Recreational Pickleball Players Association

The Lob, Law & Order, Brooke Shields & More

Author

FIT PICKLER
May 16, 2024

Health, Fitness, News & Fun for Picklers of All Ages

What's Cooking in the Kitchen This Week:

  • The First Association Dedicated to Recreational PB Players Launches

  • Fitness Expert Glen Dawson: Elbow Pain

  • The Pickleball Lob: Mastering in the “High Art”

  • Pickleball Theft On The Rise: More Thieves Caught On Camera

  • Cancer Survivor Credits Pickleball In His Recovery, Urges Testing

  • Brooke Shields Gets Competitive with Pickleball On Set

  • From Controversial Babies to a New Pickleball Court

  • Real Estate: A Unique Lot Now Houses New Courts

  • Ben Johns’ Salary Goes Up Tenfold in Five Years

  • The Fit Pickler Survey Contest: Enter Today!

  • Rally Rundown: Local Highlights

  • Coach Mary: Third Shot Drops With Top Spin

🤗ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Recreational Pickleball
Players Association (RPPA)

For the first time ever, there's an Association that understands the heart and soul of pickleball lies not just in sponsored tournaments or pro leagues, but in the everyday players who’ve transformed this sport into something truly special.

Recreational Players deserve a dedicated space to connect, share, and celebrate the unique camaraderie that pickleball brings.

The founders of the Fit Pickler are thrilled to announce the launch of the RPPA. We know our subscribers are more than just pickleball players. You are a part of a vibrant, growing community that embraces the sport as a way of life. You've found joy, friendship, and maybe even a renewed sense of purpose on the court.

That's why we're thrilled to invite YOU to become a Founding Member of the Recreational Pickleball Players Association (RPPA).

We're here to celebrate your communities, and provide the resources and connections you deserve.

What YOU Get As A Member of RPPA:
•Players Directory: Members can create a profile, message other members, organize and join groups, post events, tournaments and parties. Find pickleball buddies at home and when you travel.
• Vendors Directory: The first ever directory of pickleball-focused vendors, from gear and merch to “Eatertainment Centers”, clubs, court builders and more – all in one place!
• Deals & Discounts: Verified vendors who will offer special deals to our members. Members only pricing at The Fit Pickler Store and the opportunity to test new brand name gear with special pricing.
• Resources: Get access to training videos, community resources, insights and articles to help you advocate for more public pickleball courts in your neighborhood or keep current courts from being shut down.
• Calendar of Events: Search for events, fundraisers, games and local tournaments in your city or nationwide.
• Social: Private Facebook Group for Members Only. Connect in a group setting and share photos, tips and stories. Monthly contests for fun prizes!

Our Association will be growing everyday and we are adding new features as we speak, and that's where YOU come in. As a Founding Member, you'll help shape the future of RPPA and ensure it truly reflects the needs and desires of recreational players.

Special Founding Member Offer: The first 200 players to sign up will be entered into a raffle to win either a Paddle of their choice (up to $200) or a $200 Shopping Spree at The Pickleball Exchange.

 🏋️ STAYING FIT with GLEN

How to Identify & Cure Elbow Pain

🥷SKILLS

The Pickleball Lob: A Guide to
Mastering the “High Art”

It’s Up There Somewhere!

The lob in pickleball is a high, arcing shot designed to send the ball deep into your opponent's court. This deceptively simple shot can dramatically change the course of a game, disrupting an opponent's momentum and forcing them to retreat from the kitchen line.

Mastering the lob requires a nuanced understanding of technique, timing, and player psychology, making it a valuable tool in any pickleball player's arsenal. By skillfully employing the lob, you can create offensive opportunities, regain control of the court, and ultimately outsmart your competition.

Click below to read about common mistakes, proper technique, defense, sportsmanship and more aspects of this pickleball shot…

Courtesy of John Zakour

⚖️LAW & ORDER

Pickleball Theft On The Rise

The Paddle Burglar

It’s not unusual to see pickleball and the word “trend” used in the same sentence, but this is one trend we can do without! Pickleball paddle thefts are on the rise, with businesses from Maryland to Colorado reporting thousands of dollars in losses.

