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A Kitchen in Your Kitchen?
The Rise of DIY PB Courts, Baseball & Pickleball, Best Game Day Nutrition
FIT PICKLER
February 29, 2024
Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages
What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:
GOT IT CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED
Fitness Expert Glen Dawson: Avoiding Wrist Pain
The Rise of the DIY Pickleball Courts
What are the Best PB Snacks & Meals for Game Day
Philadelphia Phillies use Pickleball Inspired Game to Improve Skills
The New “American Pastime?” Pickleball Grows 52% in 2023!
Pro News: Waters, Parenteau & Johns Big Winners
Orlando: Saving the Earth One Pickleball at a Time
The Fit Pickler Survey Contest: Enter Today!
Rally Rundown: Local Highlights
Coach Mary: Returns: Set Up For Success
🏆FEBRUARY WINNER OF THE “GOT IT” CONTEST
This month’s Prize: “Til Death Do Us Pickleball” Tee
Winner: Maureen K. - Congratulations!
(Check you Email for details)
© Original Design by Artist T Santora
🏋️ STAYING FIT with GLEN
HOW TO AVOID WRIST PAIN
🗞️ IN THE NEWS
THE RISE OF DIY PICKLEBALL COURTS
Image Credit: Our earnest by mediocre attempt at AI Art
Driveways and Garage Doors, Sheds, even basements may seem obvious choices for home pickleball courts. But, when those aren’t available, some are turning to living rooms, hallways and even REAL kitchens!
Whether its because of a rainy day or a dearth of courts, Picklers who need their daily fix are coming up with some creative and fun ways to play and drill in some crazy places.
Check out some of the more popular DIY projects here…
👩🍳NUTRITION
What are the Best PB Snacks
& Meals for Game Day
What are the best foods to help you last through a day of pickleball? Pickleball Central offers some great tips. If you get to the court on an empty stomach and need some quick fuel, simple carbs can light a fire.
But if you want a steady stream throughout the day, maybe keep bananas on hand. Learn when chocolate milk is called for and what foods to always avoid.
Check out all the recommendations here…
⚾ SPORTS NEWS
Baseball Team Uses Pickleball
Inspired Drill to Improve
When the Philadelphia Phillies’ outfielders were looking to improve their defense, they turned to a most unlikely different sport. Pacoball, they call it.
They modified the fast paced came, which involves Pickleball paddles and a racquetball ball. Because the ball comes off so quickly, the drill helped them focus on their hand eye coordination and reaction times.
Outfielders catch with their non-dominant hand, so they decided to use that hand for their drills. Garrett Stubbs, the catcher, called it “a combination of foursquare, squash and pickleball.”
Read more about their practice drills here…
52% Increase in 2023 Makes
Pickleball The Fastest Growing
Sport in USA AGAIN
Image Credit: Anonymous (No one would admit to it anyway)
🎶“Take me out to the……………Pickleball Court?”🎶
For the 5th year in a row, Pickleball once again was recognized as the fastest growing sport in America. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) notes that 13.6 Million Americans played in 2023.
That means we are closing in on baseball, frequently referred to as “America’s pastime,” which boasts 16.7 Million players. Soccer comes in at 14.1 Million and the next closest sport behind Pickleball is Downhill Skiing.
Read more about other sports trends from 2023 here…
🗞️IN THE NEWS
Catherine Parenteau, Anna Leigh
Waters & Ben Johns Win at Mesa
Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters continue to dominate and keep their undefeated streak unbroken winning Gold in Women’s Doubles at the Mesa Arizona Cup. With this victory, Anna Leigh Waters has a stunning 23rd PPA Tour Triple Crown.
Ben Johns has reclaimed his throne as the King of Pickleball defeating Federico Staksrud in a stunning match that Johns later said was one of the best matches he has ever played.
