As of today (8/04/21), I am no longer an USA Pickleball Ambassador. (I loved being a USA Pickleball Ambassador.) Why? I received a call from a director of the Florida USA ambassadors last night, and he informed me that USA Pickleball Org had received a communication from a fellow player in Sarasota complaining that they were not being treated fairly by Pickleball Terry. I thought the complaints were rather silly…she drops peopleoff her email list… she won’t post our pictures…things of that sort. First of all, my weekly emails have nothing to do with the USA Pickleball Org, but I agree that an ambassador should keep things separate. For example, don’t mix being a paddle dealer with I’m a USA Pickleball Ambassador. USA Pickleball has a strict rule about that. Now I know.
So that there is no more confusion, and so that I am able to carry on without worrying that someone is going to go over my head and complain to my “boss,” I decided to leave on a high note. That way I won’t be responsible for doing anything wrong in conjunction with USA Pickleball. (Being an ambassador is a volunteer position.)
USA Pickleball Organization is a great resource, and I recommend all pickleball players to become a member. Their website is full of wonderful information, and I enjoyed my time as an USA Pickleball Ambassador, but it’s time to move on. Maybe that guy who complained about me would like to pick up the torch and become an ambassador? No hard feelings. People have to do what they have to do.
My new title is (Self-appointed) Sarasota Pickleball Representative.
Thanks for reading,
Pickleball Terry and Zane
Pickleball Terry
Terry Ryan
Owner of Sarasotapickleball.com
Dinkpickleball@gmail.com
I was standing on the court between pickleball games and passing the time by talking to a relative newbie to pickleball. I said to him, “Did you know when we all started playing pickleball in Sarasota we all played indoors?” He…dead silence and a look of shock on his face. But that is right, we did not play pickleball outdoors. We only played indoors, as shocking as that now sounds.
We had a certain schedule and played inside at Arlington Park on certain days, and other days, we played inside at Colonial Oaks, RL Taylor, and YMCAs when they were the YMCAs. Then more places opened up and we had Newtown and Longwood Park. The Salvation Army on Tuttle offered pickleball on a couple of days. Never, NEVER did we venture out and play pickleball outdoors. Most of us didn’t have our own nets, and we preferred the air conditioning and no wind inside. Nets were provided at all the indoor facilities and the Salvation Army even started putting up the nets and taking them down for us. The cost was all of $2.00 and we paid with cash. You always had your bag of ones and quarters in your backpack.
And balls….we had one kind of ball. The standard green Jug ball that is cheap to buy. The facilities would supply them. At first, they would leave a bucket of balls for the players to pick from and return them to afterwards. They didn’t last long as they quickly got soft or would crack, and some places started handing balls out one at a time, so you would have to bring a cracked ball to the desk to get a new Jug ball.
Also, for example, Arlington had four courts and it ranged from the beginner court located closest to the door, and the quality of the players got better as it got to the 4th/last court where the strongest players played. Things would get tricky when a not-so-good player would try to play on a court that he/she wasn’t really qualified to play on. I would see fights break out, feelings getting hurt, and people complaining at the front desk. Oh boy. Lots of drama.
I also remember the LONG WAIT during the winter season. We would wait 45 minutes to an hour between games. UGH! But you got a lot of time to visit with fellow players. We also had pot lucks and a couple of us would reserve the indoor courts for private play. People would wait to see if they would get an invite. Some people wouldn’t. They still talk about that.
I had a women’s league inside at Colonial Oaks for 2 years that was a wonderful time. Someday, after COVID, I hope to resume that and expand on league play to include men’s and mixed.
Two years ago, one of the last things that Coach Russell and Terry W. did was approach Church of the Palms and ask them if they would consider having pickleball. After a little negotiations, the Church offered pickleball in their beautiful new gym. It has been an outstanding relationship.
Speaking of Coach Russell, the man was instrumental in getting major pickleball pros to come to Sarasota and host clinics. I took clinics from Kyle Yates and Lucy Kitcher for all of $30.00. What an honor to meet people like them. Those clinics were held at RL Taylor Community Center which also is a wonderful place to play indoor pickleball.
