It ’ s How You
Play the Game
7-time Doubles National Champions Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore discuss their journey from tennis to pickleball … and what they ’ ve learned along the way .
For Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore , the fun in pickleball is in the journey . The fact that they often win is just icing on the cake . In a world where instructors preach the importance of drills , drills , drills , these two friends and longtime tennis partners see more importance in having fun , saving their serious sides for when they ’ re actually on the court .
Like many people , the pair came to pickleball after looking for something more . They fell in love with the sport and found that while tennis had prepped them to play as a doubles team , they still had challenges and the wonderment to absorb in this new game .
“ For us , it happened pretty quickly ,” Hamner said . “ We had the tennis doubles background so we had worked out the kinks already . Once we started playing pickleball , it was more figuring out the strategy of the game because we already had the court figured out .”
“ We were pleasantly surprised that pickleball had more fun and the same competitive level and intensity [ as tennis ],” Lucore said . “ We ’ re very competitive , but keeping it fun , the journey of the road trips and the destination , getting on the plane , we have the best time and crack each other up . We ’ re kind of goofballish , but on the court , we say , ‘ I ’ m here to play pickleball ,’ and we do the best we can that day . You rise to the occasion , and you do all you can and see if it ’ s good enough at the end of the day . When you ’ re relaxed and having fun , you ’ re playing so much better .”
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