Surveillance footage has captured brazen thieves in action, prompting concerns about a nationwide theft ring. Discover the surprising details and hear from the affected business owners as they share their stories,
Click here…

💪 HEALTH NEWS

Cancer Survivor Credits Pickleball
In His Recovery, Urges Testing

Rich Corvalan, a twice-diagnosed cancer survivor credits his resilience to friendship and pickleball. He says the sport kept him not only active but in a positive mindset.

Colon cancer claims more than 800 lives annually in South Carolina alone, yet early detection can make it one of the most treatable cancers. Discover how pickleball and a supportive community helped Rich overcome his diagnosis and why he urges everyone to get tested early.
Read more about his inspiring journey here…

🎥 CELEBRITY FUN

Brooke Shields Gets Competitive
Filming Pickleball Scene

From The Netflix Trailer: Mother of the Bride

Brooke Shields admits she let her competitiveness come out in full force while filming her latest movie, “Mother of the Bride.”

🏠 REAL ESTATE NEWS

New Pickleball Courts
Where Controversial Art
Installment Once Stood

“Babies On The Move” by artist David Cerny

The lot that hosted the controversial art exhibit called Babies On the Move in 2018 now houses Palm Spring’s newest Pickleball facility with six state of the art courts.

Currently only open to guests staying at the Kimpton Rowan Hotel (near the famous Marilyn Monroe statue) in Palm Springs, general manager, Peggy Trot, says there are plans to open the courts to the public for a fee perhaps as early as July. Read more about this interesting lot here…

🗞️PRO PICKLEBALL NEWS

Ben Johns’ Salary Up Tenfold
Since 2021

Its Raining Money

More than the Popularity of the sport of Pickleball is on the rise! Salaries are following suit. The drama of the Alphabet Soup merger of the professional teams came to an end with a merger and a $75 million dollar investment and it seems some pros at least have seen a huge uptick in revenue over the past five years.

✅ 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


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

  💪 Third Shot Drops With Top Spin

Elijah, from the Pickleball Journey boys, offers a great teaching video covering third shot drops with topspin, as well as resets from the transition zone.

** I like that we are viewing a teaching lesson. This is beneficial for my students. We get to hear teaching cues, corrections, feedback, etc.

** There are two kinds of drops: topspin and backspin. His student is executing topspin, and sometimes she goes too early. She needs to wait, contact the ball lower, and carry it on her paddle longer. Load her hips, legs, use of shoulders for follow-through.

** After correction, his student is much better with her depth and execution. He compliments her variety of footwork to get her paddle to the proper spot to execute.

** Your target should be from your opponent’s shoulders, down to the bounce in front of your opponent in the NVZ. It should not go into the net. If it is in this zone, your opponent cannot attack you from above the net.

** Elijah’s student does not get to a ball that is short. Elijah explains that she should get there, and get it over, like a long dink, but not get off balance and hit too hard.

** Next, he has her follow a good third shot drop into the net. She should work her way in, and stay with dinks, long dinks, additional third shot drops. Stay soft, do not attack for this drill.

RESETS

** Elijah has his student start in the transition zone. He attacks down and wants her to soften the reset to his NVZ area. He is bouncing it in front of her, but hard. She must open the paddle face, soften her grip, and reset the drive into her opponent’s Kitchen. He reminds her to stay low.

** Next, he has her start at the Kitchen line. She starts the drill by popping it up to Elijah, then she must retreat to the transition zone, get low, and attempt to reset his attack. Important. She needs to get low in her ready position. Paddle down below her knees.

** Next, he wants her to reset, then try to move back into the NVZ. Move back with balance, with your paddle in front of you. Stay low. Continue to reset and come in and stay soft. No attacks on this drill.

** Elijah emphasizes that he does not want her to hit it into the net. She must err on the side of over the net, rather than give her opponent a free point. Goal: put it between his shoulders and the ground.

This is a great instructional video . . . be sure to watch it several times! My students will be doing this drill this week.

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