Pickleball Paddle care

 

Pickleball Paddle Care

You want your pickleball paddle to last as long as possible. Pickleball paddles are easy to maintain. Here are some tips to make your pickleball paddles last as long as possible.

Pickleball Paddles Care Tips

• Don’t leave it in extreme heat such as cold or hot especially in the car.
• Keep it from getting wet such as from the rain or snow.
• Don’t throw it, drag it, or bang it.
• Don’t scrape it on the ground when picking up the ball.
• Wipe it with a towel after every use.
• Avoid hitting the wall, or your partners paddle.
• Cover the paddle with an old t-shirt/towel, or buy a cover.
• Put a new grip when it is wearing off. Pickleball paddles get damaged when they slip out of someone’s hand.

With these tips your pickleball paddle will last longer and you will be able to enjoy the game of pickleball longer.

Pickleball strategy: paddle sweet spot

Have you ever had that sinking feeling when perfectly stroking the incoming ball, and in beautiful form, when lo, with a dull thud, the ball mysteriously drops dead on arrival ?!! Perhaps you loosened your grip on the paddle or slightly pulled back on impact--both used for the deadly Drop Shot---but perhaps the ball hit far from the “Sweet Spot” !
I had thought that this spot was for sure the center of the racket, but through experience I’ve come to the conclusion that this is not so, for I get the feeling of a more “solid” shot when I hit the ball at lower than the center line of the paddle!!! (I aim for 1/3 up from the face.) This works for the Dink as well and should also with any type of return. In addition, and maybe equally important---as you aim for this spot it forces you to concentrate more on the ball, watching it closely as it approaches the paddle. Concentrating on that ball will definitely improve you chances on getting it back over the net !

Pickleball Strategy: Keeping your cool in doubles play

This past week at pickleball I played with many different levels of partners, and one common thread kept coming through: keep a level head throughout your game! Too often players will let 1 little shot, or negative opponents word get inside their head that affects their play, so here are some tips to help keep you in the game.

1.    Serve deep to opponent’s backhand.

 

2.    Return the serve slow, high and deep to the center, so you can take the net.

 

3.    Keep the ball in play.

 

4.    Breathe out as you hit the ball.

 

5.   Enjoy the competition.  (Relax!)

 

6.   Look the same after all shots.  (Take 5 seconds to ‘clear the computer’.)

 

7.   Don’t let conditions or a player’s actions bother you.

 

8.   The less you say, the better you play.

 

Explanation of 1 – 8 above:

 

1.  In order to serve to the backhand, you may have to move over to the center of the court or the side of the court.  This should be done until you find out who the few people are who have a better backhand than forehand.

 

2.  Returning the serve 10’ to 15’ high and down the center has a two-fold benefit.  It gives you time to take the net, and the serving team is forced to decide who will return it.

 

3.  Keeping the ball in play means not always trying to hit a winner or have perfect placement.  It sometimes means just getting the ball over the net one more time without hitting it wide or long.  You cannot always hit off your front foot, have your eye on the ball, get your paddle back ahead of time, breathe out as you hit, and follow through after the hit, but if you practice doing all of these, you will become a better player.

 

4.  Breathe in as the ball is coming toward you, and breathe out (you may grunt or say an auditory cue) as you make contact with the ball.

 

5.  Don’t worry if you’re in competition against someone you have never defeated.  Make a game out of it and see how many points you can get.  Maybe your partner has hardly ever lost to the other team.  And don’t forget your team could be having a good day and your opponents could be having a bad day.  Never go into a match thinking you don’t have a chance to win.

 

6.  One of the most challenging aspects of this game is managing a mistake.  You have to walk away, erase your thoughts, forget the past.  You have to tame the lion inside you.  Practice control continually.  Look the same whether you made or missed a shot.  Don’t let your opponent know you are upset or frustrated.

 

7.  Don’t let the situation control you.  Good playing comes from self-control.

 

8.  When things are not going well, negative self-talk will not help.  Don’t audibly say anything negative, and don’t let negative chatter go on inside your head.

Pickleball Strategy: Playing singles

Last Thursday night I had a great time to shy away from the doubles scene for a few games of singles. Singles mentally challenges you to make sure your strokes are precise, and where you place a shot will put you in good place for a put away finishing shot. I've put together some tips for playing better singles.

