David Zapatka Wind is the great equalizer on the pickleball court. It doesn’t matter how polished your dink game is or how powerful your drive is; a stiff breeze can turn your best shots into unforced errors in a hurry. The good news is that with a few smart adjustments, you can use the wind…
Tag: Pickleball
April 2026, Front Page
Pickleball Teams Battle to the Very End
Corey Loyd Pickleball players from the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) competed in their final matches of the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) Winter Season, which ends the second week of March. The season kicked off in January with teams competing in flights based on players’ skill and age divisions. Competition included men’s, women’s, and mixed…
March 2026, Features
SaddleBrooke After Dark—A Friendly and Visible Reminder
Larry Mazin SaddleBrooke is one of those rare places where nighttime still means nighttime. No street lights, no glare—just stars, silence, and the occasional deer strolling by as if it owns the place (which, frankly, it probably did first). Many residents enjoy evening walks, which are healthy, neighborly, and highly encouraged. However, after dark, some…
February 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Mastering the Spin Game
David Zapatka Spin is one of the most underrated game-changing skills. While beginners often focus on simply getting the ball over the net, intermediate and advanced players know that adding spin can create awkward bounces, force errors, and open up the court. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your offensive tools or add finesse to your…
February 2026, Sports
Call 911! Does Anyone Know CPR?
That’s not something any of us ever want to hear, but one morning at the SaddleBrooke pickleball courts, that urgent shout became a wake-up call for Bill Gray, vice president of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA). Bill realized it had been more than 30 years since he last thought about CPR. If that was true…
Sports, February 2026
SaddleBrooke Pickleball—Keeping It Fun and Fair for Everyone
Evelyn Wiltshire Every sport has at least one “we learned this the hard way” rule, created to uphold the true spirit of the game. Baseball’s Infield Fly Rule prevents infielders from intentionally dropping an easy pop-up to force multiple outs. In football, the Fair Catch Rule protects the returner after signaling for a fair catch.…
February 2026, Sports
SPA Welcomes Sandeen & Lee as Sponsors
Shawne Cryderman The new storage shed is built and already in use. Sponsorship of the shed was initiated by Dr. Sven Sandeen and Dr. Elizabeth Lee of Sandeen & Lee Plastic Surgery. Their practice offers a wide range of cosmetic, reconstructive, and hand surgery, including carpal tunnel. Dr. Lee contacted SPA, inquiring what her business…
Clubs & Classes, February 2026
Always Busy and Embracing Life
Dee Berisha Women On Our Own (WOOO) welcomes in a new year never missing a beat. A review of our membership and the year 2025 in the rearview mirror reflects ups and downs, joys and sorrows, wonder and dismay, challenges and victories. Medical diagnoses met head on, death of loved ones, births of new generations,…
February 2026, Front Page
Pickleball Teams Compete in the Arizona Pickleball Players League
Pickleball players from the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) are competing in the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) Winter Season, which kicked off in January. The winter season runs from January through March, with teams competing in flights based on players’ skill levels and age divisions. Competition includes Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. This…
January 2026, Sports
SaddleBrooke Pickleball Teams Win Their First Battle for the Saddle Trophy
Corey Loyd The Fourth Annual Battle for the Saddle pickleball competition between SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) pickleball players was held Oct. 28, 29, and 30 at the new Oro Valley Picklr pickleball center. For the first time, SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) captured the overall trophy, which now resides at SaddleBrooke’s Robson Pickleball Center. Congratulations,…