Pickleball

Pickleball Paddle Repair – Re-Grip and Over Grip

Jeff

One would think that a pickleball paddle needs little attention and that day-in and day-out it just works the way it was intended to work and basically this is true, but there are a couple of things to consider about maintaining your paddle. One item which may need some care is the grip. Just think about how many times you might grip and re-grip that paddle. Consider how much perspiration might be shed onto that paddle over time.

It is only logical then, that whatever material the paddle grip is made of will change texture, thickness and perhaps position over time. If your paddle grip is slipping or slippery, perhaps it is time to get an overgrip. An overgrip is one that goes on top of the existing grip and sometimes they are made of materials designed to keep the moisture collecting on the handle to a minimum to avoid slippage.

NOTE – If your paddle feels just large/wide enough with the grip you already have, then you wouldn’t want an overgrip and perhaps replacing the grip with a different material is the solution (see replacement videos below). Of course these can all be done by some sporting good stores that carry pickleball supplies, etc., but it is something that can be done “at home” by most average players with relative ease.

The videos below demonstrate the various techniques involved.

Add an Overgrip

(to an Existing Grip)

 
How to over-grip your pickleball paddle’s existing grip — with Mark Renneson

How to over-grip your pickleball paddle’s existing grip — Jennifer Lucore and Bob Youngren

Changing the Grip Completely

(with a New Grip)

 

How to Change a Replacement Grip on your pickleball paddle — Jennifer Lucore and Bob Youngren

How to Change a Replacement Grip on your pickleball paddle — Neil Friedenberg

Are you ready to get a grip?

Pickleball – Good Service – The Evolving Serve

Jeff

I have only been playing pickleball for a couple of years. When I began my pickleball experience and the serve was explained to me, the mantra at the time was “Hit the ball high and deep.” The idea was to keep the players on the opposing team back in the court and away from the net as long as possible and hopefully force a more shallow return because they would then be hitting the ball from an area near their baseline.

Instructors would sometimes point out how the serving team is at a disadvantage because they start with both players at the rear or the court while the receiving team generally has one player near the NVZ. Now that younger players and athletes who are coming from other sports are entering the game, there seems to be change in the service philosophy. The serve has been given a new status as perhaps a way to earn the advantage.

After about eight months of play, this is something I figured out on my own and here is my take on the situation…

I have tried to develop three elements to my pickleball serve:

  • Change of pace – I do not to use the same serve all the time. This prevents the receivers from knowing what to expect and any doubt in their mind can cause indecision or a poor selection of a return shot.

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  • Spin – When using spin, the serve will sometimes cause just enough disruption to throw off opponents. A sudden twist here or there will cause the returning player to make a last minute adjustment which may not allow them to execute the shot they have planned. There are ways to disguise the spin somewhat so it is not anticipated too early in the shot.

    •  

  • A Hard, low shot – This serve is a bit of a risk. As Joe Baker points out in his videos, the harder the ball is hit the less accurate it tends to be. My success rate with this serve is better than 85%, but I still use it only selectively. Smart pickleball dictates that a player should pick-and-choose when to use certain shots and with only an 85-90 percent accuracy rate on this one, I don’t take chances in very close games; most of the time

With all this in mind, I use my general moderately fast, moderately high serve, but if I see a receiver moving up in the receivers box, I may change to hit it hard and fast. From time to time, I throw a spin at them just to keep them guessing.

Based on my observation in the games that I have played in club play, this is my biggest lesson:

On the serve, ball placement can trump everything else. If I can get the serve angled to the backhand of most of my opponents, I very often get a weak return. If the receiver is protecting their backhand and I can get it down the center line, I often get a weak return. I am only an average club player, but keeping an opponent off-balance has helped me win more points. I don’t necessarily win on a service ace, but as a result of a weak return and winning with a follow up third or fifth shot!

I am not an expert and I don’t proclaim to be a coach or instructor so don’t take my word for it. There are excellent players who are coaches and/or instructors and they currently seem to be offering similar advice.

You can read Death of the Meaningless Return By Mark Renneson, Third Shot Sports

Pickleball 411: Three Serves and Why You Need Them

And below is a video with Jennifer Lucore, Bob Youngren and Alex Hamner demonstrating a variety of serves.

Keep those paddles up!

Pickleball – Dinking: An Essential Part of the Soft Game

Jeff

For those who want to move their game forward, there is probably no better skill set than learning to play the “soft game” and, like it or not, dinking is a key component!

Joe Baker is back with another excellent video tutorial, Doubles Pickleball Strategy 201 – Dinking Strategy, about this essential skill. You can view it at the bottom of this post.

Here are some notes and things to watch:

Advanced Dinking

  • Main Objective – Apply the maximum stress to your opponent’s team by making them “reach, move or scramble.”
  • Shot Placements: Sideline, Middle or Cross Court
  • Three main target areas:
  • Sideline
  • Middle
  • Cross Court (preferred especially if you can get a great, sharp angled shot and force and error)
  • Do NOT hit to the near opponent if you get drawn out of position near your sideline; especially to their forehand!

  • Do NOT hit to the same sideline twice in a row.

