Pickelball Terry – Page 2 – Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC

June 25, 2023

Plantar Fasciitis Can Ruin Your Pickleball Game

“What’s wrong, John?” I said after I saw a player grimace between shots on the pickleball court. “My foot is killing me,” he said through clenched teeth.

Turns out he has plantar fasciitis. An extremely painful foot condition characterized by pain and inflammation in the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to your toes. The plantar fascia provides support to the arch of your foot and helps absorb shock during walking and playing pickleball.

Luckily and fingers crossed, I have never experienced that kind of pain, but so many pickleball players have and it is debilitating usually causing them to suspend playing pickleball. Yikes! Having plantar fasciitis can ruin your pickleball game!

When the plantar fascia is excessively strained, it can develop small tears and become irritated, leading to plantar fasciitis. This condition is often caused by repetitive stress or overuse, such as playing pickleball too much. It can also be associated with certain risk factors, including flat feet, high arches, obesity, tight calf muscles, and wearing improper or unsupportive footwear.

The primary symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain on the bottom of the heel, which may be sharp or dull. The pain is usually worse in the morning when taking the first steps after waking up or after prolonged periods of rest. It may also worsen with activity and improve with rest. In some cases, the pain can extend along the arch of the foot.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis typically involves:

Rest and activity modification: Avoiding activities that worsen the pain and giving the foot adequate rest.
Applying ice packs to the affected area to reduce inflammation and pain.
Stretching and strengthening exercises: Performing specific exercises to stretch the calf muscles and plantar fascia and strengthen the foot muscles.
Orthotic devices: Wearing supportive shoes or using orthotic inserts to provide better arch support and cushioning.
Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be recommended to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
Make an appointment with a podiatrist or a physical therapist. They may provide additional treatment modalities like ultrasound therapy, massage, or taping techniques.
Night splints: These devices keep the foot in a stretched position while sleeping to alleviate morning pain and stiffness.
In severe cases, corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce pain and inflammation.

9. Surgery is rarely necessary and is typically reserved for cases that do not respond to conservative treatments after several months. I have met a couple of people who have had surgery though, with great results.

(Another good article to read. The Amazing Benefits of Rolling Out Your Feet)

How to avoid plantar fasciitis.

Maintain a healthy weight.
Choose supportive footwear or use inserts specially made for plantar fasciitis.
Gradually increase activity levels: When starting a new exercise routine or increasing your physical activity, do so gradually. Sudden, intense activities can strain the plantar fascia. Allow your body time to adjust and strengthen gradually.
Warm up and stretch: Before engaging in any physical activity, warm up your muscles and perform stretching exercises for your feet and calves. This helps prepare your muscles and reduces the risk of injury.
Avoid prolonged standing or walking on hard surfaces: If your job or daily activities involve long periods of standing or walking on hard surfaces, try to take breaks, wear supportive shoes, or use cushioned mats to reduce the impact on your feet.
Maintain a healthy foot posture: Practice good foot posture by avoiding excessive rolling inwards (pronation) or outwards (supination) of the feet. If you have any foot abnormalities or imbalances, consider using orthotic inserts or arch supports prescribed by a podiatrist.
Strengthen your foot and leg muscles: Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your feet and lower legs, as strong muscles provide better support to the plantar fascia. Calf stretches, toe curls, and toe towel scrunches are some examples of exercises that can help.
Take regular breaks from repetitive activities: If you have a job or hobby that involves repetitive foot movements (such as running or standing for long periods), try to take regular breaks and vary your activities to avoid overstraining the plantar fascia.
Listen to your body: Pay attention to any foot pain or discomfort. If you experience persistent heel pain or other symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis, seek early treatment and avoid activities that worsen the pain.

If you’re experiencing persistent foot pain or suspect plantar fasciitis, it’s always important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Treat it before plantar fasciitis places you on the bench.

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry, Founder and owner of Sarasota Pickleball Organization

941-400-0978 or dinkpickleball@gmail.com

June 17, 2023June 17, 2023

What is The Difference in Pickleball Paddles?

The first pickleball paddles were crudely constructed out of wood in a workshop by one of the co-founders of the game. Since the 1960s, pickleball paddles have come so far, especially regarding innovations in materials. But which materials are available and how do you choose?

(This article is from https://www.paddletek.com/blogs/news/pickleball-paddle-materials)

The most common pickleball paddle materials are graphite, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and wood. Hybrid options are also on the market. Depending on the type of material you select for your paddle, you can either generate more control or power when playing.

This introductory guide to pickleball paddle materials will go over all of your options. We’ll also talk about core materials, which are different from the surface or facing material you can actually see. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know exactly which surface and core materials are best suited for your style of playing pickleball.

The Types of Pickleball Paddle Surface Materials

The following materials are commonly used for the surface or face material of a pickleball paddle. Remember, these are the exterior materials and not the cores.

