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So, you're out there banging away at your opponents and they're banging it right back at you. Something's got to give as the speed of the ball and the pace of the return continues to climb. You see that your returns to your opponents also continue to rise in the air and you know that it's only a matter of seconds before they are able to hit down on the ball and win the point. What can you do as the frenetic energy builds, and before you're overwhelmed? It's called "resetting" the point. Selkirk...
Whether you've played a racquet sport in the past, or are new to pickleball, hitting the ball without thinking about what kind of shot you're hitting is a typical mindset of the amateur player. Focusing on hitting high percentage shots is the way to move from a beginner to a more advanced player in the sport. What are high percentage shots? They are what they sound like: those shots that have a high likelihood of staying in bounds. That's it. Not ones that your opponent can't return, not hard...
There's something to be said for strength in numbers. Joining a club where you live, or where you go to vacation, even on short visits, gives you that advantage of numbers: New people to play with, and more options for venues. When I plan travel, one of the first things I look for are clubs and venues in the area where I'm going. You can find options at this website, https://www.places2play.org/, or you can just Google "Pickleball" and the city or area you are traveling to. Usually, clubs in...
This column is primarily for beginners who want to buy their first paddle, but don't know where to start. I recommend buying a less expensive paddle to get you going just to see if this game is for you. If you find it's not, you hurt yourself, or you want to upgrade to a better paddle, you can always donate that cheaper paddle to your local club or school. I started by buying a very basic lightweight paddle from Pickle-ball, Inc. (the company formed by the inventors of the game). It was a...
If you're new to pickleball, or just need a refresher course on how to behave (you know who you are), here are well-accepted rules for behavior before, during and after play. These basic rules were taken from www.woodbridgepickleballclub.org, and I've embellished them. 1. Begin each game by acknowledging the other players and introducing yourself if you don't know them. This is what helps makes pickleball the great "social" game that it is. By making an effort to introduce yourself you're...
We can all get stuck in a comfort zone. Trying new things and changing old habits can be a challenge at any age, but as we get older our attitude can become inflexible. Like continuing to try to hit the pickleball like a tennis ball. Or stepping into the receiving box before the second bounce. Or aways being late on your backhand. All of these errors are the result of lack of movement on the court. And every pro player will tell you that the ability to move is key to better play. So, what does...
A friend of mine recently sent me an excerpt from "Open: An Autobiography," by Andre Agassi, the retired tennis professional. In it he talks about the mental battle he learned to fight after finding a new coach who helped propel him to do remarkable things in tennis. My friend saw parallels in my own thought process: "The tyranny of perfection". Growing up playing tennis with a father who (most of the time) gently taught my brother and me the needed skills, I was still subconsciously motivated...
The Alaska International Senior Games (AISG) is the official Alaska state qualifier for pickleball for the National Senior Games Assoc. (NSGA), which is a national organization of athletes age 50 and older. And this year's AISG Games will be the Alaska qualifying event for the NSGA Pickleball Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 7-18, 2023. Diann Darnall, president of Alaska International Senior Games (AISG), says pickleball was requested to be included in the games in 2011, and was...
I've hurt myself a couple of times playing pickleball, and each time it could have been avoided. Moving too quickly – lunging, twisting and throwing myself on the ground - caused lower back pain, knee pain and a broken hand. But I've seen worse. We had a player here in Homer who back-peddled to get a ball lobbed over their head, tumbled backwards and broke some vertebrae. And I've heard of a brain aneurysm occurring from doing the same thing. Smooth and deliberate movement - as in preparing f...
Playing Pickleball in Hawaii is just what you'd think: Pleasant weather, tropical breezes, and usually a wonderful, welcoming group of people to play with. It can also be a place where you take the time to practice on your skills at a pickleball camp. Although, with COVID, camps are not as plentiful in Hawaii, there are still places that offer in-house clinics and coaching. On the Big Island of Hawaii, one place is at the Holua Tennis Club south of Kona, where you can schedule a class with a...
When I turned 65-years-old, I stopped playing pickup basketball at the local high school here in Homer. I was just getting too beaten up. Not by the 20 and 30-something youngsters I was playing with, but by my failing body parts. I had heard about "pickleball," but the name sounded goofy and "not my style". I can't remember who made me come watch, but the first time I saw a game played I understood that this was going to be my next sports addiction. I realized that I could bring into this...
