A Journey Through Community, Connection, and the Courts Every pickleball season tells a story—a story of new partnerships, friendly rivalries, early morning practices, and the unmistakable sound of paddles echoing across both the north and central courts. As we look ahead to the 2026–27 season, we invite players, families, and fans to view this year…
Tag: pickleball
July 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Improve Your Pickleball Dinking Techniques
David Zapatka The dink is pickleball’s most nuanced shot, deceptively simple to learn, endlessly deep to master. While beginners treat it as a stopgap between rallies, advanced players weaponize it. Here’s how to transform your dinking game from passive to dominant. Elite dinks share three qualities. They land in the kitchen, stay low over the…
June 2026, Sports
97-Year-Old Role Model: Bill Schroeder
Dennis DeFrain Drop-in Tennis counts Bill Schroeder as one of our outstanding players, and he is a beloved member of our group. We recently honored him on his 97th birthday. Not only does he play great tennis regularly, but he is a member of 9–hole golf, plays pickleball, and is an excellent duplicate bridge player.…
Sports, May 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Sun, Sweat, and Lobs
David Zapatka Summer is coming and the sun is out. The sun is beautiful, but it’s also a genuine challenge on the pickleball court. We love playing in it and we occasionally curse it while squinting into a lob we’ve completely lost. Playing pickleball in the sun is a complicated relationship. You need a strategy.…
May 2026, Sports
Pickleball Team “Underdogs” Achieve Undefeated Season, Secure State Pickleball Championship!
Bob Rasins The men’s pickleball team the “Underdogs” completed the spring 2026 Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) season undefeated. The Dawgs went on to win the Men’s 50+ 3.0 State Championship! During the playoffs, the Dawgs were down four regular players due to injury. In true PebbleCreek spirit, the remaining eight members rose to the…
Sports, April 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Playing in the Wind
David Zapatka Wind is the great equalizer on the pickleball court. It doesn’t matter how polished your dink game is or how powerful your drive is; a stiff breeze can turn your best shots into unforced errors in a hurry. The good news is that with a few smart adjustments, you can use the wind…
March 2026, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Hitting an Overhead
David Zapatka Have you noticed how often people are hitting lobs these days or is it just me? Think SMASH! The overhead smash is one of the most satisfying and effective shots in pickleball. When executed well, it can end a rally immediately or put your opponents on the defensive. However, many players struggle with…
Sports, February 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Mastering the Spin Game
David Zapatka Spin is one of the most underrated game-changing skills. While beginners often focus on simply getting the ball over the net, intermediate and advanced players know that adding spin can create awkward bounces, force errors, and open up the court. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your offensive tools or add finesse to your…
Sports, February 2026
Who Wakes Up Very Early to Play Pickleball at 6 a.m.?
Spike Razem For the past three years whether it be summer heat or winter cold, the same group gets to the North courts early (i.e., 5:50 a.m.) to start the day whacking that yellow plastic ball. The PC Pickleball AM Group includes 48 people and is organized using the Spond App by Bob Funkhouser, Mark…
Sports, February 2026
Celebrating PebbleCreek Pickleball!
Barbara Wellington In 2004, Grover Lumbard started PebbleCreek Pickleball with four courts on the Eagle’s Nest side. We can thank him and many others for bringing the sport to our community, bringing joy to thousands. Beth Kelly, PebbleCreek Pickleball’s club historian, can tell you a lot about the club’s early days. Her chronicling of the…