Defending the Dink

  • Link to your partner. i.e. move as a unit – together
  • Getting out of “trouble” involves hitting cross court and into the kitchen<
  • Use a surprise lob when you can catch your opponents off-guard
  • Try to disguise your shots:
  • Look one way and hitting the other
  • Not signaling your intention until the last possible minute
  • Wrong Foot your opponent, i.e. hitting in a direction from which your opponent was just leaving

Doubles Pickleball Strategy 201 – Dinking Strategy

This video is worth studying and watching a couple of times. There is no substitute for practice. Playing games, the experts repeatedly say, will not help improve your game as much as targeted practice.

If you haven’t seen Joe Bakers other pickleball videos, run, do not walk,to your nearest computer and view these:


Doubles Pickleball Strategy 101-How to Play Smart Pickleball, Ten Tips

Doubles Pickleball Strategy 102 – Smart Pickleball Vol. 2, Power

Pickleball – You Make the Call – 20160427- Q& A

Jeff

The Question:

Player A and B are involved in a rally against opponents C and D and the ball is coming their way. Player B notices that the ball is going to be short and he starts to run toward the net. He gets to the ball about halfway between the baseline and the NVZ and moving forward is able to drop the ball over the net.

The ball lands on the other side where neither player (C or D) can return it before it bounces twice. After the second bounce, however, player B’s momentum carries him into the net where he touches it.

Is this a fault on the part of player B?

 

The Answer according to USAPA Rules:

Below is the pertinent section from the The International Federation of Pickleball Rule Book (p. 28, Revision April 15. 2016)

Under SECTION 7 – FAULT RULES

7.E. A player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play.”

The operative words in the scenario described above are “before it bounces twice.” Which, according to rule 7.E., the ball was then dead and not in play so this would NOT BE A FAULT.

NOTE: This is NOT THE SAME as the NVZ where momentum cannot bring a player into the NVZ even after the ball has bounced twice, i.e. dead.

 

To See Pickleball Videos Covering Many Aspects of the Game Click Here

Check out Additional Pickleball Info and Videos!

2016 US Open Pickleball Championship by the Numbers

Jeff

According to Jennifer Lucore, the 2016 US Open Pickleball Championship will have:

  • 48 courts
  • More than 800 players
  • 2300 matches
  • Participants from the older crowd; oldest 89
  • Participants from the younger crowd; youngest 12
  • With seven countries represented

And more…

See the original post HERE and follow Jennifer via her websites!

There is more information about the championship at the USAPA web page as well – Click HERE

From the Pickleball Channel

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Pickleball as an Art Form – A Must Watch Video

Jeff

“Pickleball is a ribbon of dreams, a tale told by a genius, full of sound and fury, signifying everything! The ferocious triumph of the human will to excel is a thing of beauty to behold. All four players should be proud.” Keith via comment on – 15 Shots to Kitchen Line

This is the first paragraph of the post highlighted above…

“The Pickleball Channel uploaded this video (linked below), that shows how it took Alex Hamner and me 15 shots to make it to the kitchen line (24 more shots to win) straight to their Facebook page on February 22, 2016, and at the time of this blog post the video had 121,270 views with 1,433 people sharing this video!”

Click to see VIDEO

Watch this amazing pickleball point between Alex Hamner & Jennifer Lucore and Mona Burnett and Bonnie Williams at the Grand Canyon State Games.

As Keith’s remark above implies, pickleball can be an art form when done at this level! Great job!

You can read the entire story at Jennifer Lucore’s Blog post and don’t forget to look at the comments as well!

Pickleball: 3rd Shot in Singles – Not Usually a Drop

Jeff

Mark Renneson of Third Shot Sports brings us an interesting video from the 2015 Pickleball Nationals at Casa Grande He demonstrates how, in the singles category, the third shot is not usually a drop shot as is the preferred shot in doubles play.

There are, of course, those times when the drop shot is used as the third shot, but not often. Another nice thing about this video is that the names of players are given so we can put the faces to the names we read about! Thanks Mark!!!

Read the comments as they have some interesting information as well. Mark explains why he thinks this phenomenon takes place:

“It’s true that the reduced coverage at the net means there are more opportunities for the third shot to be an offensive (rather than neutralizing) shot. This sport — especially the singles version of it — really rewards speed, agility and great hands.”

Perhaps Pickleball’s Hardest Shot

Jeff

The Hardest Shot: Consistent Third Shot Drop Shot

NOTE: Who is Sarah Ansboury? – Sarah is the pickleball instructor at Pacific University in Oregon. Prior to that, Sarah was a professional tennis coach. As you watch her videos, you will understand that she is very skilled as both a player/athlete and instructor. Thank you Sarah for your pickleball videos!

Most pickleballers hear that the third shot drop shot is the mainstay of the 4.0-5.0 players and it is the key to being a consistent winner. Well, consistent is the word. If you are going to use the third shot drop shot, it takes a lot of practice to become consistent. Too soft a shot and it may go into the net. Too hard a shot and you may give your opponent a cream puff lob to put away. There is little room for error.

