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Balls, Dinks, Babies & Your Body
Dissecting the Dink, 4 "Rules" & Singles Mingle
Elena
March 07, 2024
Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages
What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:
Fitness Expert Glen: Big News & the World’s Greatest Stretch
Indoor/Outdoor: Breaking Down The Balls
Dissecting the Dink: The Ultimate Guide
Preparing Your Body For Pickleball
Major League Pickleball and PPA Tour Complete Merger
Singles Mingle on Pickleball Courts in Florida
The Fit Pickler Survey Contest: Enter Today!
Rally Rundown: Local Highlights
Coach Mary: Four” Rules” for Better Decision Making in PB
🏋️ STAYING FIT with GLEN
& BIG NEWS
Congratulations to Glen and his wife
Brianna who welcomed their new
baby son, Emmett.
The World’s Greatest Stretch!
🤓PICKLEBALL: IN THE KNOW
The Ball Breakdown:
Indoor/Outdoor Ball Differences
In the realm of pickleball,the subtle, yet significant, differences between indoor and outdoor balls play a critical role in the gameplay's dynamics. The nuanced disparities, ranging from the number and diameter of holes to weight, hardness, and durability, all contribute to the behavior of the ball in different environments.
From the number of holes (which by the way is not universal) to the diameter of the holes, from the weight to the hardness of the ball, understanding these factors can help you optimize your performance in diverse environments. To read more about the other differences in balls and why it matters,
Click Here…
🥷SKILLS
Dissecting the Dink:
The Ultimate Guide
While it might not be the sexiest shot in Pickleball it certainly is one of the most important skills to master. From bending your knees, to controlling your footwork, worrying about your grip and getting back in ready position, there are a lot of components to master!
This ultimate guide from 2023 is still one of our favorites, not only explaining the strategy and breaking down the components but offering specific drills to help your improve your dink game. To check out all the great advice click the link below
👩⚕️HEALTH NEWS
Preparing Your Body For Pickleball
With the rise in the number of pickleball players, comes the rise in injuries. But there are some simple and effective ways you can prepare your body to avoid injuries, especially if you are just getting started again with physical activity after a layoff.
From warm up exercises to strength training drills, you will find great advice in from Dylan Peterson, PT, DPT and Jonathan Lee, MD, MBA in their article for Hinge Health.
One key they say is listening to your body. Both agree that pickleball is a great way to get your heart rate up, strengthen all your major muscle groups, and have some fun with friends.
To read about the Exercises and Stretches they Recommend,
Click here…
🗞️PRO PICKLEBALL NEWS
Major League Pickleball and PPA Tour Complete Merger
The long-awaited merger between the two rival professional Pickleball entities, Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association is finally completed.
The organizations were united into a holding company that is backed by a $75 million investment from private equity firm, SC Holdings. They will retain their own formats and distinct brands. MLP CEO Bruce Popko stated, "This merger signals the next phase of growth for professional pickleball, and the combined resources and networks of the PPA Tour and MLP will support the sport at all levels.”
More than 150 professional pickleball players - including the top ranked players in the world - have signed multi-year contracts with the new entity.
To read more details, click below
🌟COMMUNITY
Singles Mingle in Florida Hosting
Events Nationwide
Karen Butera and Tobi Meyer, of Florida, set out nearly two years ago to start a pickleball group that helped singles mix and mingle. The idea seems to have taken off. Over 15,000 picklers from all over the glob follow them in their Facebook group.
Each of the participants in the games they host wear either a Red or Green bracelet. “Green means go. Red means stop,” says Karen. The events have even gone global with Tuks and Caicos, Costa Rica on the agenda and an upcoming event in Chicago.
As for success stories, Karen says, “We’ve had a lot of romances. We’ve had a lot of romances that didn’t last — just like life, right?” But we have had two marriages since we started — people who met through our events. And we’ve had lots of long-term couples.”
✅ 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
$150 AMAZON GIFT CARD!
🧭 COMMUNITY NEWS
RALLY RUNDOWN:
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS
LAKEWOOD, CO: Pickleball Program Supports Coloradans living with memory loss or early-stage dementia
CHAMPAIGN, IL: U of I Pickleball Fundraiser raises $3,200 for the Cunningham Children’s Home
PRINCETON, NJ: NJ is Getting It’s Own Professional Pickleball Team: The Princeton Bruisers
ORLANDO, FL: Orlando Business Owner Trades Nightclub for Pickleball club.
MACON, GA: Why Macon in Georgia Is The Next Hub for Pickleball
TALLAHASSEE, FL: Indoor Pickleball Facility Called The Pickle Pad is set to Open in Tallahassee in Spring 2024
CLEVELAND, OH: City Council Approves Agreement for City Pickleball Courts
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
💪 Four” Rules” for Better Decision Making in Pickleball
We are back to analyzing the Pickleball Journey boys, Justin, and Elijah this week. They cite 4 rules for good decision-making on the court. Let’s get into it.
Rule 1: GG Rule – GO, if you hit a good shot. If your opponent is contacting your return below the level of the net, this is a time to GO! Get to the net, balanced, ready to attack a ball that they pop-up.
Rule 2: BB Rule - If you hit a “BAD” shot, stay back, or get back. You popped it up, try to get back and get low and ready to defend.
Rule 3: Teeter Totter Rule - If your opponent is on the high side, or upside of the Teeter Totter, then you are going to get low, so you can defend. Protect the “low zone.” This is the case no matter where you are in the court. If your opponent is contacting the ball lower, and not up on the Teeter Totter, you bring your paddle up in front of you, not low, so that you will let it go if it is out.
Rule 4: Down the Middle, Solves the Riddle - When your opponents are both at the net, you need to drive it with topspin down the middle. Whether a drive or a drop, they need to communicate, and you have taken away their ability to hit an angle shot that takes you off the court. They also need to communicate and call the ball.
Be sure to watch the videos several times. Paddle up and apply these 4 rules to your next game!