I remember the first time i played outdoors. It was on the courts at Newtown. I was so thrown off. The net looked too high, the court looked too big. It was a totally different experience. I didn’t like it. There was , wind and sun in my eyes and I preferred playing inside. Even all the tournaments I played in were indoors. Summer came in 2019 and the indoor facilities were closed because the kid’s camps were using the indoor space, except the Church of the Palms and the Ys had some limited time to play.
Then Dick Friede starting something amazing, he started borrowing portable nets and setting them up every morning outside at Colonial Oaks Park. It was a slow start but now has become a popular place to go. The success is mainly because Dick with his partner, Jan, are reliable and you can count on them being there everyday.
In the fall of 2019, the indoor facilities opened back up after school started again, and we all happily went back to playing indoors. Players began to become more interested in playing outside especially on the weekends when most facilities were closed, and we ventured to the courts of Siesta Key. Oh boy, did we clash with the tennis players who thought we were not worthy to play on their courts. God help you if a pickleball rolled on their court.
In 2020 COVID hit and everything changed. We were forced to play outside as the indoor facilities shut down. There were a couple of weeks when we were not allowed to play even on the outdoor courts as the country went into lockdown.
But life goes on, and here it is, the summer of 2021 and we are all now devoted outdoor pickleball players. We have learned to love playing outside and playing inside is no longer as desired. We play in the heat, the cold, the wind, and even the rain. We have pretty much taken over the courts at Colonial Oaks Park during the mornings, much to the dismay of the few tennis players that want to play there. After all, we live in beautiful Sarasota, FL. Who wouldn’t want to play outdoors.
And the wait time is less. I never will wait 45 minutes to play a ten minute game as I did at Arlington. No thank you!
Hopefully soon, Sarasota will construct the outdoor courts they have been promising us. The Longwood project has been delayed for another year. and don’t hold your breath for the courts off of Pompano. That may be 3 years into the future.
As pickleball takes off as the fastest growing sport in the country, I have seen on the Internet, new outdoor massive pickleball complexes popping up. There is a trend of people buying or renting warehouse and putting courts in; some keeping them for private use and others charging for public to play. Malls are converting empty space into pickleball complexes. It’s really an exciting time to be involved in pickleball.
Lastly, along with all the different paddle brands out there (I’m a Gearbox authorized dealer), there are now over 300 brands of pickleballs. The Jugs balls I still use in my clinics and for my ball machine, but people are now very picky about what ball they are playing with indoor and outdoor. I once saw one player throw a ball down and announce. “I won’t play with that ball!” Wow! How far we have all come.
Recently, I signed up for a tournament where I had to be a member of the USA Pickleball Association and SSIPA. What the heck is the SSIPA and why do I have to be a member? Good question but I had to pay the $20.00 or I wouldn’t be able to play in the tournament. The SSIPA is
Okay, fine. I realize that pickleball is a sport that is exploding in popularity and everyone is jumping on the gravy train, or to be more polite, helping to educate and promote pickleball.
There is the APP. The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP)
From the APP Website. With the exploding popularity of pickleball, Ken, CEO, has a vision of creating a series of tournaments where individuals could set performance goals, track results, and play against peers in a sanctioned tour environment while adhering to all USA Pickleball guidelines. The 2021 APP Tour has over $700K in prize money for professionals, while all player athletes are encouraged to qualify for the season ending championships — The APP Miami Masters International Pickleball Championships on January 19 – 23, 2022.
The 2021 APP Tour has 18 tournaments scheduled throughout the United States and Europe. We are hosting tournaments in nine of the 12 USA Pickleball regions. Our purpose is to confirm that all player athletes, professional and amateur, have access to our competitive APP tournaments.
Then there is the PPA – Pro Pickleball Association
Their tagline is, Play Where The Pros Play. They also are starting their own rating system (OMG! Not another one!) called DURP to bring a new rating solution.
USA Pickleball Association is probably the first official organization for pickleball. They are associated with the PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry), where I received my certification for coaching pickleball.
Mission
The mission of the USA Pickleball Association (USA Pickleball) is to promote the development and growth of pickleball in the United States and its territories.
About Us
The USA Pickleball Association (USA Pickleball) is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the US and provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and promotional materials.
The association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and governed by a board of directors and professional staff who provide the guidance and infrastructure for the continued growth and development of the sport.
