Pickleball - Lesbians of Palm Springs and The Coachella Valley

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: Tanner Tomasi explains why you should split step earlier! Do not wait until your opponent contacts the ball. As your ball is traveling through the air, you will split step right when that ball crosses the plane of the net. Be sure to split earlier, as demonstrated in the video. https://youtube.com/shorts/0n1acvfRFgo?si=fxbZYCzAhlih2iHx

The Superbowl Pickle Round Robin is coming up on February 8th! You will be done playing prior to your party! Workout prior to your Superbowl party! We will have the Superbowl Squares, so you could win cash! The Superbowl Pickle will be at Paradise Pickleball Club on February 8th. Email Mary to enter the event. [email protected]

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau [email protected]

PICKLEBALL POINTS FOR JANUARY 25TH, 2026 Rancho Mirage Mission Hills Country Club just hosted the PPA Carvana Pro Tournament this last weekend. I asked my students who attended to share what they learned by watching the pros. Really great feedback!
Theresa: · She volunteered at the event, and her first comment was that the professionals were very nice to the volunteers! · She was impressed with the communication! She could hear Hayden and Anna talking from up in the bleachers! · She noted the movement together as a team to cover the court – important. · She was amazed by the amount of follow-through on groundstrokes and thirds and dinks.
Elaine: · She was impressed by the footwork that occurred before the ball arrived. · The anticipation and preparation were amazing. · She was amazed at how fast the game was!

Gracie: · She noted the follow-through with all shots. · She was impressed with the spin applied to the ball on all shots. · She was in awe at how long the dink rallies lasted before an attack or speed up.
Craig/Kim: · He noticed the early split steps on every shot. · He was impressed with the patience prior to attacking – long dink rallies. · He noted the targeting of attacks, to specific areas of the court. · Loud and early communication!

Several of my students noted the warning for profanity for the male players. FY I. They also noted the numerous foot-faults called on the pros by the officials. I think it is great when we get to watch professionals play. Besides being entertained, what can we glean from this experience?
1. Watch the players bodies to observe short backswing, big follow-through.
2. Do not watch the ball, watch the players’ bodies.
3. Listen! Note the partner communication, and how early and loud it is.
4. Notice differences in the various players. · Did you notice that Ben Johns has a great one-handed slice backhand? · Did you observe that Anna Leigh Waters has a two-hander on all returns, thirds and dinks?
5. Did you observe that one player is the set-up player, with a great third shot drop, while the other player is the aggressive attacking player? Be sure to look at the attached photos from the Desert Sun of live action at the tourney. We may not be as mobile or fit, or young as the professionals, but we can learn from their short backswings, long follow-throughs, early preparation and footwork, and loud communication.

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau [email protected]

PICKLEBALL POINTS:
January 4th, 2026 Happy New Year Picklers! Note: Last week, the Desert Sun used the name Sergio Briones rather than Jordan Briones for the video I shared, two times. I love Jordan Briones, so wanted to correct that error. It is a custom with the New Year to share any rule changes for Pickleball. I went on the USA Pickleball website, plus checked out some YouTube posts and some Pickleball websites to bring the 2026 points of interest. Notably, there are very few! Check out these attachments. If you cannot open them from the Desert Sun, go online and search the USA Pickleball website for rule changes for 2026. Click here to see the entire 2026 USA Pickleball Handbook. https://usapickleball.org/rules/ https://usapickleball.org/rules/#:~:text=The%20Serve,of%20the%20wrist%20at%20contact.

