David Zapatka Summer is coming and the sun is out. The sun is beautiful, but it’s also a genuine challenge on the pickleball court. We love playing in it and we occasionally curse it while squinting into a lob we’ve completely lost. Playing pickleball in the sun is a complicated relationship. You need a strategy.…
Tag: Relishing Pickleball
December 2025, Card Games & Sports
Relishing Pickleball: No Man’s Land
David Zapatka No man’s land, sometimes referred to as the transition area, aka the kitchen, is the area of the pickleball court between the non-volley zone line and the baseline. Think of it as a space 11 feet long and 20 feet wide; two feet behind the non-volley zone line and two feet inside the…
Card Games & Sports, November 2025
Relishing Pickleball: Stacking
David Zapatka Stacking is a doubles strategy where teammates intentionally position themselves on the same side of the court to keep a stronger player on their preferred side for forehand or backhand shots, maximizing offensive and defensive opportunities. To stack or not to stack? This question is often asked. Here are some points to consider…
Card Games & Sports, October 2025
Relishing Pickleball: What to Look for in a Paddle
David Zapatka Reader Ann Howard writes, “Hi David, been reading your column in Robson Ranch Views. I’m a 3.5 player, in my 70s, and got a new paddle almost three years ago. I play regularly two to three times per week. I have been making more mistakes than usual and wondering if it’s me, the paddle,…
September 2025, Card Games & Sports
Relishing Pickleball: The ESPY Awards Recognize Pickleball!
David Zapatka The ESPY Awards, or Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, are an annual American awards show produced by ESPN that recognizes individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances. The awards are presented for achievements during the calendar year preceding the ceremony. Has pickleball ever been recognized in the ESPY Awards ceremony?…
August 2025, Card Games & Sports
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…
Card Games & Sports, July 2025
Relishing Pickleball: The Art of Blocking
David Zapatka Last month we discussed how to beat the bangers. Blocking at the kitchen line was a key strategy. This article will pick up with that focus. Consider these strategies to improve your blocking skills. 1. You know the hard shot is coming. Be prepared, knees bent, relaxed, eyes on the ball, paddle out…
April 2025, Card Games & Sports
Relishing Pickleball: Resetting the Rally
David Zapatka You’re in a crosscourt dinking rally and your opponent continues to put you under pressure with consistent dinking that tries your patience. The rally becomes more difficult as your opponent pushes you closer to the sidelines with shots close to the net. How long can you dink like this? Is it a battle…
Card Games & Sports, February 2025
Relishing Pickleball: Teaching Pickleball to Your Relatives
David Zapatka With the holidays behind us, there has been quite a bit of talk about how to introduce relatives to pickleball, the game we discovered and love. The debate about how best to do this centers around two concepts. The first is to begin teaching new players how to serve. The second is to…
Card Games & Sports, December 2024
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…