Then there is the rating system for the USA Pickleball Ass. called the UTPR.
The UTPR (No idea what that stands for. United Tournament Pickleball Ratings???) is the rating system for USA Pickleball Association.
Okay, then what is the International Federation of Pickleball? International Federation of Pickleball (IFP)
The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), the world governing body of pickleball, was established to perpetuate the development and growth of the sport throughout the world. The IFP’s goal is to introduce pickleball to all nations so that they may embrace the sport as one of their national sports, and ultimately to achieve official recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to establish pickleball as an Olympic sport.
The IFP is a non-profit, volunteer organization committed to promoting international play and competition, maintaining the official rules for pickleball, and providing a worldwide code of conduct for pickleball athletes. The IFP focuses its resources on supporting organizations that foster the sport around the world for all ages and ability levels.
USA Pickleball is the United States member of the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), the world governing body of pickleball. The IFP was established in 2010 by the USA Pickleball Association to perpetuate the development and growth of the sport throughout the world.
What is a sanctioned tournament? A tournament approved by the USA Pickleball Association.
Is the Minto US Pickleball Open a sanctioned tournament? No.
And there is the IPTA. International Pickleball Teaching Association. Yes, another teaching association and another rating system.
This is from their website.
Why did the IPTPA create a new national rating system?
After receiving feedback from many of our teaching professionals, there seemed to be a trend among self-rated players of “over-rating”. Over-rating obviously causes many problems during organized play and clinics offered at designated levels. It effects instructors trying to give everyone the attention they deserve for skills specific to level and to keep organized play fun and balanced for all. After reviewing the IFP & USAPA rating descriptions in depth, there seemed to be a disconnect with the skill progressions taught by IPTPA professionals and those descriptions. At IPTPA, we strive to be the leaders on the court by instructing the most current and progressively accurate way to improve level by level (from the inside out). The descriptions of each level by other organizations do not currently reflect this level of standardization.
Does the IPTPA Rating System conflict with the current USAPA rating system?
No. The USAPA system is designed for players that compete in sanctioned tournaments. However, as we all know, that is only a small percentage of the playing population. There are players of all ages and skill abilities that need an accurate rating. However, many may not be able to obtain one due to lack of sanctioned tournament play.
Let’s not forget the AAU Pickleball. (Amateur Athletic Union) Athletes Pursuing Greatness
The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of “Sports for All, Forever,” is shared by nearly 700,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.
Since 1888, the AAU has raised tomorrow’s leaders on today’s playgrounds. Join the more than 700,000 members and compete in one of our 35 sport programs across the nation today.
I’m sure there are more or more will pop-up tomorrow. Let me know if you know of one I missed.
Christine Hayashi played in the recent Minto US Open Pickleball Championship held in Naples. I sent her a few questions and here are her answers.
Elizabeth and Chris
Christine Hayashi won Gold and Bronze at the Minto US Pickleball Championships in Naples held in April.
(Do you like Christine or Chris?) I like Chris, either is fine.
Pickleball Terry (PT) Chris, congratulations on your wins. Who were your partners? Chris: Women’s 3.5 Age 55+ Elizabeth Warrier – Gold Mixed 4.0 Age 19+ Ben De Jesus – Bronze
PT: Did you practice a lot with your partners before the tournament? Chris: As the Open was approaching, Liz and I started practicing by playing a couple of tournaments, playing in a weekly league, and practicing another night if possible. Ben was a last-minute replacement and good friend who stepped in! We played together a couple of times before the tournament and did some drilling. He is a great player. I am a good listener and followed his lead for our mixed play ��
PT: What did you do to prepare yourself for the tournament? Chris: For me, I simply love playing! I was fortunate to be invited to Sarah Saari’s Viking Pickleball Clinics and she has been instrumental in my development. I very much enjoy playing different players so I played at different locations with different groups and tournaments (Englewood, GT Bray, Indigo (the community where I learned about Pickleball!), Island Walk, Palm Aire, Lakewood Ranch HS, Sarasota Pickleball Club Newtown, Punta Gorda PicklePlex …)
PT: Athletes have rituals before a game. Do you have any like carry a lucky charm or anything? Chris: No lucky charm. Just grateful to be playing in the Open and for the experience!
