David Zapatka We’ve all heard the saying, “Pickleball is won at the net.” What does this mean? Honing your skills around the non-volley zone (kitchen) can improve your play and results. Here are a few key points: 1. It all starts with hitting a deep serve, putting the opponents in a position where it’s tougher…
Tag: pickleball
May 2025, Features
2 Your Health: Pickleball Injuries: Understanding Risks and How to Prevent Them
AzOPT, AzOPT.net Pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in recent years, with an estimated 13.6 million players in the U.S. in 2023. This sport’s popularity is largely due to its inclusivity, making it accessible to nearly all ages and athletic abilities. However, like any sport, pickleball comes with the risk of injuries—especially among…
Sports, April 2025
Ninth Annual PebbleCreek Pickleball Tournament!
Pam McWhorter The Ninth Annual PebbleCreek Pickleball Tournament was an enormous success! Despite a weather hiccup of wind on Thursday, the tournament went off without a hitch. Club member Lisa Kellis posted that there were over 550 participants from multiple states and Canada. This large-scale competition gave players the opportunity to compete in 17 various…
March 2025, Sports
Major League Pickleball at Its Finest!
Pam McWhorter Tournament director Jim Barbe reports that the first official club MLP (Major League Pickleball) event was held on Jan. 24. “We had a fantastic turnout of 240 players with three different start times to complete the event in one day,” Jim said. “Plenty of spectators attended as well and lunch was provided by…
March 2025, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: $100,000 Australian Open Pickleball Slam Made History
David Zapatka The Australian Open Tennis Championships, known as the “Happy Slam,” made history this year when it hosted the Australian Open Pickleball Championships in tandem with their famous tennis tournament on finals weekend, January 24-26. Tennis court #3 was transformed into center court for the pickleball championships. $100,000 in prize money was offered. The…
Sports, February 2025
Ninth Annual Pickleball Tournament Coming This Month
Pam McWhorter The holidays are over, but the fun is not! The Pebblecreek Pickleball Club is busier than ever gearing up for some major events in February and March. * Feb. 26, 27, and 28 is Pebblecreek’s Ninth Annual Pickleball Tournament headed up by tournament director Mike Crabtree. * The PebbleCreek Pickleball Club Championship Tournament…
February 2025, Front Page
Pickleball & Pachyderms
Barbara Wellington PebbleCreek’s Ninth Annual Pickleball Tournament returns Feb. 26, 27, and 28. Why an image of an elephant playing pickleball? It’s to let you know about the opportunity to bid on a fabulous African Photo Safari at our silent auction on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. This is an exciting…
December 2024, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Be Courteous on the Pickleball Court—Make It Fun!
David Zapatka I play pickleball for fun. Do you? If it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t play it. I like to play with fun people. Don’t you? Are these things important to you? If they are, this article is for you and your friends. Being courteous and having fun means finding enjoyment in the sport and…
November 2024, Clubs & Classes
Trump Caravan
Ellie Daly On Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. a Trump caravan rally started at the pickleball courts with 29 golf carts decorated with Trump banners, flags, and signs and paraded throughout Tuscany Falls and Eagle’s Nest promoting their presidential choice. Forty minutes after start the group ended up at the Eagle’s Nest bar for rest…
October 2024, Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Lobs and Angles
David Zapatka The lob is alive and well. Watch any of the stronger players and you’ll see they all use the lob as a weapon. Why do lobs work? They catch the opponents off guard. Many opponents don’t deal well with the unexpected lob. They sometimes panic or don’t use proper footwork to get to…