Rhonda Stanford IronOaks pickleball players just completed the 2022 season with the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL). Five teams from our community competed in the East Valley Interclub League (EVIL), which is made up of players from clubs or communities 50-plus years in age, with skill levels ranging from 2.5 up to 4.0. The APPL…
Susan Ori The CWPV Pickleball Club got an early start on Christmas giving at the Norris Invitational Tournament in March. The silent auction and 50/50 raffle generated more than $2,000 in donations by players, members, and fans. Jean Jones of the CWPV Recreation Department was presented the $1,500 check for the 12 Days of Christmas…
David Zapatka The Volley Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “A volley is a shot hit in the air before the ball bounces. It is used as a return of a ball that travels close to the top of the net and that is usually hit…
With beautiful weather, standing-room-only crowds, wonderful vendors, great players, hard-fought matches, and selfless volunteers, the 2022 Norris Invitational Tournament (NIT), sponsored by the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood, exceeded all expectations. This year’s Norris Invitational Tournament included 88 teams, 140 participants, and over 50 volunteers. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America! Ask any of…
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “the player returning the serve stands deep in or behind the service court, ready to return the ball. The returner should be alert and ready for the next play. As the serve travels over the net, the returner…
Susan Ori Sun Lakes Cottonwood Pickleball Club has just completed another successful year of collecting food and personal items for the underprivileged students of Hamilton High. Two vehicles packed with supplies were delivered in mid-December. What a generous club and community we are a part of, and a big thank you to all who participated.
Diane Halpern On Saturday, Dec. 4, nearly 100 club members turned out to mingle and jingle at the holiday social. Each team, made up of players of all skill levels, completed several creative skills challenges to earn points. At the end of the event, prizes were awarded to teams based on total points earned. It…
Paul Nichol Curious about pickleball? Here is your opportunity to find out what all the fun is about. Join us on Jan. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Cottonwood pickleball courts. The Sun Lakes Pickleball Club-Cottonwood will conduct an introductory clinic for residents of Cottonwood and Palo Verde. Paddles and balls will be…
Relishing Pickleball David Zapatka The Serve Quoting from Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence, by Mary Littlewood, when hitting a serve, “contact must be made below the waist, which is defined as level with the navel. Further, IFP Official Tournament Rulebook rule 4.A1 states the arm ‘must be moving in an upward…
David Zapatka The Arizona Pickleball Players league (APPL) has now expanded its popular team-based pickleball league into its fifth region. After founding the first team-based pickleball league, East Valley Interclub League in 2012 (which has grown ever since), the Arizona Pickleball Players League was formally organized as a nonprofit in 2019 by a group of…