PT: Normally, how many times do you play pickleball a week? Chris: I work full-time at Beall’s (check out their pickleball clothes etc.) so I play where there are good lights at night (GT Bray, Englewood) a couple of times a week and then most definitely as much as possible on the weekends!
PT: Do you like playing with the same partner or do you like to play with different people? Chris: For tournaments I think it’s so important to have a partner that you enjoy playing with and your style of games work together to be successful, while having fun! Otherwise, for recreation play I love playing with different people and against different people. That’s one of the great gifts of pickleball are the people you meet and friends you make.
PT: What paddle do you use? Chris: Prince Spectrum Pro
PT: What is the best shot is your wheelhouse? Chris: If you know me, you know I love to dink and reset ��
PT: Do you like to dink or are you a banger? Chris: Dink
PT: What was the best part of the US Open? Chris: It was my first time being to the US Open. It was amazing to walk onto the venue with ZingZang Championship Court and to see so many players and people passionate about the sport and the high level of play, amateurs and pros all playing on the 60 dedicated courts. To be able to play something you love, to dig in and never give up, at the largest PB tournament was so fun. And to do with partners I admire and am grateful for. And, in our Women’s event, we got a text for our 2nd round match. Liz says, where is CC? Where are the lettered courts? Liz, that’s Championship Court! That definitely was a highlight. We won there and went undefeated against some very tough competition!
PT: What was the worst part? Chris: Something we cannot control, the weather. It didn’t impact me, but for friends who waited over a year to play in the Open, practiced and playing at the top of their game, to be told their event is being rescheduled (at least it wasn’t cancelled), and unfortunately they were unable to play the next day. They were very disappointed. Also be prepared for lengthy waits if there are weather delays (for any tournament).
PT: Will you do it again? Chris: You bet, if I can!
PT: What advice would you give to other players who are thinking about playing in next year’s open? Chris: Do it! It’s Open to everyone. Even if you are eliminated after 2 matches, you played! If you enjoy pickleball and want to “experience” and be a part of the biggest pb event, it is so worth it in my eyes. I am amazed at the level of play …. from the growing number of juniors to seniors! I’m inspired and motivated to continue to develop. So much joy!
Thank you, Chris. We are all so proud of you. Congratulations! Thank you, Terry, for being our Ambassador. Without you and your passion for the sport many of us would not be playing. Thank you for all that you do for us and for promoting and growing the sport!
It was a few years ago that Dick Friede and Jan Wilhelm showed up to play pickleball inside at Colonial Oaks Park. I must admit, we were all a little scared of his serves and drives. Boy, he could and still can hit the ball hard. He got many serves by us, but alas, things have changed and the rest of us have stepped up our game and now return Dick’s high-powered serves. Well, most of them. And thanks to Dick’s BLOCKING DRILLS, we are able to block his lighting-fast drives…again most of them.
One day, a few years ago, Dick asked me advertise in my newsletter, Intermediate and Advanced Play Everyday at Colonial Oaks Park outside on the courts, much to the dismay of the tennis players.
Now Dick religiously comes every morning at 7:30a.m. with 4 nets and sets them up. One side of the courts have painted lines for pickleball, but the other side, Dick manages to chalk in somewhat straight lines. No one questions them by pulling out a yardstick; we’re just happy he does it.
His lovely partner, Jan, is also a force to be reckoned with on the courts. Though small in stature, she is fast as a bullet, and from years of playing tennis, knows how to place a ball so it’s out of reach for the other team. Anyway, they make a good couple on and off the pickleball court.
On Saturday, May 8, the usual Colonial Oaks gang arrived around 7:30 only to find that someone was there before them and left a message for Dick. An anonymous message by the way. It was a nice way to say, “Dick. you are appreciated!” (Jan, you too.)
Thanks Dick and Jan from all the players at Colonial Oaks Park.
I did it! I signed up for the Lucy Kitcher Club Med Sandpiper Championship; the most difficult process I have ever gone through to sign up for a tournament in my life. Holy moly!
First of all, I talked a few players into signing up for the tournament. Just look at the flyer. It sounds like a fantastic time. All inclusive for 4 days! Plus a sanctioned tournament.
This is the email I received from Lucy Kitcher, pickleball pro.
zerozero stay
Mon, Apr 26, 2:40 PM (4 days ago)
to Dinkpickleball
Pickleball Tournament Club Med Port St. Lucie.
