Hola San Carlos Pickleballers,
We’re excited to bring you the latest edition of our club newsletter, packed with updates, highlights, and upcoming events. As we approach the end of summer, it’s been a hot one here in San Carlos, but that hasn’t stopped a few dedicated players from hitting the courts in the mornings! (You know who you are!)
In this edition, you’ll find a special feature on our recent tournaments, news on upcoming events, and a spotlight on one of our incredible Court Sponsors who help us make everything possible.
We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to seeing you at the courts soon!
San Carlos Pickleball Club
San Carlos Pickleball Updates from the Board
Recognizing our valued Court Sponsors:
RE/MAX First Choice Realty
The San Carlos Pickleball Association is proud to recognize and express our deep gratitude to one of our dedicated sponsors, RE/MAX First Choice Realty. Their unwavering support has been instrumental in helping us grow our community and promote the sport of pickleball in San Carlos.
About RE/MAX First Choice Realty
Located in the heart of San Carlos, RE/MAX First Choice Realty has established itself as a cornerstone of the local real estate market. With a team of experienced and knowledgeable agents, the office provides a comprehensive range of real estate services, including residential and commercial property sales, vacation rentals, property management, and investment opportunities. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, looking for a luxury vacation home, or interested in commercial real estate, RE/MAX First Choice Realty is committed to guiding clients through every step of the process with professionalism and personalized care.
Commitment to Excellence
RE/MAX First Choice Realty is more than just a real estate office; it is a key part of the San Carlos community. The office’s commitment to excellence extends beyond real estate transactions to active involvement in local events and initiatives. Their sponsorship of the San Carlos Pickleball Association is just one example of how RE/MAX First Choice Realty gives back to the community that it serves.
Ongoing Support to the San Carlos Community
Over the years, RE/MAX First Choice Realty has consistently supported various community projects and events in San Carlos. Their contributions have helped enhance the quality of life in our town, making it a better place for both residents and visitors.
The San Carlos Pickleball Association is honored to have RE/MAX First Choice Realty as one of our valued partners. If you’re in the market for real estate services, whether buying, selling, or renting, their team is a reliable option that delivers expert advice and quality service to the San Carlos community.
Thank you, RE/MAX First Choice Realty, for your continued partnership and commitment to the San Carlos Pickleball Association. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant community. Check their website for more information.
Tournaments & Events 2024 – 2025
Get ready for an exciting season ahead!
Our 2024 – 2025 tournament calendar is now available, and we’ve got some fantastic events lined up for you. Starting in November, we’ll kick off with a couple of great tournaments that you won’t want to miss.
Mark your calendars, bring your friends to San Carlos, and prepare for an unforgettable season of pickleball at San Carlos Pickleball Club. Stay tuned for more details.
Torneo Open – by Match Point
November 1 – 3, 2024
Match Point invites you to participate in the TORNEO OPEN EDICIÓN 2, happening at the San Carlos Pickleball Club from November 1-3, 2024.
This is your chance to showcase your skills and compete with players from all over Mexico, USA and Canada for a Prize Pool of $80,000 pesos for Open and $48,000 pesos for the general divisions. All on your home courts.
Online registration coming soon, but if you have any questions you can text Belem Garcia at +52 622 142 4821.
LATAM Games & Sombrero Showdown Tournament in February!
LATAM Games and the Sombrero Showdown Tournament will be part of an action-packed week, 5 days of pickleball competition and celebration, featuring two exciting tournaments:
Sombrero Showdown Tournament – February 5 – 6: Men’s / Women’s doubles and Mixed doubles.
Celebration Day (or Day off for those who don’t like to party) – February 7.
LATAM Games – February 8 – 9: A thrilling team-play tournament.
Gather your friends, mark your calendars, and get ready to participate in this fun and amazing Tournament Week.
Join us in San Carlos for an unforgettable week. Online Registration coming soon!
Member Spotlight: Sabrina Fumagalli
I was born and raised in Mexico City, where I spent my entire childhood. In 1985, I ventured to Guaymas to study Biochemistry, which first brought me to San Carlos (SC). It was during that time that I fell in love with this beautiful place.
