The five week long Minor League Pickleball starts tonight. This is the second season. I missed the first one due to travel to Antarctic last year.
There are five teams, all with whimsical names: Rally Cats (my team), Dinkers Anonymous, Dinkers & Drivers, Golden Gherkins 2.0 and Hell’s Kitchen.
Three teams have 14 players (we do) two have 15, dividing into two brackets: A (8 players play two matches each week) and B (6/7 players play two matches each time). B bracket is less skilled that includes me. Each team gets a bye week; ours comes next Tuesday, Feb 18. When the score is ties at 4:4 or 3:3, dream breaker is played.
Each team have a specific color of t shirt, substitutes wear white. All our matches used subs. I missed one; three male subs in the final.
The rally scoring is used, which means every point is scored, either by the serving team or receiving team. Normal recreational play uses sideout scoring system, only the server or serving team scores point.
- First to win 25 points by two points, wins the match, on your own serve
- When serving team loses the point, the OP not only gets a point but the right to serve next
- Partners don’t switch side
- At 13 point, two teams switch court
- In case of a tie, skinny singles with 4 points each time, decides.
For example, if opponent serves and missed, we get a point, and get to serve next.
During this period, my game has improved – learned a few pointers:
- holding the paddle vertically!
- to serve better
- watch the line when serving – no foot fault
The standings
| Teams | 2.11 | 2.18 | 2.25 | 3.04 | 3.11 | win | 3.18 | 3.25 | rank |
| Rally Cats A | L | – | w | w | L | 2 | 6:2 | 4:4 | 1st |
| – Bracket B ♦ | w | – | w | w | w | 4 | 6:0 | 5:1 | |
| Dinkers Anon A | w | w | w | L | – | 2 | L | 4:4 | 2nd |
| – Bracket B | L | w | L | w | – | 3 | w | 1:5 | |
| Dinkers & Drivers A | L | L | L | – | w | 1 | – | – | 5th |
| – Bracket B | w | L | L | – | L | 1 | – | – | |
| Gherkins 2.0 A | w | L | – | w | w | 3 | L | ? | 4th |
| – Bracket B | L | L | – | L | L | 0 | L | ? | |
| Hell’s Kitchen A | – | w | w | L | ? | 2 | w | ? | 3rd |
| – Bracket B | – | w | L | L | ? | 2 | L | ? |
The last two weeks March 18 and 25 are playoffs, score is independent: winner takes all.
I’m in bracket B, and our bracket has been doing great: won all our matches.
One observation: compare to tennis players, pickleball players are less athletic and rougher, in term of etiquette. For example, they’ve no qualm of exiting through another court while the ball is still in play in that court. I mean, you should wait, show some courtesy and respect!
The first week (today) I played two matches: one mixed doubles and one doubles. Both matches’ opponents were male.
- w/ Carlos, def Rich M & Bill B: 28-26
- w/ Karlina, def Rich M & Joe B: 26-24
The first match, OP chose to serve, I was receiving. It zoomed by me so fast, I didn’t see it.
Later in the game, Rich was serving even when I held up my paddle as I was rushing to my position. He served without hesitation, anyway. After the point was over, his captain who happened to there watching, said, “When they hold up paddle, you need to wait.”
Hmmmm… even you don’t know this rule, but should know common courtesy, don’t you? If the player isn’t in position, you wait.
The second match, down to the wire again.
When I was serving, Rich said he wasn’t looking. Hmmmm … I hope this isn’t a payback. But “I’m not even looking” is NOT a valid excuse. You play at server’s pace.
At 25-24, I said to my partner, “win by two points?”
“No, three points.” She said.
I turned to face the server and thinking better to confirm it, so I help up my hand. Just then Joe served to my partner. I stepped into the kitchen and blocked it casually.
My captain who just got there, said “that’s it.”
“No, I held up my hand.” I said.
“Yes, she did.” Joe said. I won’t know what would be the result if Joe didn’t speak up, back me up.
So two points it is.
And we come from behind to seal the victory.
Joe is less skilled than Rich but he has good control, able to consistently hit to my partner – they both are tier 4 players. Being by the kitchen line, there isn’t a room for me to cut in and hit back at a better angel or faster pace. Nevertheless, we cliched a win, which pleased me very much, given the unsportsmanship conduct.
I checked with coach Byron Freso, below is his reply ↓
The server is always in the driver’s seat. However, if the receiver is not ready, the server has to wait. In pickleball, they both have 10 seconds to serve or receive the ball.
There are three way the receiver can indicate they are not ready – paddle up, the other hand up, or back turned.
Aside from pickleball, today is the 14th of the lunar new year, the day before the 元宵節 / 元宵节 Lantern Festival when the moon is at fullest/the first full moon of the year, which also considered the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
It’s a busy day for me.
A beautiful full moon night 花好月圆夜
tennis pickleball swimming ♠️❤️
㊗️福亲们 元宵节快乐哈
🕖 getting up
🕢 🏊 warm up
🕗 🎾 tennis
🕛 聚餐 pastrami sandwish
🕐 ♠️ 桥牌
🕒 📖会
🕕 第一个星期的皮克球比赛 – 共五周
🕗 🏊 full moon
🎾 二局4-0, 我发球 … 失掉送🥚的机会
(是潜意识不想 还是简单失误? 鬼知道)2:1
还有鸡爪子 🤣 练
♠️ 几手牌都不太好 小2 老3 的多多 😂 一手拿齐J 啥牌呀 🃏
但机会难得 练技巧 😁
皮克 热闹. 打了两场 都赢了 – 搭档好
三进泳池 抬头看见圆圆的月亮 明天吃汤团 甜的咸的
但我现在想吃烤鸭 小笼包
…Gulf of America
以为川建国同志就是随口说说
真改呀？
上午看时 谷歌地图6️⃣已经改了. 苹果地图5️⃣还是墨西哥湾
现在已经改了 …
咱们学的那点地理可能不够用了. 看来又要进修了 continue ed [憨笑]
周二的流水账
元宵节快乐🏮
