Friday, November 29, 2013

Black Friday Pickleball

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com  Join us for Pickleball anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California.  Paso Robles was recently named the 2013 "Wine Region Of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Pickleball and wine tasting.  Sounds great!!!!

23 people in attendance today (20 players and three supporters) on Black Friday.  To many of you reading this blog, that does not sound like a lot of players, but we only have five courts, so that means we were full.

We also had the opportunity to have Earl Hill, Assistant Ambassadors Director for the United States Pickleball Association, visit and play with us today.  Earl and his wife Gladys were here in Paso Robles visiting family, and Earl made sure he packed his paddle.  We were happy to play many games with Earl.  He is an excellent player and gave some valuable advice to many of our less experienced players.  Earl and Gladys live in Surprise, AZ.

We play again tomorrow, Saturday, at 9:00 a.m. at Centennial Park.  Visit our website when you have a chance.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving Pickleball Players....and All

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com  Join us for Pickleball anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California.  Paso Robles was recently named the 2013 "Wine Region Of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Pickleball and wine tasting.  Sounds great!!!!

We will play both Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.  9-11 a.m.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Went down to play PB at the Pismo Beach Athletic Club yesterday.  Always excellent play on their new, resurfaced tennis court (now four Pickleball Courts).  All the players there will definitely challenge your game....and you will have fun getting challenged.

Before going to the Club, I drove through the town of Pismo Beach and went to the Monarch Butterfly Park that is on the southernmost end of town.  For the next four months, the butterflies will stay in this park for all to see.  This particular species of Monarch will live for close to six months, whereas most live only six weeks.  They will be there for the duration, but when they leave, they will never return.  The Eucalyptus trees hide them pretty well, so you will have to look closely....but when you do.....

It is great to be able to pair Pickleball with other endeavors.....wine tasting, photography, sightseeing, shopping, a great meal, and, now, Monarch Butterfly watching.

Have A Great Day!



Monday, November 25, 2013

Pickleball Tips: Covering Your Line

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com  Join us for Pickleball anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California.  Paso Robles was recently named the 2013 "Wine Region Of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Pickleball and wine tasting.  Sounds great!!!!

This has been discussed before on this blog, but being reminded is always good.
It is very important to understand "Coverage" of the court (with your partner) relative to the position of the ball in your opponents court.  See diagram above.

1.  If the ball is directly opposite you (not diagonally opposite), you must cover your line.  This shot down the line is the easiest (highest percentage) shot for your opponent.  Shot A.

2.  Your partner will cover the middle.  He/she is responsible for Shot B.

3.  Shot C is very low percentage and your partner may get to it, but if she/he does not....you both clap and congratulate your opponent on a nice shot.

4.  If the ball is opposite both of you in the middle, you both cover the middle.  Make them angle the shot toward either line.  Much lower percentage.  If they hit it hard, the ball could carry out wide.  If they dink, one of you can get to it.

5.  The game becomes much easier if you just employ the above coverages.  Of course, you have to keep the ball in play and/or "place" a winner.  Patience and Placement....don't forget the two "P's."

Friday, November 22, 2013

Central Coast Pickleball Ambassadors

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com  Join us for Pickleball anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California.  Paso Robles was recently named the 2013 "Wine Region Of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Pickleball and wine tasting.  Sounds great!!!!

Today our other three California Central Coast Ambassadors came to Centennial Park to play....Richard Dorman (Pismo Beach), Jos Hilden (Cambria) and Jean Hyduchak (San Luis Obispo) joined Jack Hodges (Paso Robles) for a fun morning of play.  After the meeting, the four went to lunch at Burbank Ranch Bistro with the expressed purpose of discussing the future of Pickleball on the Central Coast.

First, let's talk lunch.  Burbank Ranch Bistro gets 5 Stars!!!!  http://www.burbankranch.com/tasting-room  A new place to eat in the heart of downtown Paso Robles, the food and service were excellent.  Very nice, comfortable interior.  At 11:30, the four of us were the only ones in the Bistro, but by the time we left (1:30 p.m.), the place was full.  I had the grass-fed beef burger with fries---an A+.  Not enough time for dessert, but looked at the menu.  Everything looked great.  Will definitely return....soon.

