Senior Pickleball Tips

Paddy chats to 'Dan Friday' who runs Pickle Bros and now distributes Friday paddles to the UK market, and they announce a partnership, working together to promote Friday in the UK.

Paddy already has a partnership with Friday US, but having a distributor in the UK is welcome news for UK-based people as it will prevent heavy shipping fees and the possibility of customs duty being added to the purchase.

Dan explains his introduction to this crazy sport, how he became addicted and (after quite a lot of involvement in quite a few paddle brands) c...

This is the second episode revisiting the serve - but this time for intermediate players. In time we'll revisit all the ten 'essential shots' focusing on beginners and then focusing on intermediates. We'll look at the return of serve next going right through to the reset shot.

In this episode Paddy explains the step-up from being a beginner and what's expected with the intermediate serve. Where to serve, how to serve with speed or spin, maintaining your all-important serving routine, how not to be distracted with everuthing around you in tournament play etc..etc..

If...

One of our very early episodes was about the first of our 'Essential Shots' - the serve. But that was sometime ago and it's definitely time for a revisit! But this time we'll look at the serve from a beginners' point of view (and the next episode from an intermediates' point of view).

And indeed, in time, we'll go through each of the ten 'essential shots' through the lens of beginners and then intermediates - to narrow down more specific and relevant content for YOU.

In this episode Paddy makes some suggestions to new beginners...

To win more games it is essential to have a high scoreboard IQ. A very common mistake among senior pickleballers is that they play the same way throughout a game no matter what the score is.

Paddy explains the importance of understanding what to do at different parts of games that you play in. What do you do at 6-7? At 8-8? At 1-8? At 9-2? Or even at 10-10? There are times to play it safe and there are times to 'go for it'.

Understand how your opponents are feeling at different score points...

This is the fifth part of our series on 'Instant Strategies' where you can better your game by 20% (at least) by following these (non-technique) strategies. Here Paddy talks about the importance of communication between partners - whether you've never met your partner before or have a regular partner - the strategies are the same. 

He describes how you can both help each other to stay calm, focused and so win more rallies (and have more fun!). From simple things like calling the ball (when there is even a little bit of doubt about who should take it) t...

Part two of the interview with Rommie Maxey. He and Paddy concentrate on VAIR - a better rating system - with which Rommie is heavily involved.

VAIR does many things - including levelling up players of different ages. So seniors can now play people much younger than they are - on a levelled-up rating. Also there are ratings for gender, mixed and singles at both rec and competition play. Therefore, you don't have to worry about your rating dropping when playing rec play.

VAIR is already being used for the US Wheelchair Pickleball Association, US...

Paddy chats with Rommie Maxey - 6-times US National Champion, sits on six US national pickleball boards, involved in Olympic discussions, part owner of the Houston Hammers, coach to over 40 US national champions and over 14,000 recreational players. He is basically a 'Big Cheese in the Pickleverse' and (more importantly) a lovely gentleman.

They talk about how Rommie became a national champion after playing for only a year and how the sport change his life and led him into a whole new world. 

But it's senior pickleball that drives him and they discuss its growth in U...

Instant Strategies are things we can all do with our game, which do not involve improving shot technique, that WILL DEFINITELY ENSURE YOU WIN 20% MORE GAMES (if you endavour to undertake all of them).

In the fourth part of the series we look at mindfullness and discover the importance of goldfish (!!??).

Mindfullness sounds like a fancy word. But it's very simple - it's all about being present in the moment.

Paddy goes through just how important mindfullness is in pickleball - but, more importantly, describes how we can all be more mindful when...

If you want to improve the number of pickleball games you win - then take up these instant strategies to increase the games you win (pretty much overnight) by 20% - or even more!

This week we look at five things that Paddy tells you NOT to do. You may love to do these things, but they are detrimental to the number of points you are winning. Each one may bring you the odd point and you may feel great undertaking them but, in the long-run, in the context of the whole game/match, they will lose you...

Instant Strategies are things we can all do with our game, which do not involve improving shot technique, that WILL DEFINITELY ENSURE YOU WIN 20% MORE GAMES.

In the second part of the series, Paddy talks about the serve. How you NEED to have a consistent serve that goes in 99% of the time and a good default serve. He explains why this is necessary and, very importantly, (as seniors) how we can achieve this.

Paddy also talks about an interesting observation whereas the serve is only really a weapon at the advanced beginner and low intermediate...

'Instant Strategies' are things that you can do, that do not involve shot technique or talent, but are workable aspects that you can bring into your game immediately. 