Click here to read the 2026 USA Pickleball Rule Change Document. There are 20 entries. https://www.google.com/search?q=USAPickleball+2026+rules+changes&client=safari&hs=xB4o&sca_esv=d33f661f42c9ee99&hl=en-us&sxsrf=AE3TifOchPjPjLqJzKFUct78zG4YOwKnCQ%3A1767015926536&ei=9oVSadG9IO26kPIPpYSF6AU&ved=0ahUKEwjRkPSk9-KRAxVtHUQIHSVCAV0Q4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=USAPickleball+2026+rules+changes&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIFVTQVBpY2tsZWJhbGwgMjAyNiBydWxlcyBjaGFuZ2VzMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgUQIRirAjIFECEYqwIyBRAhGKsCSPQ0UMgPWIEkcAF4AZABAJgBcqAB7gWqAQM2LjK4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgmgAt4GwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR5gDAOIDBRIBMSBAiAYBkAYIkgcDMy42oAfEJrIHAzIuNrgH1gbCBwMyLTnIBy2ACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Click here to watch a video from The Dink Pickleball website: https://www.google.com/search?q=USAPickleball+2026+rules&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

My Summary:
1. Clarification: the wording has changed with the volley serve. The rules were not changed, but they added the word “Clearly”. You must clearly contact the ball below your waist, clearly contact with your paddle below your wrist, and clearly use an upward motion. This makes the rule a bit stricter.

2. Clarification: You cannot spin or manipulate the ball with your hand or with your paddle prior to contact to create spin on your serve, but you can create spin with your paddle after you have released the ball.

3. Double Hits: If it is one continuous motion, it is legal, if it is in one direction. This could be triple or more hits also! Carries are illegal. Watch the video.

4. Additional ball rule: If you have a ball in your pocket, visible to your opponent, that is a fault. If an additional ball drops on the court, that was already a fault. See the video.

5. Officially, you must not consult spectators on specific line calls! Do not ask a spectator if a ball was in or out. You will be penalized.

6. Permanent objects: If the ball bounces on your opponents’ side, then contacts a permanent object, this is now your point. Balls with quite a bit of backspin might create this situation.

7. Out Calls: Call the ball out quickly! Before the ball bounces twice. This speeds up games. If you play with someone who is always challenging your game, or cites rules, then purchase a new rulebook for them! Next RR is Superbowl Pickle at Paradise Pickleball Club, February 8th, 2026. Email Mary to enter: [email protected]

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau [email protected]

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK:
How to Drill to Defend Against Kill Shots!
Check out this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/E4xoyqNA7v4?si=4CTePM7RPakKtrNO

Back to Callie Smith this week – she has short, concise videos. In this one, she demonstrates how to drill defending against a low kill shot at your feet from your opponent.
1. You will position yourself in the middle of the transition zone.
2. You will feed an “Oh Crap!” to your drilling partner, which is a pop-up or easy high, attackable ball to the person positioned at the NVZ across from you.
3. The drilling partner will take that high ball, and they will drive it with an overhead or a hard volley down at your feet, between your knees and ankles. (This is a good drill for this person to work on control and accuracy with their overheads and attacks.)
4. You will then position yourself low, forward, opening your paddle face, softening your grip, with both arms out in front. Callie uses two hands on the backhand side, which should give you more control.
5. Callie is attempting to return a ball into the Kitchen, so that she does not get attacked again and again.
6. Watch the video several times, paying attention to her body and paddle position, and how low she gets.
Next RR is the Superbowl Pickle at Paradise Pickleball Club in Palm Desert, February 8th. I am running an advanced drill class on Saturday February 7th, the day before, from 10 – 12. You must be a 3.5 to 4.0 level player to register. If you mention this article, I will give you a discount on one extra entry for the RR if you participate in the clinic! [email protected] to register or for questions.

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

PICKLEBALL POINTS: December 28, 2025

PICKLEBALL POINTS: December 28th, 2025 Jordan Briones dinking to set up attack drill: Jordan says he wins 97% of point with these PERFECT Plays https://youtu.be/tLe0THCSnYk?si=sNBCmF9zRjktyZyX (If you cannot access this video at the Desert Sun, then go to YouTube, go to Jordan Briones, go to Winning 97% of points off this play.)

I had my advanced drill and strategy class warm-up with this drill today, and I worked on it myself last Saturday. I love it! Why? · The pros dink successfully, but not so much for recreational players. Why? Because they are not good, controlled set-up dinks! · It is using the dink to set up an attack, rather than just dinking or attacking off a machine fed ball. More game-like. · Working on precision targets for your dinks and tracking the ball and your body to where the ball is coming from. · This makes you keep your paddle out in front, ready to attack or speed up, after you execute a dink. · You can work on this on both sides, working topspin speed-ups from both the forehand and backhand sides. Jordan talks about patterns. You must create offense yourself.
Pattern #1: You are looking for a dead dink or something that you can speed up after you move them out wide. After you move them wide, you move over to the middle, ready to attack. Move them to the middle, then pull them out wide, to open the court.

