Who's up for pickleball? Zero-zero-two. Game On!

[dh]

^^^ Good point on the shoes. Proper shoes are critical, as the support is for side-to-side movement instead of running shoes which are front-to-back. You can't run in tennis shoes and vice versa.

I'm using Asics Dedicate 7 tennis court shoes.

I should also mention that I've seen several people get injured when they fell. Important: Never, ever attempt to run backwards. If you go for a ball behind you, turn around first and take a shot at it. It's not worth the point to to fall. (At least at a non-competitive level...)

I'm also limiting my running due to my knee. I won't go 100% effort to chase a ball. 95% effort, OK.

Great tip on the right shoes. I have tried several court shoes and recently bought a pair of Sketchers (they make a dedicated pickleball shoe). I am looking forward to trying them out.

Excellent point regarding running backwards. We had two people fall trying to back pedal to get to a lobe. Both were seriously injured. One woman who put her hand back to break her fall broke the bone in her forearm. Her surgery included a metal rod and she was off the court for three months. As LadyGeek suggested, turn around and chase rather than running backwards. Pickleball is too much fun to be off the court nursing an injury; give up the point or side out (depending upon if you are serving or not) and keep playing.

Thank you for the reminders, LadyGeek.

[VanGar+Goyle]

As an ex-tennis player, the scoring makes no sense.
No love, 15, 30 40, duece, or ad!
and it starts at 0-0-2? What is with that.
At least you rarely serve into your partner at the net

[Cruise]

I must be officially retired (or close to it) because this morning I played my first real pickleball matches after a few months of pretending by merely whacking the ball around aimlessly.

I stink. I don’t understand scoring or the serve rotation either. And to add insult to injury a guy who is 79 years old on the other team kept punishing me with killer serves and similar tactics. (I’m 58.) Had I passed the guy on the street otherwise I would have assumed he needed an oxygen tent and defibrillator just to stay alive. But turns out he is in much better shape than I. Humbling.

Still, it was a hoot and a delightful social outing with folks at a similar stage of life.

I occasionally play with/against an 83-year old woman who wears a helmet when she plays. It is a very deceptive tactic, as her serves largely are not returnable with the spin she places on the ball. She moves so well on the court one would think she is 58. Go figure!

[Rick Ferri]

As an ex-tennis player, the scoring makes no sense.
No love, 15, 30 40, duece, or ad!
and it starts at 0-0-2? What is with that.
At least you rarely serve into your partner at the net

Tennis players either love pickleball or hate it. There seems to be no middle ground.

[PhillyPhan]

I love and hate pickleball at the same time. Love that it is an easy accessible sport that allows millions to be active and social. Love the fast paced nature and how easy it is to make a stroke. Hate the scoring, hate the size of the court for doubles (great for singles), hate the no volley zone and "dinking". Fun activity that is a great way to get outsdoors and meet people. I will say though that I have not found it to be any better of an activity to meet people than other sports. I have met just as many folks playing golf, softball, tennis, etc.

[PhillyPhan]

I must be officially retired (or close to it) because this morning I played my first real pickleball matches after a few months of pretending by merely whacking the ball around aimlessly.

I stink. I don’t understand scoring or the serve rotation either. And to add insult to injury a guy who is 79 years old on the other team kept punishing me with killer serves and similar tactics. (I’m 58.) Had I passed the guy on the street otherwise I would have assumed he needed an oxygen tent and defibrillator just to stay alive. But turns out he is in much better shape than I. Humbling.

Still, it was a hoot and a delightful social outing with folks at a similar stage of life.

I would prefer the scoring to be just like tennis. I don't understand why you are not rewarded a point if you are returning serve (perhaps since it is an advantage as you get to the net faster when returning). Waiting for the ball to bounce once on each side is also odd.

[JoeRetire]

hate the no volley zone

It wouldn't be much of a game without the no volley zone. Brilliant feature, IMHO!

[PhillyPhan]

hate the no volley zone

It wouldn't be much of a game without the no volley zone. Brilliant feature, IMHO!

I think it would change the way people decide to approach their shots. Lobs would be more advantageous since the player would be 7 feet closer to the net.

