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| LIFE IN SOLERA | JUNE 2023 | 43 e forehand, one of the most essential shots in tennis, can become one of the biggest weapons in a player's game. Learning the Forehand: For Beginners Making contact with the ball: Try to make contact with the ball when it is not directly in front of you. If you are right-handed, you should make contact a little off to your right side. The ball should be a little bit in front of you. You should be in a similar position as you would be when turning a doorknob. Racquet-face control: Beginners often struggle with racquet-face control and then lose control of the ball. It is very important to be mindful of how you hold the racquet and how that changes the directions the strings face because wherever your racquet face is pointing the moment that you make contact with the ball, that is where the ball is going to go. When you are just starting out, the goal should be to get the ball in play. As you get a little better, try to get it in but in the direction you are aiming for. So focus on controlling your racquet face and where it is pointing the moment you make contact with the ball. Grip: People can hold a racquet in many ways. Ultimately, the way you hold the grip translates to how the racquet face is pointing, so it really doesn't matter which grip you use as long as you are able to control the racquet face. The most important thing, in terms of holding on to a racquet, is that you aren't trying to choke the life out of it. Your grip should be about a 3 on a 1-10 scale. If you have a Continental grip, the "V" is at the top of the racquet handle. Swing: The harder you swing; the farther the ball is going to go. The most important thing is to be able to keep the ball on the court when you are a beginner; so keeping your swing at a level that you're able to keep the ball on the court is your No. 1 priority. Footwork: In general, try to be as light on your feet as possible. It shouldn't sound like a herd of horses on the court when you're playing. NOTE: Next month's article will focus of improving the forehand for intermediate and advanced players. ~ Shirley Ferguson TENNIS TITANS TENNIS 101: THE FOREHAND This is the fourth in a series of five reviewing the five basic rules of pickleball. Last month we talked about having to let the ball bounce once on each side of the net before you can volley (hit the ball before it bounces). This month let's talk about staying out of the "kitchen". On a pickleball court, the "kitchen" is the area that runs the width of the court and seven feet back from the net – in other words the area closest to the net on both sides. Its official name is the No Volley Zone. Players are not allowed to stand in the "kitchen" to return a ball that hasn't bounced. The only time a player can enter the "kitchen" is to make a play on a ball that has already bounced. You may volley a ball after it has bounced once on both sides of the net, from anywhere but the "kitchen." There are other subtle "kitchen" rules also, which will be explained when you come out to play, but the bottom line is – stay out of the kitchen! Pickleball is highly addictive. It truly is an easy game to learn and enjoy for active adults. We've had new players come out recently and they're hooked! For more information, feel free to contact either Sue Miller at (503) 702-4273 or Sandy Stearn at (951) 797-0991. We play Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings. For summer hours, we begin around 7:30-ish, but feel free to come any time before 10-ish. We usually stop playing around then. Introduction to the sport is offered to all new players. Come hit the ball around a bit and see if this game is right for you. We have paddles to use if you don't have one. Please wear court shoes. PICKLEBALL PADDLERS Stay out of the pickleball kitchen!

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