Back to our meeting.  We visited for almost two hours (and ate lunch as well) exchanging ideas about what we could do to spread the word about America's fastest growing sport.  We talked about supporting each other as we conducted upcoming Demonstration Clinics in Pismo Beach, Morro Bay,  San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande.  All of these cities have expressed an interest in starting up Pickleball.

Thank you Jean, Jos and Richard.  It was fun playing PB with you today and hearing all your great ideas.  Our USAPA is lucky to have you.

For anyone else reading this blog, "How did The Ball Come Off Your Paddle Today?"  Hopefully, with good placement and patience.

At Burbank Ranch Bistro on Park Street in Paso Robles.



Monday, November 18, 2013

Pickleball Positioning and Strategy Review

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com  Come play with us anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California (Paso Robles was recently voted the "Wine Region Of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine).  We have loaner paddles.

Haven't talked positioning and strategy for quite some time on this blog.  Thought I would devote this particular blog to items previously discussed, but needing to be reviewed.

1.  DEPTH is a very important word in Pickleball.

2.  The ideal serve is DEEP.  The more you can keep your opponent from approaching the net AS THEY HIT, the better.

3.  DEPTH on your return of service.  Make your opponent try to DINK from 20-22 feet (back on the baseline).  The 15 foot dink (because your return of serve lacked DEPTH) is a lot easier.

4.  SHORT DEPTH (or what we call a DINK into the No Volley Zone) is critical on the third shot.  Yes, a lob occasionally is O.K.  A hard ground stroke occasionally is O.K.  They are, however, low percentage shots and even lower percentage winners.

5.  If you are the serving team, ADVANCE TO THE NVZ LINE TOGETHER.  This is critical.  If you rush the net because the return of serve is to your partner, you will be very vulnerable if your partner's dink is poor (too high).  If you are 7' from the net (at the NVZ line) you have very little reaction time on a volley from your opponent at you.  SEE your partner's THIRD SHOT and advance ONLY if it is going to bounce at your opponent's feet.  They will have to hit up.

6.  In the event your RETURN OF THE RETURN OF SERVE (remember, we are talking about you being the serving team here) is not a good shot into the NVZ, gain a little ground, but allow yourself DEPTH (and therefore more reaction time).  If this third shot does not allow you to get to the NVZ line, one of you must again try, off your opponent's return of the third shot (this is now the FIFTH shot/your THIRD shot) to get a good dink into the NVZ.  If you do make a good shot, you will surely get to the NVZ line.

7.  Simple?  On paper, yes.  Just remember what is SIMPLE.  If you are the SERVING TEAM, you must work harder to get to the NVZ (if you have forgotten, this is the NO VOLLEY ZONE LINE).  Hit shots that allow you to get to the line, or retain DEPTH until you hit a shot that allows you to get to the line.

8.  If you are the RETURN OF SERVE TEAM, you have no excuse for not getting to the NVZ line after your return (as long as you have good DEPTH).

9.  To repeat, DEPTH is crucial.  DEEP SERVE, DEEP RETURN OF SERVE, SHORT DEPTH (DINK) on the third shot.

10. The serving team is at a definite disadvantage.  Figure out why, and turn the disadvantage into your favor.  The good players have a knack for doing this.

How did the ball come off your paddle today?

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Paso Robles-2013 Wine Region Of The Year

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com

Wine Enthusiast magazine, the leading magazine in wine lifestyle, recently named Paso Robles as the 2013 recipient of the "Wine Region Of The Year" award.  Another reason to join us for some great Pickleball and, of course, wine tasting.  We have loaner paddles.

See the Wine Enthusiast Announcement:  http://www.winemag.com/Web-2013/Announcing-Wine-Enthusiasts-2013-Wine-Star-Award-Winners/

Keep on Picklin!


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Atascadero Pickleball Clinic

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website:  www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com  Please join us for play anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California.  We have loaner paddles.

On Saturday, November 9 we conducted our 16th FREE Demonstration Clinic on the Central Coast of California in the past year.  This Clinic was at Colony Park Gymnasium in Atascadero, CA.  19 participants were in attendance,  This was also our second Clinic for the Atascadero Recreation Department in the last two months.  We had fifteen participants at our first Clinic.  Atascadero is on the verge of starting this great game.  This will mark the fifth Pickleball venue on the Central Coast.  Wow!!!!