Pickleblast Newsletter: December 2020 - San Carlos Pickleball Club

El Clasico de Otono Results

Women’s Doubles 4.0. Gold: Kellie Rich / Sue Fehrle; Silver: Yenni Martinez / Clarett Prat; Bronze: Mariana Fortes / Martha Ramirez

Women’s Doubles 3.5. Gold: Linda Swanson / Anne Morales; Silver: Dulce Zuloaga / Paula DeYoung; Bronze: Karen Stewart / Hillary Dembroff

Men’s Doubles. Gold: Ramon Cruz / Carlos Dessens; Silver: Kevin Wytrykusz / Norbert Gelowitz; Bronze: Omar Inzunza / Julio Meza

You can see all the results here.

Featured Article: The Joys and Challenges of Open Play

I am fairly certain that there isn’t a pickleball community that has not had to grapple with the issue of varying pickleball skill levels during Open Play. So here are just a few thoughts on the issue.

Many communities attempt to deal with this issue by assigning different skill levels to particular courts. While this approach has its merits, it does not fully address the challenge. There may be guests that visit from out of town…and if the skill ratings have not been determined by actual tournament play there may be issues. A 3.5 or intermediate player in one city may not be the same rating in another city. Then there are always those players who think they are 6 skill levels higher than they really are. Regardless, weaker players want to challenge themselves. They believe it is critical that they play with better players in order to improve. But playing too far up or down is not fun for anyone. The best play will always be when all 4 players are very evenly matched. Since that may not always happen, think about this….

If you are the stronger player, “pay it forward”. Take some time, not your entire play time but a game or two, and help the weaker players. If you are a lot better, don’t end the point at the first opportunity. Instead, return the ball in such a way that they can return it and continue the point. Remember, we can all learn from one another. Take these games as opportunities to really focus and dial in some of your shots such as perfectly placing dinks, resetting blocks, running down lobs. Slow down and dial in your fundamentals.

What stronger players find frustrating about playing with weaker players is that they are often avoided. The weaker players ask to play with you, then hit 80+% of the shots to your partner. My advice to the weaker player is…don’t avoid the stronger player. Take advantage of the situation and actually hit the ball to him or her. These games aren’t being recorded. No trophies are being awarded. Hit the ball to the stronger player and learn something. That is, after all, one of the reasons why you wanted to play with them in the first place.

Ultimately, Pickleball is a social sport that brings together a wide variety of individuals from all walks of life. No other sport that I can think of has the young playing with the older, the new up-and-comers playing with the experienced, the athletic with the recreational, competitive with the social, intense with the casual… and yet we all find joy in it. That’s what keeps us coming back for more!

by James Main, President, San Carlos Pickleball Association

Navidad Knockout, December 19 & 20

The Navidad Knockout will be a Round Robin, festive event. Sign up on the Global Pickleball Network as an individual player. Show up on the day of.

Men’s and Women’s Play will be on Saturday, December 19.

Mixed Play will be on Sunday, December 20.

Both days will have play from 9:00am – Noon. Be at the courts by 8:30am to check-in and warm up before play starts.

You will be randomly partnered with different players throughout the day. Try to knockout your opponents one by one and then have a merry cheer with them afterward.

Prizes will be given to the individuals that are deemed the most festive so get out that ugly Christmas sweater, put on your Santa hat, pull up your best, festive, Yuletide socks and come have some fun.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we will not be providing food and drink. We hope to continue to have events such as these as long as we can maintain a safe environment for everyone so let’s get together and play, but bring your own snacks, water and/or sports drink, and drinks for socializing afterwards.

Click here to register (using Global Pickleball Network). The event is free for Mirador Court members. 500 pesos for non-members.

If you have any questions, please contact James Main at destinationpickleball@yahoo.com.

Advanced Skills & Drills on Wednesdays at 11am

James is leading Skills & Drills for High Intermediate and Advanced players, starting at 11:00am every Wednesday at Mirador Courts.

This is advanced skills development. You must be able to sustain a rally and execute all shots. We will be working on fine tuning those shots and gaining shot consistency.

This is free to all Mirador Court members

Pro Corner with James: Two Touch Drill

This drill focuses on improving a player’s paddle control and touch.

Drill 1 is called “bounce, touch, bounce, touch” and uses dinking as the shot to practice. The drill starts with a dink to your partner who allows it to bounce then “touches”/taps it to himself, allows it to bounce again, and then dinks it back.

Drill 2 is called “bounce, touch, touch”. It uses the same techniques except that it omits the second bounce. The drill starts with a dink to your partner who allows it to bounce then “touches”/taps it up to himself, and then volleys it back (into a dink) before it bounces.

Drill 3 is called “touch, bounce, touch”. It uses the same techniques except that it omits the first bounce, meaning the first touch is a volley. The drill starts with a volley to your partner who “touches”/taps it to himself, allows it to bounce in front of him, and then hits it back for you to volley.

Drill 4 is called “touch, touch”. It uses the same techniques except that the ball never bounces on the court. The drill starts with a volley to your partner who “touches”/taps it to himself and then volleys it back for you to volley.

Check out this video.

Other Stuff

Alcohol will no longer be allowed within the fenced area at El Mirador.

For tournaments, open play, or other events, you are welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages but they must remain outside the perimeter fencing. No glass, please.

Is the ball “in” or “out”? New rule for 2020

Is the ball “in” or “out”?

Have a look at the bottom diagram to see the 2020 rules for an “out” ball.

If it touches the white line, it’s “in”. No more “wrong side of the line” calls. This includes the middle line when receiving a serve.

If you or your partner are not sure if the ball is “in” or “out” as it lands close to a white line on your side of the court, then it is “in”.

Remember that you call “in” or “out” balls on your side of the court only.

Lessons with James

Playing Pickleball during Covid-19

It’s up to you to access your own risk and decide whether or not you should play at this time. If you choose to play at Mirador Courts, please engage in everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include:

Stay home when you are sick.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. The restrooms are available for our use (keys are in the white shed; please lock the restroom after use).
Maintain a healthy distance from each other when off the courts.
Feel free to bring your own chair, or place your Membership Card on your chair from the court to reserve it so that others will not use it during play.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. No hugs, handshakes, high fives or paddle taps.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily. Coronavirus can live on plastic and metal. At the courts, that’s the balls, tables, chairs, locks on the doors, the fence, the paddle holder, the umbrella handle, etc. etc. The Board will not be doing daily disinfecting of the courts, so it is up to anyone who chooses to play to clean and disinfect any surfaces that they will come into contact with.

Pickleball Magazine: December 2020

Click here or on the cover image to open the magazine.

Gear for sale

James has lots of Gearbox paddles, backpacks, eyewear, grips, edge guard, and yes, even socks for sale. All of the Gearbox GX5 and GX6 series paddles are $140 (2800 pesos).

If you are interested in any of these paddles or other items, please contact James at: destinationpickleball@yahoo.com.

Discount on Pickleball Gear

Members of the San Carlos Pickleball Association get a 5% discount at PickleballCentral.com.

If you’re looking to buy a paddle, balls or gear, visit pickleballcentral.com.

Click on “My Account” (in red font at the top of the page). If you have an account, sign in. Otherwise, go to New Customers, and click on Continue…and go through the prompts until you have an Account set up.

At Check Out, there is a box where you should put the following Coupon Code: CRSANCARLOS
Then click Apply.

This will give you a 5% discount on your order. You will see San Carlos Pickleball Association with the discounted amount beside it. It will also give our San Carlos Pickleball Association a 5% Club Reward that will accumulate over the year, and next year they will give our club a credit for that amount. It’s a win-win for both you and for our club!