[VanGar+Goyle]

As an ex-tennis player, the scoring makes no sense.
No love, 15, 30 40, duece, or ad!
and it starts at 0-0-2? What is with that.
At least you rarely serve into your partner at the net

Tennis players either love pickleball or hate it. There seems to be no middle ground.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

[LadyGeek]

...Last year, I was doing just fine with my set of Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells. Or so I thought. Early last year, I was doing squats with 80 - 100 lbs. For some reason my knee started hurting.

Very long story short, the orthopedic doc said I was using the wrong technique and mucked up my knee. Welcome to arthritis and getting older.

I'm restricted from playing impact sports (such as tennis) and to lay off the weights. I'm playing pickleball every day - which my orthopedic doc said was fine...

Update: Long story short, things got worse over the summer. Last week, I had my knee replaced. I'll skip the details except to say I'm on the road to recovery and doing fine. (No medical discussions here, please.) I have lots of support and will be out of action for a few months. Physical therapy is being followed under doctor supervision.

The only consolidation is that I'm doing this during the cold weather months so I won't feel so bad about missing out. Another advantage to doing this near the end of the year is that I hit my insurance max out-of-pocket.

I'll continue to follow PT under doctor supervision. They know pickleball and will tell me when I can restart. I'm looking forward to posting when that happens.

It happened. My doctor gave me clearance to play starting today. I was worried about my skill level. Aside from a bit of rust, I'm fine. My pickleball buddies welcomed me back. The ones who had their knees replaced gave me encouragement and a few pointers.

Yes, I'm being very cautious about knee force and have slowed things down a bit. I did resist an attempt to dive for the ball, so there's that.

I recognize it will take time to get to 100%, but just being able to play does wonders. Especially from a social aspect.

I'm still playing outdoors, but dressed appropriately. I'll play indoors when the weather doesn't cooperate.

[Cruise]

...Last year, I was doing just fine with my set of Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells. Or so I thought. Early last year, I was doing squats with 80 - 100 lbs. For some reason my knee started hurting.

Very long story short, the orthopedic doc said I was using the wrong technique and mucked up my knee. Welcome to arthritis and getting older.

I'm restricted from playing impact sports (such as tennis) and to lay off the weights. I'm playing pickleball every day - which my orthopedic doc said was fine...

Update: Long story short, things got worse over the summer. Last week, I had my knee replaced. I'll skip the details except to say I'm on the road to recovery and doing fine. (No medical discussions here, please.) I have lots of support and will be out of action for a few months. Physical therapy is being followed under doctor supervision.

The only consolidation is that I'm doing this during the cold weather months so I won't feel so bad about missing out. Another advantage to doing this near the end of the year is that I hit my insurance max out-of-pocket.

I'll continue to follow PT under doctor supervision. They know pickleball and will tell me when I can restart. I'm looking forward to posting when that happens.

It happened. My doctor gave me clearance to play starting today. I was worried about my skill level. Aside from a bit of rust, I'm fine. My pickleball buddies welcomed me back. The ones who had their knees replaced gave me encouragement and a few pointers.

Yes, I'm being very cautious about knee force and have slowed things down a bit. I did resist an attempt to dive for the ball, so there's that.

I recognize it will take time to get to 100%, but just being able to play does wonders. Especially from a social aspect.

I'm still playing outdoors, but dressed appropriately. I'll play indoors when the weather doesn't cooperate.

Congratulations on a successful surgery and return to the game! I’m four years post-surgery and my knee seems to be holding up fine! Of course, there are the more recent shoulder, hand and other surgeries I’ve had , but playing 2-3 times a week!

[LadyGeek]

Thanks! I played indoors today. 30 deg F with 30 mph winds don't make a good combination. The portable nets we use don't like high wind.

This is a periodic reminder about eye protection. I took a soft shot to the face today that bounced off my glasses. I've stopped counting how many times this has happened. I have eyeglass insurance in case they're damaged.

[Cruise]

I've noticed that I've started to play so much pickleball that I've reduced the number of walks that I take. My own observation is that I get more of a workout in my 2-3 hour pickleball sessions compared to my one to 1.5 hour (3-4 mile) walks.

