Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Practicing in the Garage

I had been a while since I got into my garage and practiced pickleball. Given that I couldn’t play Sunday morning, I pulled our car out and practiced Sunday night. One thing that was markedly improved was my ability to control the ball when dinking. I was able to keep a “dink rally” going against the plywood panel long enough for me to start to get bored. Granted, it was probably only about 20-25 hits, but still, considering 5-10 was a typical rally before, this was a big improvement.

Online Discussions

I asked Mark Renneson—I figured he’d be in the know—about online discussion forums for pickleball since I had no luck finding any. He told me about a group on Facebook called imaginatively enough . . . Pickleball Forum!
Here’s the link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1340630926008388/
I spent 45 minutes of my bedtime last night watching a “Facebook Live” recording of top player Scott Moore that ended a couple hours before I tuned in to watch it. It was interesting.

USAPBA Rules Test

One of the posts in the FB group mentioned the USAPA online rules test. It’s free to take and I’ll have to take it. One fellow—who I can only assume is a well-versed one—said after a number of attempts, his best score was still missing 12% and he’s the “go to” guy for rules when plays. Of course, I’m thinking, “How many rules can there be? You are hitting a plastic ball over a net with a paddle.” I’ll just have to take it and see what they are talking about.
http://www.usapa.org/rules-tests/

Real Player Ratings

Taking advantage of this discussion group, I asked a question about the published criteria versus the reality found at tournaments.The general consensus was that tournaments are far harder than what self-ratings based on the criteria might suggest. A 5.0 player by-the-book might be either a 4.5 or even a 4.0 player at a tournament. Some posted a link to pickleballtournaments.com where you can look up the player’s tournament history. I was able to learn that local player Terry Long partnered at venue with another local player, Jerry Louis. Terry also played doubles against Scott Moore at one point—Terry lost, but that would have been a major upset had he won!

I have to admit that I’m feeling a little intimidated by all of this, but I think it’s my perfectionist nature. I want to do well at whatever I do. Remember, it’s all for fun!

Rain

If figures that the year that I get into pickleball is a very wet winter after years of drought! We’re at an 80% chance of rain tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., dropping to 50% by court time. But the courts get flooded. Flip a coin, I guess.

[Update. Minutes after posting this, the sky just opened up at a quarter to 11. Deluge. It’ll be a wet night. Playing may have to wait until Sunday!]