Your lizard brain…what?! I have a LIZARD BRAIN and what does it have to do with pickleball? Good question. Let’s start with the lizard brain…
Also referred to as your reptilian brain as it refers to the most primitive part of our brain, where lay the instincts that warn us of danger when it lurks.
The “basal ganglia” (lizard brain) refers to a group of subcortical nuclei within the brain responsible primarily for motor control, as well as other roles such as motor learning, executive functions, emotional behaviors, and play an important role in reward and reinforcement, addictive behaviors and habit formation.
In Nick Bollettieri, tennis master and founder of IMG tennis camp, said in his documentary (Love Means Zero-Showtime) about your lizard brain, it is the part of your brain that automatically knows when to step out of the way of a speeding car. You don’t have to process it…look there is a car…what should I do? No, the lizard brain automatically takes over and you jump out of the way.
Activate your automatic…This is what your pickleball instructor means when they say, “MUSCLE MEMORY.” The pickleball students execute a drill over and over again until it is locked and loaded into their brain and it becomes automatic.
Example: I was standing at the net at my Friday clinic when one of my students popped the ball up. At the moment, my thinking was more on what I was going to cook for dinner, but my lizard brain saw the ball and I automatically slammed it down the middle and past the dinking students. I apologized immediately. One of them said wide eyed, “How did you do that?” I said, “My lizard brain took over.”
Hence: to be better, to level up, and to be a competitive player, you have to DRILL DRILL DRILL. What do you have to do? DRILL!!! Lock in to your muscle memory.
If you don’t want to drill, you don’t want to win.
But Terry, drilling is boring. No. it isn’t. If you find it boring, you are doing it wrong. Get a foursome together and go to a court, not during the morning rush, and drill. Set a length of time, say for an hour or two. Somebody gets lazy in the group and declares it is boring and they want to play a game, then don’t ask them to drill next time. Get a group of DEDICATED TO IMPROVE. DRILL FOR THE THRILL!
Receiving instructions at Pickleball Camp
Examples of some drills
Youtube is an excellent source to find pickleball drills. You can do 3rd Shot Drop drills, and dinking drills. Or sign up for a drill session with me.
Complaining students…
Whoa… I have blogged about this before, that in a clinic I was taking in Punta Gorda, one of the players complained to the instructor that his drill was boring. Oh, it went from bad to worse in just a few seconds as the student was scolded by the coach. “Don’t tell me how to run my class.” he demanded.
And I’ve had that happen to me. “Let’s move on, this is boring,” said one of my students. I moved on to another drill hoping she would find it more interesting.
IF YOU WANT TO MASTER ANY SPORT, YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE!
Tom Brady: Hey Coach, I don’t have to practice anymore, I’m Tom Brady.
Coach: Get out of here!
Muscle Memory and Learning Skills
The famous saying practice makes perfect applies here.
You might have heard people mention the term muscle memory when you’ve been training and exercising. Muscle memory can also be referred to as motor memory and it refers to your body’s memory to perform certain actions.
And researching MUSCLE MEMORY I find this…
The two parts of the brain which are responsible for controlling the muscle memory are the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. They help to learn sequences of actions and help to adjust errors in learning in order to improve our ability to perform the movements correctly.
The cerebellum (which is Latin for “little brain”) is a major structure of the hindbrain that is located near the brainstem. This part of the brain is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements. It is also responsible for a number of functions including motor skills such as balance, coordination, and posture.
In order to learn movements and make them habits which can be performed efficiently, you must go through a process of attempting the movements and then refining these movements until you are happy with how you perform them. The movement or behavior becomes learned and ‘hard wired.”
A good example of this could be the first time you preform a pickleball underhanded serve with a continental grip. It feels weird and you fail at first, but keep on trying and you are able to improve your serve. During this process, you go from thinking really hard about how to execute it to performing it effortlessly without thinking!
The best example of motor memory would be learning to drive or to ride a bicycle – combinations of movements which at first are extremely difficult but once mastered are performed mostly without over thinking.
I hope this blog post inspires you to drill and not just get out there and play. Unless you are just a Sunday/Funday- kind of player, then ignore all of the above. But for the players who want to become better and be the kind of player everyone wants to challenge on the courts, then drilling is thrilling, and practice makes a better player.
Thank you for reading! All the best!
Pickleball Terry
USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com
Dinkpickleball@gmail.com
Paddles, Paddles…how do you choose? When I started playing pickleball, I used the standard of gold…only kidding. It with a wooden, heavy pickleball paddle. Here is a picture of that bad boy.
Quickly, I realized that the more seasoned pickleball players were using esthetically more appealing paddles, and I purchased a BLASTER. I believed I bought it at Wal-Mart. Cheap and did the trick. Don’t be conned into purchasing an expensive paddle if you are brand new to pickleball. I suggest you learn the sport first before you invest in an expensive paddle.
