David Zapatka While playing at the IronOaks courts in Sun Lakes for the first time last month, I ran into a group of very excited, highly motivated, new pickleball players. We played a couple games together and when we departed, this question was posed to me, “What should we do to improve and become 3.5…
Tag: pickleball
Sports, November 2020
Thank You to Our SBRPA Board
Alastair Stone In spite of the COVID-19 impact, the board has been busy all year. The SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SBRPA) has continued to play every day (except for the fewer than expected rain days) and having monitors has become a way of life! Membership numbers grow all the time (there are over 400 now) which means there…
Sports, November 2020
SBRPA Tournament Playing Is Back!
Alastair Stone Many tournaments have been cancelled in Arizona recently, but seven SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SPRPA) members are registered for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) pickleball tournament which is played in Tucson Nov. 13 to 17. Our correspondent found mixed doubles pair Joe Campion and Ronda Hayes getting in some practice. Good luck to them…
Sports, November 2020
SBRPA and SBRTA Join up on the Courts!
Alastair Stone At a recent newcomer’s session, the Pickleball Club was delighted to see Tennis Club members enjoying themselves on two of the courts! Our reporter liked seeing one of his former tennis coaches, Dean Alfrey, on the receiving end of instruction! And Bo Jessop, it’s okay if you were also trying to recruit new…
Sports, November 2020
SBRPA Sheriff Shelley Ziegler
Alastair Stone Pickleball players all showed great respect to the sheriff in charge early one morning. Thank you, Shelley Ziegler, for showing us all how the monitor of the day should look and behave!
Sports, October 2020
SBRPA and an August “2.5 Rating” Test
Alastair Stone SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SBRPA) has introduced a new methodology for “testing up” to a higher level. Previously, one testee played three games with three testers and had to score a total of 23 points. Now, four testees have to go through a four-element program together. This covers serving, dinking (yes), a couple of…
Sports, October 2020
Pickleball Club Notice
Rick Heine Pickleball members can play seven days per week during the three 2-hour sessions of play per day. New members are welcome. There are free newbie classes twice per month, in which paddles and pickleballs are supplied. All play follows HOA required COVID-19 rules of play. SBRPA is the largest club at the Ranch,…
Sports, October 2020
SBRPA “Fanzone”
Alastair Stone SBRPA players have continued to play in the hottest weather! Rainie Warner, Lupe Cook, Doreen Reynolds, and Consuelo Melhuish found a way to keep cool!
Sports, September 2020
SBRPA and the July “Newbie” Training
Alastair Stone The first session, on July 13, was standing room only with 20 participants. First, Susan Ness had to check everyone in; get those waivers signed etc. Then, Training Coordinator Mike Healy took over, coaching one group of four himself, while Jim Hardison, Brandt Carter, Mark Young, and Jennifer Campion each had a group of their…
Sports, September 2020
Relishing Pickleball: Pickleball Bangers
David Zapatka 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 soft volley,…