All Inclusive Pickleball Tournament and Trip
22 pickleball courts
Port St. Lucie, Florida
What’s included
This is a four day all inclusive tournament and trip for only $599 per person. Everything is included from the moment you arrive at the resort until you leave. It covers all day gourmet dining and open bar (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks), lovely accommodations, daily pickleball tournament, play, and court rental, day and night entertainment, cocktail party, and unlimited water and land activities around the resort. Plus medals and a t-shirt! A limited number of single rooms are available for a $100 supplement.
Location
This trip is held at the Club Med in Port St. Lucie, Florida not far from West Palm Beach on the east coast of Florida. The closest airport is Palm Beach International (PBI). There is a resort shuttle from the airport available for an additional fee (shuttle is only included in international trips). Advanced reservations are required. Another option is get an Uber from the airport. The ride is about fifty minutes.
Alternatively, you can rent a car. If you do so, you will have a greater selection of flights to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando or Miami airports which are all approximately one hour thirty minutes. Miami is slightly more.
Arrival and departure info.
Check in on day one is at 3pm. If you want to arrive before three and use the facilities, they charge $20 per person. That gives you full access to the resort which includes meals, drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and the use of all the resort amenities. However your room may not be available until 3pm. You can leave your bags in your car or at the front desk. We will meet at the pickleball courts for open play at 3:30. Stop by after you arrive. If you arrive early, feel free to go play!
Check out on the last day is 10am. You can stay and enjoy the resort all day for no additional charge, but you have to have your belongings out of your room by 10am. If there is no one checking into your room that day, you can ask for late check out at noon. There are showers available around the resort and you are welcome to leave your luggage at the front desk until your departure.
Pickleball activities
The tournament will take place first thing in the morning. In the afternoon there is optional open play.
On day three there will be an award ceremony at a cocktail party with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. There will be presentations for gold, silver and bronze medals for each skill group. There will also be a paddle give away on the last evening.
We have a reserved section in the restaurant for dinner and the option to sit together at breakfast and lunch. If you prefer to sit outside this is also an option.
This list is during Covid. It may expand prior to our trip
Available for an additional fee:
Access to The Saints Golf course, 18-holes, 5 min from the resort
Water skiing
Spa
Deposit and payments
The total price of this trip is $599 per person based on double occupancy. There are a limited number of single rooms available for a supplement of $100. Your deposit of $199 is due when you book on PickleballTournaments.com (plus single supplement where applicable). Two additional payments of $200 each are due prior to the trip start date. You must be paid in full 60 days before travel. Your deposit is nonrefundable, however if you’re unable to attend, you are able to send someone else in your place, as long as you provide fourteen days advanced notice. After that, there is a $60 name change fee. If there are guests on the waitlist you will be provided a refund minus a $30 administrative fee. Included in the price of your trip is Club Med’s basic travel insurance which covers the cost of your stay at Club Med in case you are unable to attend the trip due to an injury that might prevent you from traveling, a death in the family, or similar.
Okay, we were all in. Here comes the hard part. Signing up. Yep! FRUSTRATION! And I am dang good on the computer, so you know if I had a hard time….it had to be hard,.
To sign up you have to go through Pickleballtournaments.com. Okay, that’s not unusual because that’s where I sign up for most of my tournaments, Been there many times. And I went to pickleballtournaments,com and logged in. It went like this:
Log in
Go to FUTURE TOURNAMENTS
Type in LUCY in keyword
I find the Club Med Tournament…REGISTER
MUST BE MEMBER of USAPA or also know as USA Pickleball Association. Well, I am an AMBASSADOR. I am a member and on automatic renewal. I try many times and get the same message. MUST BE A MEMBER.
I log on to the USAPA site and click the button to renew for another 4 years just out of frustration, and I go back to Pickleballtourments,com to try again. Same message. What the????
I call Lucy. She looks into it and says it may take a day to reset.
That night at 7:00, I receive a call from USAPA that I have signed up for 4 years of magazines and not 4 years of membership. The USAPA will refund the $$$, and I am to go back in and renew the membership again. OH MY GOODNESS! By the way, I am also talking to Diane who is going through the same thing. She signed up for the magazine, too. She is also going though hell and high water to sign up for the Club Med tournament.
