From Down 9-1 to Winning. How to Make an Amazing Comeback
The mindset and moves that turn the tide in your favor
I was playing with Matt and we were down by a lot, I don’t remember if it was 8-1, or 9-2, but it wasn’t good. And Matt turns to me and says “They don’t know it, but we are going to win this game”. And sure enough we came back and won. Granted it’s not easy, but the difference between giving up and coming back often comes down to how you manage your mind.
Being down by several points can feel intimidating. Each serve and return suddenly seems heavier, and it’s easy to spiral into frustration. But the reality is that you’ve been competing well, you just need a mental reset and a plan to approach each point deliberately.
Start by letting go of the score.
Fixating on being down only magnifies the pressure. Instead, focus on the moment. Treat every point as its own mini-match. When you stop playing to avoid losing and start playing to win each point, you regain control of the game.
Break the situation down.
Forget about winning the next five points or the entire game. Concentrate solely on the current point and the next shot. Play smart and rely on the skills that have gotten you this far, getting serves in, making the smart choice of shots, and careful placement. After each point, reset—take a breath, wipe your paddle grip and take your time getting to the baseline to serve or receive. Wins and losses are temporary, presence and focus matter more.
Lean into your strengths.
Whether it’s a precise third-shot drop, hard drives, or lobs, use what you do best to dictate rallies. When you play from your strengths, you disrupt the other team’s rhythm and increase your confidence with every point.
Your mindset is tied to your body language.
Walk with purpose, keep your paddle ready, and maintain upright, confident posture. Even small adjustments in how you carry yourself can shift your mental state and signal to your opponents that you’re not going away.
Remember, the other team feels pressure too.
No lead is safe in pickleball. Stay consistent, make them earn every point, and force errors through smart play. Visualize success, picture precise shots, clean volleys, and winning on your serve. Mental rehearsal primes your brain for execution.
Finally, embrace the challenge.
Being down gives you nothing to lose and everything to gain. Stay positive, focused, and resilient. Celebrate small wins, and refuse to give in to negativity.
Turning around a 9-2 deficit in pickleball isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Focus on each point, play to your strengths, maintain presence, and embrace the fight. The scoreboard may seem daunting, but in pickleball, it’s never over until the last point is played.