How about you-as you play more pickleball are your reducing other forms of exercise?

[LadyGeek]

Yes, I wasn't walking every day. The walks take about 1.1 hours (4.35 miles). I always walk as fast as I can.

As for exercise, I think it depends on your style. I like to play at the kitchen line and am a touch player. That's not as much exertion as a power player covering the back court.

A few weeks ago, I restarted my daily walks and work around my pickleball schedule. So, both on the same day - weather depending. If it's raining, I'll hop on my elliptical trainer.

I think of pickleball as interval training (low intensity, then spurts of high intensity), walking as endurance. This is in addition to daily calisthenics I do in the early morning.

Over the past few weeks, my knee condition and playing has improved. I'm like my old self, but restrict myself from flat-out running to the net (or turning around to run for a lob). Fast, but not a run. To be clear, I never run backwards.

[Cruise]

I've noticed that I've started to play so much pickleball that I've reduced the number of walks that I take. My own observation is that I get more of a workout in my 2-3 hour pickleball sessions compared to my one to 1.5 hour (3-4 mile) walks.

How about you-as you play more pickleball are your reducing other forms of exercise?

Bumping this. Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?

[LadyGeek]

I remember seeing this somewhere - You don't play pickleball to exercise, you exercise to play pickleball.

Consider that the pro athletes routinely exercise and go through extensive workouts prior to playing their sport.

[gips]

after a tough five month recovery from a partial Achilles tear I'm back on the courts, intentionally playing at about 75%. My drives and serve have really suffered and it's tough to groove them again, I was hitting about 200 fhs, bhs and serves a day out of a basket of balls towards targets but now it's cold and on nice days, the courts are packed. Actually, it's so bad, my topspin bh drive, which is my best tennis and pball stroke, is consistently going into the bottom of the net. So I've been working a lot on my drops and dinks, my overhead is fine and I can slice but I can't play in the same level game which is frustrating.

best,

[Silver Beagle]

I am very curious about pickleball and will eventually try it at our local Y.
There are quite a few players there.
Some of them are like me; a previous (50 yrs) racquetball die hard.
I have osteoarthritis in knees and need to find a competitive sport.
On Monday, I had GreenLight procedure done on prostate; healing up now.
Once the doc gives me the okie-doke to return to full activity, it’s game on.

I’m curious about it, as well. I’m a former competitive volleyball player (indoor, outdoor sand and grass), and I’ve been sidelined for several years due to an osteo issue in one of my feet - according to my podiatrist, my ‘brake shoe’ has worn down from all the years of jumping. Given that my vertical leap is more like 12” than 36” these days, it’s clear that my best v-ball days are behind me and I’ve been looking for another sport.

Golf doesn’t interest me much (which is too bad, given a variety of friends who enjoy it); I need more movement and action. I had been thinking about tennis, which seemed to fit the bill - another net sport, quick bursts of movement, angles, shots, etc., but the speed and momentum from covering a significant amount of ground before reversing/changing direction likely wouldn’t work well with my foot issue. Pickleball seems like it could be ideal - I move fast, and I know from v-ball that there’s a big difference in accumulated speed and force from changing/reversing direction after up to 3 or 4 strides as compared with doing so after up to several more. My wife apparently agrees and has provided a not-so-subtle hint by giving me a pickleball racket (paddle?) and a few balls as a b-day present.

What’s a good way to try it out? Community rec dept. class? Pick-up games by hanging out (assuming that’s a thing)? Something else?

S.B.

[LadyGeek]

Try looking on Meetup. That's how I found my group - which is actually run by my local township. You also might try asking your local municipality's Parks and Recreation department. See where they're meeting and ask the group what to do. They'll be more than happy to help you out.

I just moved up to the township's highest level group, which I'd say is for 3.5 and up. The competition is intense and I enjoy it very much.

As for my replacement knee, it was just a matter of time before I came up to full speed. Exercising (calisthenics and walking every day) helped considerably.

Per my doctor's orders, I am prohibited from impact sports (e.g. tennis) and running. Pickleball is fine. I just need to know my limits.

