March 7, 2019
Archived Version of a Previous Newsletter
This is an archived version of a previously issued pickleball newsletter. The most current N. Phoenix Newsletter is available by clicking HERE!
March 7, 2019
Hello Phoenix Area Players:
This is the time of the year when the schools are having their recesses for a variety of reasons and the Community Centers are altering their daytime pickleball schedules. I contacted the Phoenix Community Centers and this is my understanding of what will be happening this March. The information below refers solely to the printed pickleball schedule. It might be wise to call ahead if you have any doubt and/or you ar driving a distance to get to the venue.
Beuf CC – The person to whom I spoke was unsure of the pickleball schedule. They thought perhaps it might change or at least have reduced pickleball hours during the week of March 18. They advised that I call back toward the end of next week.
Deer Valley CC – March 18 – 22 – Pickleball Canceled
Paradise Valley CC – March 11 – 15th Pickleball Canceled
Pecos CC – No Change to the printed schedule
Sunnyslope CC – Check Back the week of March 18 – 22
Washington Activity Center – No Change
Inernational Federation of Pickleball Rating Descriptions:
If you want to play in a competitive environment, i.e. league or tournament, it would be a good idea to know your skill level to enable a placement that will not be frustrating for you or others. To read about the two ways you can obtain an Official USAPA Rating, read this page:
How to Get an Official Skill Rating
If you are interested in what the skill set of an “average” pickleball player should be, here is a chart to use.
USAPA Suggested Skills for a 3.0 Player
Serving for Success
At one time, the theory behind the pickleball serve was to use it just to start the point. Coaches would advise the players to serve high and deep. One of the problems with this is that a good player may be able to take that ball and send it back to the serving team with a lot of speed and good placement making it hard for the serving team to make a good third shot!
Times have changed and with the evolution of pickleball, so has the the serve. A number of the current championship players are now using the serve as a weapon. Learning to serve fast and with a lower arc than the older “high and deep” admonishment may give your opponents less time to set up for a strategic return and give the serving team an easier third shot.
Mark Renneson of Third Shot Sports offers this advice via a video:
Jim Baker has another very good pickleball video that is aimed at the average plus to advanced player. There is a certain level of skill necessary, especially those when players are positioned at the net.
This was presented in one of my blog posts which you can read at this link:
Pickleball Strategy 301 – Six Rules of the Fast Game
Previous newsletters that may have pickleball hints, videos, rules changes, etc. are now archived at the following link. You can check out previous newsletters there.
Archived N. Phoenix PB Previous Newsletters
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Picture Courtesy of Pickleball Magazine and the USAPA
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I hope to see you on the courts!
Regards,
Jeff Ross
