David Zapatka Last month we discussed hitting slice returns of serve and dinks. This month we are discussing how to counter the opponent’s slice returns and dinks. Consider using these strategies to counter the opponent’s slice shots. * Hit through the spin using a flat drive shot. By driving the ball, you are countering the…
Tag: Relishing Pickleball
February 2024, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Slicing the Ball
David Zapatka Slicing serve returns and dinks are favorite shots of mine. A slice puts backspin on the ball. The slice makes the ball travel from 6 o’clock to 12 o’clock back toward the player who contacted the ball. These shots can be hit with a forehand or a backhand. A slice is effective for these reasons.…
December 2023, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Doubles Tactics for Players of Any Level
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, Ms. Littlewood offers these basic doubles strategies for players of any level. To read all her advice, buy her book. Always face the ball on the other side of the net. Regardless of where you are on the court…
November 2023, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Doubles Strategies (Continued!)
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, Ms. Littlewood offers these basic doubles strategies for players of any level. To read all her advice, buy her book. Strive for 100% accuracy on serves. The serve is the only shot in the game that is uncontested. There…
October 2023, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: More Doubles Strategies
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, we will continue to learn from two professional Hall-of-Fame players, Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore. (Quotes are paraphrased for brevity. Buy Ms. Littlewood’s book to get the whole story!) Unforced errors happen! Nobody means to hit an unforced…
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…
July 2023, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Shot Selection
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, it is time now to learn about shot selection. Mary Littlewood says the ideal sequence of shots provides a means for all four players to get to the net where pickleball is won and lost as opposed to…
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…