1. Serve from the center of the court, deep and in.  Some books and instructors say to serve within one foot of the back line.  NO – that is a low percentage shot.  Deep means within three feet of the back line.  That way, if you miss by a little, the ball will stay in.
2. Try to hit to opponents backhand.  Hitting to the backhand whenever you can is a higher percentage shot, because 80 to 90 % of the time, people are stronger on their forehand side than their backhand.
3. Return serve deep to corners and go only halfway up.  Going halfway up to the net means halfway between the back line and the 7 foot no volley line.  That way, in singles you can go left, right, up or back on the first ground stroke from the server.
4. Take the net (7 foot line) when you can, but do a split step just before your opponent hits the ball.  For any shot after the service return, if you are not at the net, stopping with your feet at shoulder width will allow you to run down the next ball coming your way.
5. When your opponent is at the net, hit a (1) passing shot, (2) lob, or (3) drop shot.  In order of highest percentage, when your opponent is at the net, the drop shot is best, the passing ground stroke is next, and in singles, the lob should be your last choice.

Pickleball Strategy: Partner Links

Imagine an invisible link that keeps you and your partner no more than about 10 ft. apart. When your partner moves to retrieve the ball, that link is like a powerful magnetic force that pulls you with him. If your partner is pulled to the sideline to play the ball, you are pulled with him to cover the middle. If that link is broken, you leave a big gap up the middle. It is very common to see players protecting their side of the court instead of moving with the ball and their partner.

In the same way that the link pulls you laterally, it should also pull you forward and back. When your partner moves up to the no-volley line, that link is pulling you along to establish a position of strength. When your partner is forced to the back court to retrieve a ball, it is much more likely that he will hit a return that can be slammed back at you. So the link should be pulling you back with him, at least part of the way, until you see what type of return that your partner is making. That link has some flexibility, but should never break completely.

Watch for those broken links on the other side of the net. That creates an opening for you to hit a winner.

Pickleball Paddle Review: Pro-lite Enforcer (Composite & Graphite)

The ENFORCER series from Pro-lite sports is one of their widest entry in the regular size of the pickleball paddle market. It has a teardrop design, with a mid-size length handle with a gamma thin-over grip. The teardrop design has less paddle face, which tends to give a faster response. Being a pro-lite they have the typical hard playing surface, that provides excellent power and durability. The graphite model weighs in at approx. 7.2 oz, and the composite version weighs in at approx. 7.6 oz. The Enforcer graphite sells for $60 new, or also available through us as a new factory 2nd for $55. The Enforcer composite sells for $58 new, or also available through us as a new factory second for $54.

Pickleball Strategy: Poaching (Surprise Shots)

Poaching is the skill of moving on to your partner's side of the court to pick off a shot for a winner. It is generally done when you partner is still well in back of the no-volley line for some reason. When your opponent is at the baseline and sees you up at the no-volley line and your partner in the backcourt, your opponent will usually return to the person that is in the backcourt. That is the ideal time that you should poach, especially if your opponent's shot is a little higher and slower than a drive shot. It may not only result in an immediate winner but will keep your opponent guessing the next time. If you let high, slow shots pass just a few feet from you just because they are on your partner's side of the court, then you are doing your opponents a huge favor by letting them get comfortable in making easy shots to the backcourt.

Poaching is most effective when it is a surprise. If your opponent anticipates the poach, he may just hit behind you as you are moving across. Be unpredictable. Don't tip your hand too soon. Time your move to the moment that your opponent is committed to the shot. That is usually a time very close to when the paddle contacts the ball. Poaching is a bold move that involves some risk, so don't overdo it.

If you play with a regular partner, you can have a plan for when to switch sides and when to return to your own side. If you play with a variety of partners, it is good to have some general rules of thumb about when to switch. If the poacher only moves a step or so into his partner's side, then it is generally safe to assume that he will move back to his own side. A further encroachment to his partner's side would usually require a switch. To avoid confusion, the partner in back would say "switch" when it seemed desirable to switch. If possible, say "switch" immediately, before your partner has started to move back. Remember that the poacher can not see you when you are in back of him. If you switch without telling your partner, then you have created the possibility of both players trying to cover the same side of the court.

Men's Pickleball @ ARC October 2011

Wow!!! Last night at Men's pickleball we had 6 courts of Men's doubles pickleball, and some great Men's singles games. It was neat to see so many guys out enjoying the game, and having a sweat and friendly competition. We have predominantly younger men ages 30-late 40's, but had some great "Advanced & Wiser" players that were in the next age category above. There was great talk of having a Men's singles and doubles tournament in December or January. Stay tuned for more details.

If you are in the younger mens category and live in the greater Vancouver area, we encourage you to come and join us:)

Pickleball Strategy: Should I hit down the side?

      Do not hit shots down sideline unless

                    Your opponents poach.

                           Your team is favored to win.

Your team has a good lead

      You have an easy ball to hit.

You want to keep your opponents honest when they are close to center court.

Your opponent’s backhand is to the outside of the court and he is the weaker player. 

 A soft ball down the line is just as good, if not better, and if you can bounce the ball beside your opponent and be ready to jump on a ball hit 12" above the net.

If you make contact on a shot outside the sideline, try a shot around the post deep to the baseline corner, or put up a very high lob to give yourself time to recover. 
If you don’t think that you will be able to recover, try to finish point with pure winner.

