Summer pickleball seems to be going relatively well. There are very few bookings on Hold My Court, probably because most people like to play in the open group times. Pickleball players who have paid their annual dues to the Nelson Tennis Club, please feel free to make private bookings at any available time on Hold My Court.

 Regarding the Advanced Open times, some players have commented that they do not appreciate the “hard, fast” shots and occasional aggressiveness at this level of play. In contrast, some of the Advanced players feel that playing with those less skilled, results in a less than satisfactory experience or workout. 

 To alleviate the problem, on a trial basis starting this Wednesday July 20th, we will use the following system: On advanced days (Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 to 11) only Advanced players will use court one (nearest the parking lot) and court two. All others will use Court 3.

 On intermediate days (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) nothing will change, i.e. all play on all courts will be at an Intermediate level. If Advanced players wish to play on Intermediate days, they should respect that their fellow players are at an Intermediate level.

 For Nelson Pickleball players, we consider the following to be minimum skill level for Advanced players:

FOREHAND:
Consistently hits with depth and control. Is still perfecting shot selection and timing.

BACKHAND:
Has improved stroke mechanics and has moderate success at hitting a backhand consistently.

SERVE / RETURN:
Places a high majority of serves/returns with varying depth and speed.

DINK:
Increased consistency with moderate ability to control height/depth. May end dink rally too soon due to lack of patience. Is beginning to understand difference between attackable balls and those that are not.

3RD SHOT:
Selectively mixing up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage with inconsistent results.

VOLLEY:
Able to volley a variety of shots at different speeds. Is developing consistency and control. Starting to understand the block/re-set volley.

STRATEGY:
Aware of partner’s position on the court and is able to move as a team. Demonstrates ability to change direction in an offensive manner. Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the rules of the game. Has a moderate number of unforced errors per game. Solid understanding of stacking and when and how it could be used in match play. Beginning to identify opponents weaknesses and attempts to formulate game plan to attack weaknesses. Beginning to seek out more competitive play.

Thanks

Your Committee,

Doug, John and Gloria