In the bustling village of Buderim, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, somewhere in Queensland Australia, there was a peculiar pickleball court called “Courts of Legends.” Among the shiny, perfectly round pickleball balls sat one that stood out: a ball with bigger holes than the others. This ball, affectionately named Big-Hole Bertie by the staff and picklers, was often overlooked and underestimated.
Bertie’s holes were slightly larger, yet perfectly spaced, making it seem unwieldy compared to the sleek, symmetrical balls with slightly smaller holes. Newcomers to the court would always bypass Bertie, opting for the more conventional balls. However, those who had been around long enough knew of Bertie’s surprising performance on the courts.
One day, a pickleball tournament was announced in Mooloolaba (close to Buderim), drawing participants from neighbouring towns. The prize: a golden pin and a year of free games at the Courts of Legends. Excitement buzzed in the air as picklers of all ages flocked to the court, each eager to showcase their skills. Among the competitors was a young girl named Lucy. Lucy was small and slight, often overshadowed by the bigger kids. She had a passion for pickleball but found the standard balls difficult to handle.
As she walked along the rows of balls, her eyes fell on Bertie. Intrigued, she picked it up, feeling the unusual grip. It fit her hands perfectly. As the tournament began, whispers spread about Lucy’s choice. Spectators and competitors alike doubted her chances with such an unconventional ball.
But Lucy wasn’t deterred. She stepped onto the court, focused and calm. With a deep breath, she tossed Bertie and released him with her paddle. To everyone’s astonishment, Bertie flew smoothly down the court, and out of the reach of the opponents paddle. Bertie was able to be hit with force and precision. Point after point, Lucy continued to win, each shot demonstrating Bertie’s surprising agility and power.
The larger holes provided her with a comfortable grip, allowing her to control her shots with remarkable accuracy. As the tournament progressed, Lucy climbed the leaderboard, her confidence growing with each round. The crowd’s skepticism turned into admiration.
By the final round, she was neck and neck with the town’s top player, a burly man named Jake who mocked Lucy and her wanting to play with Bertie. In the final few points, Lucy and Bertie needed one more point to win. She took her stance, visualised her target, and drove Bertie across the net. The crowd held its breath as the ball curved perfectly, kissing the outside of the line with precision and spin. Bertie spun further away as Jake did his best to make contact. All the spectators erupted in cheers.
Lucy had won the tournament with Big-Hole Bertie, proving that sometimes, what sets us apart can be our greatest strength. From that day on, Bertie became a symbol of resilience and the power of embracing one’s uniqueness, showing everyone that performance isn’t always about fitting the mould.
