David Zapatka Momentum can shift in an instant. One moment you’re in control, dictating pace and placement; the next, your opponents are driving balls at your feet and forcing you into defensive scrambles. That’s where the art of resetting the rally becomes essential. A well executed reset doesn’t just keep you in the point, it…
Tag: pickleball
June 2026, Front Page
Robson Women’s Pickleball Players in Action!
Doris Betuel From January and through March, 2026, several teams of Robson Ranch pickleball players participated in the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) play. What is the APPL? It is a statewide organization of competitive league play in six distinct regions. The Robson players were in the Casa Grande region. After 10 weeks of organized,…
Sports, Clubs & Classes, May 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Sun, Sweat, and Lobs
David Zapatka Summer is coming and the sun is out. The sun is beautiful, but it’s also a genuine challenge on the pickleball court. We love playing in it and we occasionally curse it while squinting into a lob we’ve completely lost. Playing pickleball in the sun is a complicated relationship. You need a strategy.…
Clubs & Classes, April 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Playing in the Wind
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…
March 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Hitting an Overhead
David Zapatka Have you noticed how often people are hitting lobs these days or is it just me? Think SMASH! The overhead smash is one of the most satisfying and effective shots in pickleball. When executed well, it can end a rally immediately or put your opponents on the defensive. However, many players struggle with…
Sports, March 2026
Analogy of a Beloved Community (of Pickleball Players)
Shared by Robson Ranch pickleball player, Charlie Hunt, with permission from author, Carol Madsen Something beautiful has happened this year for me. I took up pickleball. Now that may not seem very significant, but it has become like a part–time job. When I come home, I let people know how my day at work was.…
Sports, January 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Aggressive Dinking
David Zapatka Dinking is often misunderstood as purely defensive play—a soft, patient exchange while you wait for your opponent to make a mistake. The most effective pickleball players know that dinking can be a powerful offensive weapon. Aggressive dinking transforms you from a passive participant into the player dictating the pace and creating opportunities to…
Sports, December 2025
Relishing Pickleball: No Man’s Land
David Zapatka No man’s land, sometimes referred to as the transition area, aka the kitchen, is the area of the pickleball court between the non-volley zone line and the baseline. Think of it as a space 11 feet long and 20 feet wide; two feet behind the non-volley zone line and two feet inside the…
Sports, September 2025
Relishing Pickleball: The ESPY Awards Recognize Pickleball!
David Zapatka The ESPY Awards, or Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, are an annual American awards show produced by ESPN that recognizes individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances. The awards are presented for achievements during the calendar year preceding the ceremony. Has pickleball ever been recognized in the ESPY Awards ceremony?…
September 2025, Generals
From the Fitness Corner: Benefits of SMARTfit!
Lois Moncel, Director of Fitness & Wellness Have you familiarized yourself with using SMARTfit yet? This is a great piece of exercise equipment that addresses a vast array of different needs for your physical and cognitive skills. Workouts are offered for those that are seeing a decline in cognitive skills as well as those who…