How is your game doing, pickleball pals?
I had to be off the courts for 3 weeks due to travel helping on family stuff. I was going to start with mellow hour of play this week but took the opportunity for a 2 hour coached play event this morning (at a local church multi-purpose courts with volunteer coach, $3). Only 11 signed up, so the coach had to rotate through with us on the court. We concentrated on play at the net. It was really helpful.
My playing was OK, not great. But I’m proud to report that I only had one bad serve, and it was almost at the end when I started thinking “wow - I may go 2 hours without any serve faults”. Oops, shouldn’t think about it so much.
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I continue to play 3 times most weeks. I’m SO SICK OF HAVING TO PLAY INDOORS! Some winters we’ve played almost exclusively outside, but this year we’ve played inside a ton. I find I play “better” indoors (no wind, no sun in eyes), but it’s more fun to play outside.
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Yes, it can be quite lovely to play outdoors (especially on the ideal days). Another advantage is that it is free. The $3 church play is not bad, though none of us like the court surface and distracting basketball lines (and ha, I’m sure the basketball players dislike the pb lines). But the indoor place that has lovely ourdoor pb surface and 20’ nets separating the courts can be expensive. That prices out some of the big group of pb pals. When there is nice weather, we can often round up enough retired ladies to fill two or three courts.
Had some great outdoor play this morn. (Took advantage of a huge text group organized by one of my pb pals. Asked yesterday morning for interest and had 3 courts of players todya 8:30am). But wow, when the sun is intense even high 60s feels hot and tiring. Thats ok - great exercise.
When we have good numbers for foursomes (like today, 12 players) it can get tricky to know the best way to rotate. No “extras” to rotate in. In other settings we sometimes do timed games, but in this group we usually just rotate if other courts not near the end. But wondering if we should stop mid-game when another court finishes.
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I too had a great PB morning - I played outdoors for over 3 hours. Even better news is that my PB elbow seems to be improving, finally. (It’s been bothering me since November).
When we have an even number of players for nets we don’t have a set rotation. Sometimes we will play 3 rounds with the same group of 4, but then we would likely rotate at least 2 of the 4 even if we had to wait a few minutes, so most people eventually get to play with everyone else. We will sometimes stop a game at 7 or 9 instead of 11 to keep things moving.
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I finally got a new paddle - my Lifetime gym is running a deal in March, $100 off a few Joola models that retail for $249. First come, first serve. I played with a demo and could tell it was an upgrade to my current paddle, so I bought that model on the spot without dilly-dallying around trying other models. Right decision - turns out I got one of the last paddles available on the sale. Great deal, and I am happy with it!
Funny how you guys prefer playing outside, I am happier inside - no figuring out how to dress for the weather, no sunscreen, no wind, no sun in my eyes. Also outdoor options are very limited around here. Still playing generally 3X per week.
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If you’re happy with the paddle, that’s all that matters. I haven’t been very scientific about getting paddles. My first was one my pickleball instructor recommended (he was a rep and got discount for Gamma paddles). I think I got my second because someone in my group had it and I could try it for free, and really liked it (Engage paddle) The next paddle I would have gone with another one, but Engage let me get it for half price. My newest paddle I got from Engage for FREE - they let me exchange the one that was almost a year old bc I told them I thought it was a little heavy and contributed to my pickleball elbow. So far Engage has had great customer service, so I will likely stick with them. Joola makes great paddles too.
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In past almost 2 years of playing, I’ve done a variety of pb lessons. But today’s the first time I (along with 3 friends) hired a private coach for outdoor play. Very reasonably priced - $15 each for 75 minutes of drills and coached play.
Along the way we had individualized suggestions and suggestions at end for what to work on. For me, it was doing less swing on forehand but using more shoulder strength for backhand. For another player it was to stay on 2 feet (she has a dancing background and actually has a lot of poise and balance on one foot - just not good for pb). For another it was less wrist action. And for another (as well as the rest of us) it was to start working on adding a bit of spin to our shots.
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Interesting. I can’t spin the ball at all. Maybe that’s something I should try working on. I thought of taking more lessons at some point, but (not to sound braggy, just stating a fact) I’m better than most of the people I play with already, and I really like playing with these people, so I decided I wouldn’t. A friend that I play with regularly and I agreed on this. (She also is in the top 3 players in our group). I have fun when I play indoors and like to play “up” but our group or mostly retirees who aren’t competitive is my comfort zone.
For those interested in learning to spin, these balls (half black) supposedly help. But you can make your own with a sharpie
Like @1214mom, I like playing mellow game. However I would like to have the spin skill in my toolbag, in case playing against a much better team. I would save it for a time when we are really behind, especially if in danger of being pickled.
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I have been playing pickleball for almost 4 years now, and still having fun with it. I took lessons in April or May of 2022, and formed a group that is still going in about July of that year. We’ve had some of our core members move away, and we kicked one lady out early on, plus we’ve gained several new members, but I’d say 7-8 of the people I play regularly with have been playing for close to that long.
I love playing fairly “low key” outside with my group.
When I go inside, and pay $15ish for 2 hours, I want a more competitive game and tend to play harder.
It is a little hard in my group though - we have some people who are stronger/better than others, and I know some of the stronger people (including me sometimes) get frustrated with some of the people not as good. I do wonder if some of the better people will break off and do their own thing at some point, but so far it hasn’t happened.
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I love the fact that pickleball has players in all age ranges. Last week I smiled as I waited to serve while two pb friends sprinted behind the receiving team. One is a mom with school age kids, 40ish. The other shocked me last year by inviting me to her 80th birthday party… I assumed she was much younger. She’s a former tennis player, and I had often thought “I hope to play as well as her someday”.
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I’m in a big, national fb group for senior pb players. I’m surprised how often there are complaints about bad sportsmanship, rude opponents (or even partners). Happy report that in MY large assortment of advanced beginner / intermediate pb buddies, everybody is incredibly nice. Trying a new serve or just having a bad day - we’ll let you try another server. Lots of affirmations about “nice play!”, “excellent return” etc. And sometimes when we forget the score, we get by with a little help from our friends 
We have a very collegiate group, generally speaking. BUT, we do have one woman who wants to get all of the balls, her side or not, and she doesn’t seem to understand sort of normal PB etiquette (if it’s my forehand, and on my side of the line, I should be getting the ball kind of thing). I and some of the other players are getting kind of frustrated with her. I’ve tried gentle “coaching” but so far it’s not working.
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LOL - Try mentioning that you have a pb pal (ha, she does not have to know it’s CC/online) who suggests players make an effort to call the ball. I’ve heard a variety of helpful wording. “Me/You”, “Got it”, “Go!” etc
Sometimes I tell a new partner, “if I say Yours, I realize you might not actually be able to get it… just means I have no prayer and will stay out of the way”.
Had 2 hours of lovely outdoor play this morn. It was a little windy, but we all faced the same challenge (and dang… out of bounds serves, even for me… and serving is typically my only consistent move). I adore the way all of the advanced beginner gangs around town are so cordial. In some circles, a bad play might be mocked. But on the courts here I hear a lot of parterns says “good idea!”, “oh, so close”, “no problem, we still have another serve” etc. Heck sometimes the encouragement even comes from the opposing team - “nice serve!”, “ah, you would have so had me if the ball had gone over”. And no worries if fumbling for the score - we get by with a little help from our friends
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