[tennisplyr]

Here's a good app for finding games.

https://apps.apple.com/app/id1504644136

[Cruise]

I am very curious about pickleball and will eventually try it at our local Y.
There are quite a few players there.
Some of them are like me; a previous (50 yrs) racquetball die hard.
I have osteoarthritis in knees and need to find a competitive sport.
On Monday, I had GreenLight procedure done on prostate; healing up now.
Once the doc gives me the okie-doke to return to full activity, it’s game on.

I’m curious about it, as well. I’m a former competitive volleyball player (indoor, outdoor sand and grass), and I’ve been sidelined for several years due to an osteo issue in one of my feet - according to my podiatrist, my ‘brake shoe’ has worn down from all the years of jumping. Given that my vertical leap is more like 12” than 36” these days, it’s clear that my best v-ball days are behind me and I’ve been looking for another sport.

Golf doesn’t interest me much (which is too bad, given a variety of friends who enjoy it); I need more movement and action. I had been thinking about tennis, which seemed to fit the bill - another net sport, quick bursts of movement, angles, shots, etc., but the speed and momentum from covering a significant amount of ground before reversing/changing direction likely wouldn’t work well with my foot issue. Pickleball seems like it could be ideal - I move fast, and I know from v-ball that there’s a big difference in accumulated speed and force from changing/reversing direction after up to 3 or 4 strides as compared with doing so after up to several more. My wife apparently agrees and has provided a not-so-subtle hint by giving me a pickleball racket (paddle?) and a few balls as a b-day present.

What’s a good way to try it out? Community rec dept. class? Pick-up games by hanging out (assuming that’s a thing)? Something else?

S.B.

After my fifth left knee surgery ( a total replacement), Picklball has become the outlet for my competitive juices. My recommendations to get started :

1. Buy a good pair of court shoes. Your volleyball shoes may work, but tennis shoes will probably sotmg better. You probably know that wearing running shoes for a court sport is a good way to get injured.

2. Take a class. My first one was offered at an adult ed outlet at my local university. Subsequent classes were given by a local Pickleball association.

Pickleball has become my number one activity, replacing golf on the list. Better workout, much more social variety, and one can’t obsess over bad shot execution for very long, as the next redemption opportunity is quick to present itself.

Enjoy!

[bondsr4me]

I am very curious about pickleball and will eventually try it at our local Y.
There are quite a few players there.
Some of them are like me; a previous (50 yrs) racquetball die hard.
I have osteoarthritis in knees and need to find a competitive sport.
On Monday, I had GreenLight procedure done on prostate; healing up now.
Once the doc gives me the okie-doke to return to full activity, it’s game on.

I’m curious about it, as well. I’m a former competitive volleyball player (indoor, outdoor sand and grass), and I’ve been sidelined for several years due to an osteo issue in one of my feet - according to my podiatrist, my ‘brake shoe’ has worn down from all the years of jumping. Given that my vertical leap is more like 12” than 36” these days, it’s clear that my best v-ball days are behind me and I’ve been looking for another sport.

Golf doesn’t interest me much (which is too bad, given a variety of friends who enjoy it); I need more movement and action. I had been thinking about tennis, which seemed to fit the bill - another net sport, quick bursts of movement, angles, shots, etc., but the speed and momentum from covering a significant amount of ground before reversing/changing direction likely wouldn’t work well with my foot issue. Pickleball seems like it could be ideal - I move fast, and I know from v-ball that there’s a big difference in accumulated speed and force from changing/reversing direction after up to 3 or 4 strides as compared with doing so after up to several more. My wife apparently agrees and has provided a not-so-subtle hint by giving me a pickleball racket (paddle?) and a few balls as a b-day present.

What’s a good way to try it out? Community rec dept. class? Pick-up games by hanging out (assuming that’s a thing)? Something else?

S.B.

Your wife apparently is very wise!!
If you have a local YMCA, they most likely have players who are very willing to help a newcomer.
I still haven't bitten the bullet...yet!
But I know it's a matter of time...I start a series of 4 knee shots this week....ouch!
Good luck with your game.

