Pacing in 90-Minute Pickleball Matches: When and Why Players Slow Down

Pacing Patterns During a 90-Minute Match: When Do You Slow Down?
Pickleball in England continues to grow, and with the expansion of league formats, timed matches are increasingly common. While traditional pickleball is played to a score, not a clock, local adaptations for recreational clubs, schools, and developing competitive scenes are introducing matches with set time durations — including 90-minute formats. These longer matches present a unique physical and mental challenge for players, particularly in how they manage energy and effort over time.

Understanding Pacing in a Timed Match Context
Pacing refers to how a player distributes physical and psychological effort over the course of a match. In a 90-minute format, pacing becomes a strategic tool, much like in football or long-distance running. Players who go too hard in the early stages often find themselves depleted by the final third. Those who conserve too much may never recover the deficit.

In England, clubs experimenting with timed pickleball — including groups in Manchester, Bristol, and South London — report that players often experience predictable performance dips and tempo changes around the same time points in a match.

The First 30 Minutes: High Tempo and Early Adrenaline
During the opening third of a 90-minute match, players typically operate at their peak intensity. This period is often characterised by:

Faster movement and reaction times

Riskier shots, including aggressive drives and overhead slams

A higher number of unforced errors due to adrenaline-fuelled decision-making

Coaches from clubs such as Pickleball West London and Birmingham Racquet Centre have noted that players tend to “overplay” in this phase, trying to establish dominance or momentum. However, this is also the phase where energy reserves are highest, and body mechanics are still fresh.

Middle Third (30–60 Minutes): Onset of Fatigue and Tactical Shifts
By the halfway point, physical and mental fatigue begin to influence shot selection and court coverage. This is where seasoned players make clear pacing adjustments:

Players begin taking fewer unnecessary risks

Drop shots and dinks become more common as energy-saving tools

More reliance on teamwork and positioning in doubles

In the UK context, experienced players often shift to a control-based style during this phase, especially in indoor venues like the David Ross Sports Village in Nottingham. The lower bounce and slower pace of indoor play further encourage strategic positioning over high-intensity chasing.

This is also when hydration and nutrition start to play a role. Clubs like Pickleball England recommend players bring electrolyte drinks and light snacks if matches extend beyond one hour.

Final Third (60–90 Minutes): Physical Decline, Mental Resilience
From 60 minutes onward, both physiological and cognitive fatigue are at their peak. Players report reduced reaction time, slower lateral movement, and a higher likelihood of mishits or poor decision-making. According to a 2023 observational study by Surrey Sports Park, amateur players’ accuracy declined by 12% in the final third of extended matches, with rally lengths shortening by nearly 20%.

Key features of this phase include:

More conservative play, especially near the non-volley zone

Shorter rallies unless players are evenly matched and conserving well

Visible slowing of court transitions, especially during serve returns

Mental fatigue also sets in, leading to more communication breakdowns in doubles and an increased risk of lapses in focus. At this point, players with stronger cardiovascular endurance or mental discipline begin to dominate, even if their shot power is no longer at its peak.

When Do You Actually Slow Down? Insights from Club-Level Tracking
Several English clubs have started using wearable technology to monitor player exertion during timed formats. At the Cambridge Pickleball Club, for example, heart-rate monitors and movement trackers showed that most players’ exertion peaked between minutes 18 and 27, followed by a slow taper.

The sharpest drop-off in average court coverage was observed between minutes 54 and 66. This aligns with anecdotal observations from coaches, who often see momentum shifts around the one-hour mark.

These findings are especially relevant for tournament organisers and coaching sessions. They highlight the importance of structuring warm-ups, tactical drills, and even team rotations around these natural pacing patterns.

What Causes the Slowdown? Physical vs Mental Contributors
The decline in pace is not purely physical. Research from UK Coaching suggests that decision fatigue — the gradual decline in cognitive performance due to prolonged concentration — plays a significant role in the final third of long matches. This results in:

Poor shot selection (e.g. attempting lobs when tired)

Mistimed volleys

Miscommunication in doubles

Physical contributors include:

Accumulated lactic acid in the legs

Dehydration

Loss of fine motor control

Older adult players, who make up a large demographic in UK pickleball, may experience these effects more acutely. As such, pacing strategies become even more important for inclusivity and long-term engagement in the sport.

Training for Endurance and Smart Pacing
To manage the demands of a 90-minute match, UK coaches recommend the following:

Interval training: Mimic match conditions with alternating bursts of high and moderate intensity

Strategic rest during rallies: Use dink rallies to recover and reset

Mental rehearsal: Practice tactical pacing, including knowing when to press and when to conserve

Some clubs are now offering pacing-focused sessions, especially in regions like the Midlands, where extended match formats are more common in club leagues.

The Broader Implication for English Pickleball
As England continues to formalise its competitive pickleball structures, understanding pacing will be critical for both player performance and enjoyment. If leagues adopt 90-minute matches as a standard, coaching systems will need to adapt accordingly — placing equal emphasis on stamina, strategy, and psychological endurance.

With the sport gaining momentum in school systems, adult leagues, and veteran circuits, pacing education could soon become part of foundational training. For now, understanding when and why you slow down remains one of the key ingredients in mastering the flow of longer pickleball matches.