ALL LEVELS by ALICE TYM
N The Secrets of SENIOR SUCCESS
“ Navigating the autobahn of life in the best way possible is about getting relative with the inevitable at the right time,” writes Matthew McConaughey in his book“ Greenlights.” This pretty much sums up the constant transitions that senior pickleball players must make in order to stay on top of their game and on top of the podium.
Pickleball itself is constantly evolving. Rules change. Younger players entering the game have backgrounds in a variety of sports. They bring new shots, spins and strategies to pickleball. Meanwhile, senior players get older. Knees, eyes, shoulders, feet, ears, wrists and skin are paying the price for years of work and fun. Seniors want to continue playing and playing well. What should they do when the game itself is getting younger?
First, you should recognize your limitations. If you can no longer run as fast as you once could, do not hit shots so hard that you cannot cover the return. It is demeaning, yes, but if you want to win as a senior, you must accept the fact that placement is preferable to pace. Herb Johnson of Illinois says,“ Us old farts, we just get craftier. What goes across fast comes back fast— you better be ready.”
Arizona 5.0 player Carl Tietze concentrates a little more on anticipation to make up for the speed he has lost. He positions himself 2-3 feet behind the non-volley
HILARY MAROLD AND YVONNE HACKENBERG ARE THE TOP DOUBLES TEAM IN WOMEN’ S DOUBLES 70S AT INDIAN WELLS. BOTH EXPRESS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND HIGH-LEVEL COMPETITION.
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