David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, it’s time now to learn about the overhead smash after learning about lobbing the past few months. Mary Littlewood says the overhead smash is the most aggressive, offensive shot in all of pickleball. It’s usually hit off the…
Tag: Pickleball
Sports, April 2023
Two SaddleBrooke Residents Won a Pickleball Tournament 40+ Years Ago
Raymond H. Goettsch When SaddleBrooke resident Jim Galko approached the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association booth at the 2023 Activity Fair, he indicated that he was interested in signing up for an introductory pickleball class. Jim was asked if he had ever played pickleball, and he responded that he had won a pickleball tournament in Tacoma more…
Sports, February 2023
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,…
Sports, January 2023
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…
Sports, January 2023
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…
Sports, October 2022
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…
Features, October 2022
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Held for Ed Robson Pickleball Center
Raymond H. Goettsch On Sept. 2 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association, Inc. (SPA) held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the expanded and newly constructed pickleball courts. The proceedings began at 7:30 a.m., and a capacity crowd of members and guests attended the ceremony. Guests included Tom Starrs, USA Pickleball District Ambassador for Tucson and…
June 2023
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…
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, 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…