MARK FRIEDENBERG EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDAMENTALS WHILE DRILLING. HE ADVISES WEIGHT TRAINING FOR SENIOR PLAYERS.
zone( NVZ) line to give himself a little more time to block a hard shot and reset the point. He believes“ a high, looping return always works” because it gives a senior more time to get to the NVZ line.
“ Economy of motion is very important, and you need to pick your shots,” he explains.“ My wife, Cynthia, makes sure we eat protein bars and hydrate constantly.” Carl also advises having a good knee and shoulder surgeon!
Alaska and Arizona’ s Carolyn Bagley says that speed was one of her assets. As she got older, she learned that trickery beats youth and speed. She now hits softer and uses better placement.“ I am more consistent, and I don’ t pull the trigger too soon,” she confides. Carolyn focuses on making the other person move. She backs up some on the court to see the point unfold, then gets back in to the NVZ line as soon as she can. As a senior, she is working on playing the soft game to set the point up.
Carolyn emphasized an important part of senior pickleball when she said,“ I play for pleasure. I say yes to doubles partners that I like to play with, and we have fun.”
Arizona’ s Mark Friedenberg was very specific.“ I use the same fundamentals as when I was younger. I can rip it as hard as the young kids and reset the ball. Feet, eyes, know where the ball is going, keep your head down— it is all in my book,” he advises. Mark advocates drilling with proper fundamentals.“ What does dinking as a warm-up do for you? Start off stroking the ball and move your feet.”
Mark does daily weight training and says it is important for older people.“ I work hard. I want to be the best I can be. I am 150 percent better after my hip replacement,” he emphasized as he correlated the relationship between hard work and success.
Hard work is also the key to Deb Harrison’ s success.“ I have been a teacher and a coach all my life and have
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SPRING 2026 | MAGAZINE 53