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.
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:
Stay safe out there.
Pickleball Terry
USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com
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.
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
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.
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- 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!
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.
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
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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To Order For Your Pets Click on The Picture…
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As far as rates, there will be a membership program in place including a Snowbird plan.
I will plan a mixer in the spring to introduce the McCarthys to the Sarasota pickleball community so we can all give them a warm welcome.
For their press release. Roller Skating to Pickleball
Their website is SRQpickleball.com
Order Your Custom Design Paddle
Pickleball Terry is now an ambassador for Third Shot Drop. They design custom made paddles just for you!
Who are they? CLICK HERE
Which Core and Why?
Currently, we offer three different types of cores: Aluminum, Nomex and Polymer. Each one has playing characteristics that suit certain styles of play.
Aluminum– (touch)
Aluminum core paddles feature advanced, lighter weight, aluminum honeycomb cores. Aluminum cores are known for their outstanding “TOUCH”. The ball comes off just a bit slower, which gives players an extra edge of maneuverability and control. This extra amount of control is due to both the soft rebound and the lightweight nature of aluminum. Players may prefer this core for their third shot drops and touch shots. However, aluminum cores do dent over time (more so with the “rubbery balls”), so are not recommended for super hard hitters. You will lose a bit of power with aluminum cores.
Polymer– (balance of power and touch)
Polymer core paddles are the most popular core currently used in pickleball paddles. The honeycomb polymer core provides power performance, yet gives soft control for the touch shots. Polymer cores have earned the reputation of being the quietest core on the market due to being slightly less deflective than the other two cores. The reduced deflection offers players a split-second longer to manipulate the ball, hence offering control.
Nomex– (power)
Nomex core paddles feature a lightweight Nomex honeycomb core that has been used in a variety of sporting and high-tech industry applications. Nomex was the first core used in pickleball paddles and is still is a popular core material. Nomex honeycomb begins as a cardboard-like material which is then dipped in resin creating an extremely damage-resistant material. They are also the loudest of the three cores. Nomex cores are well-liked for their durability and consistency. Players looking for a lot of “POWER” prefer Nomex cores. You may lose a bit of pace control due to how quickly balls come (pop) off the Nomex core.
Which Surface and Why
The three most commonly used surfaces for pickleball paddles are Carbon Fiber Weave, Graphite and Fiberglass Composite. Each has characteristics that, when combined with a core material, give each paddle the performance profile that suits every player’s unique style and game.
Carbon Fiber–
Carbon fiber surfaces are the most expensive, most durable and lightest weight. When bonded properly to a honeycomb core, Carbon Fiber weave (it is actually fabric before being bonded to a honeycomb core) is strong, durable, high tech and very distinctive in appearance. It provides the ultimate in ball control, but can lose a bit of power compared to the other surfaces.
Graphite–
Graphite paddle surfaces are very thin, about the thickness of a fingernail. Light and responsive, yet hard and strong. Players like the quick action off the Graphite face. Graphite is a bit heavier than carbon fiber and slightly less durable (and more cost effective, which is a reason many manufacturers use it rather than carbon fiber). Because of Graphite’s stiff nature, the ball does not sink into it, so it is easier to direct the ball, providing fantastic ball placement.
Fiberglass Composite–
Composite paddle faces take full advantage of the latest aerospace composite material technology. Variations of composite surfaces are expanding throughout the industry, increasing their play-ability. These paddles feature an incredible combination of touch, feel, and strength. The Composite surface provides a bit more power than the other two surfaces.
Weight
Paddle weight is a hot button for players. Many believe that the weight determines how well they respond to the ball and should be based on their size and gender. That’s the opposite of what they need to think. Skill determines how well a player responds to the ball. Weight is more about what your body can cope with during play.
Very similar to baseball bats and tennis rackets, the player must first have the skill to aim, respond and direct the ball. The weight is what lets them do it comfortably and accurately. Heavier paddles help smooth out players’ shots, making them more consistent and repeatable. Lighter paddles can encourage too much herky-jerky movement and inconsistent hits. Simple physics, Force = Mass x Acceleration, dictates that the heavier the paddle, the more power a player has with less effort. The paddle is doing the work. Players with light paddles tend to incur more wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries.