Graphite Surface Paddles:

A graphite pickleball paddle is one of the lightest and thinnest surface materials you’ll encounter. So thin in fact that the average thickness of one of these paddle faces can be mere millimeters. The lighter weight of graphite paddles might make you think they’re flimsy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth; graphite is an incredibly rigid and stiff material.

How Does a Graphite Paddle Play?

When playing, you’ll feel a consistent strike and greater energy transfer between the ball and the paddle. The latter means your body will pick up some of the vibrations on each hit than other materials, although many factors contribute to this, such as core, construction, location of the ball, etc.

Graphite paddles are moderately powerful, meaning you can still hit hard shots, but you’ll have to rely on your technique more than just your paddle. In general, graphite is considered a material best suited for players that rely on touch over power.

Managing your energy is key so you don’t overswing and end up gassed in the middle of a game.

You’ll find graphite paddle faces are used in casual, competitive, and tournament play, the choice is mostly made based on a player’s style, leaning more towards finesse play.

Carbon Fiber Paddles:

Your next option for pickleball paddle face materials is carbon fiber. Like graphite, carbon fiber is quite stiff and light, but it’s even more durable than graphite. Sounds similar to graphite, right? Well, that’s because carbon fiber is technically a form of graphite.

The easiest way to think of the two is based on how they are constructed. Graphite is more or less tightly packed layers of carbon, whereas carbon fiber is layered in ribbons and interlinked in a way that they form fibers, like weaving a piece of clothing. This is how it’s able to create greater strength and rigidity while using less material to be lighter.

How Does a Carbon Fiber Paddle Play?

The feel of playing with a carbon fiber paddle has been described by players as refined.

The reason? The material is excellent at absorbing the impact energy of the ball as it strikes the paddle and then redistributes that energy – this is where the stiffness of the woven ribbons of carbon fiber shines. The even energy distribution keeps your shots consistent and precise. You’ll enjoy a greater degree of control and an increased ability to spin the ball.

The stiffness of carbon fiber, being comparable to graphite, means the paddle has about as much power too. That’s not to say a carbon fiber paddle lacks power, but again, you’ll have to be willing to put in more work for powerful shots. The durability of carbon fiber means it should have a longer playing life than a graphite surface.

Fiberglass Paddles:

Fiberglass is the most commonly found paddle surface material among rec players today. Fiberglass paddles are made when fibers are compressed under high degrees of heat and pressure. After that treatment, resin soaking produces a glass-like texture. If you’re looking for durability, it perhaps does not get any better than fiberglass. Increased durability doesn’t mean sacrificing weight, as fiberglass pickleball paddles weigh surprisingly little.

How Does a Fiberglass Paddle Play?

Where fiberglass diverges from graphite and carbon fiber is stiffness. Fiberglass isn’t as stiff, so this is the big reason fiberglass paddles are considered more of a power-driven paddle. The energy isn’t evenly spread across the entire face of the paddle though, so this means a smaller sweet spot.

For beginners, a smaller sweet spot isn’t exactly the greatest choice. If you’re new to pickleball, the pickleball sweet spot is an area on the paddle surface where it gets the highest-quality shot out of a hit – sometimes described as pop.

A smaller sweet spot means hitting it outside of that area will have more of a dead pop to it, which can result in the ball not going where you intend for it to go. Add extra power to that, and it’s easy to see how a fiberglass paddle could be a bit more unwieldy than a carbon fiber or graphite surface.

Hybrid Paddles:

Some pickleball paddles aren’t made of one material at all, but rather, a combination of materials.

This mix of materials can be used to reinforce a paddle or give it more oomph when playing. Many combinations are available to bring out the best of both worlds in paddle materials.

You can use the three materials above to get a better understanding of how a paddle will behave. For instance, a paddle consisting of fiberglass and graphite could potentially offer you a larger sweet spot, with a greater balance between power and touch. A paddle with carbon-fiber and fiberglass may lean into a more refined feel with some extra power.

Like all things pickleball – everything is a balance, and most often it runs on a spectrum of control and power.

Is Graphite or Fiberglass Better for Pickleball?

Graphite and fiberglass are similar enough materials that you might feel stuck selecting between them. This is usually the biggest dilemma players face on their first paddle purchase – so which is better for your pickleball paddle?

Whether graphite or fiberglass is better depends on what you’re looking for in a pickleball paddle. If you want great handling and feel, then choose graphite. If you want more power, then a fiberglass paddle is the right choice for you.

Since fiberglass isn’t as stiff, it excels in the power department. Some players have complained that it doesn’t control as well though. Don’t necessarily let that deter you from selecting a fiberglass paddle. While each material is talked about as one or the other, it doesn’t exclude the material from having attributes from both sides – in other words, a graphite paddle certainly has touch and control properties, but it doesn’t mean there is zero power to the surface. It’s just less pronounced than a fiberglass face.

Pickleball Paddle Core Materials and Why They’re Important

A pickleball paddle’s core will be made of a different material than the face. You don’t see the core, but it’s hugely important – and while this section will just focus on core materials, the thickness of the core is just as important to your playing experience as anything else.

