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?” We reviewed the first six mistakes the past three months. This month…
Tag: Pickleball
Sports, March 2021
Relishing Pickleball: 12 Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them (Mistakes 5 and 6)
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?” We reviewed the first four mistakes the past two months. This month, we…
Sports, March 2021
How Pickleball Began in SaddleBrooke
Nancy Dowell Pickleball in SaddleBrooke began with 85 enthusiastic SaddleBrooke residents coming to see a demonstration of the game in the MountainView parking lot in 2007. The demonstration was organized by former residents, Dave and Beth Patterson, who were the driving force behind organizing pickleball in SaddleBrooke. Seventy-five of those people attending that day signed…
General, February 2021
SPA Offers Introductory Lesson for Beginners
Shawne Cryderman Any SaddleBrooke resident is welcome to attend this introductory lesson. At the end of the intro lesson, participants will have the knowledge of the basics of the game and be encouraged to join SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) and continue with the Assisted Play program. The only prerequisite or “must have” for the intro…
Sports, January 2021
Pickleball: Pickleball on the LPGA Tour
Nancy Dowell SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association Inc. (SPA) has many golfers among its members. In fact, pickleball and golf may be mutually beneficial. An article was published recently by Steve Eubanks, managing editor for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and New York Times best seller author, about one golfer who is finding different kinds of fun…
Sports, January 2021
Relishing Pickleball: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them (Mistakes 3 and 4)
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…
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…