Sadly, I left my BLASTER at a facility and it was lost forever. I then moved into a PADDLETEX WAVE.
I didn’t know anything about the paddle. The person I bought it from just placed it in my hand and said, “Try this.” I thought okay, and I bought it for a whopping $150.00. What the heck?! I just paid $150.00 for a paddle that I knew nothing about?!
Years later and much more educated about paddles, I now go around with a LL Bean canvas bag that contain about 10 different paddles. I have low end to high end. I pass them out at my clinic on Fridays at the Y Berlin, and let interested buyers demo my more expensive ones.
There are many brands on the market today. Selkirk, Onix, Head, Paddletek, Gamma, Golden, Vulcan, Third Shot Drop, Nuipopo, just to name a few. The pros will use whatever paddle they are being sponsored by. So, let’s just get this out there… no one paddle will instantly make you a 5.0 player. That takes years of practice. (Having a natural athletic ability doesn’t hurt.)
Most paddles begin with a honeycomb core that has a surface material (also referred to as the skin or face) glued to both sides of it. These 2 materials determine the COMPLETE BALL RESPONSE OF YOUR PADDLE. After the core and surface are assembled, an edge and handle are attached. It is then finished by wrapping the handle to form your grip.
Simple, right?WRONG! The catch is that there are a variety of cores, surfaces, paddle shapes, thicknesses, weights, grip shapes, and grip sizes to choose from.
Overwhelmed yet? We sure were when we started learning that there were all these different options and, worse yet, no one was telling us accurate facts about them. That’s how Third Shot Drop began!
First, we had to figure out how paddles really worked. Then, we had to sort through the “information” and learn what was correct and how to make it all make sense.
1 MINUTE LESSON IN PADDLE MATERIALS
Honeycomb core – There are 3 popular materials currently being used:
Aluminum– the softest (most touch)
Polymer– medium (most neutral)
Nomex– the hardest (most power)
The core determines about 75% of the paddle’s performance.
Surface (face, skin) – The 3 materials most used for paddle surfaces are:
Carbon Fiber (aka Carbon Fiber weave) – softest
Composite (aka Fiberglass) – medium
Graphite (aka non-woven Carbon Fiber) – hardest
The surface is used to fine tune how your paddle responds to the ball.
Finishing touches – These choices are what make your paddle fit you and your game precisely.
They are customizations that are not generally available in all aspects from most manufacturers. However, it is these factors that will immediately improve your game and help step up your confidence and skill level.
Grip shape– Most common are
oval
octagon (tennis)
square
Grip size – Should fit your hand/finger length; Sizes range from 4” to 5 ½” circumference
Paddle weight– Weights range from 7 ounces to 11 ounces. Although it’s a matter of personal preference, many pros recommend heavier weights for improved balance and control.
Okay, if you are reading this and got this far, you already know more than I knew the first 3 years of playing pickleball.
If you have played with me on the courts, you know that I have been playing with a Gearbox G6 Joey Faris special edition.
It is not a honeycombed paddle. Instead it is constructed with Patented SST. Patented SST uses an advanced proprietary molding process utilizing high strength unidirectional carbon fiber, that is meticulously hand laid and arranged at very precise angles. The angle configuration of these carbon fiber is critical and directly related to the paddle’s overall durability and playability. I love it! More here.
I also use the Vulcan V550 , a hybrid. Good for power and control. I prefer a 5 inch long handle and 4 1/4 gripe. Jack, from Third Shot Sports recommended a heavier paddle to take most of the force of hitting the ball therefore saving my elbow, so my paddles will weigh 8.0 ounces and up.
HERE ARE WORDS OF WISDOM WHEN PLAYING RECREATIONAL PICKLEBALL WHICH IS WHOLLY DIFFERENT THAN TOURNAMENT PLAY. FOLLOWING THIS ADVICE WILL HELP HONE YOUR SKILLS AND GET YOU INTO BETTER PHYSICAL SHAPE.
IF YOUR OPPONENT IS A BETTER PLAYER, RESET THE POINT AND WORK ON PLACEMENT VERSES HITTING WINNERS. REALLY GOOD PLAYERS CAN EXTEND THE POINT TO HAVE LONGER RALLIES. HIT THE BALL TO CHALLENGE YOUR OPPONENTS WITHOUT HITTING IT SO HARD THAT IT DOESN’T GIVE YOUR OPPONENT A CHANCE ON RETURNING THE BALL. KEEP YOUR SHOTS CHALLENGING; NEVER BE CONDESCENDING BY HITTING BALLS THAT ARE TOO EASY.
