- THE FIT PICKLER
- Posts
- A Pickleball Veteran's Guide: Shots & Strategies I Wish I'd Mastered Sooner
A Pickleball Veteran's Guide: Shots & Strategies I Wish I'd Mastered Sooner
Protecting Our Skin, PB for Stroke Patients & Shot Controversy
FIT PICKLER
May 09, 2024
Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages
What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:
Fitness Expert Glen Dawson: Do these 6 Moves to Prevent Injury
A Pickleball Veteran's Guide: Shots & Strategies I Wish I'd Mastered Sooner
Takeaways From The First “Pickleball Minds Conference”
Good Shot or Cheap Shot: Point in Pro Match Stirs Controversy
Skin Cancer Awareness Month: EltaMD Unveils Innovation in Skin Care
Pickleball May Be the Right Leisure RX For Stroke Patients
Quaker Launches Quaker PB Academy: It’s “Oat-fficial”
Blue Note Bourbon Becomes "The Official Bourbon of Major League Pickleball."
The Fit Pickler Survey Contest: Enter Today!
Rally Rundown: Local Highlights
Coach Mary: Why Pros Dink In The Middle
🏋️ STAYING FIT with GLEN
Runners: Do these 6 Moves
to Prevent Injury
A Pickleball Veteran's Guide: Shots & Strategies I Wish I'd Mastered Sooner
If I Could Turn Back Time
At first, pickleball can seem deceptively simple. You pick up a paddle, have some laughs, get a good workout, and maybe even find a spark of competition. But, as you spend more time on the court, something shifts. You want more than just the fun of the game; you crave improvement.
You're ready to take those skills to the next level. We have all been there, so we thought it was high time someone put together a guide, a roadmap of sorts compiled with the help of seasoned players sharing tips they wish they’d known or focused on more when they were in your shoes!
You’re on the edge of your seat, asking…will it be as bad as last week?
🗞️NEWS
Takeaways From The First
Pickleball Minds Conference
Pickleball On My Mind
The recent Pickleball Minds conference billed itself as the “Davos of Pickleball” and promised to offer the “first of a kind industry forum to bring together the finest minds in the Pickleball ecosystem to collaborate, partner and grow their business in this burgeoning industry.”
Forbes reporter, Todd Boss, gives an excellent overview of this groundbreaking conference in his latest article.
Topics were heavily focused on the business of pickleball, with panels that discussed investments, tech, real estate, insurance and media among many others.
🤔GOOD SHOT or
CHEAP SHOT?
A point winning shot during the recent Red Rock Open
Tournament is sparking controversy about Sportsmanship
versus Killer Instinct.
@officialppatour What do we think about this shot?
💪 HEALTH NEWS
Skin Cancer Awareness:
EltaMD Unveils Innovation
In Skin Care
Skin Care Awareness Month:
“Black, Brown & Beautifully Protected"
When we think of injury prevention in pickleball, most of us think sprains and strains, but our skin needs as much protection as our joints!
EltaMD has become the official sunscreen partner for Major League Pickleball to promote sun safety within this growing sport.
To highlight its sun safety initiatives during Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the brand has launched Deep Tint versions of its UV Clear and UV Daily collections, featuring patent-pending Invisible Blend Technology that ensures a sheer finish across diverse skin tones.
EltaMD will sponsor a "Black, Brown & Beautifully Protected" panel to discuss skincare needs for melanin-rich skin and continue its partnership with the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) through the #GetNaked campaign.
Pickleball May Be the Right
Leisure RX For Stroke Patients
“Leisure is one of the important activities of daily living.” (Natalie Mackie)
Occupational therapy doctoral candidate, Natalie Mackie, has made the sport of pickleball central to her occupational treatment regime for patients who have suffered strokes or traumatic brain injuries.
By modifying some paddles and helping with scoring rules for various patients to meet their ability levels, she has been able to accommodate patients with special needs.
“This is OT,” Mackie said. “We are adapting people’s lifestyles and their environments around them so that they can participate in the things they want to participate in.”
“The research shows a lot of chronic stroke patients lead sedentary lifestyles. I wanted this to be something that they could build up their confidence to then start to maybe play within their own communities.”
👏 COMMUNITY NEWS
Quaker Launches Quaker PB Academy
Image Credit: Quaker
This summer, Quaker is introducing the Quaker Pickleball Academy, a series of pop-up events that provide free skills and drills sessions for pickleball players at all levels.
Participants will receive training and enjoy Quaker’s nutritious recipes while competing in an "oat-fficial" tournament. The academy will make four stops nationwide and conclude with a marquee event this fall.
Quaker aims to promote inclusive communities and a healthy lifestyle through the sport. Vice President Katie Scupham encourages players to join in, "fueled by Quaker in the 'kitchen'!"
🥃 COCKTAILS
Blue Note Bourbon Named The
Official Bourbon of
Major League Pickleball
On Monday, Memphis-based B.R. Distilling Co. announced its Blue Note as the "official bourbon of Major League Pickleball." Do Pickleball and Bourbon go together?
According to Major League Pickleball CEO Bruce Popko they do. He noted, “Blue Note Bourbon and Major League Pickleball share many of the same core qualities for fans — they are both approachable while also being bold and smooth.”
✅ 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
SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Upscale Pickleball Club Set To Open In Scottsdale
LEXINGTON, KY: Pickleball recycling pilot program underway at Kirklevington Park
WICHITA, KS: Pickleball tournament to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
FORT MYERS, FL: Middle School Tech Worker Uses CPR Skills To Save Pickleball Player’s Life
HUDSONVILLE, MI: Love Your Neighbor Hosting 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament To Benefit Struggling Families
LOUISVILLE, CO: Largest indoor pickleball center in Colorado coming to Louisville
COLLIERVILLE, TN: Vacant Bed Bath & Beyond in Collierville Could Become PB Site
BOULDER, CO: Horizons K-8 adds pickleball to its PE classes
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
💪 WHY PROS DINK TO THE MIDDLE
This week's tip will focus on why the pros
dink to the middle of the court.
Jordan Briones hosts a discussion and demo of dinking, showcasing some pros, and discussing why they dink to the middle.
A few key points:
** Dinking to the middle takes away your opponent’s angle attack.
** It is easier to reset and defend an attack from the middle.
** Keep it to the middle until you can attack on an angle.
** The middle is a great neutralizer, and a good tactic to keep you in front of the ball to defend.
** Sidelines open up hard angles, ATP’s and Ernes.
** If you are drawn out to the side, use a recovery dink back to the middle to get back to your side.
** When you dink middle, your opponent must communicate.
Be sure to watch the on-court drilling session, where Jordan and Caden demo how to practice going middle, recovering, and defending attacks from the middle.
(Do I hear a noise complaint?)