Courtesy of Coach Mo (Florida)

Pickleball Paddle Review: S-Type Composite & Graphite Slammer

The Composite Slammer (the orange one shown) and the Graphite Slammer are 2 widely popular paddles from S-Type sports. The paddles have a smaller face than regular paddles with a 8" X 9" hitting surface. One of the key features that people like about these paddles is the long handle, which allows some of us to choke up on the paddle allowing greater control. I have heard from some former tennis players that they in fact look for a paddle with a longer handle. The Graphite Slammer weighs in at 6.0 oz. and in was one of the lightest in the sport. The Composite Slammer is still a rather lightweight paddle weighing only 6.5 oz. They both come standard with a Gamma thin overgrip. The orange Composite Slammer shown has Gamma Gel grip, that was added extra for a customer that needed a thicker grip.

The Composite Slammer sells new for $50 or new factory 2nd sells for $45.
The Graphite Slammer sells new for $55 or factory 2nd sells for $50.

Pickleball Rankings

Down in the U.S. all pickleball players are ranked to gain entry to sanctioned tournaments. The USAPA or the USA Pickleball Association  in long form, provides the infrastructure for the development in the sport of Pickleball. Here in Canada we have Pickleball Canada, which is affiliated with USAPA. Collectively we are part of the International Federation of Pickleball. The job of the USAPA is to decide on the rules of the court, keep paddle manufacturers accountable, and rank players. Below is the ranking system that we use to determine where a player would be ranked for a US tournament. In Canada we have no ranking system in place for general use or tournament play, but would probably help greatly. Talks have started amongst the board of Directors of Pickleball Canada to see if this would in fact help in Canada (stay tuned.)

Rating Descriptions
1.0
These players need to work most on developing their hand/eye coordination. They frequently miss the ball entirely, but can hit some of the slower balls with their forehand. They have a hard time playing games because they can't keep a rally going.

1.5
These players keep some short rallies going with their forehand, but still fail to return easy balls frequently and occasionally still miss the ball entirely. They have played a few games and know the basic rules of the game.

2.0
These players are learning to judge where the ball is going, but can sustain a short rally with players of equal ability. They have obvious weaknesses in most of their strokes.

2.5
These players are able to keep quite a few balls going with their forehands, make most easy volleys, and are beginning to make some backhands but need to work more on developing their strokes. They are thinking more about coming up to the non-volley zone to hit volleys and are making an effort to be more aggressive.

3.0
These players are fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but are not comfortable with all strokes and lack control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots. They are beginning to attempt lobs and dinks but don't fully understand when and why they should use them and don't have a lot of success with them.

3.5
These players have achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium speed balls and some harder hit balls. They still need to develop more depth and variety with their shots, but are exhibiting more aggressive net play, are anticipating their opponent's shots better, and are developing teamwork in doubles.

4.0
These players have dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides with most shots. They can use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success and occasionally force errors when serving. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident. They know the rules of the game and can play by them.

4.5
These players have developed their use of power and spin, can successfully execute all shots, can control the depth of their shots, and can handle pace. They have sound footwork and they move well enough to get to the non-volley zone whenever required. They understand strategy and can adjust their style of play according to their opponent's strengths and weaknesses and their position on the court.They can hit serves with power and accuracy and can also vary the speed and spin of the serve if desired.

5.0
These players have all the skills of the 4.5 players, but have either developed these same skills to a higher level or are simply quicker and/or stronger than the 4.5 group of players.

Where would you self-access your game?

Pickleball Strategy: Mental

Skill in stroking the ball is not the only requirement for being successful in the game of pickleball.  The thinking player has a definite advantage!  Some things to think about:
1.  Utilize your strengths against your opponent’s weaknesses.  For instance: play to the weaker player in doubles; play to the backhand rather than the forehand; if an opponent is slow or has difficullty in moving, place your shots such that he HAS to move; etc.
2.  Anticipate!  Where you hit the ball governs the options that your opponent has for the return of the ball.  After your shot, look at the player hitting the ball rather than watching and/or admiring your shot!  What is that player’s body position?  Where is he on the court?  What are his shot possibilities?
3.  Keep your opponent moving!  Effective combinations of shots will keep your opponent off balance.  When you’re successful in moving your opponent out of position, don’t get so excited about the huge open court area for your return that you goof up!
4.  Change the pace!  Vary the speed and placement of your shots - deep, short, right, left, lob, drop shot.
5.  Remember - more points are “lost” on errors than “won” on placement.  Let your opponents make the errors.  Focus on consistency and accuracy of each shot.
6.  Don’t change a winning game!  If things are working well for you and you’re satisfied with your game, don’t change it!  If, on the other hand, you’re not playing well and losing, ask yourself what needs to be changed and try to do that in the next game.
    

