PEAK PERFORMANCE:
How to Dominate the Court at High Elevation
Playing pickleball at elevation changes the game. Meet Jayson Harris, director of pickleball in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to learn why and how to adjust.
by TRISH ZORNIO
Nestled in the heart of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Steamboat Tennis and Pickleball Complex( STPC) sits at 6,780 feet above sea level. For locals, playing at this altitude is just another day. But for visitors, the thin mountain air can require a bit more preparation.
To understand how the game of pickleball changes between sea level and a mile high, we interviewed Jayson Harris, the director of pickleball at STPC. Here are some questions you may have, with information that can help make your next match at altitude a success.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STPC.
How much does altitude affect the game?
Altitude is a considerable factor in pickleball, perhaps even more so than wind or temperature, according to Harris. Unlike weather, altitude consistently affects your game, meaning the air will always be less dense( and therefore less resistant) at higher altitudes than at sea level. This is true regardless of whether you play inside or out, so all players are inherently affected.
Temperature and wind can amplify the effects.“ On a cold day at 6,780 feet, the ball will really take off, and you need to adjust even more as the plastic hardens,” says Harris.“ On a really hot day, you don’ t have to adjust as much because the ball softens up with the heat.”
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