Christmas Pickleball

                                                          Did Santa Win Or Lose?

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!!!!

Not Christmas yet, but today had all of us feeling like the festivities have started.  Our courts are located adjacent to Lewis Middle School here in Paso Robles.  The school P.E. instructors had their classes out doing fitness assessment workouts.  Not so uncommon.  What was particularly nice about their workout was the music---Christmas.  Two very large speakers and an instructor who may work nights as a D.J. combined to give us two straight hours of Christmas songs courtesy of Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Brenda Lee (you know...."Rockin Around The Christmas Tree"), Elvis, The Carpenters, Bobby Helms (bet you can't name his most famous Christmas song), Bing, etc.  Could have used Chris Rea ("Driving Home For Christmas"....if you haven't heard it get on iTunes and listen), Mannheim Steamroller and Manhattan Transfer.  It was a perfect day to play.

On a Pickleball related subject, I'm compelled to write about positioning----once again....yawn!.  We encourage players to get to the NVZ line as soon as possible.  What is important to understand is that "as soon as possible" means when you or your partner hits a shot---dink or lob---that allows you to get to the 7' line.  You can't rush the net on a poor shot that hangs up for your opponent to BANG DOWN on, because you have very little reaction time as a result of being too close.  Work your way to the net based on your return shot.  Good return---soft and at their feet---get to that line.  Poor return---in their "hitting down" zone....stay deeper for more reaction time and try---again---for the soft shot that allows you to advance.  Yes, we want to get to the 7' line, but only if your shots allows you to do so.

Back to the Christmas music.  Very festive and relaxing.  Makes you wonder why you don't have your iPod strapped to your arm?  Better check the IFP rules on that one!!!!

Happy Holidays......