Keeping score in Pickleball

Keeping score seems to be very confusing for some players. This is especially true of players who are taking up a raquet sport for the first time. Players they can only score a point if they are serving. The right hand court always starts to serve first when their side gets to serve. The serving team switches sides when they get a point. The server and only the server should call out the serve before they start. However, in the early stages of playing a game, it is more important that everyone help each other learn the scoring system and what court they should be in.
 
The sequence of scoring is their score first, opponents’ score next and the server number last. When starting a game, the team starting gets only one serve. The score to start is 0, 0, 2. Explain that the server is number 2 because of the one serve rule. Players should help each other with the scoring. If one partner is having trouble remembering, the other partner can state the score and have them explain how they figured it out. This is where it is really helpful to have players teaching each other. Games are to 11 points or if tied then the winning team needs to win by 2 points.

The story of Tom the Lobber

The Story of Tom the Lobber

If a player, whom we shall call Tom The Lobber, can hit a perfect lob every time, you might think he should always hit that perfect lob. Unfortunately, on Monday Tom The Lobber played with a partner named Timid Tim who was really very good except he could never seem to return an overhead smash, so every time Tom The Lobber lobbed the ball, the other team smashed at Tim and of course Tom and Tim lost every time Tom lobbed.
On Tuesday, Tom The Lobber was excited because he was finally playing with a different partner named Fast Freddie whom he knew had the ability to return smashes and was very fast on his feet. Unfortunately, every time the return of serve came to Tom The Lobber, Fast Freddie was already running to net, and when Tom The Lobber lobbed the ball, Fast Freddie would get creamed by the opponents so poor Tom had to quit lobbing.
Since Tom The Lobber couldn't lob with Fast Freddie running to the net so quickly, Tom had to resort to hitting the ball hard because he had never learned to dink and didn't like to do it. Unfortunately, Tom didn't always manage to hit low and the team that had returned serve and was now camped at net would again hit the ball hard at Freddie. Fast Freddie was really very fast but because his partner hit the ball so hard, he was often still running forward when the ball was hit at him, which made it very difficult to change direction or adjust to the ball. Fast Freddie made some great gets, but at the end of the day everyone was calling him poor Bruised Freddie
On Wednesday, Tom The Lobber got stuck with another partner called Hapless Harry who had earned his nickname because he was a very poor at net and nobody wanted to play with him. After a few points, it became apparent to Tom The Lobber that with Hapless Harry running to the net they had no chance at all. So Tom suggested to Harry, that every time the serve was returned to them they should lob and try not to go to net except when it couldn't be avoided. After a few minutes, it became apparent that Hapless Harry was really good at lobbing and the opponents had little patience when their smashes kept coming back. Tom and Harry went on to win their next 5 matches and Hapless Harry is no longer called Hapless. Together they are called the Happy Lobsters and are much feared in the ranks of the "C" and "B" players.
The moral of the story is don't be afraid to switch strategies and try to find a strategy that fits your abilities and takes advantage of your opponents weaknesses. To do that you have to attempt in practice to develop all your skills. That means practicing trying to dink, trying to lob and return overheads, and hitting overheads. It also means not running around all your backhands, but rather trying to improve it. It means having fun and trying a few goofy shots in hopes that one might work! It means not always trying to win your practice matches, but rather trying to work on a particular skill.

Story courtesy of Arizona Pickleball Club.

Full Pickleball "Dink" game

One of the great warm-up/mental exercises that I learned from an advanced player is playing an entire game in the Non-Volley Zone.  It is best played with 2 people per side, as a typical doubles team. What must happen is that everybody must keep both feet in the NVZ. There is no volleying allowed, only dinks. You serve within the confines of the NVZ cross court. Errors are shots that get hit into the net, past the NVZ line to the regular court, or players that volley the ball. This game can be very hard at first, especially if your soft game is lacking. Try the cross court dinks to improve your control, and probability of staying in the game. Look & watch some of the best 5.0 pickleball players like Steve Wong of S-type paddles fame, or Mark Friedenburg of Pro-lite paddles fame, and you will watch the true masters of the soft game.  This is one of my favourite games/training exercises  that has greatly improved my game.

Common mistakes & simple corrections in Pickleball

I know for myself that I am always looking for ways to improve my pickleball game. Sometimes it's always good to ask some of the more advanced players that you respect to give you some positive feedback. I feel that there are several common mistakes that we all make, but with simple corrections to help our game.

1. Player is not in the ready position. Feet shoulder width apart, paddle up with both hands, eyes watching the game before you.
2. Standing still. We have to be on the balls of our feet anticipating the next shot, staying in constant motion.
3. Blocking the ball stance. Don't stand parallel to the net, but instead angle yourself rotating your body/shoulders, and feet to strike the ball.
4. Hanging back at the baseline. Staying at the baseline keeps the player out of the action. get into the net ASAP.
5. Watching the game while playing it. After you hit, don't stand and watch your handiwork - stay mentally in the point. You can relax a little when you've won the point.

