Tag: Pickleball

New Rules for Pickleball Announced by USA Pickleball

Raymond H. Goettsch USA Pickleball has announced new rules and rule changes for pickleball play effective in 2023. One change is that the “spin” serve, or “chainsaw” serve, is no longer allowed. Under this rule, a server may not spin the ball when it is released to be struck by the paddle. However, while serving,…

How Do 800 SPA Members Play Pickleball on 14 Courts?

Raymond H. Goettsch The Ed Robson Pickleball Center now has 14 pickleball courts. However, the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) now has more than 800 members. This raises the question as to how this number of courts can accommodate so many members. While the eight new courts were under construction, SPA established a Court Allocation Committee…

More than 300 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association Members and Guests Celebrate Expansion of the Ed Robson Pickleball Center

Raymond H. Goettsch On Nov. 18, 2022, more than 300 members of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) and guests attended a late afternoon party in the MountainView ballroom to celebrate the expansion to 14 courts at the Ed Robson Pickleball Center. The MountainView ballroom was filled with tables and chairs for the attendees. The back…

Donation Bricks Pave the Way to the Ramada at the Ed Robson Pickleball Center

Raymond H. Goettsch The SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association Inc. developed several creative options for members to donate for the expansion of the pickleball courts and construction of the Ed Robson Pickleball Center. Those options ranged from pickleball vehicle license plates to name plates on tables and benches to brick pavers. Those purchasing brick pavers had the…

Michael Hovan and Shirley Hovan Make Donations Sponsoring the Ramada

Raymond H. Goettsch With great appreciation, SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association Inc. (SPA) announces that Michael Hovan and Shirley Hovan have made substantial donations for the privilege of sponsoring the Ramada at the new Ridgeview pickleball courts. Michael is a retired anesthesiologist from Akron, Ohio, and Shirley is a retired language arts teacher for middle school and…

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…

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…