By Alice Tym

Behind the Scenes with Pros

What ’ s your secret for playing together ? Jim : Winning ! Ha-ha . It is better when we win .

Yvonne : We are there to encourage each other and be a team .

What is your best pattern play in Mixed Doubles ? Yvonne : We stack with Jim on the left .

Jim : When we are back serving , Yvonne hits a low drop and I go in . It is the “ Hack Attack .”

What drills do you practice for Singles ? Jim : Lots of groundstrokes . I work on baseline angles and down-theline drives .

Yvonne , you and Hilary Marold have a very successful record in platform tennis , including being in the Platform Hall of Fame . How did that begin ?

We began teaming up when we played the same tournaments . She was in Chicago at the time . We have been wonderful friends and pickleball partners since our platform tennis days .

What advice would you give the female partners in Mixed Doubles ? Jim : Know your strengths . Be consistent . Keep it in play . Be patient with your male partner .

What about male partners in Mixed Doubles ? Yvonne : If we need a reset , call a time-out and talk . What should he do ? Problem-solve . Be aggressive .

How did you meet ? Yvonne : We were college sweethearts . Our first date was on the tennis court . We still go on dates . We go to the movies and have game nights with friends . Our favorite games are Carbles , Swoop , and Times Up . We play guys against the girls .

What ’ s the secret of staying in shape together ? Jim : It is a lifestyle . We are cutting back on sugar and alcohol . We try to do some cardio and weight training .

Where do you see pickleball heading ? Jim : It will continue to grow and hope to see it in the Olympics .

Yvonne : I see it going to rally scoring . We are deeply grateful for the friendships and experiences that pickleball has given us .

You both are a class act . Where does that come from ? Jim : We have great parents , Midwestern values and a strong faith . Yvonne had early training in tennis . Her coach , Dr . A . B . Hodgman , was very influential . My father worked two jobs . He is currently 104 . Yvonne ’ s mother is 98 and still plays pickleball ! Now we referee and are ambassadors . We started a nonprofit called Kalamazoo Pickleball Outreach .

Where would you like to introduce pickleball ? Yvonne : We introduced it in New Zealand . We would go back to New Zealand . We loved the home stays . It is the most romantic place we have ever been . We celebrated our 50th anniversary with a glass of wine overlooking Queenstown . Maybe go to France , too .

Your grandkids are athletes . What advice do you give them ? They have gotten good advice from their parents . Do your best . They play pickleball when they are with us . •

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