The SunBird Pickleball Club hosted the Seventh Annual Pickle4Purple Charity Pickleball tournament to raise money to research cures for Alzheimer’s/dementia, as well as provide funding to help caregivers. Funds raised go to the Alzheimer’s Association. We could not have done this without the generosity of our community. Many people donated valuable time and money for…
David Zapatka Would you like to neutralize the hard shots being hit in your direction? Consider a blocking strategy. Blocking a shot properly requires technique, positioning, timing and strategy. Follow this advice to improve your blocking skills: * Stand with your knees bent and feet shoulder-width apart. The lower you can get down, the better.…
Lisa Dingeldein The Pickleball Club had a great turnout at our Girls Night Out event on Jan. 26. New players worked on their skills, and we all played some games. Line dancing kept us moving. We finished the night with food and fellowship, along with a gorgeous sunset. Thanks to all the players, volunteers, raffle…
David Zapatka Slicing serve returns and dinks are favorite shots of mine. A slice puts backspin on the ball. The slice makes the ball travel from 6 o’clock to 12 o’clock back toward the player who contacted the ball. These shots can be hit with a forehand or a backhand. A slice is effective for these reasons.…
David Zapatka Pickleball continues to grow in popularity around the country. It’s now making its way into U.S. universities. The leading example of this is my friend, Jarrod Smith, coach of Drury University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams, and in 2024, coach of Drury’s co-ed pickleball team in Springfield, Mo. In August, Drury announced the…
Planning is underway for Play It Forward, the third annual tennis/pickleball event to benefit Neighbors Who Care, on Saturday, April 6. All area communities are encouraged to join, including Sun Lakes Country Club, Cottonwood Palo Verde, IronOaks, Robson Reserve, Solera, Springfield, and SunBird. The event will offer both gender and mixed play at $20 per…
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, Ms. Littlewood offers these basic doubles strategies for players of any level. To read all her advice, buy her book. Always face the ball on the other side of the net. Regardless of where you are on the court…
Welcome to our newest Pickleball Club members: Kristi and Tony Burkhart, Charlotte Foster, Bill Holliday, Marty Martin, and Sherry Williams! And a warm welcome back to Ann Woodley. The Pickleball Club hosted its winter Welcome Back on Nov. 4! The morning play was followed by a delicious brunch in the Horizon Room. The restaurant was…
Welcome to our newest club members Michelle and Earl LeBlanc and Debbie Little! We have some fun and exciting events for fall, including a Clinic Night and a Ladies Night Dance Party! Stay tuned for the details of these events. It’s been a hot, hot summer! Summer play hours continue through Nov. 1: Tuesday, Wednesday,…
David Zapatka Continuing our study of Pickleball Fundamentals: Master the basics and compete with confidence by Mary Littlewood, we will now learn about the selection for the third and fourth shots of a rally. Third Shot: Serving Team “The third shot of any rally—a shot hit by the serving team—determines which doubles team will gain the…