INSTEAD OF TARGETING THE WEAKER PLAYERS, HIT THE BALL TO THE BETTER PLAYERS SO YOU GET LONGER RALLIES. IT IS A LOT OF FUN TO HAVE EXTENDED POINTS WITH LONGER RALLIES. YOU WILL GET MORE EXERCISE, TRY DIFFERENT ANGLES, AND HAVE MORE FUN ALL THE WHILE YOU ARE DEVELOPING YOUR PLACEMENT AND FINESSE.
FINALLY, FOR RECREATIONAL PLAY, BE INCLUSIVE TO ALL PLAYERS ON THE COURT BECAUSE THEY CAME TO PLAY.
WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING IN TOURNAMENTS OR MATCHES THAT REALLY MATTER TO YOU, IT’S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY. GO AHEAD AND UNLEASH YOUR SKILLS. GO FOR THE KILL SHOTS, AND YOUR BEST ANGLE SHOTS AND HIT ALL BALLS TO THE WEAKER PLAYER SO YOU CAN WIN.
You will not find one particular paddle brand taking on the courts in Sarasota. I see a plethora of different designs. A couple of years ago, I thought Selkirk was going to dominate, but they lost ground as more companies started competing for a piece of the paddle pie.
Don’t rush out and buy the most expensive paddle because someone told you it was going to make you a winner. I see great players with entry level paddles dominating on the court. Please take your time and once you think you are ready to advance to a better paddle, think about what you want from it. Control? Power? A longer handle for two-handed backhands? Nomex core? A little education goes a long way.
There are now over 300 paddle companies. Check to see that the paddle you want to buy is USA Pickleball approved. Click here.
Also, where is it made? What is the warrantee? Is this the best price or could I do better on Amazon or at Dicks?
If you have more questions, feel free to shoot me an email. Dinkpickleball@gmail.com.
Someone said, “If you watched Pickleball Terry you wouldn’t know there was COVID.” It’s true. If you saw my calendar, you would see that I play outside and inside with a lot of different people. So far, so good. (Knock on wood.) But I am certainly not encouraging you to take risks. If you feel the least bit uncomfortable with the situation, please listen to your conscience and don’t play, especially if you have underlining health conditions.
RL Taylor
Some people are shocked when they see me in pictures with other players close together, and we are not wearing masks. I know. Believe me, I know. If I contract COVID I give you permission to say, “I told you so.”
The indoor pickleball facilities are doing their best to keep things safe. They are limiting the number of players, and disinfectant is easily accessible The staff does their part in sanitizing areas after/between pickleball times.
Remember: You must preregister to play inside at a county facility. No preregistering for the Ys, Church of the Palms, RL Taylor Community Center (except for the beginner’s class-limited to 8.)
Masks are mandatory to enter a building but not while you are playing. I want everyone to realize this before your travel to an indoor facility or outdoor court to play and find out that not everyone wears a mask while playing. Based on this understanding, you should make an informed decision. Are you comfortable playing inside or outside if everyone is not wearing a mask?
Some people feel more secure playing outside with a better air flow but again, not everyone wears a mask. They do try to social distance between games, and touching someone else’s paddle is considered taboo. Also standing closer than 6 feet is not good. I have to admit, that sometimes I forget and I come too close when I’m talking with someone. They gently remind me to “step back.”
( Currently, my favorite paddle. Gearbox GX6)
Remember, if you are not feeling well, please do not come to the courts. And being tested for COVID is as easy as standing in line at RL Taylor for 30 mins. No cost. Testing also available at the old dog track on 5400 Bradenton Rd, Sarasota. When in doubt, get tested. (I’ve done it and it’s painless.)
What a shocker! The USA Pickleball Association announced their changes to the official rules that will become effective January 25, 2021, and one of the most eyebrow raising of the changes is THE DROP SERVE.
Along with the normal serve, which is toss the ball and hit with an upwards motion, players will now be able to drop the ball so that it bounces on the ground and then hit it with the paddle in any manner including a side hit. What? After all these years of perfecting our upward strokes not above the waist, now we may serve with a drop serve?
The drop serve is good for beginners, handicapped and for players that have developed the YIPS.
The new serve is provisional.
pro·vi·sion·al
/prəˈviZHənl/
1.
arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.
“a provisional construction permit”
Check out the video below to see examples of the drop serve.
From the official changes.
4.A.8. Provisional Drop Serve. In addition to the
standard serve sequence described in Rules 4.A.1 to
4.A.7, players may opt to use an alternate “drop
serve” method.
