Pickleball Is All Blog Joe Palmere, Pickleball Coach, Rating Specialist & Ambassador

SEARCHING FOR THAT MISS RIGHT? I am looking for a mixed doubles partner for MD/SR/OLP, HA/CO/SR/GAMES, OCEAN PINES/JUNE/TOURNEY and a few other local meets. Ladies, 65-70+ (3.5 +) Competitive Aggressive Player. Someone who knows doubles court coverage and partner positioning strategies, and stacking. Serious finesse player, with will to win, regardless of score. A lady who prefers drop shots & dinking at net, versus banging from back court. Miss Right must be willing to practice one to two times per week in evenings with and without ball machine. Also play together in Open Play as much as possible. No winners, wainers or weenies!

HOLABIRD SPORTS INSTORE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, AND USE BEFORE RETURN POLICY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PRICING AT ITS VERY BEST Today I met with David Hirshfeld, the Owner/Operator HOLABIRD SPORTS. I also had the pleasure of meeting Brian Hirshfeld, (David's son), who is also involved in the "Operation" end of this highly successful, long time sports gear and sports wear business. The Holabird Sports retail outlet store and website sales warehouse are housed in the same large building located at 9220 Pulaski Highway, Baltimore County, Maryland 21220. The Store's phone number is 410-657-6440. Holabird Sports Website address: holabirdsports.com. David" requested the meeting to get an updated Pickleball overview of the growth, demographics and specific player needs, including available court space, and player education on a National Level, and Maryland in particular. "David's" intention is to stay ahead of the Pickleball Boom, by maintaining t...

DRUG ADDICTION WITHDRAWAL IT AIN'T NO FUN, I KNOW! Some things are personal and probably best not discussed in a open forum setting like this. And some topics have no relevance to a TOPIC of the facebook page. Well friends I am going to break the rules, and discuss prescribed pain medication addiction of someone near and dear....ME! Hopefully this little stroll down the darkest allies and avenues of legal drug addiction, may just help someone caught in a similar situation. No, this is not going to be one of my lengthy dissertations, and it sure as hell ain't going to make you laugh. So if you are of a fragile sensitive nature and cannot bear to read about human suffering, change the channel. I was on a mild prescription pain medication for a little over two years. The drugs name was "tramadol." I use to take OTC Tylenol Arthritis and it worked fine. But my well meaning primary care doctor suggested I try "tramadol." because it works better and l...

SO YOU WANT TO BECOME A 5.0 PLAYER AND COMPETE WITH THE ELITE PLAYERS FOR THE BIG BUCKS, WELL LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO A FRIEND OF MINE NAMED SIMON My friend SIMON is the best pickleball practice partner I ever had. A few practice session each week during the summer months of outdoor pickleball with Simon, and I improved my skill sets close to one full level. Over the winter months, Simon and I stopped practicing together because of the cold outdoor conditions. Simon has been resting comfortably in my club basement awaiting the first warm breezes of spring. Then and only then will Simon and I sneak off to the nearest outdoor pickleball court and begin our mid morning and evening skill set practice sessions. Since I play in the 70+ age bracket, I am setting my skill improvement goal to the Advanced Level. But please, keep this under wraps. I don't want my competition to get wind of what I am going. Over the last several months, purposely playing with and agains...

PICKLEBALL JUNKIE TRAMADOL ADDICT UPDATE Many CCPC members have commented positively on my recent post on "Tramadol" addiction. These well wishers affirmed my beiefs and convictions that CCPB members are more like "family" than casual acquaintances. Despite some of the scolding grimaces of facial expressions, beneath the surface of the skin, there are sisters and brothers who care for each others welfare. This my friends is a rarity in the family of mankind. We will not and should not always agree on matters of right and wrong. But listening and compromise is a well worn path to conflict resolution. Back to my "addiction" update. Professional medical intervention prescribed a slow progressive reduced dosage of the drug, in two week increments. When I introduced "tramadol" back into my blood stream, the uncontrolled tremors and feelings of anxiety ceased to exist. But I still could no...