Pattern #2: Use your topspin roll to their inside foot, then move them wide. You can also move them back to the middle, then if they give you a dead dink, you can attack. Notice that you can make this just a dinking drill, without attack. Jordan emphasizes leaning in, ready to speed up. See the yellow outline of his body. Love his two-hander topspin dinks! See how low he gets.

Pattern #3: Focus on leaning in, setting your feet early, and looking to attack when you have put quality dinks in play. Next Round Robin is in less than two weeks! Paddle in the New Year is Sunday, January 4th at Rancho Mirage Community Park. Email Mary to register: [email protected]

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

PICKLEBALL POINTS: December 21, 2025
Introducing you to your Ultimate Pickleball Journey with RPPA! http://rppa.org/ Click on the link below, and check out the most user friendly Pickleball website available! This is the most user friendly website in the Pickleball universe. I am advertising my round robin events on this site. Elena is a Pickler, and a very smart business woman. Please take the time to check out this website. They have travel discounts, coaching apps., product deals, and promoting of Pickleball events. This is affiliated with the FitPickler, so check out both sites. Really good tips, info, and deals.

Coach Mary’s Tip for the Week: https://youtu.be/Y5NfFDTZPAw?si=gT6xhTbNv-DWNvtA Kyle Koszuta just recently posted “How Much Should You Drill vs Play?” Great Question! But it is not about time, or a ratio. You are really asking “How do you get better faster in the time you currently have?” Here is his take: · If you are new to the sport, start playing, and hold off drilling. Why? Because you need to learn what it is that you need to learn and improve! I personally do not agree with this for beginners that are not from an athletic background. They need to learn how to be balanced, how to incorporate your hips and shoulders, and other basics. · Why I drill the way I do. Check out his story about his twoey backhand. He asks you to do the math. · Drilling Math. Instead of trying something new in game situations, you should drill 5 minutes a day on a specific skill, then put it into game play later that day. Kyle says you get a 2000 percent return when you drill 5 minutes, then play for 2 hours. It is not just about doing more reps. He quotes Anders Ericsson, who states that you must practice with intent and get feedback, so you actually know what to fix. This is called Deliberate Practice. ·

The Keys to Fast Improvement · 1. Intention: Before you start, decide what you’re working on and why. After you finish, reflect with questions like this: · What was I trying to do? · What actually happened? · What will I change next time? 2. Feedback: · You need something or someone outside yourself telling you what’s really happening, not what you think is happening. Our memories of what we did on court aren’t typically very good, or accurate. · Film yourself. · Get a coach. · Sign up for online Pickleball lessons or join an online Pickleball School. · Download Pickleball Vision, which is an AI tool. · Without feedback, you might be reinforcing the wrong skill set. 3. Only Drilling is Not Enough! 1. Drills Teach your Body “How”. 2. Games Teach your Body “When”. 3. Don’t Beat Yourself Up! 4. Check out Kyle’s timeline for Drilling Method. This is quite a bit of information, but watch the video, and take notes. This is a really good instructional video, covering something that has not been covered often. Here is my final input: Drill on a skill, then put it into a lead-up or modified game situation, then in a full game situation. You will not learn the skill only in a controlled drill. You will gain confidence when you execute it in a game! Be sure to watch Kyle’s video several times – it is really spot on for those who want to improve.

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

PICKLEBALL POINTS: Gift Ideas for your Pickleball Peeps
TIP FOR THE WEEK: Short backswings!