Pickleball cores are designed with a structure like honeycombs. The empty cells are intended to create more strength in the paddle without driving up the weight. You can construct a core out of many materials, but some of the most common include polymer, aluminum, and Nomex.

Polymer Cores

The first material for a paddle core is a polymer. By far the most common core material in paddles, polymer core is also referred to as polypropylene, poly core, and sometimes just as poly.

The reason that polymer has become such a common material choice for a paddle core is because of how many great traits it has:

Touch & Power: You get some touch receptivity as well as some power but not too much of either.
Noise: A polymer core may also deliver a quieter playing experience, but a lot of that depends on how hard you’re hitting the ball.
Durability: The durability of polymer is another winning trait and some polymer cores are even recyclable. The strength and flexibility are also great features.

Polymer cores are not identical from one manufacturer to another. Some cores have smaller cells and others have larger cells. The number and size of cells contribute to core density. There are advantages to various core densities. For example, the smaller the honeycomb-like cells, the firmer, harder, and more powerful the paddle. This higher-density core is also more durable. Larger cells will deliver less power but more control. However, the larger cells are less durable and can develop dead spots sooner because they use less material.

Nomex Cores

Another pickleball paddle core material you can choose is Nomex, and this one has been around for a long time now. A DuPont product, Nomex is flame-resistant, heat-resistant, and polymer-based. Its honeycomb structure features many small cells.

Early pickleball paddles used Nomex cores because that was primarily what was available, but also because the inventor of this paddle was a Boeing engineer, and Nomex was widely used in aircraft construction. This core material has endured to this day, so it does have some redeeming qualities.

The biggest of those qualities is power. You get so much strength when playing with a Nomex paddle that it’s unbelievable. This can be a double-edged sword if you’re not careful. Combining too much of your power with a Nomex core paddle can easily cause you to whack the pickleball out of bounds and fault.

You need control and precision to play with one of these paddles. This is also something you can subdue with other areas of a paddle, like its weight, or using a graphite surface.

Nomex is both hard and dense. This means volleying the ball back and forth quickly can cause you to lose control, even if you’re more experienced. Despite their high degree of power, Nomex paddles are quite lightweight. You’ll find swinging easy too, even as a beginner.

Be ready to hear every shot if you’re playing with a Nomex paddle. Considering how easy it is to give a pickleball a hard whack with a Nomex paddle, everyone around you will know when you’re hitting.

Aluminum Cores

The next paddle core material is aluminum. It’s far less common than polycore and even Nomex, but in the same way, you should be aware of wooden paddles, aluminum is worth noting. As you’d expect from aluminum anything, it’s lightweight but lacks power.

As a beginner, you may not know what you’re missing out on should you go with an aluminum core, but more experienced players will easily feel how an aluminum core is lacking.

Although you won’t hit the ball with much strength when playing with an aluminum paddle, you do get more control. For players who hit the ball out of bounds especially, an aluminum core might reduce those instances, but it would still not be the first choice in getting you more control on your shots.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Whatever paddle you pick, remember, it is all about the player more than what paddle they are using. I, Pickleball Terry, play with a number of different paddles. I know I like my handles to be 5″ long, and I prefer carbon over fiberglass. But, everyone is different.

I sell the brands Diadem and Gearbox. If you see me, ask to demo some paddles.

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry

July 3, 2022July 3, 2022

10 Things Novice Players Do That Ruin Their Pickleball Game

As a pickleball coach, I have been coaching for around 3 years. I am a fully insured PPR Certified Coach, and love introducing people to pickleball. I have taught over 500 people so far, and besides a few students falling, there has not been many bad moments. It’s always a good time teaching pickleball. I believe I have found my calling. Let’s just say, if you play pickleball, retirement is great!

Am Image of Sarah Ansboury — Sarah Ansboury

After observing student after student on the court, there are 10 things that a novice student should stop doing that SCREAMS I’m a novice player. Here they are:

Not standing on the balls of their feet.
I tell my students, if you are not putting pressure on the balls of your feet and standing flat-footed, you are not in a ready position. Sarah Ansboury says pretend that there is a button on the bottom of your big toe and press that button.
Standing too close to the baseline.
If you are standing too close to the baseline when you are receiving a deep serve, you are going to either miss the serve, hit it before it bounces, or hit the ball up in the air and out of bounds. Always stand a foot behind the baseline. My students say, “But what happens if they serve short?” Then you run like you’re 18 years old and get to the ball, I always say jokingly. But, if you see someone who constantly serves a weak and short serve, take a step inside the baseline.
Creeping up after you serve.
Oh, seasoned pickleball players love to see their opponents do this…take a couple of steps forward onto the court after they serve. That’s a sign of definite weakness. Your receiver is going to return the ball deep back to you who is already a couple of steps too far forward, therefore you hit the ball before it bounces. FAULT! The saying is SERVE AND STAY!
Not getting up to the NVZ line.
This is a drill I do over and over with my students. It’s return and RUN. Or I like to say…RUN LIKE HECK! Now, this is when I’m teaching people who can run and who want to become aggressive players. If you are not returning the ball deep and running up to the kitchen, it says…I’m still learning.
Standing like a statue.
They hit the ball and don’t move as they watch their ball fly over the net. Why? They are admiring their shot. Then what happens? They are not prepared for the return shot and miss it. Stop admiring your shot and immediately move and be ready for the ball coming back.
Not keeping their paddle up.
If I see a player standing with their paddles down by their side, I know they are not ready to return a fast ball coming at them. In pickleball, a player does not have the time to bring the paddle up from the side of their leg, to return a fast ball coming at their backhand. Keep your paddle up! A coaching trick I use is telling my students to put their finger tips of their non paddle hand on the back of their paddle after every return. If this doesn’t work, I give them a ball that they have to hold on the back of their paddle so they remember to keep their paddle up. And this one seems to work…I tell them keeping their paddle up makes them look 10 years younger.
Not Focusing.
Sometimes I see a ball fly by a student and they try to hit it after the pass. You know, the whiffing stroke. They look at the paddle like there must be a hole in it. How could they possibly miss that ball? They look at me, their coach, in disbelief. But seconds before, I could tell their mind was someplace else. I ask them, what were you just thinking of? They admit, they were thinking they had to get an oil change, or make a dentist appointment. Definitely not on the game at hand. You have to stay laser focused in the game. If not, it’s not fair to your partner, you or your opponents that are there because they want a good game.
Hitting the ball back to your opponent (politely).
Isn’t that what you are suppose to do? No! During warmup we hit the ball back and forth to each other because we are WARMING UP. After that, make your opponents move. Don’t give them an easy shot to return. And go for their backhand, the weaker side. When I’m playing, I will hit to one opponent and if he gets it back, I’ll switch direction and hit to the other opponent. Keep them guessing. {Select Ray-Ban Oakley & Costa active polarized sunglasses}
Hitting into the net.
Time after time, I witness a novice player go for a put-a-way and they hit the ball with extreme force right into the net. That will hurt your ego. Then I look at their feet and find them standing a foot behind the NVZ line. If they were rather standing an inch back from the line as they should have, they would have gotten that ball over the the net and past their opponents. Win! Get as close to the NVZ line as you can.
Not watching the ball.
A ball comes towards you and you swing and miss it. Why? You thought you were watching the ball but just as it comes a foot from your paddle, you look across the court towards your opponents, and you completely miss the ball. What happened? You took your eyes off the ball. Another good hint from Sarah Ansboury is point your paddle paddle at the ball as it goes back and forth. This is good practice for your brain to train it to keep track of the ball.

If you are a novice, above are 10 things you should work on if you want to STOP looking like a novice. If you master the above 10, you are no longer a novice player and moving in to the intermediate zone.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 941-400-0978 or email at dinkpickleball@gmail.com.

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Thanks for reading, Pickleball Terry

Pickleball Terry, Founder and owner of Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC

June 19, 2022July 30, 2022

Acetaminophen is Dangerous

One day on the pickleball court, the person next to me casually told me they take Tylenol (acetaminophen) as a preventive way to fight pain from playing pickleball every day. I didn’t know what to say. Didn’t they know how dangerous acetaminophen was for the liver? Reading the warning label, the directions are take no more than 1000 mg every 6 hours and do not exceed 6 capsules (500mg each) in 24 hours. Also, only take for 10 days!

This brings back the memory of one of my favorite people in high school, Bobby. He was quite the practically joker and I recall one time when I arrived at a party by the lake we lived by, I got out of my car and he ran over, picked me up and ran down a dock and jumped into the water with me still in his arms. I couldn’t be angry at him as I was soaking wet for the entire party. I just laughed at another Bobby antics. He was the kind of guy everybody liked. He was always smiling, smart and did well at school, and built his own house from the foundation up. It was there that it was the beginning of Bobby’s end. He was working one night by himself in the house he was constructing, when he pulled a stack of drywall that was leaning against the wall looking for a misplaced tool. The drywall came crashing down on Bobby’s leg trapping him for 12 hours before his brother came looking for him after Bobby was missing from work. He was rushed to the hospital almost losing his leg. For years I would glance at the terrible scar on his leg. He limped and was in constant pain. Tylenol was his go-to pain management drug. After years of taking Tylenol, the toxicity built up in his liver and sadly Bobby passed away from liver cancer last year. I was shocked when I read his obituary. He was just one of those guys that made the world a better place.

Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity if taken over the maximum dose.

The drug is metabolized mainly by the liver and broken down into glucuronide and sulfate conjugates, but a minor percentage of the drug is converted into a highly toxic byproduct called N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). NAPQI is typically detoxified in the liver if used safely and sparingly under the recommended guidelines, but too much acetaminophen over an extended period of time can overload the liver and cause toxins to build up. (https://www.tmc.edu/news/2020/05/does-acetaminophen-cause-cancer/)

What about Advil? (Ibuprofen) Is it just as toxic? Instead of being toxic on the liver, ibuprofen is tough on the kidneys. Again, I’m on the pickleball court when a nurse who works in the dialysis department tells me that many of the patients are on dialysis from taking too much Ibuprofen. What??!! I was stunned.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, as many as 3 percent to 5 percent of new cases of chronic kidney failure each year may be caused by the overuse of these painkillers. Once kidney disease occurs, continued use of the problem drug makes it worse.