Fast forward 36 years, I found myself returning to SC. It all began when I met Theresa Melius, affectionately known as “T,” in Colorado Springs. She invited a group of players to come down to San Carlos. When I returned to SC, we were so captivated that I decided to buy a house just two blocks away from where I had lived during my last year of college.
Since then, my connection with San Carlos has only deepened. Through the San Carlos Pickleball Club, I’ve met incredible people and formed lasting friendships. I’ve been playing pickleball for five years now, and while I certainly enjoy the competition, the true joy comes from the friendships and the events organized by our Club.
Exciting News: We have a new Pickleball Machine!
We’re happy to announce that San Carlos Pickleball Club now has a brand-new pickleball machine! Whether you’re looking to perfect your shots or get in some solo practice, this machine is a game-changer.
A huge Thank You to everyone who made this possible. We are especially grateful to those who helped bring the machine to San Carlos and to the generous donor who provided the funds to make this dream a reality.
Starting soon, we’ll be offering the machine for rent exclusively to our members. It’s a great way to sharpen your skills at your own pace.
About the Pickleball Machine: Elevate your skills with Erne, packed with 25 default drill types and 28 unique court locations. Are you ready to train like a Pro?
Stay tuned for more details on how you can book your time with the machine. Let’s take our game to the next level!
The Big Hit: A Guide to Power Pickleball
By Kevin Duff – Club Pro at SCPC
Players that drive and attack the majority of their shots are often referred to negatively as “bangers”. But why? Should there be a cookie cutter style of play that all players should conform to? Although there are definitely good reasons for hitting a healthy balance of soft and hard shots, there are times when an aggressive style is effective. This isn’t just the case for recreational players, but also for some of the top professionals.
It’s important to utilize your strengths and take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses. We rarely ace our opponents with our serves or hit outright winners. However, having the ability to hit with power can give you the upper hand. Just how we shouldn’t neglect the importance of the dink, reset, and drop shot, we also need to develop our drive, speedup and overhead smash. This is especially important against players who have a difficult time defending powerful shots. The volley, speedup, serve, drive, and overhead smash are pickleball shots that are commonly hit with significant power. Each shot is unique, however, there are specific principles and techniques that apply to most of them.
Balance and positioning: To hit the ball powerfully, it’s important to be stopped and balanced, and to contact the ball a comfortable distance out in front of your body. To do so it’s important to be positioned correctly before your opponent hits their shot, accurately assess the trajectory of the shot, and move efficiently to the ball. You don’t want to be reaching or jammed when contacting the ball. Ideally, you’ll want to strike the ball a comfortable distance away from your body, slightly in front of your body where your paddle face speed is fastest.
Kinetic chain: Another key to hitting with power is by utilizing what is often referred to as the “kinetic chain”. In pickleball, this refers to how energy flows through your body during your stroke. It starts at your feet, where you push off the ground, initiating movement. This energy then travels up through your legs and hips, which extend and rotate slightly, building more power. As the movement continues, your torso turns and twists, generating yet more power. Finally, this wave of energy reaches your shoulder, travels down your arm and forearm, and flows through your wrist to the paddle, culminating in a powerful and efficient stroke. The kinetic chain is this series of body segments connected in such a way that energy and motion are transferred in a coordinated and efficient manner. Each segment’s movement contributes to the next, creating an overall effect that is greater than the sum of its parts. Proper use of the kinetic chain not only serves to generate significant power but can also prevent injuries. Players who recruit their entire body while swinging decrease stress to individual joints, such as the shoulder, that are prone to injury.
Loading and unloading: It should be emphasized that the lower body is the foundation of the kinetic chain and is one of the most important contributors to force generation. During the initial stages of your stroke you should be bending your back knee (loading) so that you can extend and rotate upward through the ball (unloading). This allows your lower body to contribute to paddle face speed and force generation. The loading and unloading phases of your swing are important for hitting fast serves and drives but also for hitting your shots accurately. When you recruit larger body segments like your legs and trunk, you have a more stable base, and can more easily prevent unwanted movements of the upper extremities.