Gift Ideas for your Pickleball peeps, and a tutorial on using a short backswing! Remember, if you cannot access the videos on the Desert Sun website, go to YouTube, go to the name of the instructor, and go to short backswing. FYI: I always post my articles on my Facebook page with the videos. The past 3 years, I have written about Pickleball gift ideas. I am just attaching a link this year, with gift ideas. I will say: · Give someone a gift of a drill class. · Give someone a pick-up tube, and/or a rolling basket for balls. · Give someone a ball machine! A twist, a lobster, or one of the many expensive ball machines. · Give someone a gift card for Pickleball Central: great website!

Amazon.com : cool gifts for pickleball players https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cool+gifts+for+pickleball+players&adgrpid=186566587819&hvadid=779677804700&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9031378&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=1646614321962230753--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1646614321962230753&hvtargid=kwd-2369005254130&hydadcr=9439_13604229_59044&mcid=625a7c0058ab33049dfb5336473e48c1&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_8xdlg3g670_e

The most precious gift of all? Your time. Drill or play socially with friends who are perhaps not at your skill level. They will love it! Have a playing companion who is always correcting you and telling you the rules? Buy them a USA Pickleball Official Rules booklet for 2026.  Okay, we did the gift thing.

How about the tip on short backswing? This first video from the Flying Pickleball Academy is spot on. · Emphasis on short backswing, with a short turn of the hips. · Follow-through with your shoulders and lower body, almost moving forward as you execute the return. · This is a great demo! Be sure to watch it several times. https://youtube.com/shorts/TdyuGL9iONI?si=o6ZzSKu41uDWZq9W Callie Smith does such great short demos! Check out her don’ts, (She wags her finger no.) and her do’s (She gives a thumbs up.) Note the hip turn, short backswing, and big follow-through. And this is at the NVZ line!

https://youtube.com/shorts/KHQ33X1dkZw?si=T906AGyDhr4KZf7R Callie Smith again, now on the forehand side. · She wags her finger No with the huge backswing on the forehand side. · She demos the short backswing, with more follow-through in the stroke that she gives you a thumbs up. https://youtube.com/shorts/xdtfqutC36s?si=olhvfX Simone demos a simple drill to get you to keep your paddle in front of you when volleying. There is no backswing! · At the net, she just catches balls that are tossed to her. In front, and on both the backhand and forehand side. · Importantly, she also shows how to move from the backhand side to the forehand side. · Finally, she uses her paddle to mimic the same stroke, out in front of her body. So crucial to success at the NVZ.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ATzYoan54lk?si=pVzHbTdMT_BGwPa- Jordan Briones demos the two-handed volley at the NVZ. He emphasizes that you need a shorter backswing on a ball coming at you fast. · Jordan does say that if you have more time, you can take a bigger backswing to create more power and depth. · Notice the hip and shoulder turn with the two-hander! https://youtube.com/shorts/845niJo_U0g?si=4demSLP0bgLos91P

Last Call for the Jingle Pickleball Round Robin at Freedom Park. December 21st, 2025. Email Mary to enter: [email protected]

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: November 23, 2025

Why Do I Need to Learn How to Execute a Short Hop? Sometimes, a dink comes deep enough to take out of the air, but it drops. It is an ankle biter. If you try to take it out of the air, you might be off balance and almost falling forward. This is when you take no backswing, and you quickly take the ball after the bounce, with a lifting motion. Babum! (Quick, Quick) Allyce Jones from Pickle Roll demonstrates the short hop dink at the NVZ line. This is a shot where you should voice the word “babum!” Your paddle is out in front, the ball does not travel far enough to take out of the air, so you drop your paddle down, and take the ball quickly after it bounces. Babum! Bounce and contact. Check out the video. Allyce emphasizes keeping your chest low, and your paddle out in front and low. She takes the ball quickly off the short bounce. She wants to return a low, short dink into the Kitchen. https://youtu.be/jJWDNy1PYXw?si=1-OZIGSkJh3uc8ox