Nonprescription pain medicines should not be used without your doctor’s permission if you know you have low kidney function. Also, even if your kidney function is good, long–term use with high doses of these pain drugs may harm the kidneys. Kidney damage happens because high doses of the drugs have a harmful effect on kidney tissue and structures. These drugs can also reduce the blood flow to the kidney. If you are older, your kidneys may have a stronger reaction to these medicines and you may need a smaller dose.

Kidney disease from pain medicines is often preventable. You can change your risk by how you take medicines. To avoid kidney problems, it is important to follow the instructions on the label. You should drink plenty of fluids and avoid becoming dehydrated when you use these medicines.

Even with normal kidney function, you should use pain medicines:

Exactly as prescribed or as on the label
At the lowest dose possible
For the shortest period of time.

What are analgesics?

Analgesics are medicines that help to control pain and reduce fever, and some types also decrease inflammation. These are commonly used analgesics:

Acetaminophen. Although aspirin was most common analgesic for decades, today, the most commonly used over–the–counter pain medicine is acetaminophen. This drug is available under the brand name Tylenol® and as a generic (no brand name) with the word “acetaminophen” on the package. It is often effective for mild to moderate pain. Its safety depends on how it is used. People who take too much or take it too often risk side effects or worse. Acetaminophen is also found in combination with other ingredients in many cold, sinus, and cough medications. If you take these drugs together, the dose can add up.

Aspirin. This is one of the drugs grouped together under the name “nonsteroidal anti–inflammatory drugs” or NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti–inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a specific group of pain relievers. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter. This includes different brands of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and ketoprofen.

Another warning on the Tylenol and Advil box is take no longer than 10 days! There are players on the court that take Tylenol like they are Tic Tacs. Why? Because it is an OTC drug, and people have the impression that they are harmless. Sadly, this is not true. Taken at a higher dose than recommended or using when you are also drinking cocktails at night, can be a deadly combination.

So, what can you do if you have constant pain? Well, the old story of the patient who goes to his doctor and says it hurts every time he bends his arm, and the doctor tells him to stop doing that, is true. If banging your knees on hard asphalt is causing pain, it may be time not to play as much.

Natural pain relievers like turmeric may give relief. https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/surprising-natural-pain-killers#boswellia

Talking to your doctor about pain relief is a definite conversation to have with them. Discuss your concern with long-term OTC pain relief.

The takeaway to this blog is, taking OTC pain relief is serious and can cause damage to your liver and kidneys. Definitely stop taking Advil and Tylenol as a PREVENTATIVE pain solution for more than 10 days is not advised. Read the the back of the box or Google Tylenol risks. The next time you want to take an OTC pain reliever, you’ll give it a second thought.

Stay safe on the courts.

Pickleball Terry 941-400-0978

May 29, 2022

Playing Pickleball in the Heat and How it Affects Your Heart

You remember living in the cold, northern part of the country and how people, mostly men, would go out to shovel snow, and a few ended up in the emergency room, or even worse, face first into the sidewalk? That was because shoveling heavy snow caused stress to the heart, and if you’re in advanced years or have an underlying heart condition, shoveling snow is going to cause a heart attack. The same thing is going to happen if you play pickleball in extremely hot temperatures, and to add even more stress, soul-sucking humidity.

I’m not just picking on Florida about the heat, I remember torturous, long heat spells in northern New York, when it was so hot the horses were not allowed to run at the track in Saratoga Springs. Air conditioning is very limited in northern New York, They are too stubborn to admit they need it. When I was working in New York, I had a large clubhouse with central air conditioning, and this is where people would come and just hangout to escape the heat. In the morning, I would step over sleeping bodies. But back to playing pickleball in the heat in Florida.

Sad to report, that two people had heart attacks on the pickleball courts just last week in the area, and one did not make it. I can’t imagine what they went through and the other players around them that were trying their best to help.

Hot temperatures combined with playing pickleball puts stress on everyone’s heart by causing it to beat faster and works harder to keep the body cool. Throw in a lack of keeping up with hydration, and if there is any kind of underlying heart condition….well, that’s a recipe for disaster. I know we are all addicted to pickleball, but I don’t think we want to sacrifice our life for it.

And please bring ice! I see players come to the courts in 90 degree temperature with high humidity, and they have one bottle of water. Nope! That’s not going to work. You perspire around 34 ounces of water while playing for just an hour. Of course, some people sweat more because of medications they are taking, being overweight, overall health, and lack of physical fitness. And some people just sweat a lot. (Hello Sweaty Dan!)

Things to do to prevent a heart attack on the court.