[newbie001]

I am very curious about pickleball and will eventually try it at our local Y.
There are quite a few players there.
Some of them are like me; a previous (50 yrs) racquetball die hard.
I have osteoarthritis in knees and need to find a competitive sport.
On Monday, I had GreenLight procedure done on prostate; healing up now.
Once the doc gives me the okie-doke to return to full activity, it’s game on.

I’m curious about it, as well. I’m a former competitive volleyball player (indoor, outdoor sand and grass), and I’ve been sidelined for several years due to an osteo issue in one of my feet - according to my podiatrist, my ‘brake shoe’ has worn down from all the years of jumping. Given that my vertical leap is more like 12” than 36” these days, it’s clear that my best v-ball days are behind me and I’ve been looking for another sport.

Golf doesn’t interest me much (which is too bad, given a variety of friends who enjoy it); I need more movement and action. I had been thinking about tennis, which seemed to fit the bill - another net sport, quick bursts of movement, angles, shots, etc., but the speed and momentum from covering a significant amount of ground before reversing/changing direction likely wouldn’t work well with my foot issue. Pickleball seems like it could be ideal - I move fast, and I know from v-ball that there’s a big difference in accumulated speed and force from changing/reversing direction after up to 3 or 4 strides as compared with doing so after up to several more. My wife apparently agrees and has provided a not-so-subtle hint by giving me a pickleball racket (paddle?) and a few balls as a b-day present.

What’s a good way to try it out? Community rec dept. class? Pick-up games by hanging out (assuming that’s a thing)? Something else?

S.B.

Pickleball is wonderful! But have you thought about changing to beach volleyball? It's a sport that a person can age well in. I and many of my friends turned to it after lots of basketball-related injuries. Even if your best jumping days are behind you, skill and technique go a very long way in beach provided you aren't going up against semi-pros.

Beach volleyball + pickleball = a happy life

[retireIn2020]

I've noticed that I've started to play so much pickleball that I've reduced the number of walks that I take. My own observation is that I get more of a workout in my 2-3 hour pickleball sessions compared to my one to 1.5 hour (3-4 mile) walks.

How about you-as you play more pickleball are your reducing other forms of exercise?

Yes definitely, I used to treadmill allot at the gym, now playing Pickleball 4 days a week has pretty much eliminated the treadmill. I do still stretch and do machines.

When I started playing pickleball at an intense level, I was surprised how sore my legs got since I regularly Hike and treadmill. The fast movements just use different muscles. Stretch and recovery is a must.

Pickleball is way more fun than the treadmill.

[LadyGeek]

A treadmill doesn't exercise in the same way that walking naturally does. Weather permitting, I'll walk a little over an hour each day - 4.33 miles. I walk at a fast pace which helps with endurance - it's more of a race walk. If I have to stay indoors, I'll use my elliptical trainer.

That's in addition to playing pickleball 2 hours every day. I play with intensity and it does indeed stress different muscles.

[retireIn2020]

A treadmill doesn't exercise in the same way that walking naturally does. Weather permitting, I'll walk a little over an hour each day - 4.33 miles. I walk at a fast pace which helps with endurance - it's more of a race walk. If I have to stay indoors, I'll use my elliptical trainer.

That's in addition to playing pickleball 2 hours every day. I play with intensity and it does indeed stress different muscles.

I agree to an extent. Most of the time I'm at a 7+% incline and do 4+ miles on the treadmill. Even then Pickleball creates more soreness in the calves, knees and hamstrings.

I love outdoor hiking, but not in the cold weather. In warmer weather I use a local park that has several miles of some serious hills, I still feel more sore from pickleball.

[Cheez-It Guy]

The dark side of pickleball?

[LadyGeek]

^^^ Yes, I saw that as well.

The correct title is: Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport. These people hate it | CNN Business

However, let's stay focused on the sport itself.

[gips]

It seems to me we're in the middle of a paddle technology disruption cycle with gen 2 raw carbon starting to change the game in much the same way as poly strings changed tennis. I'm demoing crbn, vatic and six zero paddles next week but one of my partners switched to a crbn paddle this week, I played with her yesterday and the change in her game was immediately apparent.