Sarah Ansboury shows us how she works to develop a consistent third shot drop shot. Watch the video and see if you can find some techniques to improve your game. To make it easier, she restricts this video to non-spin forehand drop shots.

 

Some key points (time stamps are approximate):

Let the opponent’s shot bounce and prepare to hit the ball as it starts to descend off of the bounce. This is her recommended strike zone. (3:05 – 3:40)

Push or “bowl” the ball using the paddle. No big backswing; guide the ball while keeping the arm straight. (3:41-4:28)

Step forward with the non dominant foot to keep the motion forward when hitting the ball. This improves accuracy and puts your momentum toward the net. (4:30 – 5:35)

Demonstration starting at (6:20 – 7:25)

On the move dropping shots from the baseline to the non-volley zone. (7:25 – 9:30)

 

To See Pickleball Videos Covering Many Aspects of the Game Click Here

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Pickleball: Fun Facts

Jeff

PICKLEBALL FUN FACTS*

First Annual Pickleball Championship

  • The sport of pickleball has been around since 1965
  • It remained a well kept secret until 2008 when the game hit the senior market
  • Today it is estimated that over2 million people play the game
  • It is estimated by 2018 there will be over 8 million players
  • 68% of all players are over 60 years old
  • 53% are male and 47% female
  • Younger people are being introduced to the game in record numbers
  • Places to play are up 62% since 2010
  • USAPA membership is up 64% since 2010
  • In addition to the United States, it is played in Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, India, England,
    Australia, China, Spain, France, Singapore, Aruba, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom

* Via the US OPEN Pickleball Championship website

Check out Additional Pickleball Info and Videos!

Pickleball Explosion at Dynamite Park, Phoenix

Jeff

Dynamite Park Sign


Starts Wednesday, March 30th @ 7:30AM

Read further for more details!


As the sign says, welcome to Dynamite Park. As pickleball Ambassador in North Phoenix, I recently sent an email to the Phoenix-area pickleball players explaining that after March 25, 2016, pickleball will be allowed to be played on the two tennis courts at Dynamite Park.

For those who might want more information and location, you can read about the initial startup phase here:

Dynamite Park ( 4580 E Dynamite Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85331 ) is a very nice suburban park in a peaceful and natural setting.

There are two water fountains nearby. This fountain is only a short distance from the parking lot.

Dynamite Park Sign

The tennis courts (and soon-to-be pickleball courts) are a short walk down the main path, directly west of the playground area. In the picture below, you can see them behind the shaded benches.

Dynamite Park Sign

Here is a close up of the two benches under the shade structure.

Dynamite Park Sign

Just outside the tennis court gate, on the north side, is a large Ocotillo with a nice display of flowers on the day the picture was taken.

Dynamite Park Sign

As you can see the park has a number of exercise areas. There is a large field to the north of the tennis courts with a walking/running path. People and people with dogs can be seen throughout the day.

Dynamite Park Sign

Dynamite Park Sign

A nice children’s play area (just northeast of the tennis courts) has appropriate shade and the second water fountain nearby.

Dynamite Park Sign

Here are the tennis courts as I found them before we began the task of placing chalk lines for pickleball. We decided to use the east tennis court to outline the two pickleball courts; one on either side of the net so the net will serve as a backstop for each court.

Dynamite Park Sign

Somewhat surprisingly, I didn’t receive too friendly a reception from the two people who were having a tennis session on the other court. I heard some rumblings and bluster, but generally speaking, tennis players have been open to expanding pickleball opportunities in the Valley.

I was glad to learn that the courts have a practice wall with a tennis net line. Pickleballers will need to aim for the bottom of the line or bring some easy-to-remove painters tape to mark a practice line. Remember to remove the tape when leaving.

Dynamite Park Sign

My colleague and Phoenix Pickleball Ambassador, Mary Travis, arrived and taught me how to mark the courts using several tape measures, blue chalk, a chalk line and a straight edge. Thank you Mary! It was very time-consuming and hopefully it won’t rain for a long time so the lines will remain. Even after some of our rains, we are hopeful that the faint lines will be visible to guide the next outlining when necessary.

Dynamite Park Sign

Can you see those skinny, faint blue lines on the tennis court? That means PICKLEBALL!

Here is a picture of me after we spent more than two hours putting lines down so we can have access to two pickleball courts once we set up the nets. (The nets were set up just for the photo opportunity.)

Dynamite Park Sign

I am hoping to see some of my fellow Phoenix pickleball players at the park during structured playing times. You can read about our initial one-month trial schedule here:

NOTE: I want to thank the USAPA for their generous grant which went a long way to help us purchase the two pickleball nets. For those who may not know, the USAPA has established the Pickleball Ambassador program and fosters outreach activities like those going on in the Phoenix-area now. Please consider joining the USAPA and supporting them so they can help us to grow the sport we enjoy so much.

I also want to extend a sincere thank you to Pickle-Ball, Inc. for their kind donation of pickleball paddles and a supply of pickleballs which will help us get the program started. I think it is important to support those companies that support us.

I hope to see you on the courts!

Jeff Ross

USAPA Logo