Balance & weight transfer for better groundstrokes

As a kid I played a lot of baseball. My father who passed away last year was a baseball fanatic, and lover of the mental instructional side of the game. He taught me how to hit the ball using a small amount of effort, but yielded a strong shot. This is achieved through proper body balance and weight transfer. These same techniques can be easily adapted to the pickleball court. Too often players try to over-think their  game with should I spin it, play to their backhand, where's my partner (which are all good points to master, but we need basics first) to the point that they make unforced errors into the net, or out of play. Once we see the ball returning to us and we can are able to deduce if it will be played to our forehand or backhand, then we need to turn to the side, and place weight on our back foot. In baseball my father taught me to stay in the batters box, and put the weight to my back foot, balancing slightly on my front foot. As the ball came in I transferred the weight in my body and back foot to my front foot, allowing my back foot to become a rudder to balance my body. The weight is shifted creating momentum, into your body's power zone to empower your arms or legs. The result is power that aids the pickleball paddle through consistent power exchange. Mickey Mantle might have been a great pickleball player, 'eh dad?

Pickleball Paddle review: Spikes Aluminum paddles

I have some paddles from a guy by the name of "Spike." He lives in Arizona and has been playing pickleball for close to 20+ years. In that time he has played many tournaments, and traveled as a pickleball ambassador to promote the sport he loves. In that time he started making some paddles, and we have a few of his for sale. I have already done a review of his newer paddle the ZZT sports paddle (check earlier posts) but these gray faced paddles are his specialty. The paddles are an aluminum core which provides excellent durability. The 2 styles we have available are "Arizona Slim" & "Raquetball Face." Both paddles weigh approximately 7.3 oz, and come standard with a gamma cushion ribbed grip, for excellent comfort and grip.

The "Arizona Slim" is jst like it's name, tall and slim. The paddle is approximately an 2 inches longer in length, and 2 inches is cut off its width than traditional paddles. For those players that want a little extra reach in their play, this might be the paddle for you. It comes with a clear edge-guard where you can see the aluminum honeycomb inside. It might appear plain, but I assure you people are constantly asking you about your paddle. The other paddle on the right is the "Raquetball Face" which is just a hair shy of regular length and width, but with an aggressive taper near the handle. I found that for those that know where there sweet spot typically is, this is a great paddle, and it doesn't feel awkward in your hands. This paddle is actually one of my new favourites in my bag. It comes with a black edge-guard.
These paddles sell for $45 through us.

Pickleball singles play

The other night at Pickleball I reminded some players of some of the ways we play singles. The court shall be a rectangle 20 feet (6.10 m) wide and 44 feet (13.41 m) long for both singles and doubles matches. Whether we play doubles or singles the court is the same size.

At the start of each game, the server begins the serve on the right side and alternates from right to left to right, etc., as long as the server holds serve.
The server must serve to the crosscourt (court diagonally opposite) service court.
The server’s score will always be even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10...) when serving from the right side and odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9...) when serving from the left side (only in singles play).

 When two athletic singles players face each other on a pickleball court, they both get a good cardio workout. Like squash or raquetball, pickleball played at a high level requires a lot of lunging, a lot of volleying and a lot of fancy footwork. Therefore it is not uncommon to see player heart rates rise into the 150 to 175 range. Singles is a great cardio & mental workout. It is very often played with the under 55 mens crowd, but I've played some great matches with players that are in the 55 & better/wiser  range.

Getting to know the double bounce rule

At Pickleball last night we were able to introduce the sport to some friends of pickleball. Great athletes with a history of some court sports, but unaware of the most hardest rule to remember in Pickleball, the:

Double Bounce Rule. The serve and the service return must be allowed to bounce before striking the ball. That is, each side must play a groundstroke on the first shot following the serve. After the initial groundstrokes have been made, play may include volleys. Those with a raquet history have the tendency to charge the net or the ball, forgetting that important service/receiver rule of letting the ball bounce that second time. Anything after that is fair game...as long as you stay out of the Non-Volley Zone...which is another big thing to learn which we'll discuss next time.

