Pickleball Rocks, the world’s largest pickleball apparel company and one of the most influential supporters of pickleball in many ways, recently announced its 2018 Male & Female Player of the year. And, we are very proud to learn that the male player is Idaho’s own Dick Johnson. This is especially significant, because this outstanding award has historically been awarded to great, young Professional players. And, similar to earlier this year, when Dick received the prestigious 2018 “Personal Best Award” from the National Senior Games, this recent award from Pickleball Rocks is a recognition, not only of Dick’s outstanding major tournament successes, but also of his character and service in many other ways. On his personal side, Dick has told me he feels really good that these awards are a nice recognition, not just to him, but, to all the “regular people,” and the older people in pickleball nation, both players and non players, who love our wonderful sport and contribute so much to it. I know that Dick & Lawana continue to promote our Idaho pickleball story to their many friends & contacts around the world. Personally, I take some pride in hearing about them frequently telling people about our great players and pickleball projects and progress in Idaho…and, that they took some of their very first pickleball lessons from me on the courts in Donnoly only 5 years ago! I got to know the Johnsons even better when they worked so hard on our very first Hobble Creek Project Committee. As you will read below, like young professional, Lucy Kovalova, the 2018 Female Player of the Year, Dick won 3 Golds at Nationals in Indian Wells. He also again won Gold last year at the US Open and 2 Golds at the SSIPA Worlds, and again repeated as the top SSIPA Male Points Winner for his age group. In just 5 years, he’s completed the “Grand Slam” by winning Golds in all the majors for seniors. Additionally, he’s medaled, mostly Golds in those majors, for 4 consecutive years (US Open, Nationals, National Senior Games, State Games of America, Huntsman World Senior Games, and the SSIPA Worlds. Click below to read about the awards given to Dick and Lucy: http://pickleballrocks.com/2019/01/2018-pickleball-rocks-player-of-the-year-announced/ Dick is now just 2 weeks into his recovery from his second knee operation in 4 years (that is just 3 months after his broken nose and 9 head stitches from a fall in the Gold Singles match at Huntsman!) Let’s all wish him “CONGRATULATIONS!” and a speedy recovery,
Get your friends and family excited about pickleball this holiday by showing them this TOP TEN LIST of videos highlighting Amazing Pickleball Plays! Around-the-post shots, rallies that go on forever, powerful smashes, this playlist is hot! These shots are from all different tournaments and all different athletes who give it their all just to get the point. With a collective view count of over 300,000, these videos show the athleticism and hustle that goes into pickleball! Watch (and share) them all now!
WOW! This is an amazing 68 shot rally definitely worthy to be called “Point of the Day”, and it tops our list of the Top Ten Pickleball Plays. In the PRO Men’s Doubles semi-final match at the inaugural Las Vegas Pickleball Open, a spectacular point took place. It went to 68 shots, filled with strategic dinking and intense volley exchanges. Kyle Yates and Ben Johns squared up against Callan Dawson and Tyler Loong in this amazing semi-finals match that went to 3 games. They then went on to play each other again for the gold medal match later in the day. This is some hot pickleball, and you don’t want to miss this impressive point! This is the kind of point that makes you proud to play pickleball.
See just how cool pickleball can be! Number 2 in our countdown has not just one, but 45 GREAT SHOTS! Check out the power, the form and the technique behind 46 overhead smashes captured by Pickleball Channel at the 2017 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships. This video will show you how every level of play uses the smash in every category. Some of the smashes are even in super slow motion so you can see every detail. This is a must see (and must share!) video for all your pickleball friends!
You know, Top 10 just wasn’t enough! Here are eleven jaw-dropping points from the 19+ Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Match at USAPA Nationals VIII that has almost 130,000 views already! Wes Gabrielsen and Kyle Yates take on Daniel Moore and Matt Staub in this epic battle that went to FOUR games. These are four of the best players in pickleball, and this match-up has it all – incredibly long rallies, ridiculous speed, and crazy switching side maneuvers. You’ve got to see it to believe it.
Some have called this the best pickleball point ever. What do you think? Watch it now and find out why this point has been watched over 80,000 times and shared around the world on Facebook. It’s only 60 seconds and has everything you want to see on the court – fast, slow, offense, defense. This is a great video to share with your friends as an example of how awesome pickleball really is. Coaches and pros say it’s important to watch others to be a better player, so watch this point and see if you can spot the skills and strategies these players are using. Look for the different types of shots and gameplay each team uses to get control of the point.
