Pickleball Antigonish Society

Kilts in the Kitchen 2024

The 2024 Kilts in the Kitchen Fun Tounament was a huge success with 34 lads and lassies participating in kilts and Scottish attire. Many lucky players won door prizes from local businesses and Farmers’ Market.

Know Your Skill Level Rating!

Lots of conversations these days about ratings. More and more people are asking "What is my rating? How do I rate myself? Do I need to play in tournaments? Etc..." Playing in sanctioned tournaments where scores are entered into a rating system is definitely helpful in establishing your rating. But what if you have no desire to play in bigger/sanctioned tournaments? Well, there is some help out there. Just google 'Pickleball Self Assessment Ratings' and you'll find lots of suggestions. Also, Pickleball Antigonish Society has developed guidelines to assist you in determining your rating. Just go to the menu on the left side of this page and click on Self-Rating Guidelines.

https://pickleballcanada.org/r...

Here's another neat rating system to try......

https://www.carmichaelpark.com...

Outdoor Play at Columbus Field

Outdoor play usually runs between April and November... with the odd extra day thrown in. Nets are in the storage box, as well as balls, first aid kit, and a few other odds and ends. Washrooms are located in the red building beside Club 60 and are open from April through November.

Can I be a member of more than one club?

Absolutely... and everyone benefits. If you'd like to be a member of a couple of clubs (Ex. Arisaig Pickleball Club and Pickleball Antigonish), start by renewing your Pickleball Canada membership and then choose your 'home club'. Make your payment to PCO, PNS and your club and then go back in to join again. This time, choose your second club and go through the payment system and you should only be billed for the second club. Good luck. As well, you may see a button that just says "Join Another Club". This works as well.

STFX Human Kinetics 2022

Pickleball Antigonish members once again, happily accepted an invitation to teach the STFX Human Kinetics students a little bit about the game of pickleball. The fall 2022 HK class were as keen as any we've seen. Even though most students had never even laid eyes on a paddle, they quickly became very comfortable with the game. We see some stars in the future for sure.

Shamrock Shake

A full house at our first indoor tournament in 2 years. Great competition and a ton of smiles. On top of everything, our members contributed $210.00 to the Antigonish Emergency Fuel Fund. Way to go 'pickleballers'.

Exam time at STFX University

Exam time has come and gone at most universities across the province. It has been a tough year for everyone, including our St.F.X. students. We see them in the halls everyday we play pickleball, and we've been lucky enough to have a number of them join us for some fun. Pickleball Antigonish dropped off treat bags filled with candy, chocolate bars, drinks, etc... for students in the Saputo Centre. We appreciate how hard they have worked to keep the StFX and Antigonish communities safe through Covid. Best of luck!!

SOME GREAT VIDEOS

Check out some interesting suggestions from some of our members.

Jan 2022: Point of the day from Canada's Steve Deakin. Just amazing!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Dec 2021: 

Check out this match as suggested by Leslie Buckland-Nicks. Lots of great shots and rallies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74aGeE0MSI4>

Upcoming Clinics

2024 Summer Fun Tournie

Who are we?

Welcome to PICKLEBALL ANTIGONISH, a webpage connecting all things Pickleball in the Antigonish area. Pickleball Antigonish officially became a club on July 23, 2018. Our group plays at the the St. F.X. Saputo Centre, which reopened in September, 2024, after extensive renovations. As well, during warm weather days, we play at the Antigonish Racquet Facility on Main Street in Antigonish and indoors at the Antigonish Arena.  See Playtime Scheduler Highland Region for up to date play times.

Where can I play?

Playing Venues

Saputo Centre

St. Francis Xavier University

1140 Convocation Blvd, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5

Antigonish Racquet Facility

Columbus Field

121 Main St, Antigonish, NS B2G 2N8

Antigonish Arena (summer months only)

30 James Street, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W3

Check out the Playtime Scheduler website (Highland Region) for up to date playtimes.

Parking for downtown PB

PLEASE REMEMBER!!!!!

Racquet Court users are strongly encouraged to be considerate of surrounding businesses, and to park in public parking areas if they wish to use the courts. As well, there is often parking available on Main or St. Mary's Streets.

There is a lot available off St. Andrews Street, at the Columbus Field entrance - please see red circle on map below. Parking here is recommended to avoid congestion at Club 60.

Johnny's "Do's and Don'ts

While being 'laid up' with Covid in December 2021, Johnny and Leslie Buckland-Nicks worked on their Do's and Don'ts for pickleball. Check it out as there are some great tips.

Do’s and Don’ts in Competitive Pickleball

DO’S:

1. Serve deep AND Return serve deep (preferably within 3ft of backline)

Reason: serves that land near the back line are hardest to return. Returns of serve that land in this area, often catch the server moving forward and are the hardest to return as a 3^rd shot drop.

2. The best serve is deep to the opponents’ backhand.

Example: Jack Lee (5.0 senior player in NS) put 90% of his serves in a 3ft square on the opponents backhand during the 2019 55+ tournament.

3. Put some topspin on most shots (dinks, serves, drives etc).

Reason: Pickleballs are not like tennis balls. When a pickleball is hit with a flat tennis shot, its path will decay into the net. When hit with topspin it will curve over it. Most pros put topspin on almost all of their shots.

4. Expect every shot to be returned as a Drive.

Reason: If you don't you will be surprised by it, when there is no need to be.

