Senior Pickleball Tips

In this episode Paddy recounts his experiences of his run to the English Open (EO) final in the 3.5 65+ category. The EO at the NEC in Birmingham was massive with 3,500 competitors from 53 countries - a major event on the pickleball world calendar.

He shares his thoughts of how he tries to be mentally tough on and off the court - what works (and what doesn't!). Listen to how he navigates his way through the tournament, how he deals with each opponent and what he focuses on when he's on court playing highly competitative singles.

Paddy takes you through the early preliminary round robin and then the semi-final and then final.

Share with him his highs and his lows, his victories and when he finds himself lacking. His honest recollections and reflections are an insight on competitive singles in a major international tournament. Well worth a listen for all senior players, especially those interested in competitions.

What happens in the final? You'll have to give it a listen to find out!

To join the (free) Senior Pickleball Academy go here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

To check out Friday paddles go here: https://www.fridaypickle.com/PADDY10

(Or here for Friday UK: https://pkbrsports.com/ and use the code PADDY10)

Paddy chats to 'Dan Friday' who runs Pickle Bros and now distributes Friday paddles to the UK market, and they announce a partnership, working together to promote Friday in the UK.

Paddy already has a partnership with Friday US, but having a distributor in the UK is welcome news for UK-based people as it will prevent heavy shipping fees and the possibility of customs duty being added to the purchase.

Dan explains his introduction to this crazy sport, how he became addicted and (after quite a lot of involvement in quite a few paddle brands) chose Friday to 'get his teeth into'. His company Pickle Bros is now working with Paddy to 'spread the Friday love', especially in the UK. Listen out to hear his plans for his 'Friday Campervan' !!!

They chat about the English Open (3,500 competitors from 53 different countries) where they met up last week and comment on its 'incredibleness' with a shout out to everyone to come and meet them there next year!

So come and meet a 'top bloke' and get to know about a top brand!

Friday UK - https://pkbrsports.com/ and use the code PADDY10 for 10% discount

Friday (US & Worldwide) - https://www.fridaypickle.com/PADDY10

Check out our FREE Senior Pickleball Academy: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

This is the second episode revisiting the serve - but this time for intermediate players. In time we'll revisit all the ten 'essential shots' focusing on beginners and then focusing on intermediates. We'll look at the return of serve next going right through to the reset shot.

In this episode Paddy explains the step-up from being a beginner and what's expected with the intermediate serve. Where to serve, how to serve with speed or spin, maintaining your all-important serving routine, how not to be distracted with everuthing around you in tournament play etc..etc..

If you're a low or high intermediate player, you need to listen to this to get a full understanding of your serve and how it can play a vital part in starting the rally and allowing you to play in YOUR way.

Please consider joining the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

One of our very early episodes was about the first of our 'Essential Shots' - the serve. But that was sometime ago and it's definitely time for a revisit! But this time we'll look at the serve from a beginners' point of view (and the next episode from an intermediates' point of view).

And indeed, in time, we'll go through each of the ten 'essential shots' through the lens of beginners and then intermediates - to narrow down more specific and relevant content for YOU.

In this episode Paddy makes some suggestions to new beginners about what they should be focusing (and what they should NOT be focusing on!!!). He goes through serving technique, serving routines and even drills to undertake (find yourself a large towel!).

In the second part of this episode Paddy goes onto advanced beginners and goes one step further. What is expected of them when they serve, where should they aim for and how fast should they serve.

All this is golddust for both new and advanced beginners and we suggest that you listen to both parts of this episode.

To join our FREE Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

To win more games it is essential to have a high scoreboard IQ. A very common mistake among senior pickleballers is that they play the same way throughout a game no matter what the score is.

Paddy explains the importance of understanding what to do at different parts of games that you play in. What do you do at 6-7? At 8-8? At 1-8? At 9-2? Or even at 10-10? There are times to play it safe and there are times to 'go for it'.

Understand how your opponents are feeling at different score points - and exploit these feelings. Paddy even shares his own high-pressure, tournament experiences.

Learn about your options dependant on what the score is at that time. This really could make a real difference to the numbers of games you win.

Learn more about pickleball strategies, especially as they affect us seniors - check out the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

This is the fifth part of our series on 'Instant Strategies' where you can better your game by 20% (at least) by following these (non-technique) strategies. Here Paddy talks about the importance of communication between partners - whether you've never met your partner before or have a regular partner - the strategies are the same.

