The $100 Decision That Pulled Me Into the Game
What started as a freezing beginner class ended with a paddle, a promise, and a problem I’m still obsessed with.
The snow was sideways.
It was 39 degrees. Wind chill in the low 30s. And I was outside...playing pickleball.
Technically, I was learning to play. My very first night of RARA 101.
Class ended, but I wasn’t ready to leave. Blair, Morn, and I stood around for nearly an hour talking about paddles, spin, and how this game grabs people by the collar. I was soaked. Freezing. And completely hooked.
So I did what any rational adult would do:
"Blair... got any paddles I can buy?"
He gave me a few to look at. I picked the one that felt right - the Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro 14mm.
Didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew I needed one of my own. That little plastic wrapped piece of gear?
It wasn’t just a paddle.
It was a commitment.
The next time I played, I felt it instantly: control. Spin. Confidence. Even the sound of the ball coming off my paddle felt better.
The loaners we used in class were fine. But this one?
This one was mine.
(And yeah, I liked how it looked too.)
It reminded me a lot of real estate.
You want to win?
Set a goal. Make a move.
Invest in the right tools. Period.
That paddle hasn’t left my bag.
In fact, I bought a backup.
Re-gripped it.
Named it.
And yes... more than once...
I’ve slept with it.
(You’ll see what I mean in an upcoming post.)
When I brought it home that night, my daughter Elena — who hadn't even stepped on a real court yet — looked at it and said:
"This looks like trouble."
She was right.
Big trouble.
And I’m all in.
I am waiting for your reply.