Pickleball Paddle Review: Pro-lite's composite "Power" paddle

Since I have so many pickleball paddles to sell, I thought it would be good that I start giving reviews of the paddles. Last Thursday i had the opportunity to play with Pro-lites composite "POWER" paddle. You can feel the weight behind this paddle, which is a far cry from my usual light graphite paddle. It weighs in at approximately 8.7 - 9.2 oz. which is a heavy weight paddle but not the heaviest that pro-lite makes, they sell a "SUPER POWER" paddle that weighs in at 9.7 - 10.2 oz. At first the paddle seemed awkward in my hands as I'm used to the lighter graphite paddle, but the paddle sure has power when it connects. It has a long handle which is good for people with larger hands. The face looks and seems bulletproof (which no, I will not test!) and has a thick skin which will keep the face strong. I can see this paddle in the larger hands of men who prefer a heavier paddle, with power behind their shot. I even see it as a great outdoor court paddle.
Pro-lite POWER paddle sells for $55.

Men's pickleball night in Abbotsford, BC

In case you haven't heard, or haven't been yet we have a new men's night pickleball session at Abbotsford Recreation Center (34690 Old Yale Road) Tuesday Nights 7:45 - 9:45 pm. This past week we averaged 4 full courts of men, and are hoping to have 6-8 courts full of men by the end of October. Our goal is to meet together for social, get some excellent cardio exercise, and have a paddle full of fun. We also want to boost the amount of men under the age off 55 playing pickleball, as there are some great tournaments coming up in the spring/summer to show off pickleball's future. We know that there are many splinter cells of men around BC, and we could really unite them through under 55 only tournaments. Currently on Tuesdays we play doubles, but also relish a good sweat & strategy of a singles game.

Drop-in rates are $6.05 for single session or if you purchase 20 tickets it would be $96.80 or $4.84/session (which would force you to be at pickleball for 20 sessions & you save money!) or if you have a membership it is included.

MEN!!! This is for you...but ask you're wives first:)

Are you coming? What do you like about the men's night pickleball?

24 hour pickleball marathon

NEW PORT RICHEY News July 2011 --

Babe Ruth and the 60-home-run season. Roger Bannister and the four-minute mile.

Certain athletes are forever associated with groundbreaking accomplishments. Even after their records are surpassed, they are forever remembered for being the first to reach an epic milestone.

It isn't likely that "Justin Lawrence, Jeff Baker and the 24-hour pickleball marathon" will ever have quite the staying power that Ruth or Bannister hold in the pantheon of sporting achievement.

But for the time being, those two young men can bask in the knowledge that pending the approval of the folks at Guinness World Records, they have set a genuine benchmark for a growing sport.

Last Saturday night, Lawrence, 25, and Baker, 18, stepped into the gym at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center, where they both work, and took to the pickleball court. They stayed there until 9:47 p.m. Sunday, establishing a world record for continuous pickleball playing.

Pickleball is a fairly new — and until recently, relatively obscure — member of the racket sport family. It was created in the mid-1960s in Olympia, Wash., and was named for the dog of one of its inventors. It is played with hard paddles and a plastic whiffle ball, on a court about the size of a badminton court with a waist-high net. The rules are similar, though not exactly the same, to those of tennis.

Though it pretty much remained a cultural phenomenon of the Pacific Northwest for some time, pickleball has found a following across the U.S. and in other countries over the past 20 years. With a slower-moving ball and a smaller court, it is less demanding than tennis, making it a game people of all ages and levels of athleticism can enjoy.

Lawrence and Baker were already familiar with pickleball when the recreation center began offering the game a few months ago. Lawrence quickly latched on to an idea that would help promote the center while he got to pursue his lifelong dream of getting into Guinness Book of World Records.

When he tried to look up what the existing world record was for nonstop pickleball play, he found there wasn't one, so he contacted Guinness and asked what it would take to create a category. The response, Lawrence said, was that they would recognize a marathon of at least 24 hours. The players would have to play continuously, with five minutes of break time per hour, which would not be included in the record time.

When Baker and Lawrence started, they initially had a little trouble remembering to pace themselves.

"We definitely started off a little too hard," Lawrence said. They had to remind themselves to curb their competitive instincts. After a while, though, something strange happened. They found playing too leisurely was fatiguing in its own way.

They discovered the best strategy was to keep changing the pace, playing fairly casually but with occasional bursts.

"It actually helped to play harder," Lawrence said, especially as the time began to drag.

Guinness requires a lot of documentation before it recognizes a record, including time logs with witness statements, video and more. When they finished, they were sure they had surpassed the 24-hour threshold — some people there were saying 24 hours, 20 minutes; Lawrence thought it might be closer to 25 hours.

He said they would have to study their submission materials to Guinness to figure out exactly what their world-record time is.

Of course, records are made to be broken, and once that magic number is in the books, Lawrence knows it will be just a matter of time before hotshot pickleball upstarts come forward to challenge their record.

When that day comes, he and Baker will have to decide whether they will try to reclaim the record. Whether it happens six months or 10 years from now, they will always have the distinction of being the ones who set the standard for pickleball players everywhere, and being first at something is an accomplishment that can never be surpassed.

Note from Grant:

This would be cool if we could pull 36 hours or more of pickleball in Abbotsford, BC...who's ready???????????????????

