THE RECOVERY SERIES #5: The 4.0 Tax

A blog by Brendon Booth, Fair Dinkin Pickleball Academy

I hate labels. 3.5, 4.0, Advanced, Elite — at the end of the day, we're all just people hitting a plastic ball with holes in it.

But let's be real: if you've been at this a while, you know when you've crossed a threshold. You've got the reset, you've got the third-shot drop, and you've got a code you play by.

And here's the thing about getting good: it comes with a debt.

I'm talking about the Pay It Forward hit.

The Temptation to Circle the Wagons

In every social session, there's a massive temptation for the better players to find their three favourite competitive mates, grab the power court at the end, and stay there all night. We want the fast hands, the long dink rallies, the sweat. I get it. I love that stuff too.

But if the advanced players stop rotating, the soul of the sport starts to rot from the bottom up.

It's Not Coaching — It's Just Being There

Let me be crystal clear: I am not asking you to step onto a court with a beginner and start barking technical cues at them. Nobody wants a courtside coach when they're just trying to figure out which foot goes where.

Paying it forward isn't about teaching. It's about showing.

It means playing at least one or two games a night with the fresh faces. Having a genuine laugh. Letting them see — up close — what good actually looks like.

When a newer player watches a 4.0 move with intent, or witnesses the patience of a proper dink battle instead of a banger-fest, it changes their entire picture of what the game can be. You aren't giving them a lesson. You're giving them a target.

The Mediocrity Gap

In the first post of this series, I talked about how mediocrity is an attitude gap, not an aptitude gap. When experienced players isolate themselves, they accidentally create an us-versus-them vibe. That's where the gatekeeper energy starts, and that's where the Fair Dinkin spirit goes to die.

By jumping in for a hit with the 2.5s, or the fresh-off-the-street beginners, you're bridging that gap. You're saying: I'm good enough to play with the best, but I'm not too big for the game.

The Challenge

Here's my challenge to the experienced crew in Bendigo and beyond.

Next social hit, don't wait to be asked. Look for the court that looks a bit shaky. Find the players who are clearly struggling with the flow. Walk over, lift your paddle in greeting , and say: "Mind if I jump in for one?"

Show them a bit of encouragement. Show them a bit of class. Show them that being an advanced player starts with having an advanced attitude.

Pay the tax. The interest you get back — in the form of a stronger, tighter, more skilled community — is worth every cent.

Brendon Booth is the founder of Fair Dinkin Pickleball Academy, coaching across Bendigo, Castlemaine, and the Loddon Mallee region. He'll see you on the courts.