Category: Pickleball (Page 195 of 325)

Sunday, June 13, 2021 (Court Day #384)

I had some things to do in the morning then my wife I were driving to San Diego at 1:30 to visit her mother. I figured I could squeeze in a little play today. I opted for Derby Park since it’s closer to my house. I tried to park in the gravel lot to the north of the courts since I was late, but the gate were locked. I’d have to take my chances with street parking. Fortunately, there was a spot right across from the walkway into the park. I had remembered to bring my portable net this time and carried it in, but it turned out that there were plenty which others had brought.

By the entrance, barefoot Terry (wearing toe-shoes today), Maria, Tom M. and Sherry were doing what Terry referred to as “their own tournament”, so I’d have to find another court and other people to play with.

Eric, Ted B., and Tom S. were in a game. I’d have to wait. 

Leisurely Game

But there were four people sitting on the bench at the far side of the courts. I walked over and asked if anyone wanted to play on the adjacent open court. I’d always rather play—even a weak game—than not play. One on the bench turned out to be Larry from last week. Sally was the outgoing one who did most of the talking. A woman named Kim joined us. She would be my partner. Larry was the strongest of them, followed by Sally, then Kim. They are all lower-intermediate players at best, 2.5s and 3.0s. Even playing lefty, I was the strongest player. It was a close back and forth game, but Kim and I won. Too much back and forth—I really wanted this game to wrap up so I could get into the harder game that was waiting. Part of it was my own fault. There were at least 2-3 shots where I had winners but in my excitement either hit them into the net or hit them out.

Ted and Eric and Mike K. waited about five minutes for me to finish my game. Eric and I partnered up. It was like old times when we played tournaments. We took off to a fast start, but I was just making too many errors so they caught up and passed our score. Playing lefty isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Ted and I played one against Eric and Mike. It was a fairly close game, but we lost.

The next game was Tom S. and I partnered up against Eric and Ted. As one would expect, we lost that one. 11-4 or something to that effect.

Shortly after 11:30, it was time to go. Tom was ready to play with one of the free derby girls as a fourth—as I was—but Ted knew her play level and wasn’t interested. So that was that.

At least I now know who the stocky women were from last week. The Santa Cruz Derby Girls are a local popular roller derby team. I guess they decided to take up pickleball!

Number of days on a court: 384
Number of total hours: 1,087.5

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Friday, June 11, 2021 (Court Day #383)

I arranged for a game with Kristin, and Olga and her husband Oleg at 6:45 p.m. at Skypark in Scotts Valley. Unfortunately, we had a customer who takes late and ended up buying nothing. This made me 15 minutes late for the game . . . on top of costing our family business overtime for a number of personnel who had to stay while the couple dillydallied. I hold no ill-will, they were just kind of oblivious.

There was nothing really to write home about tonight. I didn’t play particularly well. I did attempt two service returns right handed. Both ended up in the net. I just was too tentative and worried about shoulder pain to really give the ball a proper whack. I just need to patient and let things continue to heal from my rotator cuff surgery.

Number of days on a court: 383
Number of total hours: 1,086

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Sunday, June 6, 2021 (Court Day #382)

I dropped off my daughter at work a few minutes after 9 a.m. It was misting, requiring periodic windshield wipers. As I drove on the freeway to Brommer Park, it got a little heavier—maybe enough to consider actual rain—then stopped. I figured there’d be at least a few diehards out playing, but when I arrived, there were only two cars in the lot and . . . yep, as I looped around, no one on the courts, which were a bit wet. Bummer. I simply pulled around without stopping and headed home.

I worked on some things at home then around 11, figured I’d give Derby Park—closer to my house—a shot. As I pulled onto the street, I saw Tom S. leaving. We greeted each other with a smile then I asked if there were still players. He said there were. I arrived inside the gate at 11:30. As I drove by I saw Alan C. and Robin L. leaving.

There were 14 players, surprisingly, I knew only two of them. There was a bunch of younger women—20s and 30s, it seemed. An unusually large number were heavier-set—maybe a weight loss group? Pickleball is good, low-impact, fun exercise. They appeared to be all newish players with high balls and lots of errant shots.

The two players on the courts that I recognized were Maria, who would often play in Scotts valley, and Tom M. Maria was partnered with a short woman named Sherry and Tom with an Asian man named Larry. As I watched their game in the hopes of jumping in after, it became apparent that Larry and Sherry were playing the best. I’d consider them all 3.0 level players.

When their game ended, I asked if I could play. Maria kindly offered me her spot. I joined with Sherry to take on Larry and Tom M. We started slow but then ran away to win 11-6. Sherry is a lefty’s I am playing right now.

Sherry asked if I’m actually a natural righty. I told her, yes. Tom said, “You would consider yourself ambidextrous by now.” Even with a six month layoff for COVID, I’m approaching two years of playing lefty.

Tom M. sat out and I played with Maria against Sherry and Larry. Maria wasn’t playing as well as I’d seen her play in the past. We lost that one.

Tom was ready to go and it was his net. It was kind of him to just watch and let us play that one more game.

I got in about an hour. I’ll always take what I can get!

Number of days on a court: 382
Number of total hours: 1,084

To start at the beginning of this blog click on “1st Post” in the menu above.newbies?