Good Friday P'ball. 3/30/2013

This bright, breezy day brought out a lot of players. The session started at 1:00 PM; by 2:00 we had four courts fully occupied. We UPGers, well known for our benevolence, generously allowed Coach John and his student to occupy Court 5 where they played a game called tennisball (I think). There were 16 players: Newbies Lynda and Glenn (probably the only players who were equally happy when they hit or missed the ball or gained or lost a point), Ralph, Sam, Ray, Kim, Patty and Tim (Mom and son - both exceptional players - who contributed greatly to several fiercely contested matches), Peter, Don, Walt, Steve, Mike, Julia, Gary A and me (often called Ron). 

Below: Patty and Tim.



Below: Kim and Mike (aka Spidy)

Below: L. Peter and Julia; R. Patty and Tim again; Bott. Walt and Lynda.

Below Top: Peter, Glenn; Bott: Sam, Kim

Kudos to Don (age unknown, but a senior citizen for sure) for challenging youngster Tim (at 25 years young) to a singles match. Don gave Tim a run for his money, but came up just a few points short of a victory.

 

We stayed at it for about 2-1/2 hrs, but the number of players dwindled as time marched on. As always there were many fine matches. Our newer players keep improving. Our seasoned veterans keep getting a little tougher, too. Makes for exciting matches.

The Senior Games are coming up soon. The Pickleball Session will be held April 15, at Gower Park beginning at 6:00PM. Gary A has sent everyone info about the Games and he sent registration documents as well. The application deadline is April 5th. Read the documents for full details. Several teams have already been formed. OK? Check YES_____ or NO______ here. It really doesn't matter what you check. But, do it anyway.

Spike

P'ball Event - Friday, March 22, 2013

Sorry. No pictures were taken at this event, that turned out to be an uneventful day - which is not necessarily a bad thing. It was cold for March, and windy. That's why they call it MARCH.

Twelve players toughed it out: Sam, Ralph (a new Ralph), Kim, Julia, two Garys, Steve, Anne (Pitt Bull), Mike, Bill S, Walt and Yours Truly.

Briefly: We came, we saw, we competed. Matches were won and lost. About 50% of each.

Will try to do better next time!

YT

Pickleball Official Report - Fri. Mar. 15, 2013

Friday: Sunny, warm and windy. We had a full complement of players. Vets, rookies and newbies. Seventeen players total. Here goes: Mike, Gary A, Shirley and Bill (returned after a one-year leave of absence), newbies Ed and Janet, Tom, Ralph and maybe Sam, Johnny and Carol, Peter, Steve, Julia, Don, Kim, Ron. It was very windy so, it was hard on the newest players, but they toughed it out. They were given instructions, and got to play several matches among themselves and with advanced players. Welcome to the new players and thanks to UPGers for working with them. Otherwise, the veteran players kept the courts smokin', mixed it up and logged a bunch of good matches.

Below. Top L-R: Bill; Carol and Mike. Bott: Steve hitting/Gary A watching; Ron (Tnx Carol).

 Below: New & returning players.

Will work on putting names to the faces. That's Bill at bottom center, though.
See you on the courts.
Spike

P'ball Report. UPG. Fri. 3/08/2013

It was a premier day so we ended up with a whole flock, covey, mob, herd bunch of players of every skill level and each with at least a moderate degree of enthusiasm. Soon after action commenced, the wind arrived. This weather event added considerably to the direction and velocity of the balls - especially high lobs of which Steve and Mike are rather fond. Sixteen players attended, Mike, Steve,  Gary A, Lynne, Kim, Judie, Walt, Don, Johnnie, Carol, Peter, Julia, Karen, two new tryouts Rebecca and Carol X; and Yon Editor Ron.

Above: Spidy and Don, Lynne and Kim, Johnny and Walt.

Below: Don, Spidy (aka: Mike)

Below: Carol demonstrates her signature behind-the-back-slap shot, which in this case was ineffective. Notice the ball just below her bu beside her leg. Do not attempt. Professional player on a closed court.

Below. Newbie i.e.: Judie is playing with he partner The Shadow who is just about to hit a left-handed shot. We didn't have any southpaws playing on Friday, so we can't account for the image? Who knows? You must be over 60 to get this one.

Highlights: 1. Biggie: Johnnie executed a personal best, (and UPG 2nd place) vertical leap of 3.6 inches. His previous best was 3.45 inches during a college playoff basketball game in 1968. Congratz.  2. Don (Listed among UPG's top-rated Curmudgeons) brought a tripod mounted video camera to the courts to film himself serving to himself. This amounted to quit a feat of dexterity and fleet-footedness*. He won 2 of the 3 matches against himself and he also beat the backboard in one match 11-8. The video will be featured in a future Blog.

 

Anyway. We had a good crowd and loads of fun. Join us and you too, might just be featured by our Highlights Division. And, if you are real fortunate you may even be the subject of an embarrassing photo published right here in this Blog which receives about umpteen hits/week.

 

Spike

 

footedness (Noun) - the property of favoring one foot over the other (as in kicking a ball) Or, both feet over the other; asymmetry, dissymmetry, imbalance ...

 



 

 

There was so much action on this day that the Blog staffers were unable to take the usual array of stunning photos and they (the staffers) were also unable to take the copious notes that would enable him/her to write a proper information-filled Blog post. The Editors had to resort to outdated file photographs and plagiarized images to fill the pages of this presentation. Sorry if this failing causes any one of the hundreds of Blog subscribers undue stress and hopefully there are no long-term physical or emotional conditions that arise. If so, please submit written documentation... .

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'twas a nice day: Cool cloudy without a whisper of a breeze.  Nine players: Gary A, Julia, Kim, Mike, Steve, Jim, Ron, Ray and Walt.

The courts were a little wet upon arrival but Mike and Julia made short work of the puddles. Matches commenced immediately and kept going hard and fast for a straight 2-1/2 hrs. As the session came to a weary end - 4 players were left on the court. All upright, too.

Official report from Bob D. He has a broken bone in his right arm near the rotator cuff. Will be in a cast 4-6 weeks, then will have to have physical therapy. Wish him well and a speedy recovery.

Spike

Friday P'ball - March 1, 2013

Back for another try and hopefully off the DL permanently. A brisk day brought out 10 players: Mike, Gary A, Steve, Don, Tom, Barbara, Julia, Peter, Walt and yon Bloggist. Many fine matches followed and we kept 2 courts busy for about 2 hours.

Sorry to hear that Bob D had a p'ball mishap a few weeks ago and will be out of commission for a spell. Will give the full details when I hear directly from Bob. The unofficial word is that he charged a drop shot, tangled with the net and ended up losing to the net. We hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Below: Gary A, Steve, Mike and Don finish a match.

                                 Below: Top. Gary A; Julia and Tom. Bott: Peter; Walt and Tom.

Below Top: Steve; Barbara. Bott: Don; Tom. 

Not too much to report, so this blurb will be short and sweet, like Yon Editor. Come on out and get back in the p'ball groove. The days are getting warmer and the competition is too. See you soon. How about on 3/05/2013? Spike