Pickleball Action - Friday, 3/11/11

Above: Stevie-you've-got-to-Wonder demonstrates his world renown (and confirmed) twelve-inch vertical leap - easily beating the previous record of 6" set in 2010. Hoot (foreground) and Gary and Muriel look on in understandable awe.
We had 12 players in action including Johnny and Carol who have been out of action for a few weeks and Albert - visiting from Oregon who was playing is last session with our group before heading back home. Also: Anne, Jan, Gary, and Muriel, Mike, Steve, Ralph, Sharon and Ron.

It was great having Albert on hand for the last few weeks. he added a lot to our games and fit in with our crowd like a seasoned Upstate Pickleballer. He even brought cookies to a few matches which is always a plus. A very good player. Better to be his partner than his opponent. But, of course, there is plenty of excellent talent on the UPG roster, so Albert took his share of loses.

We had fine weather, with the usual March breezes. We are so used to windy days that it is hardly an issue - though it continues to be a good excuse factor.

Above: Clockwise from top L: Muriel and Gary; again; Ralph serving to Jan and Spidy; Albert gabbing with Cupcake and Pit Bull.

Above: Clockwise from top L: Carol (Lash) serving to Jan and Spidy; Spidy (with partner, Jan), pounding a backhander to Ralph and Lash; Jan (foreground) with Lash and Ralph across the net; Gab session.

So, one more great day on the courts, with some exceptional games, loads of camaraderie and another excellent final match where Stevie-no-Wonder and Albert  (Albert-of-O) hung on and beat Spidy and Spike.

Watching the weather. We might be looking at Wed and Friday, or some other combo. Stay tuned. Spike.

Tuesday P'ball - March 8, 2011

Eleven players were in action today: Peter, Gary, Steve, Ralph, Mike, Bob H, Jan, Anne, Albert, Sharon and Ron. We had friendly skies and the courts were dry for a change. So, lots of matches followed - some fiercely fought. We destroyed two pickleballs, scuffed up some paddles and left welts on a few players who made the mistake of 'receiving' overhand kill shots while hanging around the kitchen. Advice: if you decide to serve up a lob from the non-volley line, be sure to get it out of your opponent's reach, or be prepared to accept an almost guaranteed torso tattoo.

Top photo: Peter, deep. Above: Clockwise from top L. Albert and Buckeye, Spidy and Cupcake, Peter and Gary, Jan. Miscellaneous: Spidy was was given an unofficial administrative warning because he made some colorful, comments about a ball which had been cleverly marked with a red a heart on it. Pit Bull managed to store several p'balls under her Spandex top along with other 'equipment'. Removing the balls for play caused quite a stir.

We played for 2-1/2 hours finishing off the day - when the crowd thinned  down - with a few "A" games the last of which was won by Stevie Wonder and Albert 11-9 over Spidy & Spike. A rematch is on the horizon. Looks like we'll be playing on Friday, March 11, 2011. Spike

Pickleball Pentad: - Drizzleball - Friday, March 4, 2011

Driving to Timmons with the windshield wipers on might have encouraged a few hasty U-turns, and perhaps it did. We'll never know. But, five came through. Upon arrival, the courts were wet and it was drizzling. We decided to play anyway, and vowed not to make any risky moves for fear of taking diggers. It drizzled on and off. We five: (Albert, Anne, Steve, Lynne and this scribe) kept playing and finally the rain stopped all-together and a breeze picked up to start the court-drying process. Our matches picked up in intensity. We ended up playing for 2-1/2 hours, rotating the odd player in after each game. Some very exciting games followed with one match going to 14-12. Above: Pit Bull fires away. Below: Stevie Wonder leans into one.

Below: Ace winds up for a smasheroo.

Below: Prince Albert (All the way from Grants Pass, OR) sets a ball adrift from the back line.

Our fivesome was fairly well balanced in the ability department with the edge going to Albert. Consequently, each match was a battle. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly - you choose) the day's wins and loses came out even. Chew on that statistic for a while!
Spike

Tuesday Pickleball - March 1, 2011

Ten players were on hand for today's matches. Everyone was hitting on all 8 cylinders and that made for some very exciting games - one with a touch of vehemence. Players: Ralph, Mike, Steve, Jan, Joanie, Gary, Gary A, Albert (on loan from Oregon), Sharon & Ron. Above: From top left, clockwise - Gary A.; Albert & Gary A.; Gary & Ralph; Spidy. We played mostly doubles, but managed a few Canadian Doubles matches as the crowd thinned out. Below: Albert serving to Spidy.

Above: Spidy 'takes one for the team' - in the Adam's Apple. Body strikes like that are one of the perils of playing close to the net. Cupcake stands at the ready. The last few matches were very intense - probably as fun to watch as they were to play in - lots of hooting and hollering. Great shots and tight games.

Watching the weather closely. Friday, 3/4/11 is touch and go with rain predicted. The UPG Weather Arrangers are working on that at this very moment. No kidding! Check your email. Spike

Force 6 Friday - February 25, 2011

This day would best be described as blustery. The wind conditions have been Officially rated as a Force 6 on the Beaufort Scale. Seven showed up to play anyway, including Albert, who drove all of the way from Oregon to join the UPGers for some hard-core P'ball. Albert and his family were waiting for us when we arrived. The courts had a wet area - so, right after introductions we handed Albert a push broom and he attacked the puddle with considerable vigor and a fair amount of good humor. Below: Albert @ work.

Also present: Mike, Steve, Anne, Gary A, Sharon & Ron. Spidy brough a very nice batch of cookies and his paddle was returned to him unharmed. The cookies WERE NOT a bribe, as payment for the return his paddle which was left behind the last time Spidy played. Really.

As noted the wind was very strong and gusty - with enough force to blow over our chairs and to deposit all loose balls against the fence at the NE corner of the courts. Turns out Albert is a very good player and a good sport. We played for about 2 hours and had a good time. The 2nd plus: it was easy to shag the balls! The 1st plus is that it's better to be playing p'ball in squirrelly conditions, than not playing at all! Below: Albert & Stevie Wonder finish a match with Spidy and Gary A 

Above: A prototype UPG logo. At this point, it is NOT protected by copy write laws so feel free to have it applied to your sporty wearing apparel, bedclothes, undergarments, paddle-face or to your torso.

P'ball again on Tuesday. Watch for the announcement.
Spike