5. Send a drive at the opponent’s right hip pocket (right hander).

Reason: This spot is the most difficult for backhand defense to cover (I hope you are

using a backhand defense. Simone Jardim (former world #1) says 85% of defended shots

should be taken on the backhand.

6. Always follow through with your paddle, particularly with dinks and 3^rd shot drops.

Reason: It completes your intention for the shot in a continuous fluid motion.

7. When dinking, vary the speed and direction of your dinks: Don’t be predictable.

Example: Do a faster cross court dink after a slower one or one across from you.

8. Communicate with your partner for who takes the middle for each rally.

Reason: This is a weak area in doubles that is often targeted by opponents.

9. In Doubles, move as a unit as if roped together. If your partner goes out of court for a shot, move across to cover the space left behind. Don’t stay where you are!

Reason: Often, when a great shot is made from outside the court it is simply returned into the gap left behind. Experienced players will try to separate you, then shoot between you.

10. After doing a poor lob, or an accidental high shot, quickly retreat 2 or 3 steps.

Reason: It gives you a chance to retrieve the inevitable smash.

11. Yes! put spin on the ball! Whoever said it was ineffective?

Reason: A ball can be curved as much as 3ft or spun the same distance across the court. Just as in baseball or cricket it is much harder to deal with than a ball without spin.

12. Develop your own unique shots. Be unpredictable!

Reason: The unpredictable player is much harder to beat. Everyone is taught similar basics in clinics and watch the same YouTube videos but we can all develop unique shots that others have not thought of. It’s a young sport with many racquet sports influences.

13. Be Patient! Dink effectively and wait for the right opportunity to hit a winning shot.

DON'T’S:

1. Don’t creep forward after serving. Stay behind the base line for 2 shots.

Reason: A deep return of serve will land at your feet and make it much more difficult to

return, resulting in a weak or missed shot. Many of our best players still make this error.

2. Don’t run to the net as soon as you have hit your 3^rd shot drop, unless it is good.

Reason: It often takes two or three tries to hit a decent drop shot that will allow you to get to

the kitchen without having the ball hit hard at your feet (a difficult shot to return).

3. Don’t move while hitting the ball if you don’t have to (if possible plant your feet first).

Reason: planting your feet before you hit the ball provides stability and allows control

4. Don’t move body and legs upwards as you hit the ball

Reason: I’ve noticed this with several players who are worried about returning a ball (eg

with spin; they ‘coax’ their body upwards. This causes the ball to go off the tip of the paddle.

5. Don’t dink with a stiff arm

Example: If you watch any of the pros, or our best players, you will see that they hit all soft

shots with a fluid motion that involves the whole arm. It provides more control.

6. Don’t drop your left shoulder (right hander) when driving a hard shot.

Reason: It tends to send the ball into the net. Many of us make this mistake.

7. Don’t lean forward when smashing near the net.

Reason: The ball will often go into the net. Learn to tip your paddle back a few degrees.

8. Don’t curve your paddle outwards when hitting a forehand down the line.

Reason: It imparts spin on the ball that inevitably take your shot out of play.

9. Don’t do a 35º-45º lob. Rather do a 50º-70º lob and 15ft at the apex with top spin!

Reason: A lob with a lower trajectory will go too far; a higher trajectory lob will not go as

far because a whiffle ball’s speed decays quickly and the ball comes down more steeply.

10. If your 3^rd shot drop is NOT working, change your strategy.

Other choices: 1. A drive, preferably at opponent’s right hip pocket or left of middle

(backhand area). 2. Hit a lob to the back line. 3, Hit a passing shot down the side.

11. Don't’ take your eye off the ball until you have hit it.

Reason: Pickleballs slow more quickly and differently than other racquet balls. Watch it!

12. Don’t forget to call out the score before you serve.

Reason: It’s the rule. Everyone can forget the score. We are all responsible for knowing it.

13. Don’t be a target for the opposition. Be unpredictable and surprise them!

14. Don’t hit the ball above the opponent’s waist.

Reason: That’s the smashing zone!

15.Never hit shots into the net (Ha! Ha!).

Reason: This is a TOTALLY WASTED SHOT! Any other shot that goes in (even a pathetic one) still allows you a chance to win the point.

16.Don’t blame your partner for their mistakes! We are in this to have fun. Try to communicate this by tapping paddles after bad shots, not looking glum etc etc!!

By Johnny B-N at home with covid!

November Evening PM

What do you do on a Thursday evening in November when the lights come on and it's 12 degrees outside. Pickleball of course.

FROM THE DESK OF THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

As most of you have heard, our own Richard Marchand has agreed to assume the role of TECHNICAL DIRECTOR for Pickleball Antigonish. Richard has a wealth of knowledge and experience with pickleball, and a fair amount of success as well. Richard has lots of plans to lead instruction, clinics and tournaments in the year ahead. Every few weeks, Richard will add a tidbit of advice in this column.In WEEK ONE, Richard reminds us that when dinking.... stay low. Check it out. 2021-12-05-23-37-16-1613516275-298.mov

In WEEK TWO, we take a quick peek at the correct way to volley a ball at the net. https://www.tiktok.com/@thepic...;sender_web_id=7045293406953063942&is_from_webapp=v1&is_copy_url=0

November 2021 Flood

A terrible day for so many residents of NS. This is the scene just a few feet from the Antigonish Racquet Facility. It looks like the courts escaped fairly unscathed. 

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