Providing interesting content and giving you resources to improve your game is something I’ve set out to do from the very beginning. I also want people to realize this isn’t my site, but instead your site. I want to provide different perspectives since there’s no one way to improve and play Pickleball. This is why I’m so excited to announce that Chris Riportella has graciously offered his time to blog for the site!
Some of you may already know Chris from the clinics he gave at Monmouth Pickleball Club or by participating in or attending tournaments, but many of you probably don’t know him.
About Chris Riportella
Chris is a Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional (CPTP) and a Certified Rating Specialist (CRS). He’s also a professional pickleball player winning many medals including a gold medal at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, FL. He lives in the Lancaster, PA area and gives lessons, clinics, and ratings in PA, NJ, DE, and MD.
Background
I first approached Chris to tell him about the website and to get some insight into the differentiators of the various levels of players (e.g. 3.0 vs. 3.5). During our conversation, I discovered that Chris has a passion for writing and teaching. I asked him if he’d be open to writing an occasional blog post for the site. He’s also a constant learner, so he was excited at the opportunity to learn more about blogging and share his passion for pickleball with you.
Chris also is interested in hearing any questions or things that you want to know. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding an “Ask Chris” page where you can ask him specific questions. He’ll then take those questions and answer them in a blog post.
So join me in welcoming Chris. I hope you are as excited to read his posts as I am!
Q. I haven’t experimented with different weighted paddles. The one I play with is 7.7 ounces (220 grams). I’m realizing that in PB power is not necessarily as advantageous as in other racket sports. My attempted dinks mostly either fall short into the net, or go long.
Hi Dave and thanks for the question/post! You gave me two great topics for future posts … paddles and dinking. Regarding paddles you are correct that power is not as important as other racquet sports. Perhaps a better key point is that placement is always more important than power. We often intentionally hit a well placed shot at 60-70% power to setup the next shot. Weight of a paddle is one variable for power. Onix paddles range from 6.6 oz. to 8.8 oz. with the average being about 7.6 oz. Length and composition of paddle are also elements that determine power. The most important is still proper stroke technique however. Regarding your dinks I feel this is definitely more to do with stroke technique and body posture than your paddle. Stay with it and have fun!
Question:
My husband and I are seniors, he in his early 80’s and myself in the early 70’s. Never playing pickleball before, how reasonable do you feel it is to begin at this late in our lives and please address how strenuous it would be to do so. Thank you.
Hi Pat! The great thing about our sport is that people of all ages can play. For example in the last U.S. Open this past April there was a 12-year-old as well as someone age 90! Certainly the speed of the game is different but the fundamental principles are the same. The most important thing is to have fun. So check with your local rec center and get out there and play!