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Hunger strike for court removal

Hunger strike for court removal

Prescription for male loneliness. Don’t be this guy.

July 24, 2023

Catherine Parenteau recently tweeted a question we’d like to ask you:

What are 3 codes a pickleball rulebook should sanction consequences for when violated?

Answer here. Our vote: arguing line calls at 0-0-2.

In This Issue:

🧠 Don’t be this guy
😢Prescription for male loneliness
🎾 Beer City Open recap

Onward!

Beer City Open Results

Partner Pet Peeve

Cred: Sarasota Pickleball Organization

Rec play is always a wildcard in pickleball. It is one of the reasons people cite ‘community’ as one of the best parts of the game.

That being said, you never know who you’ll get paired with on the court. I’ve developed a pet peeve from the partner shuffle that I’d love to see disappear.

It’s when the opposing team returns the ball down the middle and my right-side partner runs around the ball to take it with their forehand.

Please don’t be that guy.

It’s just rec play, so we loosely adhere to the forehand takes middle rule. It’s always good to get some backhand reps in.

But when the right-side player runs around a near-midline ball, it’s a recipe for disaster.

The shot is usually hit while backpedaling. That means it’ll probably be popped up.
It leaves too much court open. The other team can just tap their fourth into open court and the point is over.

On thirds, you want to keep the ball in front of you and move forward after the shot. If you're moving backward, you're starting the point on the wrong foot.

If this is you, stop it. If it’s your partner, it’s time to be more aggressive and start calling them off on balls down the middle.

Play Like Zane

Zane Navratil’s own paddle features an Ultra-RAW carbon face that is designed to maximize spin and power.

That same technology is now available in a standard shape with 5-inch handle and wider face that allows for a big sweet spot and even better accuracy.

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Shop now at proxrpickleball.com

Male Loneliness

According to one New York Times author, there is an epidemic of male loneliness, where men have seen a much sharper decline than women in their close friendships over the past 30 years.

She cites the following as reasons why more men should take up pickleball (or golfing or fishing or chess or competitive grilling, etc.):

a higher percentage of men than women report having no close friends at all (15 percent versus 10 percent)
men receive less emotional support from friends than do women
men are less likely than women to admit being lonely

Let’s be honest – it’s that last point that’s the real problem, isn’t it?

“While women can maintain ties through conversation-heavy engagements, the experts say, men are better served by side-by-side bonding. That is, they participate in activities together, during which community and camaraderie are established.”

It’s a seemingly-obvious theory, but one many men simply don’t make the time for. They often feel their home, work, or family responsibilities are too great, or they’re anxious to start a new hobby.

“Carving out time with friends is hard for most everyone,” the article says. “But it is also critical, because the crisis of male loneliness isn’t hurting just men. It’s terrible for the women in their lives as well.”

“In many heterosexual relationships, many men overwhelmingly lean on their female partners for emotional support.”
“It also frequently falls to the woman to manage the couple’s social life.”

Maybe the thing men need in this situation is, as is so common, something literal. A prescription.

Consider your subscription to this pickleball newsletter a treatment plan. Now, try to get your man friends the help they need…especially for their partners’ sake.

Starving for Change

Speaking of men who need some friends…

Forget slashing nets or distributing anti-pickle propaganda — the new way to protest nearby courts is to go on hunger strike. At least, it is if you’re Rasjnish Dhawan of Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Despite telling a news agency that he originally chose his home for its proximity to a nearby park, Rasjnish calls the pickleball-related noise outside his home “unbearable.”

Now, he’s threatening to go on hunger strike if the city continues to ignore his problem.

To be fair, he bought the home two years before the city installed courts there. But as it turns out, the home is about 10 meters, or about 32 feet, away from the courts.

We have two questions:

Why on earth would you buy a home that’s about two mid-size sedans away from a public park if you even think noise will be an issue for you?
But also: why would Chilliwack build a pickleball court only steps away from somebody’s house?

At least we have a reasonable answer for the second question: because the courts were installed in 2019, before most municipalities put much thought into court zoning beyond ‘we need more of them’.

Look, this guy’s request seems reasonable, despite having questionable taste in real estate. He’s not against pickleball, he says, just against it happening so close to his home.

The city should probably relocate these courts. But in the meantime, can we send Rasjnish a jar of pickles just to give him something to nosh on?

Good ‘Til the Last Drop

The Grand Rapids crowd brought the heat for the finale of the Beer City Open. It was standing room only around center court for the medal matches at this year’s event.

The Kawamoto twins won a hard-fought, three game battle against Lacy Schneemann and Hurricane Tyra Black in women’s doubles.

Another sibling duo, JW and Jorja Johnson, took gold in mixed doubles. They beat Lauren Stratman and honorary member of the Johnson family, Dylan Frazier in the finals.

JW and Dylan teamed up for men’s doubles gold this weekend. Their opponent was a surprise underdog that clawed their way to the finals.

New MLP team Connor Garnett and Rafa Hewett had upsets over Jay Devilliers/Zane Navratil and Pablo Tellez/Federico Staksrud on Saturday.

Fan favorites Altaf Merchant and Eva Welsher picked up two golds each in the senior pro divisions.

The event had a rather sobering moment when Jessie Irvine was struck with an errant Frazier overhead. Unfortunately, Irvine failed concussion protocol and was unable to compete alongside Andrea Koop on Saturday.

The speed of pro pickleball these days is no joke. We’re wishing Jessie a quick recovery.

Catch the PPA tour back in action this week with the inaugural Seattle Open.

Easy, Safe, Fun: Lectric

Forget the hassle of finding parking at pickleball courts.

The XP Lite is a unique eBike with easy maneuverability, a twist grip throttle option, a basket to hold your things, and five levels of pedal assist.

Learn more about this fun transportation option here.

Pickleball Crimes Against Humanity

Sit back and let Tim Parks put your mind in a pretzel. He shares his philosophy on the MLP draft, what franchises are worth and what a perfect league looks like in his eyes.

Tim’s hedgefund background and affinity for pro sports give him a fascinating perspective on the future of professional pickleball. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Watch here or listen here.