Paso Robles Pickleball Club

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Pickleball Dedication Ceremony in Paso Robles

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

Our Pickleball courts were officially dedicated today with a nice ceremony that included the Mayor, Councilmen, and many members of our group. The day started with 7:30 a.m. play, followed by a noon ceremony, speeches, ribbon cutting, etc. A BBQ luncheon followed on our courts. The day was hot (104 degrees), but we found shade and had a great time. Good food, good vino, good friends....

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Drills - 10 Good Pickleball Drills

10 Good Pickleball Drills….All Drills are Team Drills-2 vs. 2

1. 5 Minute Dink Warm-Up. Same side and cross court

2. 3-D Drill (Deep-Deep-Dink). Deep Serve….Deep Return….Dink (3rd shot). Both players on one side serving.

3. Dink Game - No Lob. Start with a dink serve which must land inside the no volley zone. The ball must be hit over the net at least 4 times (all dinks) not including the dink serve. Beginning with the 5th hit, you can win a point with a dink or a kill shot. No lobs. Just like the regular game, points can only be won by the serving team. Play to 11.

4. Lob Only Game - Play a complete game using only lobs….including the serves. Any lob that lands in the NVZ is a fault or loss of point. Play to 7 or 11.

5. 1 vs. 2 Dink Game. The single person moves from Left to Middle to Right position on court AND dinks to both players on the opposite side. After moving to all three positions, and back the other way, rotate to the other side. If more than three on court, have the others wait near the net post and rotate in.

6. Feed-Split-Hit: 1 person on one side of net; others on other side at the baseline. The multiple person line has one person approach net, on the run. Split-Step when other person feeds (hits) the ball. Play the “soft” shot into the NVZ. Go through two cycles of the line. Someone take the single side feeder’s place.

7. 4-4 Game. 2 vs. 2. One ball. 4 Volleys, 4 Dinks. Continue pattern until there is a miss. Repeat. Not trying to win the rally, just keep ball in play.

8. Figure 8 Dink Game: Play to 15. Rally scoring. Ball must move in a figure 8 direction. After 4 dinks, a player can change the direction of the ball. Every time there is a miss, the two partners change positions on the same side of the court.

9. Dink-Lob Drill: 2 on 2. All at the NVZ line. Dink 6 times and then lob a winner. Angle person goes to get the ball BUT does not return or hit it back. Just pick it up. Resume drill. Make sure you alternate who is lobbing.

10. 5 Minute Volley Drill: 1 ball. Both teams volley only. Not trying to hit winners. Keep ball in the air and flat back and forth.

Stay tuned for Drills 11-20.....

If you have any additional drills you would like to contribute, please see my email address on our website (above). Would love to hear from you. Any questions on the above drills, email me.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Paso Robles Pickleball Welcomes Byron and Marsha Freso

Paso Robles Pickleball extended a warm welcome to Byron and Marsha Freso, visiting from Florida. Recently the winners of seven medals, including Gold in three different events at the So Cal Classic in Oceanside, the two stopped by to visit and play Pickleball with us. Their excellent play (both 4.5 players) over the past three days was the highlight of our week....and it's only Wednesday!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Pickleball Etiquette

Our Paso Robles Pickleball Club Website: www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com Join us for Pickleball anytime you are visiting the Central Coast of California. We recently completed our new five court facility. Paso Robles was recently named the 2013 "Wine Region Of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Any questions on the correct and courteous way to acknowledge a game well-played? Anybody can tap the large end of the paddle. Kind of like fist bumping. The respectful way....tap handle ends. It takes a little more time and is a little more personal.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Pickleball Courts Renovation Continues

Recently completed another phase of our court conversion....installing the windscreens. Our facility is looking better every day. We are now averaging 35 players a session (on five courts), which is good news and bad. Pickleball is becoming more popular in our area, but the wait for a court is a little longer (still not bad--about 5-10 minutes). Trying to get one of the four adjacent tennis courts for overflow use. Guess how that is going?.....

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Pickleball Courts Completed. What A Difference A Year Makes....

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

Our courts last year......

Our courts last week......

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

The Pickleball Exodus Continues.......

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

This For Sale box says it all.....

For Sale...$20.00. Gave Up Tennis For Pickleball

Saturday, May 24, 2014

First Day On Our New Courts

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!!!!

Our first day on our new courts.....39 players in attendance.

Friday, May 23, 2014

New Permanent, Dedicated Courts Completed

The transformation of an old, unused outdoor roller hockey rink is complete. Work was finished Thursday in the early afternoon. First Serve Tennis (our contractors) did a superb job. You can see the attached photos below. The nets are right out of the box, so they are a little wrinkled. Give them a few days.

Thanks for following us and for all your kind comments. I am not going to miss the year and a half of carting around all the equipment and nets in the back of my car….well, maybe a little.