I was using an onix z5 racquet but it was lost/stolen two weeks ago so I've gone back to playing with my $10 starter racquet. Oddly, now that I've been at pickleball for maybe 5 months of court time, I prefer my $10 paddle to the onix which imo, offers good power at the expense of terrible feel and precision.

best,

[StewedCarrot]

Has anyone switched to a quiet/"Green-Zone Approved" paddle?

I'm looking for something lower-noise and longer-handled than what I use now. The HEAD Radical Elite looked great but I want something suitable for play with any ball color. (The ball shouldn't blend in with the paddle color, doesn't seem sporting!)

[Parkinglotracer]

Try looking on Meetup. That's how I found my group - which is actually run by my local township. You also might try asking your local municipality's Parks and Recreation department. See where they're meeting and ask the group what to do. They'll be more than happy to help you out.

I just moved up to the township's highest level group, which I'd say is for 3.5 and up. The competition is intense and I enjoy it very much.

As for my replacement knee, it was just a matter of time before I came up to full speed. Exercising (calisthenics and walking every day) helped considerably.

Per my doctor's orders, I am prohibited from impact sports (e.g. tennis) and running. Pickleball is fine. I just need to know my limits.

That is great - glad you have gotten back up to full speed with your new knee. Interesting that the Doc considers tennis an impact sport but not Pickleball. Mindset is key I think. Maybe “no ball is worth the fall” I have heard and may apply. On occasion I hustle running back (no running backwards) for lobs and sometimes I just let them go if it’s too hard to get there. Good luck!

[LadyGeek]

^^^ Thanks! Yes, I learned a long time ago to never run backwards.

It seems to me we're in the middle of a paddle technology disruption cycle with gen 2 raw carbon starting to change the game in much the same way as poly strings changed tennis. I'm demoing crbn, vatic and six zero paddles next week but one of my partners switched to a crbn paddle this week, I played with her yesterday and the change in her game was immediately apparent.

I was using an onix z5 racquet but it was lost/stolen two weeks ago so I've gone back to playing with my $10 starter racquet. Oddly, now that I've been at pickleball for maybe 5 months of court time, I prefer my $10 paddle to the onix which imo, offers good power at the expense of terrible feel and precision.

best,

I was under the impression that upgrading my paddle from the $50 Amazon starter special to something "high tech" would solve all my problems.

Starting as an absolute beginner, I eventually came to the realization that my paddle (not me...) was not hitting accurate shots. After demoing a bunch of paddles, I settled on the ProKennex kinetic Pro Flight paddle. (The link shows the new color. I have the old one.)

Why? I love high tech and the carbon composite materials, along with the edgeless design, appealed to me. Paddles are a compromise. Select one quality, there's a compromise on another. Handling, weight, accuracy - pick any two. Then there's cost. And avoiding patent infringement. The Pro Flight simply fit better in my hand and was a bit lighter than the Gearbox - my second choice.

What happened? An immediate improvement in handling and my game. After a short while, I realized that the paddle only solved a few things. The rest is me. If I want to go to the "next level", the improvement won't be from the paddle.

What's driving me crazy right now are all the people using Selkirk Power air paddles. I don't understand how you can hit with a paddle that intentionally has a hole in it. My gut sense is that they did that design to avoid patent infringement. However, it does work and the players are happy with that paddle. BTW - The product line is called "Vanguard". Thankfully, there's no relation to the investment company.

[gips]

^^^ Thanks! Yes, I learned a long time ago to never run backwards.

It seems to me we're in the middle of a paddle technology disruption cycle with gen 2 raw carbon starting to change the game in much the same way as poly strings changed tennis. I'm demoing crbn, vatic and six zero paddles next week but one of my partners switched to a crbn paddle this week, I played with her yesterday and the change in her game was immediately apparent.

I was using an onix z5 racquet but it was lost/stolen two weeks ago so I've gone back to playing with my $10 starter racquet. Oddly, now that I've been at pickleball for maybe 5 months of court time, I prefer my $10 paddle to the onix which imo, offers good power at the expense of terrible feel and precision.

best,

I was under the impression that upgrading my paddle from the $50 Amazon starter special to something "high tech" would solve all my problems.