I have emailed Pickleballtournanments.com about my difficulties. They responded by saying I have to contact the tournament director. By this time, I have Lucy Kitcher on speed dial so I have talked to her, texted her and emailed her.
Lucy explains that you must be a member of the USA Pickleball Association at the time of the tournament which is at the end of the January 2022. That’s right, we are planning ahead. I tell Lucy, I better get a private room. She says she’ll save one for me. (I already know that one of my friends from New York is going to beg to come stay with me last moment and I’ll let them bunk in so private room….probably not.)
My membership at USAPA was up for renewal 7/21. Even though I am on automatic renewal, when I tried to register for the Club Med, it said I wasn’t a member in January 2022. USAPA corrected that for me and I was back to Pickleballtournaments.com to try again and again and again.
Next snafu…you have to be a member of the SSIPA. What?! You cannot sign up unless you have a membership to the SUPER SENIOR INTERNATIONALPICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION.
Another test of my patience…I went thought the steps and signed up for $20.00.
Back to Pickleballtournaments.com. (Any sane person would have given up by now.) We also ran into the issue of someone who was in our group was under 50, so did she have to join the SSIPA? Another Lucy text.
Now all things right at USAPA and SSIPA, I went through the process once again; chose PRIVATE ROOM, MIXED DOUBLES AND WOMENS DOUBLES to play in the tournament; paid the down payment, and I am happy to report—I am signed up and good to go!
Now that I have become a sort of EXPERT on signing up for this tournament, feel free to contact me if you run into problems. I have done this for a couple of people. Last time I checked, over 90 from all across the country have signed up. I am hoping to have a large group from Sarasota attend.
So, that’s my story. I must really want to go to go through all that rigmarole.
It never rains in southern Florida. Oh wait, that’s California because it did rain the first part of the week in Naples where the Minto US Pickleball Open was held. There were a lot of rain delays and disappointment because some people didn’t get to play.
If you don’t know, players signed up last year to play in April 2020, however that was cancelled due to COVID. April 2021, the show did go on and you wouldn’t have known that COVID existed. I didn’t see many masks. Possibly people are feeling safe because they had the vaccine . Not sure but I wasn’t worried and enjoyed participating in an event where I didn’t have to think about COVID. Ah, the joy! (Just to be clear, there was sanitizer all around and COVID warning signs—KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.)
Rain
Abbie Brooks
Pickleball Terry and Zane
My partner, Rich, arrived at the US Open on Saturday, I drove down on Sunday to check things out and stayed with friends in Fort Myers. On Monday, I moved to a motel in Naples because my match started on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. and I had to be there at 7:00 a.m. Rain was predicted. By 7:00 there was already a line of cars to get in. Parking was $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a week’s pass.
I met up with Rich and his gang; great crew from The Villages. They all cheered us on when we played. We managed to squeeze a match in, 2 games (we lost) before the rain started. Then I explored the area. There are suppose to be 59 courts, and I saw a sign that Collier County was going to add more under cover. Wow!
Gizmo and Margaret in blue top
Pickleball Dog
Teri and her partner won bronze.
People set up canopies everywhere, and some have names imprinted on them like “The Pickleball Ladies.” You can fit roughly about 8 chairs and coolers under each one. I understand they leave everything there overnight and no one touches them.
Tents were set up over the bleachers so you have shade when watching the matches. In fact, there are tents everywhere providing shade. One of my concerns was that it was going to be too hot to play. I have heard stories of players overheating. This wasn’t the case. Of course with the overcast days and rain, the temperature was in the 70s. But the last day I played, Saturday, was blue sky and windy; the temperature was 89 and humid, and I felt fine playing. On Saturday, Rich and I won 1 and lost 2. We were done. Out of the action.
I did some more scouting and made a couple of videos. I found out where the pros were playing and watched them for awhile. I saw Sarah Ansboury, Lucy Kitcher, Zane Navratil, Corrine Carr, Ben and Collins Johns, Tyson McGruffin, Christine McGraff, the Waters and others.
vv
The Zing Zang center court with the blue roof is only for spectators that have paid a hefty price. Boxes are a couple of grand, and week passes are $600.00. Day passes at $25.00 were on the lottery system and went quickly last year. They were called the “cheap seats” on the bleachers.