4.A.8.a. Servers must release the ball from one of
the server’s hands or dropped off the
server’s paddle face from any natural (unaided) height and hit the ball after the ball
bounces on the playing surface. The
server’s release of the ball must be visible
to the referee and the receiver. In matches
without a referee, the server’s release of
the ball must be visible to the receiver. A
replay shall be called before the return of
serve if the release of the ball is not visible.
The rules for feet placement (4.A.2 and 4.L)
still apply.
4.A.8.b. Before bouncing on the ground, the ball
shall not be propelled (thrown) downward
or tossed or hit upward with the paddle.
Failure to drop the ball properly will result
in a fault. There is no restriction on where
the ball can land on the playing surface
after it is dropped (providing 4.A.2 is
satisfied) nor how many times within the
USA PICKLEBALL & IFP Official Rulebook
20
10 seconds after the score is called the
server may drop the ball.
4.A.8.c. If the drop serve is used, the ball may be
struck with either a forehand or backhand
motion without any other restriction; i.e.,
the location restrictions of the ball and
paddle in Rules 4.A.3, 4.A.4 and 4.A.5 do
not apply.
Here is a link to the new rules. (click on the pictures)
And the alternative rules below. (Used mostly for tournaments)
Thanks all for reading. If you have any questions, please drop me an email.
Yesterday I received an email with the new rule changes to the Official Pickleball Rule Book from the USA Pickleball Association. Surprisingly, the “let” rule has been eliminated. Meaning, that there are no more LETS on the serve. If during the serve, the ball hits the net but lands in the opponents correct side of the court, and not in the kitchen, it is a playable ball. No more TAKE OVERS. If someone calls a FAULT and stops the play, they lose the serve, or if the opponents yell LET during serve the, the serving side gains a point.
Or when the ball hits the net then lands in the kitchen, the server loses the serve. This should move the game along.
Another interesting change, you can not hit a ball then call BALL and a replay if a ball rolls on the court. You must stop play before returning a stroke. As in no more, I messed up but it was because a ball rolled on the court.
Rule 4 M 11 States that it is a FAULT if the ball is served before the entire score is being called. This is to end quick serving. (A tactic to catch opponents off guard. Can’t do that anymore.)
Here is a new one…a player may use their paddle to toss the ball up for the serve. You no longer are just limited to your other hand to toss the ball for the serve. Reason…to stop the spread of disease. (Not making this up.)
There are 81 pages of changes, most have to do with clarifications when a referee is present. But here it is in PDF for you to review.
Where is everyone playing? It used to be easy…before COVID. We all went to one of the county or city facilities and played inside. Not this fall. Sarasota pickleball players are scattered all over the county playing outside, and we are finding out we like playing outside.
Why aren’t we playing indoors? All the county facilities are open for play.
It requires registering. Seems that pickleball players do not like to register. We don’t know who is going to be playing, and this requires commitment. Ha! This is not going over well.
I personally tried to organize a few friends to signup to play indoors at Colonial Oaks Park, and I went online to register. But try as I might, I couldn’t. I went to the office the next day and asked why I wasn’t successful. Patricia, who is the park manager there, said I had to register 48 hours prior. She said she only had one person who signed up so she cancelled the time slot. Unfortunately, It also is not possible to see who else is signed up to play. On pickleball signup apps like the Pickleball Den, you can see the names and sometimes level of who is playing.
A couple years ago, I did try to organize a signup program on Signup Genius, but unfortunately it didn’t catch on and it fizzled out. It was especially great for the RL Taylor Friday night play because players could see if enough people were playing before they drove to the facility. But, nope, it was not successful and I abandoned promoting it.
Then there were the private groups. I and other people rented county facilities for a couple of hours on certain days then invited our friends of equal playing ability to play. These were great because X number of people would play and there was no long waiting between games. We all remember the LONG WAIT TIME at Arlington, RL Taylor and Salvation Army. Ugh! 45 minutes of waiting to play a 10 minute game.
I also sought out info on renting an indoor facility this year but the paperwork that was sent to me was scary! I would have had to submit an action plan on How Would I Keep the Players Safe From COVID? That did it for me. Nope!
While indoor play at the county facilities is down or nonexistent right now (Colonial Park-2 courts, Longwood Park-3 courts, Newtown-4 Courts) I hear that people are playing inside at Englewood and Venice Community Center.
City Indoor Facilities
RL Taylor does not require preregistering. They have 2 courts open at 9-3 Monday – Friday. You can only sign up for blocks of time. Masks are worn to come into any inside facility but not while you are playing. Taylor is a COVID testing center and if there is a line of cars to get into the parking lot, just go around and tell the attendant that you are there to play pickleball.
Arlington Park is not open at this time.
Salvation Army on Tuttle has not opened at this time.
Church of the Palms does not require preregistering. They have 3 courts in their beautiful gym and limit it to 24 people. Eye protective glasses are required.