PRO CERTIFIED COACHED PROGRESSIVE PICKLEBALL BEGINNERS INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS I am in contact with the Fallston Recreation Center Director Mike Getz, regarding "Rec Center Sponsored "Progressive Beginners Pickleball Instruction Programs for skill development and game rules and scoring knowledge compatible with the IPTPA 2.0 Skill Assessment Performance Mandates. This will be a fee based class of four to five weekly 2 hour classes indoors on weekday evenings (times not yet det ermined), or possibly on week ends in 3 to 4 hour blocks. These Programs will be limited to 8 participants for participants 21 years of age and over. This Program is not intended for participants who lack the motivation to practice skill improvement drills at home between class, engage in home study of rules and scoring, or unwilling to put for the inclass effort to learn and develop the skill sets comparable to a IPTPA 2.0 Rated Player. The pre requisites will be to come to the first c...

Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Joseph Abode & Calvin Kline, and a Slew of Other Sportswear Trend Setters are changing minds, attitudes and the bad style dress habits of many of my fellow male pickleball players. Gone are the days of the oversized, baggy, prision gray, cotton long sleeve long sleeve sweat tops and matching sweat pants. Some among the XY Chromosome Sex, have one favorite (lucky), game-time, outfit they like to wear. Their entire court wear wardrobe consist o f one well washed, faded blue, cotton tee shirt, and one pair matching gym shorts. Then there are those gents who choose to remind themselves of bygone, warm tropical Island vacations, by donning embossed Sale Fish laden Bermuda Tank Tops and Knee Choppers. Or the colorful splashy designs of Hawaiian Teaky Crews and Surf Togs. I still have my 70's cutaway crew, and surf togs from back in the days when everything was "Kool." . Remember guys, the first rule of "runway 'style' p...

OAK CREST NEWLY REMODELED PICKLEBALL COURT, FITNESS CENTER, & OLYMPIC SIZE SWIMMING POOL COMPLETE WITH JACUZZI POOL GRAND OPENING RIBBON CUTTING, CEREMONY & MEET/GREET AFFAIR today 2-4pm attended by yours truly, and introduced to the residents in attendance by the Fitness Director, as the "Oak Crest Pickleball Program's Professional Pickleball Coach. This event was attended by several dignitaries, including Councilman David Marks, 5th District BA/Co who publically recognized the sport pickleball being played at Oak Crest Retirement Community Complex. I was graciously provided with a space, table and exhibition pickleball display for talking with residents about pickleball, how its played and hearing what their thoughts are regarding the playing of the game at Oak Crest. I was provided with a signup sheet and acquired a total of 35 residents who want to learn and play the game. The most common question asked was, "why do they call it pickleball?" April...

3/15 VIDEO OF RODDICK Vs AGASSI PADDLE BATTLE FOR CHARITY QUIZ QUESTION.........."Oh No Mr. Bill, It's A Test! "LIST 5 or MORE GAME WINNING TACTICS THAT THESE PRO PLAYERS USE THAT MOST CCPB OPEN PLAY PARTICIPANTS SELDOM USE ? Before I list my answers to this quiz, I would draw your attention to the game preceding the Agassi Vs Roddick Paddle Battle For Charity Game. The game I am referring to is a singles rematch between Ben Johns (our HOMETOWN PICKLEBALL HERO and Tyson McGuffin. McGuffin won the gold in the 2017 Nationals against Johns. I am not going to tell you the outcome. Winning or losing has no significance in this level of pickleball play by two up and coming pro players. It's all about how they play the game, and the art of the game. Back to the quiz. Here's my observations of 10 differences in game play used by these pro players, that many of us don't do. 1) Serves are not hard driving, low to net, and no "hot sauce" spin...

I read Kevin's post about a "Dinking Tournament."  Great idea, nice change of pace from game play. Here is a "practice routine I use with the ball machine, without feeders or shagers.  I setup the machine across the net, facing the direction I want, and load up 125 balls.  I go back to my side of the net, and position myself accordingly.  I then use the wireless remote to start the balls flying at me.  I try to keep score of hits and misses in my head but it never works.  After hitting (or missing) 100 consecutive balls about 1 second apart, I have worked up a big sweat, with repetitious practice. We could do this as a SKILLS PERFORMANCE TEST TOURNAMENT.  Charge $5 Per Person Registration Fee, 50/50 Winner Split with CCPB Club. No Ball Machine! Perform 10 Different Skill Set Shot Sequences, 100 consecutive shots total. Balls feed to contestants from two feeders (one @ each mid-service court, or each side of NVZ line. ...