David Zapatka When your opponent hits the ball high in the air, above your shoulders, think overhead smash! The smash is one of the most fun shots in all of pickleball. It ends rallies with an exclamation point. Execute this fun, rally-ending shot using these seven steps: 1. Use many small steps to position your…
Tag: pickleball
September 2020, Sports
Relishing Pickleball
David Zapatka Pickleball Bangers Are you getting tired of playing the bangers? They have one strategy; hit the ball as hard as they can. They rarely hit third shot drop shots. What can you do? There are two options. The first is the punch volley, a volley hit hard and deep. The second is the…
August 2020, Sports
Relishing Pickleball
The Third Shot Drop. Why Is It So Important? David Zapatka The third shot drop is a shot performed near the baseline that lands softly in the opponents’ kitchen. The shot is designed with one thing in mind—get your team to the net. The mechanics of the third shot drop are simple. The ball sails…
Sports, July 2020
Relishing Pickleball
David Zapatka “Is Pickleball the Perfect Pandemic Pastime?” On May 30, the New York Times ran an article with the title above. They went on to say Ellen DeGeneres recently declared herself among the intergenerational sport’s ardent enthusiasts. Just think of it. Social distancing is defined as maintaining a distance of six feet. Pickleball’s non-volley zone…
Sports, March 2020
Relishing Pickleball: 2019 Pickleball Rocks Players-of-the-Year
David Zapatka Last month, we announced the 2019 female Player-of-the-Year mother/daughter duo of Anna Leigh and Leigh Waters. This month, we are announcing the 2019 male Player-of-the-Year. You will recall last year’s male Player-of-the-Year was none other than the Valley’s very own Dick Johnson, known to so many of us around pickleball in the Phoenix…
Front Page, March 2020
Come Watch Some Great Pickleball – March 2-5
Irene D’Aloisio It’s that time of year! It’s the biggest and best pickleball tournament in Sun Lakes! It’s too late to register, but you can come watch some really great pickleball play! It’s the Norris Invitational Tournament (NIT). This annual pickleball event is scheduled for Monday, March 2, through Thursday, March 5, 2020, with March…
Sports, February 2020
Relishing Pickleball: 2019 Pickleball Rocks’ Players-of-the-Year Announced
David Zapatka This was a changing year for pickleball. There are now 15 to 20 tournaments occurring every week, and our sport cleared three million players in the continued player growth explosion. You might think with this many players, the voting and choice for player of the year would be tough, but Pickleball Rocks says,…
Sports, February 2020
Free Walk-In Pickleball Clinic on Valentine’s Day
Irene D’Aloisio Grab a Valentine’s date and come to the free Walk-In Clinic to learn pickleball! It’s a sport for all ages and all abilities and all levels of skill, and it’s the fastest-growing sport in North America. And if you are a Cottonwood or Palo Verde (CWPV) resident, the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood…
Generals, February 2020
7th Annual Norris Invitational Tournament set for March 2-5
It’s that time of year! It’s the biggest and best pickleball tournament in Sun Lakes! Come to play or come to watch. It’s the Norris Invitational Tournament (NIT). Registration for Sun Lakes residents only is currently open at www.slpcc.net. Non-Sun Lakes residents may participate on a space-available basis and can register starting Jan. 24. Deadline…
Sports, January 2020
Pickleball Winners’ Corner
Steve Smitham (IronOaks) and Don Simmons (Trilogy) won the silver medal in the 4.5 70+ Men’s Doubles at the Desert Ridge Super Senior Tournament in Phoenix.