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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2021 | | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2021 | 59 59 A little unpredictability in life can go a long way to spice things up: a spontaneous date, the serendipity of a road trip, or just trying out a new look. In sports, catching an opponent off guard may not equal a surprise gift to a loved one, but it can make for effective play on the court. Pickleball is one of those court sports that rewards creativity in shot-making. Players often get into ruts. Since anticipating your opponent's next move can help you be ready with an answer, consider how to throw a curve now and then. Teaching pros sometimes speak of the value of establishing a pattern to your play and then, by changing your go-to favorite, you may catch the other side napping. Collin Johns won the 2020 US Open Men's Pro Doubles title and is the racquet pro at a Baltimore country club. He wrote recently on this topic. He will purposely lure in an opponent by making the same cross-court dink several times in a row. Then, when the trap is set, he jams the player opposite him. Such tactics take some practice. The key is disguising your intent until the last moment. We Sun Lakers don't have the skills to compete at the professional level but some of the tricks of the trade can work in our back yard. Along the same lines, another avid player, Rick Cipes, is also skilled at basketball. He suggests that there are chances on the pickle court to use techniques from the hardwood. He describes fooling an opponent into backing up, expecting a smash, and then casually dropping a dink. We see this on our courts as well and it's a fun way to add a new dimension to a match. Please be assured, your club doesn't advocate outright chicanery. But it isn't cheating to use sudden, unexpected moves to throw an opponent off balance. The club had a grand time at the end of August participating in Sun Lakes' Summer Games. The September Lifestyles carried photos of many of the medalists. We owe a big "Thank You" to the Master Board and the hard-working committees that made that event a great success. Our play is heavily affected by weather. We can't predict the most popular times of the day and week so, if you are interested in giving the game a try, call our Veep Judy Luna at (949) 929-2390. She will suggest the best times to come out. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club Hi again! It's Sept.2 and I'm pleased to say that everything is going well within the Table Tennis Group. We are having good attendance almost every day we play and fortunately we continue to add new people to our group. Again, as I've said before, there is always room for more. So if you have a desire to engage in a fun activity come join us. We, or I should say the Association's Recreation Department, supply all the equipment — great quality tables, nets, balls, and loaner paddles. Details in the following paragraph. Normally we play Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 4 to 6 pm, and Sat., 10 am to 12 noon in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom (normally). Because the Ballroom is such a popular venue for so many varied events, our time slot sometimes gets canceled. Therefore, if you are not a regular attendee, please refer to the Sun Lakes website at sunlakescc.com and click on "Recreation" then click on "Classes," and finally click on "Table Tennis Group" for the current month's up-to-date schedule. You can also check the Main Clubhouse events board across from the reception desk or call (951) 845-2191 for that day's calendar. We have all skill levels currently participating and welcome all newcomers. We have several newer quality tables, and all the equipment is provided free by the Sun Lakes Recreation Department. A fun way to exercise! Please come give us a try. There are no fees. Laced tennis shoes required - no exceptions! For info, contact Roland at (951) 769-3978. Table Tennis/Ping Pong

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