Starting as an absolute beginner, I eventually came to the realization that my paddle (not me...) was not hitting accurate shots. After demoing a bunch of paddles, I settled on the ProKennex kinetic Pro Flight paddle. (The link shows the new color. I have the old one.)

Why? I love high tech and the carbon composite materials, along with the edgeless design, appealed to me. Paddles are a compromise. Select one quality, there's a compromise on another. Handling, weight, accuracy - pick any two. Then there's cost. And avoiding patent infringement. The Pro Flight simply fit better in my hand and was a bit lighter than the Gearbox - my second choice.

What happened? An immediate improvement in handling and my game. After a short while, I realized that the paddle only solved a few things. The rest is me. If I want to go to the "next level", the improvement won't be from the paddle.

What's driving me crazy right now are all the people using Selkirk Power air paddles. I don't understand how you can hit with a paddle that intentionally has a hole in it. My gut sense is that they did that design to avoid patent infringement. However, it does work and the players are happy with that paddle. BTW - The product line is called "Vanguard". Thankfully, there's no relation to the investment company.

In my early 20s I used to teach tennis in the summer, invariably someone would ask my opinion on changing racquets. I'd ask what they didn't like about their racquet, borrow it, serve a 100mph bomb, hand it back and say "feels pretty good to me". twenty years later and not quite so snarky
I opened my mind to the idea that racquet and string technology can make an improvement in one's game. Still, it seems to be a law of nature that most of the people asking if they should change racquets probably don't have stroke mechanics that maximize the potential of a racquet/string pair and would be better off fixing their strokes with the racquet they have. In fact, IMO, some racquets get in the way of improvement.

but that's tennis, where at this point the technology is fairly mature and gains are mostly incremental. Until pickleball tightens regulations around materials/size/shape etc, it's going to be something of a wild west and I expect to see emerging technologies transform the way the game is played. but who knows, I could be well wrong...

[gips]

as we move about the cabin, i’m finding incredible diversity in play styles. i played with a group of ex-tennis players yesterday hitting strong topspin drives but not one dink or drop was hit. when i missed my first shot, a drop that landed in the net, my partner asked “what was that supposed to be?”

[LadyGeek]

As I moved beyond a basic level, other players emphasized that I shouldn't copy how they play. Instead, leverage your own style. I like to play touch close to the net. I'll try a reset instead of a kill shot, for example.

I'm also changing my grip a bit to get more power.

My ProKennex kinetic Pro Flight (I have the old one) is nearly a year old. Yesterday, I replaced the edge guard and had a really good session. Did the new edge guard help my play? I'd like to think so.

[Johny Fever]

We put in two pickle ball courts at our new place and I will say that the level of intense competition that has taken place is getting out of control...LOL..in a good way...all of our 6 kids and mostly spouses were college athletes including one son in law that played in the NFL...what always starts as a fun friendly game turns fast into a blast feast at times...diving for shots, line call discussions, who is in the kitchen...LOL...its been a blast. When we all play golf it is much more civilized and I have to say I love Pickleball so far. One of my kids played college tennis and she says that pickleball is much easier to play and she will play it for life!!

[KneeReplacementTutor]

I’ve only played a couple times but really enjoyed it. We just got a Blue Sky and we’re hoping to get more connected with the game and other players there!

[LadyGeek]

Those wanting to learn the game should go to the "official" site: USA Pickleball

The video tutorials are very good: How to Play Pickleball

[TomatoTomahto]

So, we finally got our tennis court (Har Tru) converted to Pickleball and played our first lesson/game. So, I learned first-hand that the warnings about getting sun on Lyme Disease fighting antibiotics are for real and even with my sun shield hat and all, I will have to wait another couple of weeks before trying that again.

In the meantime, a couple of questions:

I have “successfully” played tennis on the surface with just sweeping it, but the crazy bounces (and often non-bounces) make me think that I have to roll the court after irrigating it. Any experience with making the surface suitable for PB? The non-bounces were especially noticeable where a player was using non-court shoes and creating little sand dunes; he will get proper shoes and we are going to check players’ footwear from now on.

