The Difference Between Novice And Good Players by Terry Ryan

I tell my students, the first thing is you want to look prepared to play a good competitive game of pickleball. That means, proper foot wear, court attire. correct stance, and a good paddle. At a clinic I was doing at a development, I was talking about this, and one man spoke up and said, “I just want to come out here and socialize.” Meaning, he didn’t want to be competitive. Okay, I get that but I cater to the more competitive souls. If you just want to learn the basics; here’s the kitchen, serve it across court, then I can teach you that in one lesson. But if you want to be someone other players want to play with, then you continue to work on your game to improve.

Sarah Ansboury keeping focused Sarasota Pickleball — Sarah Ansboury

A good player will have:

Endurance
Court etiquette
Proper clothing
Brings plenty of water for hydration
Knows the importance of a good court shoe
Has a good paddle (Like a Gearbox)

And they will:

Focus on the game
Know pickleball strategies
Be able to move fast
Gets up to the kitchen and knows when to hang back
Executes a serve that worries the opponents
Is supportive of their partner
Makes few unforced errors
Does not take their partner’s forehand
Knows the line down the middle of the court is only for the serve
Makes shots to make their opponents fight for each return
A gracious loser and winner
Keeps score well without asking everyone else what the score is

What a novice will do:

Stand up straight with the paddle dangling down by their leg usually looking around
Mentally not prepared and thinking about everything else but the game
Hasn’t worked out in a while so little endurance
Slow moving up to the NVZ.
Doesn’t know why they call it the NVZ
Fears the kitchen
Doesn’t like to dink
Shows up wearing running shoes
Forgets water or ice when it’s hot out
Says things like, “That was on my side of the court!”
Steals their partner’s forehand
Crowds their partner
Always plays defensively
Shows frustration when they miss a ball
Doesn’t have an eye to know a ball is going out so they hit it
Gets angry and fights over the calls the opponents make
Never says the correct score
Seems to hit it into the net often

How to move from novice level to intermediate level?

- Practice makes perfect. Drill, drill. drill until it becomes second nature. Turn on your laser focus when you are playing. Think of nothing but the game and do not be distracted.
- It’s good idea to video your games then play it back to dissect your game. I just had a video of myself playing in a tournament reviewed by a pro player who gave me helpful suggestions. I can do the same for you.

When I started playing pickleball, I remember asking people what I was doing wrong in my game. They couldn’t tell me because a) they didn’t want me to get any better, b) they didn’t know what the heck they were doing so how could they tell me? Now, players have more advantages to improve quickly. Lucky them! If they listen to what their coaches say, like Coach Terry, they will improve in months to be a smart, competitive player.

Things you must know and do:

- Move fast
- Have a good 3rd shot drop
- Confident at the kitchen
- Can dink 100 times in a row
- Return the serve with a topspin groundstroke
- Know it is : serve and stay: return and run
- Put-away the put-aways
- Be ready when an attackable shot comes over
- Support your partner
- Never throw away a serve
- Always target the opponent’s weakness
- Be ready to do a ATP when opportunity presents itself
- Play as much as you can but also know when it is time to take some time off
- Stretch and warmup before playing
- Use the proper paddle to improve performance and reduce elbow stress
- POACH!

Those are just a few suggestions I have. If you want to play better, you have to practice. Some people I see out there never drill/practice and I see them making the same mistakes over and over again. So, basically they are just reinforcing their bad habits. A good coach can stop you from doing that and put you on the right track.

Good Place To Begin

My Y Berlin clinic every Friday at 1:00 – 3:00 is a great place to drill. We have drills like: Weakest Link, 3rd Shot Drop. Walk of Shame, Red light/Green light, Pop Up, Money Ballzzzz

I also have a ball machine that we drill with. In my clinics I do not stand around and talk. You will begin playing as soon as you walk in. It’s two hours of action and you will leave with knowledge and slightly tired…well maybe very tired.

Competitive players know they need to practice. Novice players just want to have fun and that’s okay, too. What kind of player do you want to be?

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry

PPR Certified Coach
USA Pickleball Ambassador
Creator and owner of SarasotaPickleball.com

Dinlpickleball@gmail.com

March 14, 2021

The Curse of the Number 10

We all have been there. The magic number 10. Just one point away from 11 and victory. You can almost taste the success. And that’s when it happens. You turn cocky. Cocky as heck! OVER CONFIDENT. Then what happens? The opponents start gaining on you. All of a sudden, you and your partner start making silly mistakes as in hitting the ball out or knocking it into the net. You and your partner look at each other in total disbelief as another side out happens, and the opponents gain a couple more points. Uh-oh! They are catching up and now the score is 9-10.

So now you are really frustrated and try to do some kill shots but alas, they go sailing by your opponents and they yell OUT! Your partner, feeling the same angst, serves the ball into the net. Side out again!

Now the opponents can see you coming unglued and quickly get 3 more points, much to your horror, and win the game. You all go to the net to tap paddles and you have to congratulate them on their comeback.

What happened? It’s the curse of the number 10. I’ve seen it happen over and over again, and it has happened many times to me. But not anymore. Because I figured out how to UNCURSE the number 10.

How do you solve the curse of number 10?

You play with even more control then you did throughout the game. I teach this technique to my students. When you have 10 your strategy is to just get the ball over the net. Do not try for a kill shot. Don’t be tricky with your strokes, just get it over the net. Let the opponents make the mistakes. And they will as long as you stay cool as a cucumber and just place the ball over the net . Sooner than later, your opponents are going to crumble like a saltine cracker, and sweet victory is yours.

Play smart out there.

Pickleball Terry

USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com

Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

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.

