David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, it is time now to learn about shot selection. Mary Littlewood says the ideal sequence of shots provides a means for all four players to get to the net where pickleball is won and lost as opposed…
Tag: Relishing Pickleball
Sports, February 2023
Relishing Pickleball: The Lob–Part 2
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “The lob is a lofted shot hit off a bounce that can be either offensive or defensive in nature. The object of lobbing is to force your opponents, who are in a strong position at the non-volley…
Sports, November 2022
Relishing Pickleball: Pickleball Hitting the Major Leagues
David Zapatka The Seattle Mariners hosted “Pickleball Night” on Sept. 10. Group tickets helped raise money for the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association. Valley resident and Seattle native, Riley Newman, threw out the first pitch for his hometown team. Riley grew up a Mariners fan, and this was a dream come true for him. Riley is…
Sports, September 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Real Pickleball Story
David Zapatka Many people believe pickleball was named after founder Joel Pritchard’s dog who was named Pickles. Not true! Joel Pritchard’s son, Frank, recently came clean about the real reason the sport was named pickleball. It was a hot July afternoon on Bainbridge Island, Wash., in 1965 and 13-year-old Frank Pritchard was bored. He whined…
Sports, August 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Lob
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “The lob is a lofted shot hit off a bounce that can be either offensive or defensive in nature. The object of lobbing is to force your opponents, who are in a strong position at the non-volley line,…
Sports, July 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Dink
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “to properly execute a dink, stand just behind the non-volley zone line in a good ready position—well balanced, with your body weight over your feet and the knees slightly bent. Hold the paddle in front of your…
Sports, May 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Volley—Part 2
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “Your entire demeanor at the net should be confident and strong. Let your attitude convey that you want the ball to come right at you because you’re willing and able to return it! Face the net with flexed…
Sports, April 2022
Relishing Pickleball
David Zapatka The Volley Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “A volley is a shot hit in the air before the ball bounces. It is used as a return of a ball that travels close to the top of the net and that is usually hit…
Sports, March 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Return of Serve
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “the player returning the serve stands deep in or behind the service court, ready to return the ball. The returner should be alert and ready for the next play. As the serve travels over the net, the returner…
Sports, February 2022
Relishing Pickleball: USA Pickleball National Championships
David Zapatka The USA National Pickleball Championships were held for the third time at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., this past December. With 2,342 players competing in 3,944 matches in 172 brackets, it was the largest tournament in the history of pickleball. Over $70,000 in prize money was up for…