Callie Smith really emphasizes the “BABUM” Take the ball quickly after the bounce, and block it back, without any backswing. https://youtube.com/shorts/nfvLGGxiZYM?si=GKo47yTONVYljQ5R Richard emphasizes when you need to incorporate the short hop. If you are receiving a good topspin dink, you need to drop your paddle down, take the ball quickly off the bounce, and lift it back without a swing. Keep your paddle low, use your core and legs, and block it back into the Kitchen to give you a chance to stay in the point. No backswing! BaBum! https://youtube.com/shorts/jkw1S0pxaVM?si=JJRf0fHLqS-WnFg_ Callie shows the difference between a short hop and a step back attack dink or defensive dink. Watch the difference between the short hop, which is in front of her, at the NVZ, and the step back and attack or step back and recover. No backswing on the short hop!!! https://youtube.com/shorts/IhHs5i1DKSk?si=-7t7EsOadnDRwANM

The short hop can also be incorporated into your serve returns against an opponent who is serving deep and hard. Short turn, short backswing, and engage your core to return the ball out in front and deep. Pickleball does not give you much time for a backswing! Turn, short backswing, big follow-through. Last call for my Turkey Pickle Round Robin at Paradise Pickleball Club in Palm Desert. November 30th. We will have singles, skinny singles, rotating partners, men’s and women’s fixed doubles, and mixed doubles. We will have senior divisions if we have enough entries. Email Mary to enter: [email protected]

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

November 16th, 2025 Jill Braverman demos some key points about return of serve – check it out. My advanced drill class worked on this on Tuesday. Observation: if you are on your back foot on the return, it is more difficult to get to the net. Move back, so that you can be moving in on contact. Do not give up hip rotation, shoulder rotation and follow-through. Make your preparation small and quick, with a short backswing, to generate more depth with your follow-through. Do not just execute with your arm!!! https://youtube.com/shorts/mfZeFD_6PAo?si=YJgHud0sNm6-CymP If you cannot access the video on the Desert Sun website, then go to YouTube, go to JillyB (Jill Braverman Pickleball), go to serve returns. · What do we want to accomplish with our return of serve? Get to the net! You have the advantage that you move right away to the net, while the serving team must let it bounce. · The return of serve is unlike any other shot in Pickleball. You do not “pose” and get back to a ready position. It is not a hit, plant, get ready shot. Rather, you move back and stroke the ball while moving to the net. Watch the demo! · If your opponent has a big serve, and you and your partner have missed 3 in a row, it is time to adjust. You just lost 27.5% of the points! · Shorten your backswing, engage your hips and shoulders, and move back so you can move forward as you contact your return. You will stroke through the ball as you move to the net. · Note: With rally scoring, the serve return becomes even more important than the serve to score points! Next Round Robin event: November 30th, 2025, at Paradise Pickleball Club. Turkey Pickle! Email Mary to enter: [email protected].

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: Introducing a new Coach: Jill Braverman
Jill has some good short videos, she is full of energy, and she performs excellent demonstrations.

This week, Jill offers “How to Fix Your Resets.” Check out this video. If you cannot access it on the Desert Sun website, then go to YouTube, go to @ JillyB Pickleball, and go to “Fix your Resets.” https://youtube.com/shorts/rL-WuGf1DD4?si=-fPWe8GMno6FF4mT

I like Jill’s simple advice: “Do Nothing!” Watch her demo, and notice that she is not moving much, and she is just catching the drive that is hit at her.
1. We do not need balletic movement, dancing, big swings, or power moves.
2. The hardest thing, she says, is to Do Nothing.
3. Your opponent is providing the power. You just need to soften it and absorb the ball. “Catch It.” Pretend it is a raw egg and use soft hands. Create backspin so the ball dies in the Kitchen. 4. Two major errors: · Letting the ball get behind you. You are Toast! Visualize the Cone that a dog must wear to keep it from itching or biting a wound. The “cone” is where your attention must be centered. ·

Trying to “Hit” the “Hit.” Watch how Jill overemphasizes jumping back as the player reaches out to attack the incoming drive.

5. Watch Jill’s volleyball analogy. A libero catches the ball out in front with her platform arms. Same as a reset.

6. Lastly, notice how quiet Jill’s body is, and how low her stance is. This is how you absorb your opponent’s power with more than your paddle. Lastly, keep your options open. You do not need to reset every ball. If you have time, drop your paddle tip so it is down, and use a roll or a flick to defend the drive with topspin to their feet.