He describes how you can both help each other to stay calm, focused and so win more rallies (and have more fun!). From simple things like calling the ball (when there is even a little bit of doubt about who should take it) to always encouraging each other, even after every point - Paddy systematically goes through each aspect of partner communications.

There are examples of real-life situations. Paddy shares a time when he was not supported by his partner, how he felt and how that negatively affected him mentally and emotionally. And, for good measure, describes a positive example as well.

So get to learn all about how to talk to your partner as well as other things like paddle-tapping and don't forget that goldfish!!!

To learn more about partner communications and everything to do about senior pickleball, check out the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Part two of the interview with Rommie Maxey. He and Paddy concentrate on VAIR - a better rating system - with which Rommie is heavily involved.

VAIR does many things - including levelling up players of different ages. So seniors can now play people much younger than they are - on a levelled-up rating. Also there are ratings for gender, mixed and singles at both rec and competition play. Therefore, you don't have to worry about your rating dropping when playing rec play.

VAIR is already being used for the US Wheelchair Pickleball Association, US universities and colleges and various other competitions.

As Rommie says 'VAIR is fair'.

Join for FREE below.

Paddy and Rommie also discuss VAIR+ that analyses a 10-15 minute video from your phone and gives you analytics that describe what you do well, what you need improvement on and how to improve your game. Rommie describes other benefits of VAIR+ including some heavy discounts on pickleball gear and FREE health/accident insurance for when you're playing pickleball!

VAIR+ costs just $49/year. Check it out below.

Get a FREE VAIR rating here: https://app.vairified.com/?ambassador=7223709

Check out VAIR+ here: https://app.vairified.com/vair-plus?ambassador=7223709

Paddy chats with Rommie Maxey - 6-times US National Champion, sits on six US national pickleball boards, involved in Olympic discussions, part owner of the Houston Hammers, coach to over 40 US national champions and over 14,000 recreational players. He is basically a 'Big Cheese in the Pickleverse' and (more importantly) a lovely gentleman.

They talk about how Rommie became a national champion after playing for only a year and how the sport change his life and led him into a whole new world.

But it's senior pickleball that drives him and they discuss its growth in US and worldwide, the Olympic issue and other interesting topics and important topics - such as 'why don't we have a pickleball emoji' ???!!!

At the end Paddy could not resist in taking the opportunity to ask Rommie for his Top 3 Tips for senior pickleballers. So wait to the end and learn from a very experienced and wise man.

IMPORTANT - in the next episode Rommie is talking about his involvement in a new free rating system called VAIR and how it is better and more resilient than what we use at the moment (eg. no sandbagging, different ratings for rec and comp play etc...). So DON'T MISS THE NEXT EPISODE!

If you are itching to find out about VAIR right now click here: https://app.vairified.com/?ambassador=7223709

To check out the new FREE Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Instant Strategies are things we can all do with our game, which do not involve improving shot technique, that WILL DEFINITELY ENSURE YOU WIN 20% MORE GAMES (if you endavour to undertake all of them).

In the fourth part of the series we look at mindfullness and discover the importance of goldfish (!!??).

Mindfullness sounds like a fancy word. But it's very simple - it's all about being present in the moment.

Paddy goes through just how important mindfullness is in pickleball - but, more importantly, describes how we can all be more mindful when we play. He systematically goes through everything YOU need as a senior, to be more mindful on court and, basically, win more games.

Here is your chance to declutter your mind when on court and allow yourself to play better, more freely and with far more focus. Learn to be a goldfish!

Join the FREE Senior Pickleball Academy here:

https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

If you want to improve the number of pickleball games you win - then take up these instant strategies to increase the games you win (pretty much overnight) by 20% - or even more!

This week we look at five things that Paddy tells you NOT to do. You may love to do these things, but they are detrimental to the number of points you are winning. Each one may bring you the odd point and you may feel great undertaking them but, in the long-run, in the context of the whole game/match, they will lose you points.

So get to understand what these 5 'don'ts' are - stop using them in your game - and at any level up to 4.0, you will win more games.

NOTE - please don't think that Paddy says NEVER to use these shots - of course, to love a sport more we need to try everything that we can - but we are looking at these shots STATISTICALLY and solely in the context of winning more competitive games - not necessarily in regard to having fun in rec play!

To check out our new (FREE) Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about