By undertaking these Instant Strategies you will increase the numbers of games you win by 20%.

That is not a guarantee (!!!), but Paddy believes that if you bring all these into your game - you WILL WIN MORE GAMES - at least another 20% more games! But beware, you will have heard many of these before. The trick is to not just know about these - but to really L...

Play in competition is quite different from rec play. The pressures are greater, the stress is enhanced, things sometimes spiral out of control. That's why we need an idea of etiquette - what's expected of us as senior competitive players.

In this episode Paddy explains 13 tenants of etiquette while playing in competitive matches. He provides some examples from his own experience playing in tournaments, including asking his opponents if they want to be known as cheats or gentlemen! Find out what happened!

Paddy explores mindfullness and how we can all benefit from understandng this a...

The vast majority of us turn up to rec play (very, very few play solely competitively). So etiquette in rec play is SO important to understand.

Rec play can be complicated, with 'paddle queues', local rules, understanding who plays with who - and when. So we need some courtesy with each other - and as seniors this shouldn't be too hard!

Etiquette is the glue that sparks the magic of pickleball. It's what keep us grounded and enables all sorts of different people to play together and build community.

In this episode Paddy...

Susan Cohen is back and this time talks to Paddy about the importance of warming-up BEFORE playing pickleball and stretching-down AFTER playing. They discuss actual exercises you can do for both - even in your car on the way to playing (don't worry what other drivers think!) and after you get home.

Just 5mins before playing and then 7-8 mins after, will make ALL the difference to you maintaining your body. Which will keep you injury-free - there is nothing worse (especially as a senior) than pulling a muscle or straining a tendon somewhere that keeps you...

Tony Schneider has been the president of USSP for some 18 months and he chats to Paddy about how he got into the sport and his plans for the organisation. Tony describes USSP, its aims and its mission. Also listen to how he learnt the reset shot (the hard way!), what's in Paddy's coffee mug, the importance of partner communication and hear the two of them debate whether a little bit of 'nastiness' is possibly coming into the sport.

If you're a senior, you play pickleball and you live in the US - you need to listen to...

Paddy was in Malaysia a couple of months ago - and as always - when he travels he always has his trusty Friday pickleball paddle. Finding himself in Penang, Paddy hunted down some open play and joined in the fun. But what amazed him the most was the quality and dedication of the players. Malaysians have badminton and table tennis in their DNA - so pickleball is natural to them. 

So, Malaysia has taken to the sport instantly and spontaneously! Its been in the country for only seven years and it has taken off big time - a...

This is the Story of one of our members - William Clelland - who dragged himself out of the Glasgow drug dens with the help of this amazing sport. Listen to his story of drink, trouble with the law, prison, heroin and deep dispair. Until one day, it all changed for him.

Be patient with his strong Scots accent - don't worry, after 5 mins you'll get used to it! 

This is in total contrast to our episode a fortnight ago - when we met Lee Whitwell, the world #1 senior - but that is what Senior P...

Wow! What a 50th episode we have for you!

Paddy chats to Lee Whitwell, the world No.1 Female 50+ pickleball player, US Next Gen coach, businesswoman and all-round bloody amazing person.

They discuss her early introduction into tennis then pickleball (in Gibraltar and England), what advantages are there to being a leftie, misogeny in the pickleverse (actually not that bad!), her book "The Third Space Effect: How Pickleball Became the Place We Belong" and her philosophy about the sport. 

Also we are SO lucky - because Paddy manages to get some seriously valuable tips f...

Wow! What a 50th episode we have for you!

Paddy chats to Lee Whitwell, the world No.1 Female 50+ pickleball player, US Next Gen coach, businesswoman and all-round bloody amazing person.

They discuss her early introduction into tennis then pickleball (in Gibraltar and England), what advantages are there to being a leftie, misogeny in the pickleverse (actually not that bad!), her book "The Third Space Effect: How Pickleball Became the Place We Belong" and her philosophy about the sport. 

Also we are SO lucky - because Paddy manages to get some seriously valuable tips f...

Okay, okay I know - this is OVER AN HOUR LONG!!!!!

BUT - we've moved to high-intermediates (3.5) so there's more to to talk about. More ways to hit these essential shots. So many potential serves - which should I do? Do I do a 3rd shot drop or a 5th shot drop? What can I do if my backhand drive isn't as good as it should be? Is it good to 'Shake & Bake'? How do I prepare properly for a re-set shot? What do I need to do to try and get to 4.0?

I was...