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: Back to one of my favorites! Jordan Briones put this video out last week. Check it out. “Two-Handed Backhand: Improve in JUST 5 minutes” https://youtu.be/ByQvT2E2vXA?si=ofqvmv-9F9hIhhkN

If you cannot access this video on the Desert Sun site, then go to YouTube, go to Jordan Briones, go to “Two-Handed Backhand: Improve in JUST 5 Minutes.” Jordan opens with how the two-handed backhand has really been embraced by the pros.

I noticed this last year, and now I am teaching the two- hander at all levels. Especially, I recommend the two-hander when you are lobbing on the backhand side. I use my slice when I am not close enough to the ball, and the two-hander when dinking and for third shot drops with topspin.

1. Two-handed backhand drop at the NVZ – footwork. (Be sure to watch Jordan’s footwork several times.) · Wide stance. · Shuffle step to move sideways. · Shuffle back with a 45-degree angle if moving back to let it bounce. · Both wrists are below the ball – check out how low Jordan is, and how much he is bending his knees. · Contact Point is in front – no backswing. Contact in front of your front leg. · Swing Path: slow down, not power, but more spin. (Watch Ben Johns)

2. Two-handed Topspin 3rd shot drop: Note: Very similar to the drop at the NVZ. · Body Positioning – very similar to the dink at the NVZ. Example: if you are aiming crosscourt with your third shot drop, your feet should be on a diagonal imaginary line from your contact to your target. This is a great demo! · Paddle Preparation Wrists are below the ball, so you can get your paddle up and through to your target. · Use a More Elongated Follow-through from the baseline. With the dink, finish at your shoulder, across your body. With the third shot drop from the baseline, finish further out and up, to your ear.

3. When should you not use this two-handed topspin drop from the baseline? This is one of the best tips in this video. This is also why you should have both a one and a two-handed backhand! · When the return is hard and deep, and you do not have time to move back behind the ball, switch to your one-handed slice backhand to buy yourself more time. · When you are not balanced. If you must run to get to the ball, or must use a cross step, the two-hander is difficult to execute. Use your slice with one hand. Be sure to watch the demos several times. Get a ball machine or a partner to feed you balls, and experiment with two hands. (Ed Ju has a great video on how he learned the two-handed backhand for drives.) Keep an open mind and attitude! You may love your one-hander, and resist change. I absolutely love my backhand slice, but I find that I use my hips and core more effectively, and stay on balance when I use the two-hander, plus I can get more topspin.

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: Checkout Tanner’s 7 mistakes that keep you from reaching the 4.0 – 5.0 level skill level. If you cannot access the video on the Desert Sun website, then go to YouTube, go to Tanner Tomasi Pickleball, and search for 7 mistakes that keep you from reaching the 4.0-5.0 skill level. https://youtu.be/zmDQKVkjm9s?si=nJdOrWye4vGDH d57

Mistake 1: Being Reactive, rather than Proactive. This comes from not paddle tracking the ball after you return it. Track the ball you hit with the point of your paddle, so you are ready to return depending on where it is coming from. This is a great demo!

Mistake 2: Standing upright when approaching the NVZ line. Amateur players tend to approach the NVZ after they execute a third shot drop upright. Then, when the ball is returned, they must crouch and get ready. Pros approach the NVZ already is a low, ready position. Tanner calls this the “crab walk.” Watch the Wrong and Then the Right way.

Mistake 3: Wrong mindset in hand battles. Instead of just attacking, slow it down, and let them make a mistake. In hand battles at the net, players tend to just attack at the opponent’s chest, trying to hit through them. Instead, try to slow it down, and attack high to low, at your opponent’s feet. Watch the demo!

Mistake 4: Lazy footwork at the NVZ zone. Tanner says this is 99.9 percent of your problem when making errors. He calls this “Cement Feet.” Players are in the middle of the court in the transition zone, and they are looking to reset. Rather, you need to be on your toes, using your knees, with active feet, constantly moving and ready to respond to your opponent’s shot. The same thing happens at the Kitchen line. Super important tip!