Hitting Number 5 on our list, you are not going to believe this video with a crazy moment of net play (totally legal) followed by an around the post shot! Enjoy watching some great singles pickleball play between Kyle Yates and Marcin Rozpedski that took place during the Men’s Singles PRO Gold Medal match. There was spectacular opportunity for both opponents to gain the point and you won’t believe what each one had to do to get it. As we have said before, singles play in pickleball requires stamina, athletic ability and quick thinking. All of these qualities were certainly on display at the 2016 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships.
Number 6 is one of the first Around-the-Post shots we captured on camera. From Fall Brawl 2015, Pickleball Channel got this slick move by Corrine Carr in slow motion! The around the net post shot requires speed, agility and accuracy – and, yes, it’s perfectly LEGAL! Sarah Ansboury and Brian Ashworth are competing against Corrine Carr and Matt Staub in a great mixed doubles match when Corrine makes the amazing save. It was a spectacular moment in an already jaw-dropping game.
Singles play in pickleball is amazing! The movement across the court, the speed, and the strategy to set up winning shots is what makes it distinct. Watch these impressive plays at the 2015 USAPA Nationals. Pickleball Channel was excited to be court side for all of the action. We even included slow motion at just the right times to highlight the incredible moves in these matches.
Wow! This is some cool pickleball! Check out this fast rally with a crazy behind-the-back return from the GOLD 19+ Mixed Doubles Match at Grand Canyon State Games 2017. Gigi LeMaster and Brian Ashworth are battling Sarah Ansboury and Dave Weinbach when Dave hits an awesome behind-the-back shot and then just keeps on playing! This is a great point from a great game and an example of how athletic this sport can be! You’ve got to see it to believe it.
Number 9 in our top ten list highlights some of the spectacular pickleball that took place at the 2016 US Open Pickleball Championships. Watch this one point that occurred during a Mixed Doubles 30+ Gold Medal match that was inspiring. Wes Gabrielsen and Alex Hamner battled Sarah Ansboury and Chris Miller, and with an around the net post shot followed by an impressive defensive hit, the crowd went wild. Watch as we give you a unique multi-camera breakdown of this amazing point.
Check out one of Pickleball Channel’s most popular Facebook videos! With over 26,000 views and 1,547 shares, this final point from the Women’s Doubles 50+ Gold Medal Match between Alex Hamner & Jennifer Lucore against Mona Burnett & Bonnie Williams at Grand Canyon State Games 2016 is jaw-dropping! The gold medal match itself was pretty spectacular, going to FOUR games, and this point clinched the win! When we posted this during Grand Canyon State Games in 2016, the buzz was immediate.
With over 860,000 views, check out the TOP TEN Most Popular Matches on Pickleball Channel. We’re counting down these matches that span multiple years, multiple tournaments and multiple players. These matches are the best of the best and include top players such as Jardim, Yates, Dawson, Weinbach, Moore, Gabrielsen, Ansboury and Rozpedski just to name a few! Binge watch your favorite pickleball players this holiday weekend, and enjoy the incredible athleticism of the sport of pickleball!
Coming in at Number 10 in our countdown, check out this most recent Pickleball Channel release. It’s a spectacular display of women’s pickleball! Check out Stephanie Lane and Vivian Edwards as they take on Cammy MacGregor and Jennifer Dawson in the Women’s 5.0 Skill Doubles 50+ Gold Medal Match at Grand Canyon State Games. This match-up went to three games plus a FOURTH tie-breaker game that showcased these four amazing pickleball players. The score is tied up multiple times, and neither team is willing to give up. Their stamina and skill makes this game one to watch.
This match from the 2015 USAPA Nationals was so popular, that it is still hitting the top ten list all these years later! This impressive Men’s Singles Gold Medal Match was a spectacular nail biter. Pickleball Channel was able to step in and record this amazing match after a rain delay caused some scheduling complications. Marcin Rozpedski and Daniel Moore compete in this intense back and forth match which took three games to hammer out! You won’t want to miss who comes out on top after battling it out with fast moves, strategic shots and massive comebacks!
Pickleball Channel has been pleased to partner with the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships and CBS Sports Network to bring you some great Pro Gold Medal Matches over the years, several of which have hit our top ten list! Coming in at Number 8 is this great Pro Women’s Doubles Gold Medal match. Watch Christine McGrath & Sarah Ansboury face off against Laura Fenton Kovanda & Corrine Carr. Truly some great pickleball gameplay, strategy and competition. See some of the best pickleball play in the world.