INDOOR PICKLEBALL 12/14-12/20
CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEAR’S DAY CLOSED
City Facilities Indoors
RL Taylor Community Center
1845 34th St, Sarasota, FL 34234
You can register now at the front desk. If there is a line of cars for COVID testing, just go around them and tell the guard you are there to play pickleball. He’ll let you right in.
Monday and Wednesday: Beginners
Tuesday and Thursday: Intermediate/Advanced Fridays: Open play
Hours: 9:00am to 3:00pm broken into 2-hour blocks of time.
In order to maintain the cleanliness with an abundance of caution the courts will have to be cleared 15 minutes prior to the end of the time block in order to give the staff adequate cleaning time. The playable time will be 9am-10:45am, 11am-12:45pm and 1pm-3pm.
More people are showing up. Mornings are busy, Afternoons are empty.
Pickleball Terry and Coach Russell, owner of Suncoast Pickleball
Arlington Park Still Closed
Below is a list of indoor county facilities
Englewood Sports Complex
1300 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
You must pre-register before going CLICK HERE to any county facility!!!!
Venice Community Center 326 Nokomis Ave S, Venice, FL 34285
Newtown Park
2800 Newtown Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34234
Colonial Oaks Park
5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34233
Longwood Park
6050 Longwood Run Blvd, Sarasota, FL
Woodmere Park
3951 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice, FL 34293
DON’T FORGET THE Ys
Below are the times for the Ys. Drop-in. No pre-registering required. Cost is free for members, Guests are free for first visit (please check in at the front desk. After that $7.00) OUR Y ESL (Formally the YMCA)
Potter Park Dr., Sarasota, FL 34238Members free and Drop-in $7.00
Did you know…if you are new to the Y they will give you a free pass?Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Intermediate/advanced (2 courts)
Intermediate/Beginners (1 court)
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Beginner lessons with Bob
7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Beginner/Novice clinic with Pickleball Terry Drills/Techniques/Strategies/ Games
Fridays 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.
(Members free and $7.00 for non-members)
Friday Beginners – 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Intermediates/Advanced
Sundays 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Open play
The Church of the Palms
3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34239
(Note: Protective lenses are required.)
Tuesday and Thursday NEW MORNING TIME
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Intermediate and Advanced
Tuesday and Thursday NEW AFTERNOON TIME
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
All play
Thursday, December 24 – no Pickleball
Friday, December 25 – no Pickleball
Thursday, December 31 – morning play only from 9:00 – 12:00.
Friday, January 1 – no Pickleball
*We will try to maintain a maximum of 24 players in the facility
GT Bray (Indoors) For more information contact Jay Jaudon at 941 742-5923 x6 – Send Email
All levels and no reservation required for outdoor pickleball at GT Bray. Click Here and Here
G.T. Bray Pickleball Outdoor Courts are OPEN Outdoor drop-in with skill-level choices is now Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday:8:30-noon.
(941) 742-5923
OUTDOOR PLAY
Outdoor play, as you expect, is popular in Sarasota with COVID and we live in Florida with beautiful weather. Who wouldn’t prefer to play outside! Love it!
Colonial Oaks Park is the HOT place to play in central Sarasota. Dick Friede is the volunteer that sets the nets up everyday, 7 days a week, 7:30 a.m. – 11ish. There are 2 tennis courts with one court lined for 2 pickleball courts. Nets are not supplied by the county. You have to bring your own if you want to play in the afternoon or at night. There are lights for nighttime play, bathroom facilities close and plenty of parking.
Because this location is popular and many players showing up, we have chalked out the other tennis court for 2 more pickleball courts. This is where the problem is. When and if tennis players show up, the pickleball players have to vacate the tennis court. This has caused friction between the tennis players and the pickleball players. Oh boy. We need dedicated pickleball courts in central Sarasota so we don’t have to share with the tennis players.
Fruitville Park has 2 tennis courts and all are lined for 4 pickleball courts. There are lights and a bathroom close by. We also do not need to give up the courts if tennis players show up. It is first come, first serve. NO ORGANIZED PLAY. You must wrangle up your own players and your own nets.
Siesta Key Public Tennis Courts have 4 tennis courts and 2 are lined for 4 pickleball courts. No organized play and bring your own nets. The bathrooms are a hike away but plenty of parking and lights. The tennis players can get pretty testy with pickleball players so be cautious with running behind their courts or letting balls wander onto their courts. First come, first serve so try to get there early to beat the tennis players.
Gillepsie Park in downtown Sarasota has 3 tennis courts and one of the courts has lines for 2 pickleball courts and nets that are left by the fence that you can move to the pickleball courts. It is hit of miss. Sometimes I go there to play and I have to wait. Other times, no one is there. Can’t figure the pattern out. No lights and the last time I tried to use the restrooms, they were locked.
