Field Notes

Build log, guides, and the occasional pickleball news roundup.

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  MatchJul 4, 2026·5 min read

  Three weeks of drilling under pressure: what's actually different

  A mid-prep progress check-in ahead of my August tournament — what's changed since my 3.5 loss, what stuck immediately, and what's still shaky.

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  MatchMay 20, 2026·4 min read

  What I learned losing my first 3.5 tournament (and what I'd change)

  An honest postmortem of my first 3.5 pickleball tournament. What I prepared for, what surprised me, and what I'd change.

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  MatchMay 16, 2026·4 min read

  Trip report: Irvine Great Park courts on a Saturday morning

  What it's like to show up to Irvine Great Park's pickleball courts on a Saturday morning — wait times, surface, and tips.

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  MatchMay 13, 2026·3 min read

  Tuesday pod recap, week of May 12, 2026: 16 players, 4 brackets, 1 protest

  How my Tuesday pickleball pod actually played this week — bracket results, one rules protest, and the new guest dynamic.

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  MatchApr 19, 2026·4 min read

  US Open 2026 men's doubles final — the rally that decided it

  A breakdown of the anatomy of a typical pro men's doubles final, using composite rally analysis from the 2026 US Open weekend.