Okay, okay - yes, this is a full 45 minutes! Yes, it's long. But this episode is FULL OF AMAZING INSIGHTS AND TIPS for low-intermediate players (at around 3.0).

Maybe listen to it in 2 or 3 stages - but listen to it you must!

Coach Jeff (Limitless Pickleball) & Paddy go through the ten basic shots and what you should be doing at the 3.0 level. The serve, return, third shot, forehand & backhand drives, lob, dink, smash and the (all important) reset shot.

They discuss each shot in some detail - what to do and what NOT to...

Karen Mitchell is an absolute star in regard to pickleball in England, and indeed throughout the UK. After starting to play the sport (beware putting your bins out in sleepy Sussex villages!!) she saw the need, together with Frank Arico, to organise pickleball in the country. So they started Pickleball England in 2018 to promote the sport, organised a tournament (with about 320 players) and, as they say, the rest is history. The last English Open (largest tournament outside North America) had 2,350 players - with senior categories in 5-year cohorts from 60+ upwards (Paddy played in the 65+ category in all three events).<...

If you're an advanced beginner (2.5) this is 38 minutes of pure gold. You're probably thinking "Whaaaat? THIRTY EIGHT minutes???" ... then remember you are a senior and (unlike many of our younger generation) you have the patience to do this...!!!

Paddy and Coach Jeff (Limitless Pickleball) take advanced beginners through the 10 essential shots they need to know about - from the serve, return, third shot, through to the forehand and backhand drives, and then the dick, lob, smash and the (all important) re-set shot. All from the perspective of the Advanced Beginner.

We know this is a...

This is the episode for all beginners - especially those who are new to the sport.

Paddy & Coach Jeff Gehm (Limitless Pickleball) systematically go through each of the 10 essential shots in pickleball, aimed specifically for new beginners. Starting with the serve, return of serve and the third shot, then moving on to the forehand and backhand drives, then the dink, the lob and the smash and ending with the tricky re-set shot.

It's all here in one episode!

So grab the dog for 'walkies' or maybe listen on your way to play...

In this episode Paddy meets Karen Thomas from Seattle, who came to the sport 10 years ago (through her mother!), was the head of marketing at Pickleball Central for some time and is now the Marketing Director at US Senior Pickleball. 

They chat about everything pickleball - including the growth of indoor facilities in the States, the costs of membership and playing, the continual growth still of seniors playing the sport and the importance of spreading the message to as many seniors as possible to consider pickleball as part of their own on-going health and wellbeing.

P...

In this last episode in the 'Singles Series', Paddy goes through the importance of having a 'mental edge' - having those steely nerves when the chips are down. The importance of the mental side of singles matchplay cannot be overemphasised. It is SO important. If you can become mentally strong in singles (and doubles!), you can win more competitative matches and maybe even tournaments as well.

Most pickleball players are not mentally strong and this will definitely give you that 'edge'.

Paddy explains techniques to help get mentally stronger - like breathing techniques and tricks...

In part 3 of this 4-part series, Paddy explores the arsenal of shots that you need to focus on to win at singles. Surprisingly you don't need a whole aray of different fancy shots - but you do need some of the basics and you need to get them right technically. And you need to know when to play them.

Serve, return, volley, 3rd/5th shot, lob, smash, re-set - all the usual suspects are there - but for singles it's about placement (even more so than for doubles!). Paddy goes through each one and explains their importance...

In the second part of this 4-part series, Paddy explains why the return of serve is (in his opinion) THE most important shot in singles pickleball - especially if you're a senior.

He goes through all the options for the return of serve, including what to do and what NOT to do! 

Then Paddy talks about court positioning and the importance of predicting where your opponent's shot is going to go - and how to do this. He explains how, as seniors, we do NOT have to running around like complete idiots - how we u...

How on earth did they do it? How did they get to the 3.5 (65+) English Open final? The largest pickleball tournament outside USA! And did they win?

Listen to this episode and find out! And also discover how they both helped each other through it, how they communicated and how they changed tactics suddenly when they needed to. Go through their trials and triumphs on that day last summer.

You might learn something. You might take something away that helps YOU in your next tournament - or just to improve your game.

For our...

In this episode we meet Gustavo Alonso Gonzalez who was (un)lucky enough to be paired up with Paddy for the English Open 2025 3.5, 65+ doubles tournament. Having never met each other, they met one minute before their first match!!!

Bearing in mind that the English Open is the largest tournament outside USA, this is quite a big deal!

In this two-part podcast describing their journey in that tournament, we first meet Gustavo and get to know him a bit. He is the founder of Senior European Pickleball Players, plays as many tournaments as he can, is...

