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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2022 | | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2022 | 59 59 Our club received welcome news this summer. The HOA has contracted with a vendor to transform our courts into an actual pickleball venue! This will be a terrific step forward in our club's growth and will provide Sun Lakes with an amenity that defines senior communities nationwide. The target is November and we can hardly wait. Everywhere one looks in the media these days, the spotlight is on our sport. There are controversies over noise levels and contention with tennis players, but the overwhelmingly positive notes feature how much fun we have and how friendly our players are. This was a key element of a recent article in the New York Times. Their correspondent, Kurt Streeter, has been a champion amateur tennis player for decades. He describes his longtime aversion to pickleball based on his annoyance at the sound the ball makes on the paddle. He also made clear he harbored a general disdain for our pee-wee version of his game. Until, that is, he tried it. Kurt has embraced the social aspects of pickleball. "What I did notice was that I couldn't stop smiling as I played. And I saw way more smiles and joy around me than when I'm playing tennis where intensity and furrowed brows dominate." While he doesn't intend to forsake his lifelong sport, Kurt expressed that he will now make room in his heart for pickleball. We all understand. Lest a furrowed brow occasionally intrude on our courts, keep in mind some coaching tips about avoiding unforced errors. Experts caution that there are two main challenges to pickleball: hitting the ball over the net and hitting it between the lines. If we do those things, we increase our chances of success exponentially. One of our longtime members advises new players "the line is not your friend." This can be a reminder to avoid being too fine with our volleys. Just make the other team return the shot and let them make the unforced error. Down the middle is usually a good return, returning the serve deep helps guard against that cardinal sin of hitting into the net on your first shot. As we improve our game, we can try lower drives and even attempt to "paint" the line occasionally. A great motto is "patience." As the season changes, play times will vary in the (hopefully) cooler weather. Give our Veep Judy Luna a call at (949) 929-2390 to find out when games are occurring. See you on the courts. Pickleball Club