Sunday, January 21, 2018 (Court Day #115)
This would prove to be a long pickleball outing. The thermometer in my car read a balmy 41°. Oy. But it was sunny. I didn’t even bother to grab a sweatshirt. I arrived a Derby at about 10 to 9. John P. was already there and starting to set up. “Slept in today?”, John asked with a smile. “Yes, I was out late at a Scottish Burns Night dinner.” Being that they were there and I’d forgotten the blower battery, I turned around and raced home to grab it. Once home, I figured out why I’d forgotten it. My always-organizing wife had moved it from where I’d left it next to my pickleball cap and put it with the charger in our living room. Ah, well. I got back at 9:05, blew off the courts, put on my ankle brace—11 days since it rolled it—and got into a game.
Tournaments
Melody and I talked more about Livermore. She really wants to get over to San Jose and play with me indoors. She reiterated that the indoor game is different. Lighting, distractions, different ball, how that ball bounces. Eric was interested—of course—and John P. was amenable to being our “fourth” on such an excursion.
John P. asked if I had a mixed doubles partner for Paso Robles. I told him no, but was playing with Melody in Livermore. John said he was asking because he’s doing down on Saturday but only wanted to stay for the dinner if there were people around that he knows. I can understand that.
Stronger Game
Leslie and Daniel were both signed up in red. It had been a little bit of time but no reds were around to sign up with them. I asked them if they’d mind of I signed up with them. They agreed. Ted B. (Eric’s long time friend) noticed than I’d signed up with in a “red” box: “Can I join you?” I said, “Ask them.” They agreed and soon we were on a court. It took me a few points, but then I settled in and played well. I got a “Nice hands” compliment from Daniel. We won, not a shock. Ted isn’t a weak player, but he’s not a strong player either—he’s an intermediate intermediate.
Mid-morning, if you looked, you could see your breath. It’s January, after all!
Terry’s Class
Eric and I were leading 8-4 (or thereabouts) over Beth and Allan when Terry Long called across the courts to us in the opposite corner. “The class is starting.” We explained and apologized to our opponents. “Just know you didn’t win,” kidded Allan, as we walked back toward the entrance. “It was draw,” agreed Eric with a laugh.
Terry reviewed the last week’s first class. Serve deep. Return deep near the centerline. If on the third shot, the receivers are still running up, the hit a “dying quail” shot (“one with pace, but drops”) that lands at the receiver’s feet. Drive if they are back. A lot of review.
Terry’s Great Drill
Terry explained a drill that uses only the left or right of a court. Player A is at the net and “cooperatively serves” straight ahead to Player B at the baseline. (Either a forehand or backhand target.) Player B has to hit a drive to Player A at the net. At this point, skinny singles starts. If Player B can hit 3 good shots after the serve return, Player B gets a point. You can play to 5 points then switch so Player B is at the net—or players’ discretion, of course. This is a fantastic drill. I told Terry so and he said he showed it to (national champion and clinic instructor) Scott Moore who now uses it.
For maybe 30-45 minutes, we played doubles, rotating in when a player made an error. Everyone wanted to play, so people were avoiding errors about as well as they could. Still, we all made mistakes. Eric and I each had the longest runs staying on the court. Eventually, Terry had to leave. Jeanne thoughtfully provide a gift. It was in a bag, but I think it was a bottle of wine.
Last Game
The last game was Jeanne and Karen against Eric and me. Even though we are playing in a tournament as partners next month, we should have split up. Eric and I won and each player only got to serve once! We were leading 3-0 when my initial serve was broken, but we got the ball back quickly and then Eric took us from 3-0 to an 11-0 win in his only service.
By the time we left, it was about 2:45. Wow. That went quick! Grita had left her paddle leaning up against the court fence, so I took that with me. I’ll email her and let her know.
Review
How was today? Solid. Of course, a lot depends on your partners and your opponents, but I believe I lost only one game today. I was never the weakest player on a court, so that was nice.
Per Dr. Tom’s instructions, icing my ankle—and watching some NFL playoffs to pass the time.
I’ve been slowly expanding my unwritten “rules of pickleball”. When I mentioned my rule number 1, a woman said, “Rule number 1 is to have fun!” I told her, “That’s a given!” Now they are not unwritten.
Andrew’s Five Rules of Pickleball
1. Get it over the net.
2. Get it in the court.
3. Keep it low.
4. If they are back, keep them back.* (Don’t allow your opponents to take the net.)
5. Be patient. (Don’t try to force shots that aren’t true winning opportunities.)
*If they are way back and you are at the net and have a fantastic drop shot or angle shot, then sometimes, you can break this rule and go for a winner.
These will serve every pickleball player. I may had more, but these are the ones that I tell newbies.
Oh, my one year anniversary of pickleball is coming up in just about a week. Hard to believe. It’s gone REALLY fast!!
Bonus: Monday, January 22, 2018 (No Pickleball)
A video of some great play…
…but I have to say, it makes me feel better. Even the top players in the world dink lamely into the net. Or mistakenly poach their partner’s forehand leading immediately to an opponent’s winning shot by being out of position as a result. Or being impatient and driving into the net during a dink rally. Or thinking they’ve got the angle for an ATP shot when they don’t. They are human just like me. (Then again, there are some amazing shots they they manage to pull off!)
p.s. Grita stopped by my work and picked up her paddle from me. She was quite happy to get it back!
Number of days on a court: 115
Number of total hours: 327.5
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