♻️ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
Saving Mother Earth
One Pickleball at a Time
Pickleball recycling bin at pickleball court in Central Florida (Orlando Advanced Pickleball)
Orlando Advanced Pickleball (OAP) founder, Dave John knew that that putting broken pickleballs in the city recycle bin was not the most environmentally sound option.
He said, “We’re committed to ensuring pickleballs don’t end up in landfills, both for the sake of environmental responsibility and for the legacy we leave for future generations of pickleball enthusiasts,”
They created special bins to collect the broken balls to insure they will be processed for reuse. So far they have collected over 125 pounds of balls.
✅ SURVEY CONTEST ✅
We would love to get to know you better
So we can provide the most value possible!
Please fill out this quick 1 Minute Survey.
As a BIG THANK YOU,
At the end of each month we will choose one name
from those who replied and send the Winner
a $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD!
🧭 COMMUNITY NEWS
RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS
PENSECOLA, FL: Escambia County Public Schools Introducing Pickleball to Schools Aiming for PB to be Regular Part of P.E. Curriculum
PHOENIX, AZ: Gilbert Regional Park’s Pickleball Oasis New Lights Allow Players to Play under Beautiful Dusk Skies
KENTWOOD, MI: From an Empty Field to a Pickleball Social Club, Dinks & Dingers Hopes To Break Ground in May 2024.
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN: City Scraps Plans for $14M Indoor Pickleball Facility But Will Spend $2M to Add More Outdoor Courts at Miller Park.
RALEIGH, NC: Raleigh pledges $10 million to complex for tennis and pickleball in Brier Creek
DURANGO, CO: Construction to Ramp Up This Spring on Durango Pickleball Courts
MIAMI, FL: Sip ‘N Pickle Wynwood Marketplace in Miami’s Fist Pickleball Social Club Opened This Week
DO YOU HAVE LOCAL NEWS TO SHARE? REACH OUT TO US AT
[email protected] and send us a link to your story!
HOLDING COURT with
COACH MARY
💪 RETURN: SET UP FOR SUCCESS
THE RETURN: HOW TO SET IT UP FOR SUCCESS
Going back to the Pickleball Journey boys this week. Elijah and Justin offer a great lesson on return of serve. Check out the attached video and watch it several times.
Would you like to become a return master, keeping your opponents on defense?
Stance and Positioning:
Generally, you should be 4-5 feet behind the baseline, with a wide stance, and on the balls of your feet. However, notice your opponent’s tendencies, and try to anticipate their serve. If they serve short, you might want to start closer in.
Next, you want to be moving forward as you contact your return. Momentum forward! For those of you just learning, this means you need to speed up your footwork and body position before the ball gets to you!
When your opponent contacts the ball, you turn to that side (FH or BH) When the ball bounces towards you, you should be moving your paddle to contact the ball in front of you, as the ball comes up. Do not wait until the ball has already reached you!
Time margin. . . hit a slower, deeper return, so you can get to the NVZ line quickly.
Placement:
Deep – 3 feet inside the baseline.
Hit to the weaker player, who does not have a strong third ball drop.
If the opponents are equal in skill, go cross court on your return. This gives you more time, and the ball is traveling over the lower part of the net.
Extra Tip for Advanced Players:
Hit your return to the more aggressive player! You want to keep them off the net, so they cannot attack you or execute a “Shake and Bake.” Allow the weaker player to come to the net.
When playing mixed doubles at the 4.5 level, I often returned to the guy, because he would often just drive it, so we could reset and get them in the dink game. The gal often had a better third ball drop, and then the guy would already be at the net to attack. Returning to him kept him back and off the net.
Spin – slice on your return
Do not cut the ball too much, avoid a chopping motion. Use slice, but shorter backswing, pushing through with the paddle forward. Spins in Pickleball are executed in front of your body!
The slice will allow you more time to get to the net, and the ball will drop on your opponent.
If they hit a shorter return, you can attack with topspin and power, coming in.
With Rally scoring on the uprise, the return will be a critical part of your arsenal. Keep it deep!