Newtown Park has 2 tennis courts and both are lined for 4 pickleball courts. Bring your own nets. Bathrooms in the main building or across the street at the library. NO organized play. If you see a group playing there and any place I have written that does NOT have organized, drop-in play, it is a private group of friends. Will they let you play if you happen upon them? Maybe, but they are not required to.
Lakewood Ranch has dedicated pickleball courts by the high school for drop-in play. I have heard mixed reports and some people have told me they don’t like new people, and people have said it is a very inviting group. Here is info from Bob Haskins who “runs” things at the courts. LWR Pickleball Club Newsletter LWR DECEMBER
No lights and not sure what the bathroom situation is.
…If you see a group playing there and any place I have written that does NOT have organized, drop-in play, it is a private group of friends. Will they let you play if you happen upon them? Maybe, but they are not required to…
Twin Lakes Park does not have organized play and does not supply the nets. They have 2 tennis courts and both are lined for 4 courts. No lights, sorry. The bathrooms are a hike but plenty of parking. Tennis dominates at this location and hard to plan a group to play there because you never know if all the courts (and they usual are) have tennis players. Sorry.
Laurel Park in Venice has 2 tennis courts that are lined for 4 pickleball courts. There is NO organized play there but yes for lights. Lots of parking and bathroom close by.
Foxworthy Park in Venice. Finally, dedicated courts for pickleball! Yea! 6 of them with drop-in play in the mornings. (All organized, drop-in play is in the morning.) Bathrooms are a HIKE! Might as well drive to them. No lights! They used to have a porta-potty but kids kept on tipping it over so it was removed. Also, there are 2 tennis courts nearby with one court lined for 2 pickleball brings. Bring your own net and friends to play on the tennis courts here.
Englewood Sports Complex has indoor and outdoor dedicated courts. Outdoor: (12) Permanent Outdoor Pickleball Courts. Lights available until 10pm Sept-May. No Reservations or fees for outdoor courts, 1st Come, 1st Serve. M-W-F mornings are intermediate to advanced play. Tu-Th-Sat are beginner to intermediate play. Bathrooms nearby and plenty of parking.
The schedule is constantly changing so to keep everyone up-to-date I send out a weekly newsletter. Please signup for my newsletter.
Humans have always been great at improvising. In today’s world, improvisation can mostly be seen in the performing arts, such as music, dance, theater, and even comedy. But thanks to mankind’s ability to make the most out of every situation, we’ve even invented some of the world’s most popular sports. For example, the origins of soccer started when humans filled up pig bladders to kick around on small makeshift courts….all for the purpose of passing time. And for the history of pickleball, it all began thanks to humans’ innate desire for personal entertainment.
History
Like all great stories, pickleball came about on a sunny day with little to do. In 1965, two dads named Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell arrived at Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, after a golf outing. They found that their families were bored with no way to pass the time. Looking to alleviate the boredom of his loved ones and close friends, Pritchard started to hatch a plan to bring an end to the group’s summer time woes.
Pritchard’s property had an old badminton court so they started there with hopes of playing. However, they couldn’t find enough rackets for a full game so instead, he improvised by using spare ping pong paddles and a whiffle ball. With these bits and pieces lying around, a brand-new game was born. Today, you know it better as pickleball.
As the weekend went on and time flew by, they enhanced their makeshift game further with their own set of house rules. At first, the net was set at badminton’s regulation height of 60”, but the group found that the whiffle ball bounced well on their asphalt court so they lowered it down to 36”. At this point, there weren’t many rules to their game so during the following weekend, Pritchard and Bell introduced their new creation to another family friend named Barney McCullum. From there, with heavy inspiration from badminton, the three dads created new rules with the sole purpose of family play and accessibility in mind.
Two years later in 1967, Joel Pritchard constructed the first, permanent pickleball court in the backyard of Bob O’Brian, who was Pritchard’s neighbor and close family friend. The decision to build a dedicated and permanent court further cemented their homemade game into a loveable pastime. As the game started to gain steam in the Pacific Northwest, a corporation by the name of Pickleball, Inc. was founded in 1972 to help interested players buy equipment to play the game. This included paddles, nets, and balls that weren’t taken from other racquet games, but were created specifically for pickleball. Not only did the founding of this corporation help people find the right equipment to play pickleball, but it helped transition the game from a local pastime to a legitimate sport.
Fast forward to today, and you’ll find that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States with international growth gaining steam. Currently, the U.S.A. Pickleball Association lists nearly 4,000 locations where you can play nationwide. To understand how pickleball’s popularity has exploded to this point over the last 50 years, let’s take a look at the nature of this fast-paced, friendly, and enjoyable sport.