Before a player decides that they must have a certain weight based on their size or gender, they should instead be sure that: 1) their grip is properly sized, and 2) the paddle weight matches their level of strength, regardless of their stature or gender. That combination is the most important factor in choosing a proper weight.
Also keep in mind how the weight is distributed in a paddle. The key is how a paddle is balanced, not the total weight of the paddle itself. Mitigating the scale weight so the swing weight of the paddle feels light and responsive is what separates Third Shot Drop Custom Pickleball Paddles from the rest. You can pick up two paddles with the same weight and one may feel significantly heavier due to how the paddle weight is balanced. Blind studies have shown players typically think many of our paddles weigh an ounce or more less than their scale weight.
Grip Sizing
Improper sizing will not only restrict your game, it can cause physical problems as well.
- Using a paddle with an undersized grip causes you to use more force to squeeze the handle. This can affect your hand, forearm, and elbow, leading to fatigue and eventually tendonitis. It also restricts the fluid motion so important in the soft game.
- Using a paddle with an oversized grip restricts your wrist’s motions, makes changing grips harder, and requires more strength to use.
- What handle shape do you want. Oval handles can be as small as 4”, while octagonal (tennis) and square handles begin at 4 3/8”.
- Grip tape style. We will grip your handle to the exact size you ask. However, if you plan to add your own over-grip, it can add 1/16” – 1/8” to your handle size. Be sure to deduct that amount when ordering your paddle, so your final grip size is correct. We offer flat, ridged, or stitched grip tapes.
The grip size is the circumference of the handle at the midpoint. It’s measured in 1/8” increments. This measurement is the finished size of the handle, including any over-grip that may be added to the factory finish. If your measurement is between sizes, step down one size and add an over grip to increase it to the proper size.
Index Finger Test
Hold your paddle in your non-hitting hand. You should be able to fit the index finger of your other hand in the space between your ring finger and palm.
Start playing with your own custom designed paddle. Order here.
SO, now you are armed with the truth about paddles!
Hooray for you! You are now ready to get rid of all those “not-so-good guesses” taking space in your bag and replace them with an educated decision that will improve your game, raise your confidence and make your overall pickleball experience even better! Can’t wait to see you on the courts!
Meet Janet – a New Pickleball Enthusiast
Meet Janet. Pickleball enthusiast.
Janet never played racket sports before, but her neighbor told her one day to play pickleball. She tried it and loved it (who doesn’t). Soon she signed up as a member at Palm Aire and played with some much better players who told her to find something else to do. But she stayed with it and at the end of the summer she received the MOST IMPROVED award.
From Omaha, Nebraska, she moved down to Florida in 1984. Janet didn’t have time to play sports because she worked back then, but now she lives in Mote Ranch and plays at least 3 days a week. I ran into her at Longwood Park.
Her advice is…Do not be intimidated by better players, but also you don’t want to ruin their game. Find a good in between and stick with it.
My Review of Pickleball at Venice Community Center
On a hot day, I drove down to the Venice Community Center located at 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice to play intermediate pickleball on a Thursday, 11:00am – 2:00pm. I was happy to see there was plenty of parking and a very clean facility.
If it’s your first time here, you will need to purchase a card for $20.00. It is $2.00 per play. Cards may be purchased in the office, and there is a county employee who scans it in at the door.
The room is like your old high school auditorium with a black and white floor. At first it was a little confusing but I quickly got used to the white lines on the black and white floor.
Games were to 11, win by 2, and you write your name on a white board; 4 per square. A small group of players were there so I played constantly, however, I understand that the day before they had a large crowd and wait time was substantial.
People were very friendly and games were competitive. Great place to play pickleball on a hot, June day.
Venice Community Center
The Venice Community Center (VCC) is a beautiful 45,000 sq. ft. regional facility that serves the needs of residents and visitors in Sarasota County as well as counties to the north and south.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
11:00am – 2:00pm -Intermediates
2:00am – 5:00pm – Beginners
5:00pm – 8:00pm – Open Play
326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice FL
(941) 861-1380