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50 50 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2021 | | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2021 | Our sport continues to attract tennis players, either as a somewhat less stressful activity or to supplement their court skills. A recent study of the two games illuminates the challenges hardy picklers must overcome. Both tennis and pickleball are fast but pickle is played on a much smaller court. Baseline-to- baseline is 44 feet for pickle versus 78 feet for tennis. But even with less ground to cover, ball speed makes pickleball a good chance to test one's hand-eye prowess. Researchers compared reaction times. They assert that in both sports, 40 MPH is the average velocity of the ball on either court when intermediate players compete. At that rate, a tennis player has two seconds to gauge the flight of the ball and position herself accordingly. That's one second to see the ball before it crosses the net and one more thereafter. On the smaller court, picklers have half the time, one second! The experts point out that we have a mere half- second to "determine the incoming ball's direction, speed, arc, and spin" before the ball is in our court. In the remaining half-second comes the tough part! Now the player must turn in the requisite direction, ready the paddle, move to the ball, and plant her feet properly for a groundstroke. And the ball hasn't even bounced yet! Whew! Then, oh yeah, also figure out where on the opponent's court you want to place your shot. All of this analysis could lead to paralysis if we just let it make us dizzy. And yet, everyday on our courts, players of all levels of skill and experience surmount these challenges. The human body is "fearfully and wonderfully made." It is amazing how these mere seconds of reaction time turn into a smooth-flowing game for doubles partners. It has been said that, according to the laws of physics, a bumblebee can't fly. Not knowing physics, the bee happily flies anyway. Picklers must be kin to these fuzzy buzzers. We make those precious seconds count! If you are new to the sport, come on out and give it a try. Our courts are adjacent to the North Pro Shop and we play mornings and afternoons. The fun is heating up along with the weather. There is no better hour or two in sports than what's happening out here. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Take control of your life and let 2021 be the year you find your way back to good health. Weight-loss journeys require hope and support and TOPS offers that. TOPS can help you reach your weight goal by providing you with tools, information, support, and accountability you need to be successful. You're not starting a diet; you're making a new lifestyle change. Small changes yield big results. We invite you to become part of our TOPS chapter. We are back now meeting at the South Clubhouse every Thursday except holidays with weigh-ins from 8:45 to 9:45 am and meeting 10 to 11 am. You may visit once free of charge. Membership is only $32 a year with $3 monthly chapter dues which includes six informative TOPS magazines a year and access to the TOPS website. We will be honoring our 2020 Royalty and Division Winners on May 20 at our regular TOPS meeting. TOPS Southern California Area Recognition Days will be held May 14 and this will be held as virtual sessions. More information to follow. Our TOPS members are so happy to be back meeting again. We still will wear our mask and practice social distancing at our meetings until future notice. Stay safe! Hope everyone that can has been vaccinated. Enjoy this wonderful spring weather. Go for a walk! For information about TOPS, call Rosalee at (951) 855-2836.