the moment you see that familiar team across the net, your mind starts spinning:
“Not again.”
“Time to get payback.”
“They better not beat us twice.” But here’s the danger — emotionally-charged rematches create mental traps. At Mental Pickleball, I coach players to reframe the rematch not as revenge, but as an opportunity — to show growth, to stay grounded, and to play this match, not the last one. Here’s how to mentally prep for a rematch: 1. Clear the Ghosts Don’t carry the last match like a backpack full of bricks. Whether you played great or terrible, that was then. Remind yourself: “New match. New moment.” 2. Recenter Your Goals Your goal isn’t to “beat them” — it’s to play your best. That might lead to a win… or not. But that mindset is what keeps you sharp, steady, and free. 3. Visualize Calm, Not Revenge Before the game, see yourself playing composed and responsive — not aggressive and overhyped. Energy is good. Control is better. 4. Keep Score with Yourself Instead of tracking whether you’re “winning the rematch,” track:

• How many times you reset mentally
• How many times you communicated with your partner
• How present you stayed under pressure

Those are the real victories — and they last far beyond today’s score. Today’s challenge:
If you’ve got a rematch coming up — or you’re still mentally replaying one — reset your lens. You’re not playing them. You’re playing yourself, version 2.0. Quiet Mind, Fierce Game.