David Zapatka Have you noticed how often people are hitting lobs these days or is it just me? Think SMASH! The overhead smash is one of the most satisfying and effective shots in pickleball. When executed well, it can end a rally immediately or put your opponents on the defensive. However, many players struggle with…
Tag: pickleball
March 2026, Front Page
Pickleball Serves Up Competition, Community, and Charity
Rod Badgley Pickleball players, spectators, and community supporters alike will have something to celebrate when the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club hosts its highly anticipated NIT Tournament March 2–4. This three-day event blends exciting competition, community connection, and charitable giving, making it one of the most vibrant gatherings of the spring season. Interest continues to surge,…
Clubs & Classes, February 2026
Will You Be Their Valentine?
Jim Meagher Here in the Valley of the Sun, February is one of our very best months of the year to enjoy living in the Desert Southwest. We usually have our best weather of the year in late winter. Cactus League teams are summoning their players to their desert training facilities. The first pitch will…
Generals, February 2026
Game On! Cottonwood’s Norris Invitational Pickleball Tournament Returns March 3–5
Jeff Dunn Pickleball players across the community are invited to grab a partner and join the fun at this year’s Norris Invitational Pickleball Tournament, happening March 3, 4, and 5 at the Cottonwood courts. The tournament features competitive divisions at the 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 levels, with brackets for Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles.…
January 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Aggressive Dinking
David Zapatka Dinking is often misunderstood as purely defensive play—a soft, patient exchange while you wait for your opponent to make a mistake. The most effective pickleball players know that dinking can be a powerful offensive weapon. Aggressive dinking transforms you from a passive participant into the player dictating the pace and creating opportunities to…
Sports, December 2025
Relishing Pickleball: No Man’s Land
David Zapatka No man’s land, sometimes referred to as the transition area, aka the kitchen, is the area of the pickleball court between the non-volley zone line and the baseline. Think of it as a space 11 feet long and 20 feet wide; two feet behind the non-volley zone line and two feet inside the…
Sports, December 2025
80 and Still Swinging … You Bet!
Jeff Dunn Racquet sports have emerged as powerful predictors of longevity, offering some of the highest life expectancy gains among physical activities. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Cottonwood Pickleball Club where 40 active members over the age of 80 prove that staying active can be both joyful and life-extending. While the physical…
Sports, November 2025
Firebird Pickleball Ladder League at Cottonwood Palo Verde
Jim Carlson The Summer Firebird Pickleball Ladder League has been a well-attended, major success. As of the submission date of this posting, the Ladder League had completed 17 weeks of fun and competitive pickleball on Thursday nights at the Cottonwood Palo Verde pickleball courts, with more than 87 participants from every development in the Sun…
November 2025, Front Page
Raising the Bar in Sun Lakes: Sun Lakes Pickleball Club, IronOaks
A Message from Joe Koken, Club President Since its establishment in 2008, the IronOaks Pickleball Club has mirrored the explosive national growth of the sport, evolving into one of the Southwest’s most dedicated and thriving organizations. Our mission is centered on maximizing the enjoyment, health benefits, and community fellowship that pickleball offers to players of…
Sports, October 2025
New Pickleball League Launches in October!
Rod Badgley, VP, Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood Pickleball fever is set to sweep the town this fall as a brand-new community league launches on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Presented by the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood (SLPCC), with eight spirited teams: the Roadrunners, Bulldogs, Huskies, Sun Devils, Buckeyes, Coyotes, Hawks, and Jackrabbits, the league promises…