David Zapatka Dinking is often misunderstood as purely defensive play—a soft, patient exchange while you wait for your opponent to make a mistake. The most effective pickleball players know that dinking can be a powerful offensive weapon. Aggressive dinking transforms you from a passive participant into the player dictating the pace and creating opportunities to…
Tag: pickleball
January 2026, Front Page
January Pickleball News
Welcome to the club, Linda Brown! Welcome Back Party on Nov. 8 We had more than 25 players who played and socialized. The food was great, and the camaraderie was even better! Community Days Community Days was awesome! Kathy and Brian Long hosted the pickleball table and gave out loads of information. TeamReach Reminder Remember…
November 2025, Card Games & Sports
Pickleball November Update
Carol Gourlay Let’s start with the Warm-Up of the Month: 1. Jumping Jacks: 2 sets of 15 to get the heart rate up; 2. Arm Circles: 20 seconds each direction to loosen the shoulders; 3. Leg Swings: 10 per leg, front-to-back and side-to-side, to loosen the hips; 4. Dynamic Stretches: Walking lunges with a twist…
October 2025, Card Games & Sports
News from the Pickleball Courts
Summer players are still enjoying the warm pickleball play, but cooler temps are right around the corner, and so are our fall hours! Beginning in October, regular play will be Monday through Friday from 8 to 10 a.m., along with evening sessions on Wednesday and Saturday nights. If you’d like to join in, please remember…
September 2025, Card Games & Sports
SunBird Pickleball Welcomes Summer Visitors!
MaryBeth and Bob DeMatteo! The SunBird Pickleball Club was delighted to welcome our snowbirds MaryBeth and Bob DeMatteo during their recent stop in our community! The couple joined players on the courts to enjoy a few games and take in the beautiful Arizona weather. Their visit was a wonderful reminder of how pickleball brings people…
Card Games & Sports, August 2025
Relishing Pickleball: Don’t Hit Out Balls!
David Zapatka Let the bad ones go bad. This is a skill we all need to learn to improve our game. How can we become more aware of balls that are traveling out of bounds? Any shot by the opponent that lands out of bounds ends in a winning rally for your side. Don’t give…
May 2025, Card Games & Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Keys to Successful Net Play
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…
April 2025, Card Games & Sports
Opposites Attract: Tennis and Pickleball—Truly a Great Match, Indeed
Sharlene Jerome SunBird Tennis Club President and pickleball member J.D. Stephenson proposed an interesting and extremely engaging opportunity: a joint social between the clubs. The Pickleball Club was as into it as the Tennis Club. So, on Feb. 15 a joint, very symbiotic social was held. Pickleballers were encouraged to try tennis, and the Tennis…
March 2025, Card Games & 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…
March 2025, Community News
The Power of Play: How Pickleball, Golf, and Fitness Enrich the Lives of Robson Reserve Residents
Lance Williams, Executive Director Residents of SunBird, As the Executive Director of a senior living community, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand how recreational activities like pickleball, golf, and structured fitness programs transform the lives of our residents. While senior living communities are often associated with comfort and care, they are equally places of…