Go to your doctor for a stress test and heart health check.
Try to play indoors or early in the morning, late at night.
Don’t play as many games as you do in cooler weather. (Three hours of continuous play in this heat! Really?!)
Play a game then sit out two. (I know, torture!)
Don’t play everyday.
Drink 17 to 20 ounces or water before you play.
Bring a cooler of ice. Make sure you ice your water to cool yourself down with between games. Strive to drink 8 to 10 ounces between games. Put a pinch of sea salt in your drinking water.
At the first wave of dizziness, please sit down, rest, then go home and soak in your pool or stay inside with A/C.
If you feel very unwell, (heat stroke or exhaustion can strike suddenly) ask another player to call 911. Better safe than sorry.
Good gracious! What are you doing playing in a summertime pickleball tournament?! It’s too hot!

Symptoms of heat exhaustion:

Cool, moist skin
Possibly a sudden headache
Dizziness
Feeling like you have lost peripheral vision
Loss of balance

Misting fan/Portable Click Here

The more serious one…Heat Stroke!

Irrational behavior. (Yes, sometimes hard to recognize on the pickleball court.)
Weak pulse
Dry/hot skin to the touch
Seizure
Unconsciousness

Did you know that if you are taking certain medications, you are more likely to have heat related problems?

Beta Blockers
Ace inhibitors
Calcium channel blockers

Please keep it safe on the courts this summer. There are plenty of places to play indoors around Sarasota. Church of the Palms, CoreSRQs, Health Fit, RL Taylor. Venice Community Center on Mondays. Englewood Sports Complex. GT Bray has shade on their outdoor courts, and I hope that the Pickleball Club with indoor courts would please open soon.

Stay cool, Stay hydrated. Don’t overdo it. (If you think you have a pickleball addiction problem, call 941-400-0978)

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry

Clinics
Bootcamps
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Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

Founder and owner of Sarasota Pickleball Organization LLC
Sarasotapickleball.com

May 1, 2022

I Played In The US Pickleball Open Championship

I played in the US Pickleball Open by Terry Ryan

What is the US Open? It is the biggest pickleball championship in the country held in Naples, FL, that is not associated with the APP, PPA, or USA Pickleball (Non Sanctioned). The event was held (April 23rd — April 30th, 2022) at the East Naples Community Park on 3500 Thomasson Dr. There you will find a sea of 64 pickleball courts, a covered center court for the BIG SHOW and a new check-in center with pro shop.

While the US Open is going on, there are a couple of tents set up for displaying products, music, food such as chicken sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, etc. Zing-Zang tickets for center courts are being resold there, and this is where the competitors check-in everyday. Outside is a booze wagon, Moo Cow ice cream. and on the other side of the park are 2 more food trucks; one with the name Earth, Wind, and Fry.

Parking at the Open is filled by 8:00am and costs $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a week’s pass. All other cars are directed to an overflow parking lot. There a golf cart will pick you up and drive you to the shuttle bus waiting area. Busses will come and go quickly, so there is not a very long wait. The entrance fee to the Open is free for spectators. For players it is $100.00 initiation fee plus $40.00 additional for each event you signup for. You’ll need to have tickets for the center court to watch the finals and pros, which went quickly through a lottery system. People who do not want to go on a particular day for center court can sell them on the white board, or give them to friends. I managed to pick up one and spent some time watching semi-pros play. To tell you the truth, whoever I watching wasn’t that impressive. Lots of desperation lobs. They looked exhausted. Hmmmm.

This covered area also has boxed seating for people who spend $1000.00. They get snacks and open bar, in case you are interested.

Now. let’s talk about the play. It was intense. The 3.0s were dinking and stacking. I played in 4.0 and I was quickly crushed. Every ball I hit came back at me faster and harder. I signed up for Women’s 65+ any skill, and Doubles 65+ Skill. and MXD 65+. Gulp!

My male partner dropped out and I decided not to replace him. Turned out to be a good idea because it was a RAIN OUT.

Previous to the Open, in March I got a case of the nerves and thought about dropping out. Then to top it off, I had an energy crash from an autoimmune disease (thyroid disease) that I have. My thyroid levels were checked, and my doctor tweaked my medication. Still feeling ongoing fatigue, muscle aches, and sore throat, I started juicing veggies and fruit everyday. I hit the vitamin store and bought C, D3, and B Complex, although I already had these in my cabinet most had expired.

Another problem. All of a sudden my feet started hurting. They ached on the courts then for hours afterwards. I tried inserts but that made it worse.

Okay, let’s recap here; I am feeling fatigued, my feet hurt to the point I want to cry, and along with heat intolerance, I seriously wanted to dropout, but could I? Did I want to miss the experience, the excitement, or worse, disappoint my partner? My intuition told me to stick with it, and I did.

My first event was scheduled for Monday at 12:00 (April 25). Yep! The heat of the day. Checking the weather app, it read no chance of rain and 90s. Oh boy…

So, I did this to prepare:

-Vitamins everyday
-Consume many fruits and vegetables
-Juiced veggies and fruit
-Drank frozen smoothies that I got out of the frozen food section
-Bought compressions socks for my feet (pain disappeared)
-Took walks in the middle of the day when temp was the highest trying different way to cool down. Best one –was soak my hat and scarf in cold water before putting on.
-And drink water, water, water!