The other main tents had registration, food, t-shirts and paddles for sale. A few booths outside the tents offered freebies like hand sanitizers, tiny flashlights, etc. Nothing too exciting.
Jana and Cassandra won Gold in 5.0
USA Pickleball Ambassador, Toni
Junior winner
And there was a few booths selling pickle-tasting alcohol along with mixers. I tried a shot of whiskey laced with pickle taste, and ummm, nope. No, thank you.
On the other side of the event were 3 food trucks, One looked like a barbecue truck, another offering ice cream treats, and the 3rd had bagels and subs. I did not sample any of those and instead I had lunch inside one of the tents; grilled chicken sandwich. Pretty good!
The event was incredibly organized. Before the event started, I was sent an email with a video on what to do when I arrived. Very helpful. Also, emails were constantly sent out giving updates about rain delays and when it play would begin again. Every day that you played, you had to go to registration to let them know you arrived. You could also do this by going to one of the QR readers.
Once there, players could warm up on the courts before 8:00 a.m. hence why everyone wanted to get there early. When the competition started, it was impossible to find a court to warm up on. My partner and I waited anxiously for a text to come in telling which court to report to. I think you had 10 minutes to get to your court. Once on the court, we were greeted by a “starter.” A starter is a volunteer that explains the rules, and gives you the clipboard with the your names and your opponents names on it. On the back is written a number 1 o 2. The starter asks one of the players if they think it is a 1 or 2. If that person guesses the correct number their team gets to choose what side they want to play on, or if they want to start first. In one of our games, we had a referee which was really nice. The ref called a kitchen fault on our opponent that we would never have seen.
The format was 2 out of 3 games to 11, win by two. Then if you lose, you play fellow losers in a game to 15. If you win, you go on. If you lose, you’re out.
Competition was great. I think people were playing much better than we all were 4 years ago. And nice! People were all there having a great time and nobody was in a bad mood. Smiles and “hellos” everywhere.
I did hear that one man was escorted off the property for using foul language. Keep it clean, people.
So all in all, yes, I will do it again. I’m not going to miss all that fun. I love meeting people and networking. I am also happy with the way I played. I was not nervous and focused on my game, and I played my best. Good time, played my best, smiled all day long… what’s not to love.
What did I just read? There is such a thing called the COVID serve??? Okay, first there was the standard underhand serve which pickleball players used since the game was invented. Then in 2021, the provisional DROP SERVE was introduced, but not even on the first of the year, but on January 21. So there was a little bit of controversy that some players were using it before the 21st, and other people were saying, “No, not until the 21st.” Any who, the drop serve is being used by a small percentage of players. Most seasoned players can get a more aggressive serve in using the standard serve. I must admit, I still have to correct players who BOUNCE the ball rather than dropping for the drop serve.
So, how do I know there is a 3rd style of serve? I just received an email from the US Pickleball Open where I will be participating in next week. And here it is:
(What??? No let serves for pros???)
And here is a video of Zane demonstrating the COVID serve around in the middle of the video. I also have heard it called the chainsaw serve. But I see that serve will NOT be allowed in the pro division.
If you are confused about the drop serve, here is a video I made back in January.
So, there you have it. The COVID serve. Not officially in the rule book that I can see but some of the PROS were using it. Well, you learn something new every day. What do you think of the COVID serve?
Thanks for reading,
Pickleball Terry
Terry Ryan
AKA Pickleball Terry or Coach Terry
PPR Certified Coach
USA Pickleball Ambassador
Everyday, I am thankful I can still play pickleball.
I tell my students, the first thing is you want to look prepared to play a good competitive game of pickleball. That means, proper foot wear, court attire. correct stance, and a good paddle. At a clinic I was doing at a development, I was talking about this, and one man spoke up and said, “I just want to come out here and socialize.” Meaning, he didn’t want to be competitive. Okay, I get that but I cater to the more competitive souls. If you just want to learn the basics; here’s the kitchen, serve it across court, then I can teach you that in one lesson. But if you want to be someone other players want to play with, then you continue to work on your game to improve.
