{"product_id":"slightly-below-average-at-pickleball-harold-mccafferty-9798278310235","title":"Slightly Below Average at Pickleball: A Reasonable Man's Journey into an Unreasonable Sport","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePickleball is supposed to be low-impact.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat is the first lie.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSlightly Below Average at Pickleball\u003c\/b\u003e is the story of a reasonable, middle-aged man who wanders into a community center \"just to try it once\" and accidentally joins a world of plastic paddles, fluorescent lighting, mysterious rules, and adults who care very deeply about whether your foot was in the kitchen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is not a how-to guide.\u003cbr\u003eThere are no drills, diagrams, or promises of athletic transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead, you'll meet: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoris \"The Wall,\" who never misses and judges quietly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVirgil \"Pickles,\" an evangelist for the game and its chief recruiter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarl \"Statue,\" who barely moves and still wins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLinda \"Lines,\" guardian of the rules and all boundaries, visible and invisible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough league nights, open play politics, gear obsession, domestic negotiations over paddle budgets, and the slow realization that \"slightly below average\" may be a permanent condition, the author documents what pickleball really is: a social ecosystem disguised as a sport.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you've never played pickleball, just bought your first paddle, or already own several you've described as \"investments,\" this book captures the humor, confusion, and quiet joy of discovering a hobby that makes absolutely no sense-and sticking with it anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause sometimes the goal isn't excellence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSometimes it's showing up again, arguing about the score, and playing one more game on Court Three.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Harold McCafferty\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798278310235\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/15\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 236\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.71lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.50d","brand":"Harold McCafferty","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48443089780991,"sku":"9798278310235","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_87a7abfe-4938-483c-81a1-586357405111.jpg?v=1777201786","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/slightly-below-average-at-pickleball-harold-mccafferty-9798278310235","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}