Scott J. recommended a book, Water, You Body’s Many Cries For Water. According to this book, adding a pinch of sea salt is extremely important, and of course, drinking lots of water the days before the competition is just as important as drinking during the competition.

I followed the book’s directions and drank 16 ounces when I got up in the morning and tried to drink at least 8 ounces every hour. I read on the internet, your urine should be very pale before you go to bed.

Dehydration can sneak up on you. It happened to me on Siesta Key Beach, years ago. One minute I was walking the beach from the beginning by the village to the wall at Point o’ Rocks. I felt a wave of dizziness and next thing I knew, I was in the emergency room. So, to say I was worried about the heat and soul-sucking humidity is an understatement.

Plus, I had a group coming down to cheer me on, and a few of us were staying at a tiki bar motel, then we were all going out to dinner together. It was a big deal! No way was I backing out now. I was in!

The day finally came and I drove down to the East Naples Community Park. The minute I stepped past the gate to the US Open all my fears dissipated. The fatigue, uncertainty and nervousness went away. The excitement of being at the biggest pickleball event in the country was thrilling. Milling around a few thousand like-minded people is truly a wonderful experience.

It was an honor to compete and I thoroughly enjoyed every second. Did I win a medal? Not even close. But for me, just to be there and competing is a win personally.

We all had an amazing time and some came close to winning medals. (Ann Mitchell From Sarasota won bronze in 75+ Doubles.) I witnessed excellent players play their best. Yes, it was scorching hot but we all hung in. My soaked hat and scarf worked, and I had no issues with the heat. Hallelujah!

I want to mention, that the spectators and players were polite, and practiced good sportsmanship. The volunteers were friendly and tremendously helpful. I didn’t see a “sour pickle” the entire week. All good fun!

The only criticism I would say, is that it is hard to figure out what court your friends are playing on. It works like this; The administrators sends you a text that says you have 10 minutes to make it to certain court. You jump out of your seat and dash. But how do you let all the people who came to watch you know what court you will be playing on? I had to text them but sometimes it was run, run, run and no time to text. The PT app is what I would call “archaic.” It needs a fresh look and to be more user friendly.

Will I enter the US Open again next year? Who knows, but this is my second time and both have been an amazing experience. I give it a 99% chance I’ll signup next year. See you there!

Sincerely,

Pickleball Terry
941-400-0978
Clinics/Private Lessons/Bootcamps
Founder and CEO of Sarasota Pickleball Organization

Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

April 24, 2022April 26, 2022

Are You Addicted to Pickleball?

Might as well face it you’re addicted to pickleball. That’s a twist on the song MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT YOU’RE ADDICTED TO LOVE. Ha ha! It is real? The addiction?

Let’s look at the signs you may be addicted:

Lack of control, or inability to stay away from playing pickleball
Abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships to play pickleball
Ignoring risk factors as in playing on an injured knee even though your doctor told you not to
Physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing to play more and more pickleball

Most people reading this will check off all four, and I am also in that group. Case and point: I broke my toe a while back and my doctor told me to wear an orthopedic boot for 3 weeks until my next appointment, and no pickleball. Did I listen? Nope! I shoved my foot into a court shoe every morning and played through the pain. Once I took that shoe off, my foot would blowup like a balloon, and I would soak it in ice water until I could limp around again. Ugh! I know!

The other day, I went to the courts and ran into people I haven’t seen in awhile. Veteran players who started this wonderful sport called PICKLEBALL around the same time I did, and it seemed like they all had different injuries that they were trying to work around. Plantar fasciitis. Rotator cuff tears. Meniscus injuries. Tennis elbow. Sciatica pain. I’m thought, it looks like they have all come back from being in a war, and the war is pickleball. Oh, the limping, the moaning and the rubbing of sore parts. It was sad to see.

Take some time off

Hey, it’s okay, that’s right, OKAY to take some time off. In fact, it can help your game. Playing non-stop can be bad for your play. Doing the same mistake over and over again may just being adding insult to injury. Stepping away for a couple of weeks or a month may be just what your body ordered. I know you may have FOMO (fear of missing out), but you’ll be fine and probably better when you come back.

What do the orthopedics at SMH call pickleball? Oh, that’s right CRIPPLEBALL! They see so many injuries from pickleball it has earned it the nickname “crippleball.” They secretly despise pickleball, but I don’t know why, it’s good $$$ for the doctors.

Skirt with leggings

Things people have told me:

I can’t wait to get finished with physical therapy so I can get back to pickleball.
I broke up with her because nothing gets in the way of my pickleball!
I can play with my left hand until my shoulder heals from shoulder replacement.
I went back up north and I couldn’t wait to get back here to play pickleball because I felt withdrawal symptoms.
I’m putting off surgery because I don’t want to take time off from pickleball.

