David Zapatka The dink is pickleball’s most nuanced shot, deceptively simple to learn, endlessly deep to master. While beginners treat it as a stopgap between rallies, advanced players weaponize it. Here’s how to transform your dinking game from passive to dominant. Elite dinks share three qualities. They land in the kitchen, stay low over the…
Tag: pickleball
May 2026, Sports
Norris Invitational Shines as Sun Lakes’ Premier Pickleball Event
Not in their wildest dreams could Maureen and Dick Norris have imagined what the Sun Lakes pickleball community would one day become. Back in 2008, the couple—now the namesakes of the Norris Invitational Tournament—stood with a handful of friends in the Sisk Park parking lot, taping makeshift lines onto cracked asphalt just to create a…
May 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Sun, Sweat, and Lobs
David Zapatka Summer is coming and the sun is out. The sun is beautiful, but it’s also a genuine challenge on the pickleball court. We love playing in it and we occasionally curse it while squinting into a lob we’ve completely lost. Playing pickleball in the sun is a complicated relationship. You need a strategy.…
Sports, April 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Playing in the Wind
David Zapatka Wind is the great equalizer on the pickleball court. It doesn’t matter how polished your dink game is or how powerful your drive is; a stiff breeze can turn your best shots into unforced errors in a hurry. The good news is that with a few smart adjustments, you can use the wind…
March 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Hitting an Overhead
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…
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,…
February 2026, Clubs & Classes
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…
February 2026, Generals
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…
December 2025, Sports
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…