Owen D’Net The Cottonwood Pickleball Club continues to elevate its commitment to player development with two complimentary training programs that have made a significant impact. The Top Performance classes, designed to refine technique and optimize game play, welcomed 273 students, each benefiting from one and a half hour of focused instruction. Meanwhile, the Strategy classes,…
Tag: pickleball
July 2025, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: The Art of Blocking
David Zapatka Last month we discussed how to beat the bangers. Blocking at the kitchen line was a key strategy. This article will pick up with that focus. Consider these strategies to improve your blocking skills. 1. You know the hard shot is coming. Be prepared, knees bent, relaxed, eyes on the ball, paddle out…
July 2025, Sports
SLPCC Firebirds
David Douglas Sun Lakes Pickleball Club at Cottonwood (SLPCC), one of the largest clubs in Sun Lakes with 467 members this past year, continues to thrive in the midst of the record-breaking summer heat that our Valley is known for this time of year. Like all of Sun Lakes, SLPCC experiences the same membership exodus…
Sports, June 2025
Relishing Pickleball: Beating the Bangers
David Zapatka From 2.0 to 5.0, we have all faced the “bangers,” those players who prefer to hit everything hard rather than play the soft game hitting dinks and drop shots. Would you like to defeat these hard hitters? Consider adopting these tips. Hit deep returns. Keep the banger at the baseline with a deep…
May 2025, Sports
2025 Norris Invitational Pickleball Tournament Revived, Raises Funds for Charity
Keith Ori After initially facing cancellation, the 2025 Norris Invitational Pickleball Tournament made a triumphant return thanks to the dedication of a small group of club members who brought the beloved event back to life. Held from March 3-5, the tournament was a resounding success, drawing enthusiastic players and spectators alike. Pickleball Is Great, a…
May 2025, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Keys to Successful Net Play
David Zapatka We’ve all heard the saying, “Pickleball is won at the net.” What does this mean? Honing your skills around the non-volley zone (kitchen) can improve your play and results. Here are a few key points: 1. It all starts with hitting a deep serve, putting the opponents in a position where it’s tougher…
Sports, April 2025
Cottonwood Palo Verde Intro to Pickleball Clinics
Jim Carlson The Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood has provided an Introduction to Pickleball clinic one Saturday a month from October through March. We have had more than 70 Cottonwood Palo Verde individuals participate in this free clinic. I wish to thank the volunteers who shared their knowledge and time for the benefit of our…
Sports, April 2025
Cottonwood Palo Verde Weekly Pickleball DUPR Round Robin
Jim Carlson The Cottonwood Palo Verde pickleball courts host a Thursday Night DUPR Pickleball Round Robin. The weekly events started in July and have been a popular, fun event for all levels of pickleball. One hundred forty-two pickleball players have participated in the weekly round robins. We max out at 35 players per week due…
April 2025, Sports
Tennis Participation Grows to More Than 25,000
Dannette Hunnel Even as pickleball’s popularity surges, tennis participation in the United States rose to 25.7 million players in 2024, the sport’s fifth consecutive year of growth, says the U.S. Tennis Association, citing an analysis of numbers drawn from two studies not yet fully released. The jump of 1.9 million players from 2023’s total of…
April 2025, Front Page
Pickleball Team Competes at State’s Top Level
Jeff Dunn The 2025 Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) is made up of more than 3,000 players across the State of Arizona and is played at a variety of skill levels, from 2.5 through 4.5. Our very own Stevie’s Wonders team, which includes nine players from Sun Lakes, earned the right to compete at the…