The Pro Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Match from the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships is number 7 on our top ten list. This is some great pickleball, and you can enjoy it with commentary from Dave Benz, Melissa McCurley and Brian Staub as well as an interview with the winners. Defending champions Dave Weinbach and Kyle Yates take on Rafael Siebenschein and Matt Wright in this high energy, explosive match. These guys don’t give up, and they fight until the very end for the gold medal.
You won’t know who’s going to win until the bitter end! This match will keep you guessing the whole way through! It’s a tough battle for gold as Gigi LeMaster and Irina Tereschenko take on Christine McGrath and Sarah Ansboury in the 30+ Women’s Doubles Gold Medal Match from the 2017 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships held in Naples, FL. The score is not always close, but both teams find themselves equally on the defense at some point until finally ending in a 3rd game where they pull out all the stops!
This was a pivotal match in the quest for the 2017 Triple Crown! Irina Tereschenko and Lucy Kovalova partner up to take on Corinne Carr and Simone Jardim in the Pro Women’s Doubles Gold Medal Match from the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships. And it’s not only a gold medal that hangs in the balance. Having already won the Pro Singles and Pro Mixed Doubles matches, Simone must pull out this win to get the Triple Crown. She sure has her work cut out for her with such strong opponents! This is some great pickleball, and you can enjoy it with commentary from Dave Benz, Melissa McCurley and Brian Staub as well as an interview with the winners.
Talk about hustle! Coming in at number 4, check out Kyle Yates and Marcin Rozpedski as they duke it out for gold in the Pro Men’s Singles Gold Medal Match at the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships. These guys are all over the court! The first two games are only won by 2 points each, pushing them into a third game that is intense. Don’t miss this one.
Here’s another blast from the past! This popular video showcases a very exciting game from the 2015 Grand Canyon State Games. Justin Rodgers & Dave Weinbach take on Steve Wong & Aspen Kern for the gold medal title in the 5.0 Men’s Doubles category. When you watch it, you can witness for yourself the athleticism and speed that is required to win gold in pickleball!
Two Women’s Doubles partners and Two Men’s Doubles partners shake it all up and play AGAINST one other. Who will win? Well, this match from Grand Canyon State Games goes to three games, and it’s a surprising roller coaster as the two teams battle it out. Check out the fireworks as Sarah Ansboury and Dave Weinbach play against their usual doubles partners Christine McGrath and Kyle Yates in the 19+ 5.0 Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Match from the 2017 Grand Canyon State Games.
This is our most watched Pickleball Channel match of all time! With over 188,000 views, this first ever PRO Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Match from the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships is one for the history books! Dave Weinbach & Kyle Yates compete against Wes Gabrielsen & Daniel Moore in this exciting match that aired on CBS Sports Network. Watch some of the best players in the world play some amazing pickleball.
Improve Your Accuracy – Something Most Players Don’t Do Our tip for you today seems so obvious and simple that it almost seems silly. But after talking to multiple pickleball pros and coaches, this skill is one that still needs to be acquired by a lot of players. Watch this quick tip today from Rusty Howes, the Executive Producer of Pickleball Channel, to learn how to make your shot more accurate by choosing to aim the ball. This skill can help you stop being a reactive player, play more strategically, and start to win more points with better shots. Anyone can do this, from beginners all the way to the pros, and it will help you to improve your accuracy. Don’t just play reactively, play strategically. Many players hit reactively and often don’t engage their mind and try to hit the ball to a specific spot on the court. But you’ll never improve your accuracy if you don’t actually try to hit with strategy. If you decide where to hit the ball in advance, you’ll know if you missed your shot or not. Then you can adjust your shots as needed to improve your accuracy and be more strategic. The return of serve is a great time to practice this because your opponent is usually back, there’s more court available to hit the ball, and they have to wait for the ball to bounce anyway. For example, you might decide to hit the ball deep in the corner to your opponent’s backhand. If the ball lands short, don’t beat yourself up about it. Look at it as an opportunity! You now have the chance to adjust your stroke to try to develop more accuracy. When you hit the ball again, adjust your placement and hopefully you will get closer to your desired target. In general, when you practice, try to re-shape your thinking so that you practice with a purpose. Every missed hit or lost point can be a learning experience. And every serve or return can be an opportunity to work on your shot and develop accuracy. Pickleball is a game of placement, and with more accurate shots, you’re going to win more games. Make your next game the stepping stone to becoming a better player! Think and aim before you hit the ball. Now there’s only one thing left to do, and that’s go play!
