CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW WITH COACH MO

Coach Mo is back with his tip of the month and he now has four new training videos.

This month he'll tell you how to win 20% more games without learning any new hitting techniques. Just learn how to tell when your opponents ball is going OUT!!!

While you're out there, check out his four new training videos...............

The Overhead

Vollies

Backhand Groundstroke

Forehand Groundstroke

For this and MORE..............just click on

THE PICKLEBALL COACH

Decision Made by USAPA on new APIKE Paddle

I hope that all of you will take the time and read the article on the USAPA website regarding the new APIKE Paddle. Please note that USAPA does not feel that the paddle is compliant with official USAPA Rule 2.E , regarding the ability to put additional spin on the ball.

What this means is :

• It is not a USAPA approved paddle
• It can not be used in any USAPA Sanctioned Tournament

USAPA has also posted all comments received from individual players across the country. I hope you'll take the time to read both the article and the link to individual comments.

Read More on USAPA Decision on APIKE Paddle

MORE ON THE APIKE PADDLE

A week or so ago, I posted the information from the USAPA regarding the APIKE paddle. At this time there has been no further information released from USAPA that I am aware of, however other sites are forecasting that the paddle will have some sort of ban.We did send our comments to USAPA regarding the safety of the paddle and it's impact on the game.

Here is a link to a similar article on the Tanglewood website.

APIKE PADDLE

So that everyone in our group is aware of what is being said about the paddle, Meadow Point player Pat Zwolenski asked that we share this article with our group.


APIKE PADDLE CAUSING CONTROVERSY

written by Ron Farra

A controversy has ensued with the recent introduction of a new Pickleball paddle called the APIKE Paddle. The new paddle according to reports circulating among many players nationwide may drastically change the game of Pickleball. Some have called for it to be banned!
Apparently the paddle is constructed quite differently from others paddles on the market using foam in its core rather than the now typical composite materials. The new paddle is reported to help players apply a great amount of spin to the ball giving an unfair advantage to the users. It has also been reported that the ball comes off the paddle at a very high velocity such that it is very difficult for even elite players to return the ball successfully. It is this speed which has caused many players to appeal to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) to ban the new paddle from senior games and official tournaments. Some injuries have been attributed to the use of the APIKE Paddle and fear is being expressed about injuries to the head and eyes when players are hit by a pickleball traveling at such high speeds.
“I played with an APIKE Paddle for about 2 weeks,” said Jim Plotnik, formerly a Capital District USAPA Ambassador. He reported that balls hit by the APIKE Paddle come off the paddle silently. “Whereas players now can hear the struck ball and can sense how hard or soft it has been hit, the new paddle makes no noise when a ball is hit. This can be a little intimidating,” admitted Plotnik.
Wayne Tucker and Pete Briscoe have agreed to use and evaluate a sample APIKE Paddle loaned by Barney Myer of Pickleballstuff.com. They are expected to involve others in a two week trial and report their findings to the USAPA Board of Directors before the next USAPA meeting (April 5, 2009).
Those interested in participating in the APIKE Paddle trials may contact Pete Briscoe (346-3132) or Wayne Tucker (399-9888).

Meadow Pointe Pickler - Steve Long

Meet Steve Long

You will always recognize Steve when you come to see us play. He is that single guy with both knees wrapped for support. Yes, his knees give him some problems, but you wouldn’t know it when you see him on the courts. Steve is originally from Hammonton, NJ, an alumni of Richard Stockton State College of New Jersey and the father of two sons. He has had one of his son’s out on the courts to play with our group. Like father, like son……..they both play very well.

Steve spends his days working as a Contracts Manager, and when he’s not playing pickleball, he enjoys boating, and playing poker. He enjoys most sports and plays or has played golf, tennis, basketball, volleyball and racquetball. But we have him hooked on pickleball now!!

Meadow Pointe pickleball players Pat and Suzie Zwolenski introduced Steve to the game, and in turn Steve invited his close friend Mary Jones. Steve rarely misses a chance to play. He enjoys both the social side of the sport and the challenge of the game and has joined other Meadow Pointe players in fun pickleball events with the Kings Point Pickleball League in Sun City Center.

Steve just recently had surgery on both of his knees. Nothing can keep him off the courts. I think he was back out playing within just a few days!!!!

Donna to perform The Pickleball Crawl

Hi Guys,

Tomorrow night, March 25th, is the Variety Show here in Tanglewood. We understand that it is done every year before the snowbirds and RV'ers head north. As you know, pickleball is really really big in this park. One of the gentlemen who plays pickleball, Patrick Hotchkiss, rewrote the words of the popular "Watermellon Crawl". It is now The "Pickleball Crawl". I was asked to choreograph a dance, complete with pickleball paddles to go with the song. There are six of us pickleball players performing the dance on stage tomorrow night!!!

They tell me that a video will be made and put out on UTube. Oh My !!!!!!