Relaxed whip: It’s important to relax your arm while swinging and to have a full unrestricted follow through. Although it may seem somewhat counter intuitive, gripping your paddle too tightly and stiffening your arm limits power rather than helps it. A looser grip allows more power to transfer from your legs, into your core, into your arm and ultimately into your paddle. If your grip is too tight, then the segments of the kinetic chain are disconnected and power generation is reduced. Allow your arm to flow freely with a full follow through up to your opposite shoulder. Your arm swing should resemble the motion of a whip that accelerates toward its target.
Topspin: In order to hit the ball in court with significant speed, it’s necessary to have the ability to hit with topspin. Topspin will have the effect of “sucking” the ball down into the court. Hard shots hit with no spin or underspin will oftentimes sail long past the baseline. Hitting with topspin requires a low-to-high swing and a closed paddle face (i.e. paddle face angled slightly down toward the ground) so the paddle can brush up on the back of the ball. Utilizing different grips such as an eastern or semi-western grip can facilitate the generation of topspin.
Hitting with power requires proper technique, but changing ingrained movement patterns takes time and effort. To improve, consider taking a lesson where your technique will be analyzed. With targeted drills and consistent practice, you’ll begin to reprogram your muscle memory and unleash newfound power on the court.
Summer Specials for our Pickleball Lessons
Improve your pickleball skills this season with instruction from our very own pickleball teaching pro, Kevin Duff. Until September 15th, lessons will be discounted. Check out the Summer Prices below:
- Private (one person) $1,000 pesos/hour (normally 1,200)
- Semi-private (two people) $700 pesos/person/hour (normally 800)
- Semi-private (three people) $500 pesos/person/hour (normally 600)
- Group (four to eight people) $400 pesos/person/hour (normally 500)
For more information about those lessons, please send a WhatsApp message to Kevin at +52 622-147-2979.
Visit our Pro Shop at SCPC
Tuesday Deals at Our Pro Shop!
Every Tuesday during the Summer months, enjoy Exclusive Discounts at our Pro Shop! We’re offering 20% off on sportswear and 15% off on paddles, sunshades, and electrolytes for all our members and participants of our Tuesday Round Robins.
Don’t miss out on our Summer Sale!
Court Schedule and Activities
Check out our weekly Event Calendar packed with organized play, open play and social round robins at the San Carlos Pickleball Club.
For your comfort and safety, group play is early morning or after sunset. Please contact those groups if you want more information about the play times.
- Open Play every morning – you can choose between Challenge Court or Paddle Stacking | Free to members.
- Tactica Tuesday (skill-based Round Robin) – 6:30pm | 100 pesos for members and 150 pesos for non-members.
- Fiesta Fridays – Fridays from 6:30pm | Free to members.
- Sorteo Sundays – Sundays at 7:30am (be there by 7:15am) | Free to members.
- Anytime a court isn’t reserved for scheduled play, it can be reserved for private play using Court Reserve.
NOTE: For Paddle Stacking, Fiesta Friday and Sorteo Sunday, you do NOT need to register. For all other events, please visit Court Reserve for registration and/or pricing.
Plan your week and join in on the action!
We have a WhatsApp business phone line for your queries
We have a business phone line designed to streamline communication and assist you promptly with any questions or inquiries related to memberships and gate codes.
SCPC Admin Services WhatsApp: +52 622-162-6652
Systems we use at our San Carlos Pickleball Club
Code to get into the courts
Remember that if you have any questions or need assistance with your entry code door system, please feel free to reach out to SCPC Admin Services at WhatsApp +52 622-162-6652. We are here to help and support you in any way we can.
Court Reserve
Last year we took a leap into the digital era with Court Reserve. This is what you can do in Court Reserve:
- Reserve a court
- Buy your membership or daily passes
- Check our weekly events
- Register for workshops or paid events
If you are member, download Court Reserve on your phone or go online on your computer.
Please Donate Now
We have the Donor Plaques prominently featured on a beautiful focal accent wall on the current building. You can see the current donors here.
Please consider buying a “brick” to help us continue building the facility.
Kindly get in touch with Christa (christa@whatsupsancarlos.com or WhatsApp +52 622-118-4139) if you’d like to support the ongoing construction.
The following levels are available:
- $5000 USD (100,000 pesos) Diamond
- $2500 USD (50,000 pesos) Platinum
- $1000 USD (20,000 pesos) Gold
- $500 USD (10,000 pesos) Silver
- $250 USD (5000 pesos) Bronze