What to know when serving in Pickleball

Where to Stand

Stand behind the base line of the serving area prior to striking the ball. Your feet cannot touch the base line or any part of the in-bounds court before hitting the ball. When you hit the ball, one foot must rest fully behind the base line, while the other can move onto the in-bounds area of the court.
In singles play, serve from the right service area when your score is an even point and from the left service area when your score is an odd point. In doubles play, start your serve from the right service area and switch between the right and left area after each point. If you lose the right to serve the ball and then win it back, start in the right service area, no matter where you left off from the last serve.

How to Serve

Drop the ball with your free hand and strike the ball with the paddle in an underhand motion. The USA Pickleball Association defines an underhand motion as one where the head of the racket moves in an upward motion when striking the ball. Strike the ball so that is flies diagonally over the court and lands in the opposite service area. The ball must land beyond the non-volley zone line. The ball cannot touch the net during the serve.

Service Lets

A service let results in replaying the serve. You do not receive a point for a service let and your opponent does not win the chance to serve. Service lets occur when the ball touches the net and lands in the proper service area; the ball touches the net and hits the receiver; or if there is a distraction during the serve, such as a foreign object entering the court.

Service Faults

You lose your opportunity to serve when you commit a service fault. Service faults include placing your foot on the base line or an in-bounds part of the court prior to serving; missing the ball when you swing your racket; being touched by the ball, your teammate, or anything you or your teammate are wearing; the ball landing in the non-volley zone or touching the non-volley line; the ball touching the net and landing outside the proper service area; or the ball landing outside the proper service area on your opponent's side of the court.

S-type sports performance pickleball shirts available now!!!

My 3 sons Ezra, Samuel, & Isaiah are modeling the vibrant colours of the new S-type performance pickleball t-shirts that we at Pickleball International have available. These shirts are a technically superior tee for layering or wearing alone. Quick-drying polyester jersey fabric offers great moisture management and breath-ability, while an antimicrobial treatment resists odor and stays fresh for the long haul. Side seams are offset to minimize contact in high-friction areas. Active fit.They are available in adult sizes M, L, and XL and available in Red, Blue, & Yellow. They sell for $25 each. Stand out and be cool on the pickleball court, and look cool playing the sport you love.

Pickleball Paddle Review: Spikes ZZ2 Sports paddle

I had the opportunity to play with the ZZT sports paddle by Spike. Spike Christensen is a high ranking pickleball player from Arizona that decided to start making his own paddles. This paddle the ZZT (Zero Zero Two) just in case you forgot how to start off the pickleball game, is the latest offering from Spike himself. Inside is a honeycomb aluminum core, with a vinyl graphic overlay, with some great eye catching colours that aren't overly bold, but visually stimulating. Playing with the paddle I noticed an average weight paddle (around 8oz.), even feeling lighter. The paddle comes with a longer cushioned handle, for those that need it. It has a soft feel to shots, and the vinyl overlay seems to give an extra spin or spin off the face. They sell for $60 and come in a wide assortment of colours, with clear edge guards.

Pickleball Stregy: Pickleball shot selection

• If you don’t have a chance at a strong offensive shot, the chances are good that your best choice is a drop shot or a dink.
  
• If one or both of your opponents is in the backcourt, keep them there by hitting deep shots with pace. Don’t bring them to the net with a drop shot or dink unless you are sure that they can not get to the ball.
• If one of your opponents is up while the other is back, try to return a deep shot to the player that is back; keep that player on defense.
• Many players overuse the lob. When used at the wrong time, it lets the opponents take the offense and puts you on the defense. When overused, the element of surprise is gone. There are many times when players use the lob when it would be much more effective to use a drop shot.
  
• Avoid the temptation to try to do too much with a ball that is too far below the level of the net. A hard drive hit from well below the net will be on a trajectory to go out of bounds (if hit clears the net). If your opponent is anticipating that drive, he will just step aside and watch it sail out of bounds. The exception to this is when you have enough skill to come over the top of the ball with enough top spin to keep the ball in bounds.
• Increase your percentages on the return of serve by using a soft floating return to the back court.
• Shots hit cross court at a sharp angle can be highly effective, but they are also subject to a high error rate. If angle shots are not working well for you, direct most of your shots down the middle (down the doubt line). Your error rate will decrease significantly. It is amazing how often those down-the-middle shots cause confusion in your opponents. Quite often, both players will attempt to play the shot or it will be untouched by both players.

Watch your opponents throughout the match for breakdowns in communication, unnecessary movements or forced errors they will commit, allowing you to use your arsenal of shot selection.

Why should I play Pickleball?