Paso Robles Pickleball is on the map….the first permanent, dedicated multi-court Pickleball facility on the Central Coast. We play MWFSat: 7:30-11:00 a.m. Please join us when you are visiting the 2013 "Wine Region Of The Year--Paso Robles." Our Website:

www.pickleballpasorobles.shutterfly.com

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Pickleball On KSBY-TV

Local NBC affiliate KSBY-TV did a piece on Pickleball here in Paso Robles. This segment came on the heels of Brian Williams' NBC Nightly News Special on Pickleball that aired in March.

See the link below to view the KSBY special:

http://www.ksby.com/news/pickleball-on-the-central-coast

By the end of May, we should have our new, five court, permanent, dedicated Pickleball facility here in Paso Robles. We have been fundraising and are very close to raising the total monies needed. These courts will be the first permanent venue of its kind on the California Central Coast.

Friday, February 28, 2014

What's In A Paddle?

When our newer Club players ask the proverbial question, "I am ready to buy a paddle. What should I order?".....I respond by saying it is a matter of personal preference. Usually, they have tried our loaner paddles (we have a bag of 12 different paddles), or, they have used one of the Club member's paddles. Honestly, I think all the right things are said, but maybe not remembered. I also advise calling a supplier and giving them information on the type of player they are, what results they are expecting, and what paddles they have used that seem to work.

However, it is always good to put the above mentioned advice in writing.....

1. Weight is important. An ounce or two can make a difference. Heavier paddles tend to do a little more work (mass helps with deflection, power, etc.), but can cost you in reaction time at the net. Lighter paddles require a little more oomph on the part of the paddler, but help with reaction time at the net. Players who play both singles and doubles may use two different paddles---heavier for singles, a little lighter for doubles.

2. Grip is important. The grip should fit your hand. You can easily replace grips. There should be at least a width of one finger between the tips of your fingers and the fatty part of your palm at the base of your thumb. A more cushioned grip helps defray paddle vibration (good for the elbow) and allows for more control of the ball.

3. The composition of the paddle is always a concern, and, for many, is very confusing. Here is a little bit of good advice....aluminum core/graphite face helps with control and touch, but you lose a bit of power. Composite paddles with a little more weight help with power and pop. You can go on the usapa.org website to read about paddles that are legal and what the deflection rating is for particular paddles. Higher deflection = less effort, but you will likely sacrifice a little control in the soft game. Lower deflection means more effort and swing speed, but a better soft game (at least in theory). It is still always best to speak to a paddle supplier and ask their advice. They should know.

"How did the ball come off your paddle today?" Hopefully with good touch and placement.

Pickleball Handshake - Do It Right!!!!

Friday, January 10, 2014

Important Pickleball Meeting On Monday, January 13th

A reminder that we have an important meeting on Monday, 4 PM, in the Live Oak Room at Centennial Park. We are making a proposal to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Your attendance and support would be greatly appreciated. Should not take very long. We are the only presentation on the agenda.

29 players today. This is a new attendance record, and although we do not like to see players having to wait for courts, we knew this day was coming. Thank you for your continued attendance and passion for the game. We are growing and it is nice to see.

Enjoy a few pictures from today's play.....

Friday, January 3, 2014

New Year's Resolutions

Will She Hit A Placement Or Power Shot?

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. Nice way to spend the New Year!

Albert Einstein once said "it is a form of insanity to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results." Hmmmm.....sound familiar? You are six months....nine months....a year....into playing Pickleball, still swinging away, still trying that service ace, still playing a power game, still neglecting the short game, still losing against the better players....and still expecting that your game will produce different results. Time to make some changes. Time to set some 2014 Pickleball resolutions.

Ever heard of 'living backwards?' This is a goal-setting technique (let's look at it in terms of Pickleball) whereby you decide what kind of game you want to be playing in 3-6 months. Set some goals: (1) more consistent placement of serve; (2) better, softer return of serve that allows you to get to the net; (3) less power game, better placement game; (4) better, more patient short (dink) game; (5) better understanding of positioning on the court; (6) better communication with partner. OK, you get the idea. NOW, move back in time to the present and decide what is is you need to do every time you play to achieve these goals. Sounds easy, but if it were easy, everybody would be good. 1% daily improvement over a hundred days....not 100% improvement in one day. There's that patience thing again.

Start with fundamentals. Get to the courts a little earlier and work on your game. Decide what you are going to work on and do so while playing. Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals....without them, the fancy stuff is not going to work.

Improvement comes by choice, not chance.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Club Pickleball Mixer Tournament

Our latest "rated, blind draw, differential" Club tournament seemed to be a success. We tried a new format for the tournament which centered around giving each player a skill rating, doing a blind draw for teams and seedings, creating a point differential, and, adding in some Club rules like no overhead smashes and no lobbing. Seemed to make the play a little more equitable....and, therefore, maybe a little more fun. The point differential mentioned above refers to a system whereby a team with a rating of 7.0 (a 4.0 player paired with a 3.0 player = 7.0 rating), playing a team with a 5.0 rating (two 2.5 players) would start the game trailing 4-0 (differential is 2 X 2 = 4; we multiply the differential 7.0 - 5.0 = 2 by 2 = 4). Highlights of this double elimination tournament included the newer, less aggressive team of Richard La Vine and Ellen Frost losing their first two matches, 11-9 and 11-4. No fun losing, but decent parity. We also saw the team of Robert Belmonte and Nevin Linthacum go undefeated in the tournament. Each match was one game played to 11 points (except for the finals....15 point match). They won their preliminary rounds 11-4, 11-0, 11-9. In the finals, they beat the team of Alan Belmonte and Steve Sidwell 15-12. Third place winners Tony Domingos and Carol Linthacum lost in the first round 8-11, and then won in the loser's bracket 11-8, 11-8, before losing to Alan Belmonte and Steve Sidwell 10-12.