There’s been much discussion of rackets, but I think nothing about balls. I got some balls (marked GAMMA) called generic outdoor balls from pickleballcentral. I read that ONIX Pure 2 are supposedly best for HarTru surfaces, but after playing some with them we discovered that the GAMMA bounce better (on our admittedly poorly prepared court). Any experience with other outdoor balls to share?

[Parkinglotracer]

as we move about the cabin, i’m finding incredible diversity in play styles. i played with a group of ex-tennis players yesterday hitting strong topspin drives but not one dink or drop was hit. when i missed my first shot, a drop that landed in the net, my partner asked “what was that supposed to be?”

I am guilty myself. About a year into my journey playing Pickleball - I don’t have a drop shot from deep in my court so when the other team is up at the kitchen line I hit it hard low over the net or a lob it over their heads. Once I learn a drop shot I will be an improved player.

[michaelingp]

I have “successfully” played tennis on the surface with just sweeping it, but the crazy bounces (and often non-bounces) make me think that I have to roll the court after irrigating it. Any experience with making the surface suitable for PB? The non-bounces were especially noticeable where a player was using non-court shoes and creating little sand dunes; he will get proper shoes and we are going to check players’ footwear from now on.

There’s been much discussion of rackets, but I think nothing about balls. I got some balls (marked GAMMA) called generic outdoor balls from pickleballcentral. I read that ONIX Pure 2 are supposedly best for HarTru surfaces, but after playing some with them we discovered that the GAMMA bounce better (on our admittedly poorly prepared court). Any experience with other outdoor balls to share?

Har-Tru makes a number of court surfaces. If you have the clay-like variety, you may have a challenge finding a ball that bounces enough for pickleballers to be happy, although there are success stories on the web about playing pickleball on real clay. Fortunately, balls are cheap enough that you can try a lot without breaking the bank. On the Selkirk web site, in the blogs, there is an article titled "HOW I STARTED CLAY COURT PICKLEBALL" in which the author says he found the best ball. He doesn't mention the brand in the post, but maybe he'll tell you if you contact him.

[LadyGeek]

I bought Onix Fuse G2 balls for winter play, as they handle better in cold weather and don't crack.

Then, no one wanted to use them because competition play uses Franklin. I bought Franklin X-40 balls and everyone is using them. A few have already cracked...

[utvolfan]

We use the Franklin X-40's outside. Much prefer them over other pickleballs we have tried. Have met a few players who use pickleball games as their "pit stop" during their travels. One couple stopped at various courts each day on a cross country trip. They use some type of App to find games. We have enjoyed hosting them for a few hours and are hoping to see them again on their return trip home.

[gips]

We use the Franklin X-40's outside. Much prefer them over other pickleballs we have tried. Have met a few players who use pickleball games as their "pit stop" during their travels. One couple stopped at various courts each day on a cross country trip. They use some type of App to find games. We have enjoyed hosting them for a few hours and are hoping to see them again on their return trip home.

that's cool!

[gips]

we are visiting florida and I got my a** kicked by 65-75 yo players. They dinked, dropped, never made a mistake, kept the ball low, sped up and put the ball away. It was something to see. at this particular venue the women were destroying the men.

[Cruise]

we are visiting florida and I got my a** kicked by 65-75 yo players. They dinked, dropped, never made a mistake, kept the ball low, sped up and put the ball away. It was something to see. at this particular venue the women were destroying the men.

I sometimes play with an 82-year old woman who regularly makes younger men cry. She moves around the court like a 30-year old.

[LadyGeek]

I regularly play with that age group, which is at the highest level available for my area "Advanced / Competitive". (Not rated, but somewhere between 3.5 and 4.0.) I also get kicked by several approaching 80...

In less than a year, I'll fall into that age range (65) and hope to do the same to those younger than me. My goal is to stay at this level when I'm 90.

When we decide on partners, it doesn't make that much difference between women and men. We know how each other plays and pair appropriately.