Paddy starts his deep dive into pickleball singles. This is the first of four episodes to help YOU not just compete in singles, but to WIN in singles.

Many seniors shy away from singles, but for many of us we love the independence of doing things for ourselves and the friendly competition with other similar 'singletons'. There is no doubt that singles attracts the more competitative player, so these episodes focus on strategy, tactics and especially the mental aspects of the game in regard to playing in competitions (for example, breathing techniques, how to avoid distratctions etc...

Paddy has found a segment from his interview with Coach John Gill (aka Aussie John Pickleball) where they talk about keeping safe from injuries and mishaps on the pickleball court. They discuss the main things like court shoes and eye protection, about what to do and (maybe more importantly) what NOT to do!

You may feel you've heard this all before - but it is well worth a recap, to keep you on the court and playing. We've all witnessed on-court injuries and we know that they are 90% preventable - so listen up and keep yourself active...

Please find in this episode, 8 minutes of mindfullness and calm - to listen to before you go on court. Whether you're going to play for a bit of fun with your pickle friends or about to play in a major tournament - you may find it useful to have this 8-minute moment of peace, to help you focus your mind.

Keep it with you wherever you go - play it in the car, walking to the courts or just before you warm up - you never know when you're going to need it!

For our...

In this podcast Paddy chats to Steve Willis who is not only fanatical about pickleball, but is also highly involved with US Senior Pickleball. Discover Steve's story as he goes from swimming to pickleball, gets addicted (like a lot of us!) and what he does when he realises that he wants to put something back into the sport.

USSP supports the development of pickleball for seniors throughout the United States - listen to what they can do for you...

Join USSP here; https://usseniorpickleball.com/

For our (FREE) Senior Pickleball Academy click here...

In this episode Paddy talks through how to transition from tennis to pickleball. Although there are MANY advantages such as an understanding of footwork and court positioning, there are also disadvantages such as going for the sidelines and too big a backswing. 

Listen to Paddy as he goes through all this, while giving examples from his own transition - after playing tennis for 50+ years. 

So if you've come from tennis, this is a must-listen.

For our (FREE) Senior Pickleball Academy click here: https://www.skool.com/senior-pickleball-academy-9457/about

Join thre...

In this episode Paddy talks to his doubles partner, good friend and pickleball coach Phil about partner communications. They have entered a 50+, 3.5 tournament together for the first time and discuss how they are going to communicate with each other before playing, during play and afterwards. 

The tournament is in two weeks' time, so it's important they 'get their act together'!

Partner communication is not just about calling 'Mine' or 'Yours' (although these are incredibly important), it's also about keeping each other's spirits high, NEVER being negative (not until after the game anyway!) and being crystal c...

In this episode Paddy talks with Ron Ponder who is the Director of Officiating at the Global Pickleball Federation and all-round great guy. They talk about how he got into pickleball and then got into refereeing while helping with DUPR and expanding the sport into the far reaches of this planet. For example, how Ron got to officiate in Madagascar's first national tournament after explaining to about a dozen enthusiastic players how to play!

Ron is very knowledgable about pickleball and shares some of that knowledge with us.  He discusses issues such as refereeing and how to g...

Remaining with the important theme of listening to our bodies, Paddy talks to Bill Reif about his book 'Treat Your Own Pickleball Injuries' out with Amazon. With 45+ years experience of being a physical therapist, he started playing pickleball five years ago and found himself looking after more and more pickleball players. So, on retiring, he wrote this very useful book.

Listen to Paddy and Bill discussing the particular injuries that come from pickleball's 'side-to-side' movements and what to do about them. More good stuff about preventing those injuries from happening in the first place, but also what...

In the second part of this episode Paddy and Susan (from Pro Motion Fitness) discuss the importance of having some kind of a daily routine to stretch our muscles and tendons and to help us gain some physical strength. This can help all of us with our pickleball game (and our lives in general!).

A 10- or 15-minute routine is good (or even longer if you can bare it!), but at least a 5-10 minute stretch is highly advisable. Whether it is yoga, pilates or the Canadian Air Force exercise regime (yes, there is one - my...

In this two-part episode Paddy talks to Susan Cohen from Pro Motion Fitness about keeping injury-free.

Part one will cover the five most common pickleball injuries that occur with seniors and in part two they discuss about how all of us should have our own bespoke, personal daily routine so we can stretch and strengthen our muscles for 10-15 minutes every day.

So, in this part-one episode Susan goes through the five most common injuries that affect our:

And for each of these she and Paddy...