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Tips on how to run a smooth pickleball tournament

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This post was written by Kevin Curley, the Pickleball Guru’s social media specialist.

Even with the best technology aiding in running your pickleball tournament – like PickleballTournaments.com, making sure everything runs smoothly is about planning ahead and preparing for anything that may go wrong. Here are a few tips that I recommend considering when you’re planning a pickleball tournament.

Location, location, location

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Guest Commentary: Do you suffer from “pickleball burnout?”

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Guest Commentary written by Kevin Curley, the Pickleball Guru’s social media superstar.

I’m not ashamed to say out loud that I suffer from pickleball burnout.

fatigue

“Pickleball burnout” definition: The point at which playing pickleball is the last thing you would ever consider; the mere thought of playing causes fainting, cold sweats, and tremors. You’re not lazy, you just need a break. 

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Pickleball Drill: Walk the Kitchen Line

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Pickleball practice drill written by Jacquee Ware, a fan of the Pickleball Guru.
Two players start at the opposite ends of the kitchen line across the net from each other.  Then doing nothing but dinks, using both the forehand and backhand shots, walking the kitchen line placing the ball just in front (they use their forehand dink shot) or behind (using the backhand shot — no fair running around to the forehand of the player across the net.  This allows for a player to get really comfortable at the kitchen line with the dink game and allows a player to learn how to place the ball where they really want to instead of just “guessing” where it’s going to go. Also, the practice helps keep the ball low to the net instead of sending it high for someone with very long arms or a poacher to put away the ball.
It’s really helped me out in pickleball. I used to do it a lot playing tennis, but since I really was a baseliner most of the time, it only helped when I was at the service line. But, I was able to get to a lot of shots that most people thought were winners and able to control the ball to wherever I wanted to place it (that is, again, once I got there!).
If you have a tip or drill that you’d like to share, send it along and we’ll post it here.

Mind and Body: How to prepare for a pickleball tournament

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When you play in a pickleball tournament, how often do you feel that you’re at the top of your game and fully prepared to take-on the competition? I’m not just talking from a pure skill level perspective. But are you also preparing your mind and body to take on the area’s best players?

Just like in other sports, “preparation” doesn’t just mean whether you are playing at the same level as the competition. We have all seen the “better” players struggle because of losing focus, lost stamina, and dehydration; especially in larger tournaments where you can easily play for more than 8 hours. Here are a few tips that will help you be prepared – on all levels – for playing in your next pickleball tournament.

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