Thank you to the following players for participating: Brett Noel, Bill Joyce, Pete Gomez, Janice Van Bever, Robert Belmonte, Nevin Linthacum, Kathi Stanley, Janet Van Boxtel, Alan Belmonte, Steve Sidwell, Scott Ellis, Kelly Forrestal, Ellen Frost, Richard La Vine, Tony Domingos, Carol Linthacum, Dick Solis and Rob Martin.

L-R: 1st Place - Nevin Linthacum and Robert Belmonte; 2nd - Alan Belmonte and Steve Sidwell

Monday, December 23, 2013

Playing Pickleball With Santa

Santa visited our Club this morning, joining 24 Pickleballers having fun at Centennial Park here in Paso Robles. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve morning, we will play at 8:30 AM. Join us. You will still have time to do some last minute errands.....after PB.

If we do not see you, have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Looking Merry and Bright

Santa Picklin. Doesn't Pete look good in Dodger blue!!!!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Merry Christmas From The Paso Robles Pickleball Club

Enjoying our 15th month of Pickleball......Best Wishes For A Great Holiday Season

Friday, December 20, 2013

Club Pickleball Tournament

25 players today as we had a for-fun-blind-draw-single-elimination-tournament. Prior to the start of the tournament, the "everyone up" call when out to the participating players asking them to gather round so we could explain the format, rules, etc. Ever called out to a group of mature players (O.K., senior players) asking them to "gather up?" 10 minutes later.....

I digress. This was actually a seeded, blind draw tournament, pairing some of our more experienced players with a less experienced partner. We wanted the tourney to only go for the first hour of the two-hour class. Thusly, the single elimination format. Coming away with top honors was the team of Shelly Hanna-Tom Comar, defeating Pete Gomez-Kelly Forrestall 11-8. Third place went to Tony Domingos-Ed Rodriguez, who were victorious over Scott Ellis and Ellen Frost, 11-6.

A big thank you to the other participants in this tournament: Kathy Stanley, Reggie Haggatt, Sue-Lin Bracken, Letty French, Steve Sidwell, Richard LeVine, Dick Solis, Cathy Brady, Don Odle, Janice Van Bever, Dick Beiden, Nancy Mello, Doug Bates, Keith Haynes, Cal French, Bob McLaughlin.

L-R: Pete Gomez, Kelly Forrestall, Shelly Hanna, Tom Comar, Ed Rodriguez, Tony Domingos

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Christmas Pickleball

Did Santa Win Or Lose?

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......

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Central Coast Pickleball

Excellent Badminton Player Now Playing Pickleball

23 players today....again, we only have five courts, so we were full, but the wait is never long. Many reading this blog will not think 23 is a large number. We were true Central Coast Pickleballers today, as we had players from Cambria, Atascadero, Heritage Ranch (Lake Nacimiento) and, of course, Paso Robles. Great play today on a beautiful, but cool, Saturday morning. 30+ degree weather is not deterring us. We start at 9:00 a.m. and by 9:30 we don't even notice the temperature. By 10:00 we were up to a warm 45 degrees....but remember, we don't even notice the temp! Our numbers continue to grow, as we have had five new players this week. Our numbers are up to 60+ players on our active list and 350 players who have visited in 2013.....this includes players from 10 different states and 20 different cities in California. Paso Robles truly is a destination for travelers, many choosing to pack their Pickleball paddles when they venture this way. Lucky for us!!!!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Pickleball Ambassadors

19 degrees this 8:00 a.m., but it did not deter 16 hardy, (or is it hearty?) and, I might add, extra layered PB players who were looking for a little fun and exercise, despite Mother Nature's attempt to discourage play. By 9:00 a.m. it had warmed up to a comfortable 29 degrees. Yes, we are playing outside, as access to our Centennial Park gymnasium is not a possibility at this time. We might be one of the few places in the country playing outside in sub 30 degree weather. We love the game!

St. George, Utah Ambassador Don Odle is here visiting family, and he has come to play with us on a couple of occasions, including today. Don is very all known in Utah and across the country for his contributions to Pickleball. He is responsible for introducing the game to the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George. He is also an excellent player. We are fortunate to have him visit and play with us.

I haven't asked lately "how the ball is coming off your paddle?" Hopefully, with good placement and patience.

St. George Ambassador Don Odle with Central Coast Ambassador Jack Hodges