Mistake 5: Incorrect ready position at the NVZ line. Confusion about paddle position at the Kitchen. Pros keep a low paddle position, to reset, defend, dink, or attack with topspin. This is when both of you are at the Kitchen line. Conversely, when your opponent is at the baseline, now you should have a higher paddle position, way out in front of you, so you can attack if possible. When they are back, you should stretch! This is a huge adjustment that you should make!

Mistake 6: You should never drive 2 balls in a row. If you drive your third, then drop your fifth. When you are at the baseline, you should never drive two balls in a row. If you drive the first ball, then reset or drop the second ball. This gets you to the NVZ, instead of freezing you at the baseline. Awesome demo.

Mistake 7: How to handle drives right at you. As that ball is being driven, the mistake is that you lunge and punch at the ball from in front of your chest. The ball often ends up in the bottom of the net. See the Wrong demo. Instead, reach out, with your paddle floating over the Kitchen. Reach and defend/attack in front of you, using your hips, shoulders and follow- through. Watch the Right demo.

Coachella Valley Scorpions Claim 2025 National Pickleball League Championship in Seattle

by Mary Barseleau

Coachella Valley Scorpions Claim 2025 National Pickleball League Championship in Seattle Scorpions Earn Dominating Upset Win Over No. 1 Seed and Host Seattle Tsunami, 7-2 for First NPL Title PHOTOS/VIDEO: Scorpions Championship 2025 (credit: Brad Evenson/NPL) SEATTLE – October 20, 2025 – The Coachella Valley Scorpionsare champions of The National Pickleball League (NPL) presented by QC Kinetix after a dominating 7-2 victory over the No. 1 seeded and host Seattle Tsunami on Sunday at the Side Out Tsunami Pickleball Center. Presented by Agua Caliente Casinos and Powered by JOOLA, the No. 2 seeded Scorpions avenged two earlier losses this season to the Tsunami as the third season of the first and only professional pickleball league for champion pros aged 50-and-over came to a monumental close. “This has been a culmination of two years of hard work of building this franchise,” said Kim Jagd, Scorpions’ co-owner, General Manager and star player. “We are so grateful for the NPL and to Seattle Tsunami for putting on a first-class championship event. Our ownership group including Vince Vaughn, Ruth Ann Poppa, Don Zuker and Rob Zwemmer had a vision, and we are so pleased to execute that vision. I want to congratulate our players and staff for creating a top-notch organization built on sportsmanship, camaraderie and fun!” The award-winning actor Vaughn, who became the majority owner of the Scorpions in July of 2024, gave the Scorpions a huge shoutout on their big win. "Congratulations to the Coachella Valley Scorpions on winning the 2025 NPL Pickleball Championship! Well played! The players brought teamwork, dedication and fun to the court all year. Well done Kim Jagd on lights out coaching and playing. Big congrats to the entire league on an exciting and entertaining season. Onward.” The Scorpions were a perfect 3-0 in mixed doubles on Sunday as Jagd teamed with Scott Burr and Wendy Ochoa and Drew Slacum both won 2-0 matches while Natalie Hill and John Riedy won, 2-1. In women’s doubles, Sabrina Guillebeaux and Stacy Zelenski and Kara Williams/Hill each recorded 2-0 wins. In men’s doubles, Marcin Rozpedski/Cord Robbins and Keith Jain/Riedy both won 2-0 matches. Other Scorpion team members included: Brandi Zaslansky and David Katz. On Friday, the Scorpions defeated the Austin Ignite, 8-4, and in the semifinals, Saturday got past the Columbus Hotshots, 7-5. A total of $100,000 in prize money was handed out to the top teams during the three-day championships with the Scorpions taking him the $50,000 first-place award. NPL CEO Rod Davis credited Jagd with recruiting the best athletes she could find and putting together a powerhouse team that would not be denied. “Coachella proved to be the best in a season of incredible parity where any team could beat any other team on any given day,” Davis said. “Congratulations to Kim and the Coachella Valley Scorpions on an incredible season.” About the Coachella Valley Scorpions The Coachella Valley Scorpions are a National Pickleball League® team founded in 2024 by owners Vince Vaughn, Kim Jagd, Rob Zwemmer, Don Zuker, and Ruth Ann Poppa. The mission of the team is to elevate passion for the sport across generations in the Coachella Valley community by uniting youth, families, and seniors through spirited play, fostering camaraderie, and hosting camps, clinics, and special events. For more information about the Coachella Valley Scorpions, go to www.scorpionspickleball.com or follow the team on Instagram: @ScorpionsPickleball and Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScorpionsPickleball. About National Pickleball League presented by QC Kinetix The National Pickleball League (NPL) presented by QC Kinetix is the premier professional pickleball league for Champions Pros (age 50+). Now in its third season, the NPL features 12 teams representing cities across the country — including Austin, Boca Raton, Coachella Valley, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Naples, Oklahoma City, Princeton, and Seattle — with approximately 200 Champions Pro players competing. For more information, please visit www.nplpickleball.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn. For Media Inquiries: Steve Pratt; (310) 408.4555; [email protected] Carmine N. Tiso for NPL, [email protected] or 917.453.4296