What’s Needed To Play Pickleball
Pickleball is very affordable and easy to pick up since you only need basic gear to get started. If you decide that you enjoy pickleball and want to play seriously, you can always invest in better gear the further along you go. To begin, you’ll need a paddle, a ball, appropriate apparel, a net, and a court to play on.
Paddle: The paddles needed to play are larger than table tennis paddles, but smaller than normal tennis rackets. They can be made from any number of materials, from wood and graphite, to aluminum and other composite materials. For beginners, a wooden paddle is inexpensive but may be a little more difficult to control.
Ball: Originally, pickleball was played with a spare wiffle ball. Today, pickleball is played with a similar ball that’s still lightweight with holes. Make sure you purchase the right ball to use depending on indoor or outdoor use. If you’d like to play with an official ball, check out the USAPA’s guidelines.
Apparel: Unlike tennis or other sports, you don’t need to follow a dress code. All you need is basic athletic apparel and comfortable tennis shoes to play in.
Pickleball Basic Rules
Pickleball can be played as either singles or doubles and the rules are the same for both iterations.
Without bouncing the ball off the court, it must be served underhanded and diagonally to the opponent’s service court from behind the baseline.
The serve has to clear the net and may not land in the kitchen.
Points are scored when the opponent faults (failing to return the ball, hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net).
Only the serving team can score.
The server will continue to serve, each time by alternating service courts, until the serving side faults.
Games are played to at least 11 points and must be won by a lead 2.
After the ball is served, the ball must bounce at least once on each side before being able to volley the ball. This is known as the double bounce rule.
Players cannot volley the ball while standing within the non-volley zone or on the non-volley line.
How is Pickleball Played?
Despite how complicated the rules might sound, pickleball is easy to pick up with only a few matches of play. With such a friendly atmosphere at the core of this sport, other players will be more than happy to help you grasp the rules. The more you play, the quicker these rules will become second nature so you can begin your journey on the road to mastery!
The Court
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court that measures 44’ by 20’. The net measures 36” on the sides and droops down to 34” in the middle. These are the standard regulations for both singles and doubles play.
The Serve
Starting on the right-hand service zone and then alternating between serves, the server starts by standing behind the baseline at the end of the court. Then, with the paddle below the waist, the ball must be served underhanded to the diagonal opponent’s service zone. So, for example, if you serve from your left service zone, then the ball must land in the opponent’s left service zone and vice-versa. Serves must clear both the net and the non-volley zone, including the non-volley lines (if the ball touches this line during the serve, it’s considered a fault).
During a serve, the ball cannot bounce on the ground and must be hit while in the air. Additionally, both feet must be behind the baseline during service. Only one attempt at serving is allowed, unless the ball hits the net and lands in the proper service court (in this case, this is known as a “let” and the server gets another chance).
Serving Sequence
In a doubles match, each player gets to serve until a fault occurs. The only exception to this rule occurs during the first service of each game, where only one player from the initial serving side gets to serve before service is given to the other team.
Each time service passes between teams, the first serve is always done from the right hand court. If you score, then you switch to the left side of the court to serve. Players who serve are allowed to keep doing so until a fault occurs. For games of doubles, if the first server commits a fault, then their partner serves from the same side of the court as the first server did.
Volleys
Players can only volley the ball if their feet are behind the non-volley zone line. If they step over the line even during their follow through, it’s considered a fault.
Need to Know Terms
Kitchen: Also known as the non-volley zone, the kitchen is the area between the net and non-volley line on both sides.
Volleying: Hitting the ball before it has bounced.
Fault: A fault occurs when the ball:
Lands out of bounds
Doesn’t clear the net
Doesn’t clear the non-volley zone or boundary lines during the serve
Side Out: This term is declared when service is given to the opposing team
Dink: A shot with the intention of landing the ball at the feet of your opponent or in their non-volley zone.
Why People Enjoy Pickleball
It’s no coincidence that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. This game is easy on the body and has a simple learning curve which makes it excellent for people of all ages to enjoy. Other racket sports, such as tennis, racquetball, and badminton, might require hours of play or lessons just to get the gist. But since pickleball was designed with family enjoyment in mind, it only takes a few matches to understand how to play. From there, it’s easy to get a game going and show off your skills!
In addition, pickleball is inexpensive, requires only basic equipment, and is played on a small court, which makes it very accessible for entire communities. Even if you don’t have a dedicated court around, many recreation departments simply use a tennis court that’s been refitted for pickleball. If you can’t find the right sized court to play on, no problem! With tape, a portable net, and some time, you can refit any suitable surface or court and be ready to play in no time!