Anyway here is a link to the Tanglewood Blog, and a funny article that our friend Wayne Roswell wrote, along with all the words to the Pickleball Crawl!!

http://tanglewoodpickleballclub.blogspot.com/2009/03/tanglewood-pickleball-crawl.html

APIKE PADDLE

This is the newest pickleball paddle on the market



NEW Apike Paddle from Canada - Carbon graphite and high elastic foam plastic hybrid material. Made in China. A paddle that does not produce so much noise. 15.157" long X 8.465' wide and .47" thick. Paddle weight approx. 7.2 - 7.6 oz. All paddles have pictured design on one side. Reverse side is either yellow background or hot pink background with soaring eagle graphic..



The following is taken from the Atlantic South Regions Blog:
All Pickleball players in the Atlantic South Region should be aware that there are safety concerns with the new Apike paddle. There have been reports of injuries as a result of the use of this paddle. The USAPA has been contacted by several players as a result.This site is not making comments pro or con but all players should check the posting on the USAPA website at the following address http://usapa.org/. This is the only statement being made at this time by the USAPA on the paddle.

PICKLEBALL MAKES THE SPORTS PAGE

As temporary RV residents in the Outback at Tanglewood, Rich represented Tanglewood, with his partner Al Goldberg in the Heartland Senior Games on March 6th and 7th

On Friday he and Al beat out recent Gold Medal Winners in the Michigan Senior Olympics 60-64 age bracket. What a match. He and his partner Linda Kramer also took the Gold Medal in the Mixed Doubles on Saturday.

The following picture is from the Highlands Today Sports Section of the Tampa Tribune here in Sebring. The article was written by Brian Gjurgevich. The only mistake is that, as you can see, Rich is the player on the Right! CLICK ON THE FULL STORY LINK BELOW TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

Rich Donald (left) returns a shot while teammate Al Goldberg looks on Friday during Tanglewood Pickleball Club's Heartland Senior Games Pickleball event in Sebring.

Tanglewood Pickles Competition

The Tanglewood Pickleball Club signed up its 100th member last week, an impressive figure considering its enrollment less than two years ago.

Full Story


There is also a very good article (written by yours truly) out on the USAPA Atlantic South Website about this First Ever USAPA Sanctioned Tournament in Florida. There is also a link to several pictures of the tournamen. The link to Mark Jones pictures are really excellent. He's a great photographer. SANCTIONED PICKLEBALL AND MT OLIVE PICKLES

.

Meet the Pagliaro's -Clubs newest tournament winners

MEET RICH AND DEE PAGLIARO

Rich and Dee are originally from Hempstead, New York. Pickleball is a family affair for the Pagliaro’s. They have one daughter, Tara, who is also a regular MeadowPointe pickleball player. I think they used to draw pickleball lines on their driveway or street............and that's where they taught Tara!!! Rich was previously employed as a State Trooper, but both he and Dee are now retired. When they are at home they play with the group on a regular basis. (They gave up playing in the streets!) But Rich and Dee are also avid RV’ers and enjoy their time on the road. When not traveling in their motor home, or playing pickleball, Rich enjoys golfing, bowling, shooting and softball.

They were introduced to pickleball while RV ing at the Peace River Thousand Trails/NACO park in Wauchula, Florida. They met up with Rich and Donna Donald at another Thousand Trails park and found out they were almost neighbors. They loved the game of pickleball, and only played while they were RVing, until they found the MeadowPoint crew!! Now they are regulars.

Like everyone who plays the sport, they love the exercise!! What's that saying about the family who plays together, exercises together etc.......?? Here's a picture of Rich with daughter Tara after a game on the Meadow Pointe courts.

More Recent News........

I was reading an e-mail sent to the group this past week and Pat Zwolenski was really ribbing Rich and Dee about not joining the group for Pizza after Friday's play. Of course, that was just Pat's way of picking on the newest tournaments winners in our club. I asked Dee what the e-mail was all about and she said "We played a tournament in Torrey Oaks,...........So now they tease us. I e-mailed him back and told him he made me laugh, and he emailed me back and said if you went to pizza you would not be getting these lashing e-mails. He is so funny, we really like all of the people over at MP, they are a great bunch."

As avid RV'ers, they frequently stay at the Thousand Trails Parks in Clermont, Fl and in Wauchulla, Fl. Pickleball is quickly becoming the sport of choice at many Florida RV parks, and so the inter-park competition has begun. While recently staying at the Peace River park in Wauchula Rich and Dee along with fellow Peace River Picklers participated in an inter-park tournament at the Torrey Oaks RV Resort just a few miles up the road in Bowling Green. Rich and his partner Dennis Johnson tied for second place, and Dee with her partner Barb Johnson brought home the Gold........

Congratulations!!

Welcome Back Steve

Steve one of our Meadow Pointe players is a dedicated player. He recently had surgery and came back after a week and a half to play two games of pickleball. I call that dedication or a little crazy. I am glad to see Steve doing so well and hope RuthAnn is having a speedy recovery as well.

PICKLEBALL TIME

Hey Meadow Pointe Players................ A message from MP Pickler, Bob Koryus

It is that time of year again. Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 8.

Don't forget to move your clocks forward 1 hour for those planning to play Monday, March 9. It always seems early on the first day, but we will enjoy those evening daylight hours playing our favorite sport "Pickleball"...

For you older players, don't forget to set your clocks... (Written in larger Print for Older Folks) .