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…
Tag: Pickleball
Sports, July 2022
Proposed New Rules for 2023 Could Change the Game of Pickleball
Raymond H. Goettsch Every year, pickleball players submit proposed changes to the rules of the game to USA Pickleball, and other players have the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. The decision as to which proposed rule changes will be adopted is made at the end of the year. This year has generated many…
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, June 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Half Volley and the Drop Volley
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “As opposed to the volley, which is a shot taken when the ball is still in the air, the half volley is hit just after the ball has bounced. It is a reaction shot taken most often as…
Features, June 2022
Fun-Loving Felines Take on the Pickleball Challenge
Carly and Charly Never ones to rest on our laurels (whatever those are), we were ready to take on a new, fast-paced feline adventure: Pickleball. After learning to play tennis, we thought—why not? This fourth book in The Adventures of Carly and Charly series takes us out on the pickleball courts in style and with lots of…
Sports, June 2022
Scott N. Sheftel, M.D., and HealthySkin Dermatology Sponsor a Pickleball Court
Raymond H. Goettsch With great appreciation, SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association, Inc. (SPA), announces that Scott N. Sheftel, M.D., FAAD, and HealthySkin Medical and Cosmetic Dermatology (H/S Dermatology) have made a generous donation to assist in the expansion of pickleball at SaddleBrooke. After graduation from Medical University of Ohio, Dr. Sheftel completed residencies in internal medicine at…
Front Page, May 2022
Ed Robson Donates $200,000 for New Pickleball Courts
Raymond H. Goettsch With great gratitude, SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association Inc. (SPA) has announced that Ed Robson has made a most generous donation of $200,000 to assist in the expansion of pickleball at SaddleBrooke. Mr. Robson previously donated the upper parking lot adjacent to the Ridgeview courts to SaddleBrooke TWO for SPA members’ use for vehicle…
Sports, April 2022
SPA Plans Use of Eight New Courts
Raymond H. Goettsch The board of directors of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) met on March 16. Gary Stevens reported that a court allocation committee has been established to create court schedules for the forthcoming 14 pickleball courts at the Ridgeview location. The committee’s goal is to maximize the use of the courts by SPA…
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…
Front Page, April 2022
Clubs Step Up Giving Tennis Shoes for the Homeless
Jerry Fay The SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association has joined the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association and the SaddleBrooke Tennis Club as part of the Tennis Shoes for the Homeless Program. A big thank you goes to Kim Ahlgrim-Heine, current president of the SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association, for setting up the program. Over the past four years, the…