Tag: Relishing Pickleball

Relishing Pickleball: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them Part 2

David Zapatka This ‘12-common-mistakes’ column recently began after playing with some very excited, highly motivated, new pickleball players at our community courts. 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 look…

Relishing Pickleball: Dink Responsibly

David Zapatka Often called the most important shot in all of pickleball, the dink is the critical shot aspiring players must learn to improve their game. The dink is a shot hit slowly and softly into the opponents’ non-volley zone as close to the net as possible. If the opponent hits this ball hard, it…

Relishing Pickleball: The Overhead Smash

David Zapatka When your opponent hits the ball high in the air, above your shoulders, think overhead smash! The smash is one of the most fun shots in all of pickleball. It ends rallies with an exclamation point. Execute this fun, rally-ending shot, using these seven steps. 1. Use many small steps to position your…

Relishing Pickleball: Pickleball Bangers

David Zapatka Are you getting tired of playing the bangers? They have one strategy, hit the ball as hard as they can. They rarely hit third shot drop shots. What can you do? There are two options. The first is the punch volley, a volley hit hard and deep. The second is the soft volley,…

Relishing Pickleball

David Zapatka, USAPA rating committee member Reader, friend, fellow Robson resident and Cottonwood Pickleball President Irene D’Alosio asked questions about balls, paddles and club policies. Since these questions seem to be on the minds of residents, I’m sharing them with our Relishing Pickleball audience. Many people have been under the impression that the USAPA/IFP list…