Pickle Ball Tip of the Week

by Mary Barseleau Oct 11th 2025

Tips for a Stronger Drive from the baseline, on forehand and backhand sides. Callie Smith offers a short and sweet lesson on how to hit a stronger, deeper groundstroke from the baseline. Be sure to watch the video several times. https://youtube.com/shorts/a2iFR_29PJY?si=s2jdsbE8unWsypXM If you cannot access the videos on the Desert Sun, then go to YouTube, go to Callie Smith, and go to “Tips for hitting a stronger baseline drive.” · First, take a short backswing. A big backswing does not help you with power and depth. · Everything is short and compact, with your elbow in close to your side, but not touching. · Contact is in front of you. · Use a short turn, so you are in a closed stance. · Use a big step with your front foot, and a big, long follow-through. · The more you accelerate, the more depth and power you will create. · Incorporate the same tips for your backhand side, whether using a one-handed or two-handed backhand. · Start early! Turn when your opponent contacts the ball. When the ball is bouncing in front of you, you should be moving forward to contact in front of you. The follow-through is key! Big follow-through, short backswing!

Reminder: My first outdoor Round Robin tournament is the Kick-Off the Fall Pickleball Tournament at Palm Desert Civic Center Park on October 19th, 2025. See attached flyer, and email me to register: [email protected]

Pickle Ball Tip of the Week

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: What to do if you have the “YIPS” on your serve?
Tanner Tomasi demonstrates a short but sweet tip on missing serves. Check out the attached video. If you cannot access on the Desert Sun website, then go to YouTube, go to @tanner. pickleball and go to “Overcoming the Yips.” https://youtube.com/shorts/GHOaEr5ZdwQ?si=jxMAaWwzJVHcR-L9 The best part of this video is the demo at the beginning. Tanner weaponizes his serve, by jumping in on his follow-through, using topspin, to control the serve to a target area.

Watch his two demo serves carefully. Step 1: The main reason you miss your serve is that you are using just your arm, and not your entire body. Step 2: Bend your knees! Load your body, get low. Step 3: Hold the ball out in front of you, rather than next to you. Slow it down, rather than being busy with just one motion. Step 4: Sniper path. I do not like to start with my paddle out in front of me contacting the ball to start, so I disagree with Tanner. Rather, I will start with my paddle at my side, with the ball out in front. Cut down on extraneous motion. Yes, contact in front. Yes, emphasize follow-through to your target area. Yes, make sure your feet are positioned so that your swing plane is to your diagonal target area. Yes, finish your serve with your paddle pointing to the target service box, rather than across your body. Notes: Topspin helps you with control with wind and sun and control. Start low to high, short backswing, big follow-through! Use your hips and shoulders and jump into your serve!

Reminder: My first outdoor Round Robin tournament is the Kick-Off the Fall Pickleball Tournament at Palm Desert Civic Center Park on October 19th, 2025. See attached flyer, and email me to register: [email protected]