With the Mayhem descending upon GMCF for the weekend, I am putting out the perennial call for volunteers to help pitch in. Responsibilities include setup (Friday evening @ 5:30), Breakdown (Sunday afternoon @ 3:30) and then two mornings and two afternoons of desk management. The desk job entails data entry, scoresheet distribution/collection and whiteboard recording. If you have any interest please let me know what time slot works well for you.

Thanks!

Have you ever had the feeling the opposite team is avoiding you? Or do you ever receive the lion's share of balls in a game? We call this phenomenon "Targeting" and it happens both subconsciously and consciously as a way to give yourself the best possible opportunity to win a game. And there is only one scenario where this practice is appropriate - in tournaments. In Rec play, which is what we are all engaged in at GMCF, this practice is not only doing your game a disservice, it can lead to frustration and even avoidance of future sessions by your opponents. Here are some thoughts around targeting...

1. Playing sports where there is a score and a partner puts you in a vulnerable position, and if you are targeting a specific player you are likely making them feel even more vulnerable.

2. Prioritizing winning over development is a sure path to hampering your potential as a player. When you target the weaker player you expose yourself to less challenge, and challenge is where growth happens.

3. When you avoid a better player they walk away frustrated having not been able to fully engage in the game. The next time they consider choosing a session they may not choose the one you are in, leading to further loss of opportunity for growth.

4. If you are being targeted it can lead to a lot of pressure as you feel the game's result is entirely on your shoulders. Doubles pickleball is about teamwork, cooperation, and the involvement of 4 player in a wonderful dance of athletics. It's tough to dance well when you are carrying extra weight.

So I propose to our entire GMCF community - Use the 50/50 rule when you play pickleball in our recreational games. Balance your return of serves evenly between your opponents. Distribute your shots throughout the court, regardless of who is on what side. If you know of a specific weakness of a player, remind them that it's there on occasion (so they know what to practice!) but don't exploit it over and over. And generally make sure that all four players are partaking in the game so that we can all grow together.

And getting back to when targeting is appropriate - if you are playing in a tournament it is totally OK to try to put pressure on the weaker player. It is both expected and advisable. Because in these competitive situations you have chosen your partner, you have chosen the division you entered and you have chosen to take the bold move of exposing yourself to full competition, as has the other team.

Pickleball is such a cool sport in that we mix and match partners all session long. The 50/50 rule will help us all maximize this experience, keep us all improving and celebrate the balance of a great game.

With another box of Franklin X-40s in the trash we have just opened a box of new balls as a trial. This new ball produced by Selkirk is similar to the Franklins with one key difference - they come with a 1 year crack-free warrantee! If they hold up as well as their marketing team promotes, we could be saving over $1,000/yr. with this switch.

So, first off, they will be a bit different. I have played a few hours with this ball and find them to be less "squishy" than the Franklins, especially after the Franklins get used a bit as they really soften. It's possible the Selkirks will also soften, but my suspicion is that they will always be more rigid than what we're used to. Behavior wise, you may find them popping a little more when contact is hard, but the softer shots seems to be more similar to the Franklins.

Then we need to track any cracked balls and NOT throw them away. There will be a "Cracked Ball" receptacle near the cubbies so that when they do break I can mail them in for replacements. Please keep these Selkirks out of the practice bin and don't co-mingle them in the pickleball machine. To ID the Selkirks you will see their shade of green is a bit darker, and their hole pattern is distinct in that there are small holes surrounded by 4 bigger holes.

I am open to feedback on how they play, but only for my personal knowledge. If you don't like them quite as much as the Franklins, it's likely not going to be a $1000 difference. If you are gearing up for a tournament that will be using the Franklins (like ours will continue to use) then you can bring your own balls in for play to re-acquaint yourself with their feel. And like all experiments, we'll see how it goes! If they hold up significantly better than the Franklins and Selkirk honors their warrantee without undue restraints then this may be the new GMCF ball.