Wilson Men’s Pickleball Shoes Click Here

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

To Order Click Here

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

February 28, 2021February 28, 2021

Paddles Paddles! So Many Paddles

Feature image for title Paddle Paddle by Pickleball Terry

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.)

What are paddles made from: (This is from the Third Shot Drop website. Jack the (owner) taught me everything about paddles.)

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.

Z5 Onix – Order here

Onix Styker – Order here

Selkirk – Order here

Paddletek – Order here

Good info about fair play.

SHARE THE BALL by: Gregg Whitfield

From the blog: Picklebilly.com

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.

Simone Jardine – Prince

Corrine Carr – Vulcan

Kyle Yates – Paddletek

Sarah Ansboury – Head

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.

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry
PPR Pickleball Coach

February 21, 2021February 21, 2021

Drop in Play in Pickleball

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021

What About COVID And Pickleball

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.

Pickleball Terry at RL Taylor — 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 to bring with you for playing pickleball:

Mask
Disinfectant (Lysol is good to spray on the ball)
Hand sanitizer
Eye Protection
Alcohol wipes

Stay safe out there.

Pickleball Terry

USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.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

September 6, 2020September 6, 2020

How to get smells out of your sports clothes

It happened to me. Smelly sports clothes. I have to admit, it snuck up on me. I was driving to pickleball and I was wearing a clean, quick-dry shirt when I noticed an oder. What the heck?! Was that me? Yup. I was a victim to smelly workout clothes. Shocked!

I soon realized that washing in normal detergent wasn’t going to cut it anymore after playing for hours in the Florida weather, and hours of sweaty bacteria building up in my clothes. What to do?

Researching on the internet, I soon found a few tricks.

You have a bacteria situation going on. This happens when you sweat and sweat and do not get all the bacteria out. So you need to tweak your pickleball clothes laundering routine.

- Add a cup of white vinegar to your wash.

Use special sports detergent like Tide Sport
Wash your clothes immediately after getting off the court. Don’t let them sit around in a laundry basket.
Use bacteria eating Lysol Sanitizer (It works)

I also use Borax in my wash that does a pretty good job.

After attacking the problem, voila! Problem solved. Stinky smells are gone for good.

Have fun on the courts!

May 17, 2020May 17, 2020

How to Maintain Your Focus

When I first started out playing pickleball, I found it very hard to maintain my focus. Little things would steal my concentration; a yell “OUT!” from another court, people walking behind the court I’m playing on, or just someone new walking in the door. And the minute something steals my attention whoosh there goes a ball by me.

Here is a video on improving your mental focus.

Sometimes my mind will wander, and I’ll even start thinking about my shopping list, or other errands I should do after pickleball. All the above is not good for your game. Your mind should be on one thing, and that is the next shot. Not even the hopeful outcome of the game, but your next shot. Meaning; don’t get ahead of yourself.

You can become rattled by a bad shot you made, or even by the opponents saying the incorrect score, and you’re thinking, wasn’t it 2 – 4? How did they get 3? Meanwhile, the ball is going back and forth and you are still thinking of the score. Not good! Your head should be in the game. What is happening right now? Where are your opponents’ weaknesses? Who has the weak backhand?

There are some tricks to keeping your mind in the game. As the ball is moving back and forth, pickleball pro Sarah Ansboury, likes to point her paddle in the direction of the ball. She feels this keeps her focused.

(Check out this video by Sarah Ansboury-What’s in my bag?)

Another way, is to say “ball” (to yourself) as the ball is coming towards you, and another pro told me to look for the holes in the ball. It’s hard to be distracted when you are focusing on the ball.

>>PURCHASE QUILT HERE<<

I would recommend getting into your game head. As soon as you step onto the court clear your mind of everything else. Say to yourself, I am only thinking about this game. Between points, I will tap my hat with my paddle and that is code to my brain to FOCUS! You can tap your knee or squeeze your paddle as a way to get ready. But please don’t slap your thigh with your paddle so it creates a loud SLAP. That is neither helpful or comforting to your partner.

If you miss a shot, don’t continue to think about it. Shake it off. Tap your knee. Focus on the next rally. If someone rolls their eyes at you or gives you a smirk, ignore! Ignore! Ignore! Think only about winning the next shot.

In a tournament, one of the opponents’ strategies is to call a time out if you and your partner are getting way ahead in points. This is a method to break your concentration. Take this time, for a water break and keep thinking about the game. When you get back on the court, stay on the balls of your feet, give your partner a little encouragement with a tap of the paddles, a look meaning “we’ve got this!” and proceed where you left off.

To summarize, stay FOCUSED!

By Pickleball Terry

USAPA Sarasota Ambassador
Creator or SarasotaPickleball.com

December 29, 2019December 29, 2019

The New Owners of Sarasota Pickleball Academy

I had the pleasure of meeting with the new owners of Sarasota Pickleball Academy, Brian and Valerie McCarthy, and I am happy to say that they are down-to-earth and sincerely wonderful people. In fact, they are the kind of people you want to succeed in their next endeavor; buying the Stardust Roller Skating Rink and turning into a 12 indoor pickleball courts facility.

With the husband’s and wife’s familiarity with commercial real estate (shopping centers, marinas in the Keys, an olive grove in California, etc.) and their equal interest in pickleball, they agreed to undertake the massive project of rehabbing the old building located on 12th St and turning it into the first dedicated, indoor pickleball facility in USA.

They plan on opening in the fall of 2020 after putting in over a million dollars of improvements that will include a new roof, floors, HVAC and repaving of the parking lot.

Some of the programs planned are drop-in play, ability to reserve courts, clinics, lessons from area pros, veteran leagues, youth programs, and tournaments. There will be a coffee and juice bar, locker rooms with showers, a pro shop and possibly beer and wine available to encourage the after-play, social aspect.

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