No one embodies that balance better than Ben Johns, widely regarded as the greatest player to ever play the sport.
But consistency at the highest level is not a miracle. Johns, who remains the World No. 1 in men’s doubles, revealed the secret of his sustained success in an episode of Pickleballers last year. He made it simple by pointing to decision-making.
Rather than forcing offence or relying purely on power, Johns focuses on choosing the right moments. He attacks when the situation calls for it. And when it does not, he is content to stay patient.
According to Johns, consistency is often misunderstood. “With consistency, most people mean not missing a lot,” Johns said. “To me, it’s more important to be consistent in terms of your level. You shouldn’t have a lot of dips in your play.”
For Johns, consistency does not mean passive play. It means maintaining a steady standard while still applying pressure. A player can be aggressive, create discomfort for opponents, and dictate rallies – all while remaining consistent.
He explained that some situations present an opportunity to initiate a firefight where he might be neutral or only slightly favoured to win the exchange. But by waiting for a higher-quality opening, those odds can tilt more heavily in his favour – turning a 50 per cent or 55 per cent chance into something closer to 60 per cent.
That ability to weigh risk versus reward has become one of Johns’ greatest strengths. Over time, he has refined his instincts to recognize when patience will yield a better outcome, which is why he rarely attacks from low-percentage positions.
Still, Johns believes hesitation can be just as costly as recklessness.
“I always encourage players – if you see an attackable ball and you feel like you can attack properly, you have to do it,” Johns said. “Because there’s also unforeseen percentages in there if you pass up those opportunities.”
It is this constant evaluation – part instinct, part calculation – that has helped Johns stay a step ahead of the competition year after year.