PICKLEBALL - Strange name...great game:)

Truthfully up until a few years ago I had never heard of Pickleball. It wasn't until I was asked to help develop the Pickleball drop-in at the Abbotsford Recreation Center in 2008 that I fell in love with this great sport, as has every other single person that I've introduced to Pickleball.

1. This is a sport for all ages --- At first I believed this sport to be for the seniors crowd that we were running the drop-in for; which is an ideal aerobic exercise to get the arms and legs moving. But then teens and young adults would come by the gym windows after classes wanting to play, and so it was decided to drop the drop-in ages from 55+ to 16+ to allow for a greater introduction to the sport. My own elementary age sons Isaiah, Samuel or Ezra get great thrills out of hitting the ball over the net with me, and it helps to develop hand-eye coordination and patience in them. I've heard stories of some of the greatest players that could easily beat any youthful player and are in their 80's! Whatever your age or playing ability, Pickleball is a great sport to get you moving, get exercise, or play for the competitiveness.
2. Huge cardio workout --- The first time you play Pickleball, you realize that you can get just about any level of cardio exercise that you want. Are you looking for a super cardio workout? Grab a partner that is roughly the same skill level (or higher) and play a game or 2 of singles. In singles the lines are the same as doubles play using the badminton courts outside lines. Small court space, quick fast volleys, deep lunges get your heart rate up in a hurry. You'll be sweating profusely in no time! If you're wanting an easier pace, play doubles. Just grab 3 other players, and have fun hitting the ball back and forth. Singles requires you to focus on yourself, while doubles allows you and your partner to depend on each other, and there is more possibilty for learning new skills with the other players.
3. Low Co$t --- Grab a pair of tennis shoes or running shoes that will support your ankles, a t-shirt and maybe a pair of shorts or loose fitting pants and your pretty much set. The only pickleball equipment needed is the paddle. Most Rec. centers will have wooden paddles to use free of charge, or you can purchase your own. Pickleball paddles vary in price from $40 - $80 CDN, made from aluminum, composite or graphite. Since there is no strings to break, you make a 1 time purchase and you're usually good for life. The 3 main pickleball paddle manufacturers are: S-Type Sports, Pro-lite Sports, and Pickleball. There are many more paddle manufacturers now, but make sure they meet International Federation of Pickleball regulations for paddles!

Pickleball is a sport for all ages, offers great cardio exercise, and is lo-co$t? Doesn't that sound like a great sport? See you soon on the courts:)

Pickleball do alone practice skills

When I first arrive at any pickleball session, first thing I do is stretch my body for 5-10 minutes, then after that I take another 5-10 minutes before I play any matches to do some drills by myself. I always start by bouncing the ball on the paddle face and keep it bouncing 20-30 times. I will start with my forehand, then backhand, then alternate, then do a hard one I'm really working on now: forehand - backhand - side rim of paddle (repeat 20x.) Practice can also be done with paddle slicing: forehand, backhand, frontwards, backwards. Then I like to find a closed door, or a wall works good to, but i like a closed door because it gives me a small target that I must concentrate on hitting in succession. When hitting my door (wall) target I practice my groundstrokes and volleys, starting at 4 feet - 8 feet - 12/15 feet if space allows. These drills will help the player to be ready sooner, be actively involved in the movement of the ball, to watch the ball engage the paddle, and improve hand-eye coordination and control.

Do these skills work for your warm-up routines?

Garage training on the pickleball soft game "dinking"

So If you don't get as much chance to practice your soft game in pickleball, otherwise called "dinking", here is a great way to do it in the comfort of your own garage. On the indoor wall of your garage tape a horizontal line at 34", then tape another line at a height of 38-40". Your objective is to dink the ball between the tape lines. The closer you are at hitting the ball just above the 34" line, the more it will be harder for your opponent to react to the ball dribbling over the net into the Non-volley zone. It will take much practice to lift the ball softly towards your "net."

What are some great soft game or dinking exercises that work for you to practice at home?

Pickleball Paddle Review: S-Types "Graphite Stryker" paddle

I want to describe my usual pickleball paddle, S-type's "Graphite Stryker. This has been my regular paddle since I graduated from my used champion paddle.The Graphite Stryker is light and very responsive on the court. The Stryker is about the same size as the champion, but with an agressive design on the face. I like that the paddle is very lightweight, which allows me to bring the paddle around faster. The graphite in my paddle gives just that extra "pop" when striking the ball. It is usually sold with a gamma cushioned grip, but I switched it up with a contour ribbed grip as I have smaller hands, and the ribbed grip helps for ease of hand control. I've played with this paddle for about 3 years, and would highly recommend it to anyone as a great all around paddle for the beginner that wants a light paddle through to the advanced player who's looking for more control and accuracy in their games. These paddles sell for $60, or another option is purchasing one of our brand new factory second paddle for $5-10 cheaper.

Who also plays with an S-type graphite Stryker? Why do you love playing with it?