New Member Creates Dinkville Cards and Flyers to Grow Pickleball In His Local Community
Stephanie Lane; Teach the Teacher Workshop Recap
On Saturday, January 14, Dinkville Member Stephanie Lane lead 26 IPTPA certified Level 1 instructors in a 8-hour workshop. “We truly appreciate C2, especially fellow Dinkville members Crissy McDaniel & Josh Bartow, for showing their support to the pickleball community by hosting this fun & enthusiastic group of difference makers!”, said Stephanie Lane.
These workshops not only help you learn easy steps to help others, but it also helps players analyze their own game and mechanics. We spend 4 hours in the classroom learning the teaching framework & basic fundamentals and then we spend another 4 hours practicing our teaching. So when one leaves the workshop, they have the tools & the confidence to teach their first lesson, clinic or just a better understanding of the simplicity of the fundamentals.
Please see below information for the next Teach the Teacher workshop on Saturday February 18th.
West Nashville Pickleball Multiplies
West Nashville is growing and becoming a wonderful Pickleball community! Lead by neighborhood captain Jason Tilley, 20+ players connected in the Community Discord and played for 3+ hours on Sunday. Get connected with your local community and start joining the fun. Click here to sign up for Community Discord See below pictures from Sunday's group!
Columbia, TN Resident Gets Creative
Dinkville member Chet Hale is rallying the troops in Columbia, TN by making Dinkville Cards and Flyers with QR codes to help unify his local pickleball community! See pictures below of what Chet made aa he shared with other players and posted in his Community Center. Thank you Chet for your love for Dinkville and Pickleball!
Get To Know Dinkville Member Chet Hale
Who are you? Chet Hale
When did you start playing pickleball? I started playing in November of 2022 with some folks at work, literally in a huge conference room upstairs in our building.
How did you get started with Dinkville? I was searching on line for TN pickleball groups and came across Dinkville. After joining and reading through the discord, I decided this was the place for me. Great conversations and a lot of activity!
Why do you love pickleball? It is a fun and competitive sport that can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and athletic abilities. At 60, tennis just got to be too much.
What’s your favorite shot in Pickleball? Backspin dinks.
What’s your goals this year in pickleball? I love rec play but haven't been in any tournaments. I hope to get in 4 or so.
What’s your advice to new players? First and foremost, have fun! Regardless of your level of play, have fun. Second, play with as many different people as you can. Last, don't feel pressured to buy the most expensive equipment out there. You can learn and have fun with a $40 paddle just as easy as with a $299 paddle.
Up Your Game Brought To You By The Dink:
"Squeeze" to Stop the Targeting
Targeting the weaker player is inevitable in pickleball, especially in competitive play. It's a good strategy -- but what if you're on the other end of it?
You squeeze. Let us explain:
Players C & D are targeting player B, and avoiding player A at the kitchen. So, AB should shift to their right.
Player A is now responsible for 75% or more of the court. Player B's duty becomes hitting consistent shots back, typically cross-court to player C.
By shifting, AB have reduced the amount of space that CD can hit the ball to. They've made the target smaller. CD now have to be more accurate with their shots to continue to target B. This increases the chance for errors, and decreases their comfort level.
The mounting pressure will likely cause CD to play a ball back cross-court to stretch Player A out wide. This will open the game back up, and level the playing field. If CD opts for the middle, AB can dictate where the ball goes next.
If your weaker player is being targeted and you aren't at least occasionally cycling through a squeeze, then you're allowing your opponent to have their way.
If you are B in this scenario, then it's up to you to recognize this, shelf your ego, and allow your partner to assume a higher percentage of court.
Read more details on this strategy here.
Today In Pickleball Brought To You By The Dink:
New Year, Same Champs
The all white attire at the PPA Masters provides one of the most visually appealing stops on the pro calendar.
What was different about this stop was the downpour in Palm Desert. Rain delays put a damper on the weekend and prevented the completion of the back draw in men's and women's doubles.
But the change in schedule did not affect the tour's top dogs.
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns both started the year with a triple crown finish. Waters debuted a new partnership with Anna Bright and the two Annas did not drop a game together.
Vivienne David and Thomas Wilson made an inspired run from the 11 seed to a bronze medal finish. They knocked off Jay Devilliers/Callie Smith, Matt Wright/Lucy Kovalova, and Tyson McGuffin/Catherine Parenteau along the way.
- Sam Querrey fell short of the podium in the pro main draw but won the qualifier draw in mixed doubles
- Newly qualified senior pro, Altaf Merchant, teamed up with Dayne Gingrich for gold in men's senior pro doubles
More on the PPA Hyundai Masters can be found here. The PPA pros will be back in action at the first MLP event of the year Jan 26-29 in Mesa, AZ.
Todd sets the Tone at Punta Gorda Open
The APP Tour's first event of the of the year was dominated by Parris Todd. APP President Ken Hermann dished the championship trophy to Todd three times on Sunday as she completed the first in what could be a year full of triple crowns.
Her mixed partner Hunter Johnson brought home the singles title over Jhonnatan Medina Alvarez. Simone Jardim helped Todd survive a gritty onslaught from the women's doubles challengers, Megan Fudge and Alix Truong.
Andrei Daescu and Kyle Yates went to the mat with Joey Farias and Andreas Siljestrom in men's doubles. Siljestrom's 6'9'' frame attracted spectators and stymied opponents throughout the weekend, but the vets Daescu and Yates clung on for gold with an 11-6, 11-6 finish.
Noah Rubin's debut ended without a medal but the former tennis pro was optimistic about the year ahead. Read more about the event here.
The APP's next stop is Feb 8-12 in Daytona Beach, FL
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Landon Hallam, Dinkville Commissioner, Landon@dinkville.com