Other ways to know if you are playing too much:

You have no other interests or hobbies.
You only socialize with people who play pickleball.
You dream about pickleball.
Your non-pickleball friends and family roll their eyes because all you want to do is talk about pickleball.
You have an extensive court shoe collection.
You own more than 2 paddles.
Every weekend you spend competing in tournaments.
You play morning, afternoon and night on the same day.
You play more than 3 days a week.
You are obsessed with pickleball and feel offended when someone plans a game time and doesn’t invite you.
You’ll ditch your bestfriend to play with a better player.
You are obsessed with buying different paddles because you think what’s wrong with your game is your paddle.
You snap at people on the courts because, let’s say, they don’t run for the ball fast enough. (I have seen this.)
You fight with people on the courts.

If you find yourself doing this, you are taking the game too seriously.

Franklin Outdoor Balls

When I coach a beginner for their first time, I say, “Your whole life will change,” and it does. They become addicted and I feel like the dealer.

But we also have a good time. I have the honor and pleasure of playing with many wonderful people. I just want to see them last a long time and play for many years, so I warn them about overdoing it.

Pickleball. It can take over your life. So, be wise and play with care. Have other activities and hobbies besides pickleball.

As a wise man once said, if you’re not having fun, why play?

I always say, “It’s just pickleball.” Or, “Do we have 10k on this game?”

Thanks for reading.

Pickleball Terry
Founder and CEO of Sarasota Pickleball Organization LLC
Sarasotapickleball.com
PPR Certified Instructor
Seen in Sarasota Magazine, The Scene, VisitSarasota.org.
Head Pickleball Coach at The Isles and Core SRQ Sarasota
All around nice person…

Dinlpickleball@gmail.com
941-400-0978

March 3, 2021March 7, 2021

Your Lizard Brain And Pickleball

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.

Image result for reptilian brain psychology –

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.

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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!

Pickleball Terry — 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.”

SarasotaPickleball.com

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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

Picture of Pickleball Terry, Terry Ryan

USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com
Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

December 14, 2020December 14, 2020

New Pickleball Rules For 2021 by Pickleball Terry

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.

NEW CHANGES TO THE USA PICKLEBALL RULES FOR 20212021 Change Document 12-13-20

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry
USA Pickleball Ambassador
Certified Pickleball Coach PPR
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com

Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

October 25, 2020

My Review of the Rogue 2 Gel-Core

By pickleball Terry

I couldn’t resist trying out the Rogue 2E Gel-Core paddle. Everyone has heard of the honeycomb core, usually nomex material. Did you know that nomex is a popular material used for building aircraft interiors?

Nomex can be rigid and unpredictable, and also giving the paddle that loud POP sound when hitting the ball.

In recent years, polypropylene have become popular for pickleball paddle cores, and much more forgiving as far as the ball direction. This led to Players Pickleball Company to come up with a polypropylene/gel combination. Their solution is an entirely new hybrid material made possible by a proprietary manufacturing techniques. Without giving away too many secrets, they use an polypropylene honeycomb material that has been infused with an elastomeric material within the paddle face. They are able to fine-tune the infusion process to provide several benefits.

For those who prefer an elongated paddle shape, they bring you the Rogue2E! At 17″, it’s the maximum length allowed by the USAPA.

The Rogue2/Rogue2E paddles are game-changing in more ways than one. Featuring the new and improved 2nd Generation Gel-Core technology, vibration-damping carbon fiber throat reinforcement, and massively increased durability, all with a price well below the competition, the Rogue2/Rogue2E are a hit for players at all levels. I paid $129.00 and free shipping through the link below.

https://www.playerspickleball.com/collections/rogue2-2nd-generation-gel-core/products/rogue2e-gel-core

The video below covers all of the features of the Rogue2. The Rogue2E is the same paddle, just in a different shape.

Overall, I thought the paddle was excellent with control of shots. It has a lot of oomph and I was hitting the balls harder than I am used to. Something to get used to so you don’t hit a ball out. It has a long handle perfect for two-handed backhand players, but I found the grip (4 1/8 circumference) a little slippery so I will add an overlay grip.
 
The paddle has a graphite face for slicing and I was able to hit a couple of NO RETURNERS just dropping the ball over the net.

There are several colors and I purchased the ROGUE2 ARTWORK CONTEST WINNER FEATURING SCOTT GRENSTED

The Second Generation Gel-Core improves the paddle in several measurable ways:

Larger Sweet Spot
Greater Paddle Stability on Ball Impact
Reduced Vibrations Transmitted to the Player’s Hand
Softer Ball Impact Sound
Improved Durability over First Generation

They took the blueprint for the 1st generation Gel-Core, which was already a proven performer and refined it further, giving it much increased durability along with improved vibration absorbing characteristics.

Players Pickleball is based in Bellingham, Washington, just a short distance from the birthplace of the sport. All of their paddles are USAPA-Approved and proudly made in the USA.

I loved this paddle after using it once. If you want to demo the paddle, send me an email or spot me on the courts.

Pickleball Terry