Sarah Ansboury
A good player will have:
Endurance
Court etiquette
Proper clothing
Brings plenty of water for hydration
Knows the importance of a good court shoe
Has a good paddle (Like a Gearbox)
And they will:
Focus on the game
Know pickleball strategies
Be able to move fast
Gets up to the kitchen and knows when to hang back
Executes a serve that worries the opponents
Is supportive of their partner
Makes few unforced errors
Does not take their partner’s forehand
Knows the line down the middle of the court is only for the serve
Makes shots to make their opponents fight for each return
A gracious loser and winner
Keeps score well without asking everyone else what the score is
What a novice will do:
Stand up straight with the paddle dangling down by their leg usually looking around
Mentally not prepared and thinking about everything else but the game
Hasn’t worked out in a while so little endurance
Slow moving up to the NVZ.
Doesn’t know why they call it the NVZ
Fears the kitchen
Doesn’t like to dink
Shows up wearing running shoes
Forgets water or ice when it’s hot out
Says things like, “That was on my side of the court!”
Steals their partner’s forehand
Crowds their partner
Always plays defensively
Shows frustration when they miss a ball
Doesn’t have an eye to know a ball is going out so they hit it
Gets angry and fights over the calls the opponents make
Never says the correct score
Seems to hit it into the net often
How to move from novice level to intermediate level?
Practice makes perfect. Drill, drill. drill until it becomes second nature. Turn on your laser focus when you are playing. Think of nothing but the game and do not be distracted.
It’s good idea to video your games then play it back to dissect your game. I just had a video of myself playing in a tournament reviewed by a pro player who gave me helpful suggestions. I can do the same for you.
When I started playing pickleball, I remember asking people what I was doing wrong in my game. They couldn’t tell me because a) they didn’t want me to get any better, b) they didn’t know what the heck they were doing so how could they tell me? Now, players have more advantages to improve quickly. Lucky them! If they listen to what their coaches say, like Coach Terry, they will improve in months to be a smart, competitive player.
Things you must know and do:
Move fast
Have a good 3rd shot drop
Confident at the kitchen
Can dink 100 times in a row
Return the serve with a topspin groundstroke
Know it is : serve and stay: return and run
Put-away the put-aways
Be ready when an attackable shot comes over
Support your partner
Never throw away a serve
Always target the opponent’s weakness
Be ready to do a ATP when opportunity presents itself
Play as much as you can but also know when it is time to take some time off
Stretch and warmup before playing
Use the proper paddle to improve performance and reduce elbow stress
POACH!
Those are just a few suggestions I have. If you want to play better, you have to practice. Some people I see out there never drill/practice and I see them making the same mistakes over and over again. So, basically they are just reinforcing their bad habits. A good coach can stop you from doing that and put you on the right track.
Good Place To Begin
My Y Berlin clinic every Friday at 1:00 – 3:00 is a great place to drill. We have drills like: Weakest Link, 3rd Shot Drop.Walk of Shame,Red light/Greenlight,Pop Up, Money Ballzzzz
I also have a ball machine that we drill with. In my clinics I do not stand around and talk. You will begin playing as soon as you walk in. It’s two hours of action and you will leave with knowledge and slightly tired…well maybe very tired.
Competitive players know they need to practice. Novice players just want to have fun and that’s okay, too. What kind of player do you want to be?
Thanks for reading,
Pickleball Terry
PPR Certified Coach
USA Pickleball Ambassador
Creator and owner of SarasotaPickleball.com
Dinlpickleball@gmail.com
Want a Gearbox? Contact me. dinkpickleball@gmail.com
We had a certain schedule and played inside at Arlington Park on certain days, and other days, we played inside at Colonial Oaks, RL Taylor, and YMCAs when they were the YMCAs. Then more places opened up and we had Newtown and Longwood Park. The Salvation Army on Tuttle offered pickleball on a couple of days. Never, NEVER did we venture out and play pickleball outdoors. Most of us didn’t have our own nets, and we preferred the air conditioning and no wind inside. Nets were provided at all the indoor facilities and the Salvation Army even started putting up the nets and taking them down for us. The cost was all of $2.00 and we paid with cash. You always had your bag of ones and quarters in your backpack.
Let’s not forget the AAU Pickleball. (Amateur Athletic Union) Athletes Pursuing Greatness