Perhaps one of the best reasons why pickleball is so enjoyable is its small court size. This allows for a fast-paced environment to improve hand-eye coordination, test your reflexes, and socialize since you’re close to other players! Don’t let pickleball’s small court fool you… it’s still easy to break a sweat and get a fun workout in! Once you pick up a paddle, it’ll be hard to put down….so make sure you hydrate and stretch often!
Why is it called Pickleball?
Okay, now you know how it all started but the question we’re all thinking still remains: why do they call pickleball, well, pickleball? According the to U.S.A. Pickleball Association, the origins of the name differs between different accounts.
Joel Pritchard’s wife, Joan, started to call their game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” But according to Barney McCallum, they named the game after Pritchard’s dog, who was (as you might’ve guessed) named Pickles! Despite the sour taste of actual pickles, their dog was sweet and known to run off with the ball while it was still being played!
Depending on who you ask, both accounts of the game’s name may actually be true. At the start, there wasn’t any name for pickleball until an official one was needed when the game started to gain traction. With the laid-back nature of pickleball, it’s only appropriate that it was named in a similar fashion.
Article from https://longcoveclub.com/news/the-history-of-pickleball
There we are, warming up at the net making sure our toes are not on the kitchen line and dinking politely and carefully to each other, when It doesn’t take long before someone gets a little itchy to start the game and hits a hard shot; usually the signal to start. Then the game begins and no one dinks again. What? We all have been told that the game of pickleball is won at the kitchen line, and it is true. The entire premise of a good defense is who gets up to the kitchen line first, and those that do control the game. Dinking comes into play when all opponents are at the kitchen line and each side is hitting balls into the opponents kitchen waiting for a screwup by the other team.
So what’s up with that? Most of us have taken a couple of clinics or private lessons, or watched Youtube videos. They all show us that dinking is important. But what stops us from dinking during a game? Fear!
That’s right, fear. Fear that we are going to screwup and hit the ball into the net or, just as bad, pop the ball up so the opponents slam it pass us. Yes, that’s about right. Why? Because we do not drill enough.
Drilling eliminates fear. And when I say drill I mean drill 90% and play 10%. If that doesn’t appeal to you then drill 75% and play 25%. Dink until it becomes automatic. Something you don’t have to overthink when you are playing; it comes naturally. They call it MUSCLE MEMORY.
What to do? Drill. Find a person willing to be your drill partner. A player that wants to UP their game as much as you do. Interestingly enough, it is hard to do. Most intermediate players are unwilling to drill. They find it boring. I have put together drill groups, and I can just tell that they can’t wait to start a game instead of drilling, Yes, drilling can be boring unless you realize the importance of practice, practice, practice! If you can wrap your head around that, and focus instead of how important it is and an integral part of the process of improving your game, it will no longer become boring.
Is drilling for everyone? No. It’s not for the social players who just want to get a little exercise and see their pickleball friends. Their game is just fine the way it is. But for the player who wants to be competitive and play in tournaments, drilling is essential.
At my Friday’s clinics, we do a lot of drills for 2 hours. I have watched beginner pickleball players become aggressive intermediate players. Their games improve immensely because of all the drilling. I also try to make it fun and introduce new drills each week to challenge them.
Funny story, I remember at a clinic I was in that we were all working on a drill over and over again. The instructor wanted us to get it down. It was towards the end of the day, and sure the instructor and the students were getting tired, when one of the students spoke up and said, “This is boring! Let’s do something else.” (Whoaaaaa) The instructor snapped his head around and told her that this was his class and she wasn’t going to tell him what to do! Awkward for the rest of us. But I remembered that scenario months later when someone in my class arrived late and told me that she was bored with the drill we were working on and to do something else. My mind flashed back to that rather ugly scene at the clinic and I said, “Okay.” Let’s do…(so and so). We quickly went into another drill (I have many that I have made up over the years, like, Walk of Shame and Dirty Dinking, and we proceeded to have a great rest of the class. Dodged that bullet.
Months later, that same person came up to me and told me her love of pickleball was instilled in her because of me. Wow! Powerful words and it makes what I do so worthwhile. I notice this person doesn’t like to drill and will she ever be more than a social player? Probably not. But as long as she is having fun and getting exercise in a positive environment, that’s all that is important. But, and I mean BIG BUT… if you want to become a 3.5 and up, so that opponents go gulp when they see you on the other side of the court, well, you better start drilling.
Christmas suggestion…purchase a $25.00 gift certificate for your favorite pickleball player here for 1 hour of personal drilling with Pickleball Terry.
–
Simone Jardine – 
So what’s up with that? Most of us have taken a couple of clinics or private lessons, or watched Youtube videos. They all show us that dinking is important. But what stops us from dinking during a game? Fear!
