David Zapatka Consider these targets when hitting the 4th shot. 1. Hit to the opponent who is furthest back in the court. This will keep your opponents on defense. 2. Hit to the middle. The middle often causes confusion between the opponents. 3. Hit to your opponents’ feet. This is always an excellent target. It…
Tag: pickleball
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.June 2024, Clubs & Classes
Robson Ranch Fine Arts Guild Fundraiser Supports the Eloy Food Pantry
Two of the most popular sports at Robson Ranch are golf and pickleball. Therefore, these were the topics selected by the watercolor and acrylic workshop groups of the Fine Arts Guild. These projects were raffled at the March Arts and Craft Show and raised $1,100 for the Eloy Food Pantry (located in the First United…
Sports, May 2024
Pickleball End-of-the-Year Party
Beth Sulek-LaHousse The Robson Ranch Arizona Pickleball Club celebrated the end of the year with a huge party at the pickleball courts. Over 300 of our 632 members attended on March 28. There were carnival games, a photo booth, bocce ball, cornhole, and a cake walk to give the members something fun to do while…
April 2024, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Blocking Shots
David Zapatka Would you like to neutralize the hard shots being hit in your direction? Consider a blocking strategy. Blocking a shot properly requires technique, positioning, timing and strategy. Follow this advice to improve your blocking skills: * Stand with your knees bent and feet shoulder-width apart. The lower you can get down, the better.…
Sports, January 2024
Relishing Pickleball: Pickleball Comes to U.S. Universities
David Zapatka Pickleball continues to grow in popularity around the country. It’s now making its way into U.S. universities. The leading example of this is my friend, Jarrod Smith, coach of Drury University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams, and in 2024, coach of Drury’s co-ed pickleball team in Springfield, Mo. In August, Drury announced the…
September 2023, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Doubles Strategies
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, we will now learn from two professional Hall of Fame players Ms. Littlewood quotes in her book regarding doubles strategies. Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore were the national women’s doubles champions in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and continue to…
August 2023, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Shot Selection
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, we will now learn about the selection for the third and fourth shots of a rally. Third Shot: Serving Team “The third shot of any rally—a shot hit by the serving team—determines which doubles team will gain the…
Sports, May 2023
Relishing Pickleball: The Backhand Smash
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, this month we will focus on the backhand smash. Last month we introduced the overhead smash. Most overhead smashes are hit with a forehand. What should we do with that ball that is high over our head on…
Sports, October 2022
Relishing Pickleball: Pickleball News
David Zapatka If you’re an enthusiastic pickleball player and haven’t yet discovered the Arizona Pickleball Players League, APPL, you may want to go to the website arizonapickleballplayersleague.org and read about the opportunities for competitive team play. There are five regions across the state of Arizona, all offering women’s, men’s, and mixed divisions. This season there…
Sports, August 2022
Relishing Pickleball: The Lob
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, “The lob is a lofted shot hit off a bounce that can be either offensive or defensive in nature. The object of lobbing is to force your opponents, who are in a strong position at the non-volley line,…