David Zapatka This 12-common-mistakes column began after playing with some very excited, highly motivated, new pickleball players at our community courts recently. After playing a couple games, this question was posed to me: “What should we do to improve and become 3.5 players?” Last month we reviewed the first two mistakes. This month we take a…
Tag: Pickleball
Front Page, February 2021
Tennis Shoes for the Homeless Program Tops 1,000
Jerry Fay A big thank you to the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SBPA) and the SaddleBrooke Tennis Club for their generosity. Over the holidays they increased their donations, and now more than 1,000 pairs of gently used tennis shoes have been donated to the homeless since the program started in 2018. Currently the program is focusing…
Sports, January 2021
Pickleball Press: Board of Directors Election
Nancy Dowell The membership of SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association Inc. (SPA) recently voted to elect three members to the club’s board of directors. Board member, Gary Stevens was re-elected and newly elected, Barb Palmeri and Jeff Grant will fill the other board spots. Continuing directors, Peter Giljohann, Sue Diericks, Ken Roberts, and Jonathan Bailey complete the…
Sports, January 2021
Northridge Dental Sponsors a Pickleball Court!
Nancy Dowell The SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) is thrilled to announce that Northridge Dental, located in Catalina, has confirmed a donation to SaddleBrooke’s new Pickleball Complex. Their generous financial support will be acknowledged with a plaque on one of the pickleball courts. Family-owned Northridge Dental opened in 2004. The warm, modern, and inviting office provides…
Sports, January 2021
Relishing Pickleball: 12 Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them (Mistakes 1 and 2)
David Zapatka While playing at the IronOaks courts in Sun Lakes for my first time last month, I ran into a group of very excited, highly motivated, new pickleball players. We played a couple games together and when we departed, this question was posed to me, “What should we do to improve and become 3.5…
Sports, December 2020
Relishing Pickleball: Dink Responsibly
David Zapatka Often called the most important shot in all of pickleball, the dink is the critical shot aspiring players must learn to improve their game. The dink is a shot hit slowly and softly into the opponents’ non-volley zone as close to the net as possible. If the opponent hits this ball hard, it…
Sports, December 2020
Golf Cars of Arizona Sponsors a Pickleball Court!
Nancy Dowell SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) is delighted to announce that Golf Cars of Arizona has committed to sponsoring a pickleball court. Their donation earns them a plaque on one of the courts at the new Ridgeview Pickleball Complex. The complex will consist of 14 courts, a ramada, restrooms, and parking. Planning and fundraising for…
Sports, December 2020
Pickleball Press: Amusing Pickleball Vocabulary
Nancy Dowell It does not take much to lighten the mood of a pickleball player. Put any one of us on a court and we will have fun. That is one of the very best aspects of the sport. We SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members make fun of ourselves at times and we certainly can…
Sports, November 2020
Pride Mechanical, LLC Sponsors a Court!
Nancy Dowell SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) is thrilled to announce that Pride Mechanical, LLC has made a generous donation toward the construction of the new Ridgeview Pickleball Complex. This has earned them a plaque placed on one of the new courts. Community means everything to Pride Mechanical, LLC. Owners, Allen and Christina, grew up in…
Sports, November 2020
Pickleball Press: SPA Coach, Frank Mucklo
Frank Mucklo Frank Mucklo is a highly active member of SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA). A USTA competitive tennis player, Frank heard about a game called pickleball being played in SaddleBrooke. He tried it, was a natural at it, and was hooked. “In the first years here we played tennis until someone said there was a game called pickleball.…