Anna Bright: The Secrets Behind Her Pickleball Success

Anna Bright, a prominent figure in pickleball, shares her unique strategies for success, including breathing exercises and superstitions. With a strong tennis background, she emphasizes the importance of mental focus and rituals in her game. Discover how her habits and mindset contribute to her impressive performance on the court, as well as the challenges she faces when mistakes occur. This article delves into the secrets behind her success and her approach to maintaining composure under pressure.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 5, 2026, 13:39 IST

Anna Bright's Journey in Pickleball

Renowned pickleball player Anna Bright, aged 26, has established herself as a top doubles competitor in the sport. Her remarkable fitness level and ability to maintain composure during challenging moments are key aspects of her game. When asked about her success strategies, Bright emphasized the importance of breathing techniques and her unique paddle-twirling habit, which help her remain steady in tough situations.

Bright's foundation in pickleball stems from her tennis background. In a recent interview on the YouTube series Fans Want to Know, she shared, “I’ve always had some version of that with tennis. It could manifest for a few months as ball bouncing. Then I'd be twisting my paddle, so it's kind of a remnant of that.” This habit intensifies during high-stakes matches, as she noted, “In MLP DreamBreakers, when it's super high pressure, I will sometimes get a little stuck twisting the paddle. It's a weird psychological thing, I guess.”

Another interesting quirk of Bright's is her ritual of touching the back wall before points, which she describes as a superstition. “If I don't sometimes touch the back fence or something, like something just doesn't feel right,” she explained. She also incorporates a routine of touching her paddle or the ball on her left leg, hinting that she might add more steps to her pre-point ritual in the future.

Bright is committed to maintaining her instincts and does not plan to alter her habits. “I'm not even thinking I need to reset myself. It's more just if I don't do it, something is wrong,” she remarked. Off the court, she dedicates time to meditation to enhance her focus during tense moments. “A lot of times I'm kind of like meditating or focusing. A lot of times my eyes are even closed. You inhale for four, hold at the top, exhale for four, hold at the bottom for four, and you just kind of repeat that,” she shared, highlighting her dedication as a 16-time PPA Tour gold medalist.

However, Bright also faces challenges, admitting that she can become frustrated with her mistakes. “I don't know if I'm like cussing myself out terribly, but I'm definitely often displeased depending on the situation,” she said. “If I know that maybe I wasn't as focused as I should have been, then I'll be quite a lot more upset.”