Aiken Pickleball News

Please quit yelling at the front desks employees

We have had recent incidents at both Gregg Park and Odell Weeks with pickleball players being rude to the people manning the front desks. Please be aware that the staff working at the front desks have no authority over pickleball or the courts. Being rude to these people is just unacceptable behavior.

If you have a problem bring it to the attention of your player reps. That's what they are for. There is list of all the player reps on the website under Contact Us. The list includes their names, photos, email addresses and the players they represent by ratings.

The player reps and the leadership team meet once a month. The first item on our agenda is feedback from the player reps. The leadership team is in constant contact with both the Odell Weeks and Gregg Park management teams. Our job is to resolve any issues brought to our attention.

We all get frustrated, but please don't take it out on the personal at the front desks. They are our friends. If you need to yell at someone, yell at us. Thank you.

Last four Drills with LBJ

The last four Drills with LBJ on Wednesday evenings at Gregg are available for sign up. Drills for intermediate players and beginners as follows.

Intermediate: 6-715pm

November 8: Working as a team- where to be together and why. Communication as a key to success.

November 15: The transition to the non volley zone and little tips to get there.

November 29: You made it to the kitchen. Now what? Volleys , dinks and other options.

December 6: King and Queen of the court-king and queen drill and analyzed play. Two winners and pretty darn good prizes. Rest up for this one !

Beginners : 730-845pm

November 8: Working as a team - where to be together and why. Communication as a key to success .

November 15: The Lob- why it’s a great shot, how to hit it AND when to hit it. Also a little synopsis of why people hate it:)

November 29: The third shot! Be it drop, drive or lob; how to execute and why it’s so effective.

December 6: King and Queen of the court- king and queen drill and analyzed play. Two winners and pretty darn good prizes! Rest up for this one!

Pickle in the Park - A Great Success!

We had our first outdoor Adult and Junior tournaments this Saturday, October 21st, using the recently renovated fourteen outdoor courts at Virginia Acres Park. What a great facility, a great event and a great day for pickleball. Over 80 players from ages 13 to over 70 and as far away as Cary, NC participated in nine events in memory of Nelson Swartzentruber. Click here for photos and videos on our Facebook page.. Special thanks to Ben Stephens, the tournament director, Mo Garcia, Joyce Noland, our IT Team and all the volunteers that made this happen.

Results Adult Tournament

Coed Singles Skill: (Any) Age: (Any)

Andrew Kutsch Harve Mobley Joseph Reiser

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (30 To 59)

Rene Kein and Marcial Rodriguez

Angki Sager and Michael Sager

Daphne Owen and Gerry Owen

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (60 And Above)

Barbara Erndl and Kenneth Mason

Cory Clark and Mark Clark

Jackie Burley and Mike Burley

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (12 To 49)

Daley Morera and Bennet Schimmelpfennig

Elliana Fahrbach and Drew Fahrbach

Lydia Connor and Matthew Helms

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (50 And Above)

Melissa Cetola and Ted Cetola

Aimee Kollmansberger and Mike Kollmansberger

Christine Hopwood and Miguel Rivera

Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (Any)

Heidi Estroff and Doug Weiss

Callie Reiser and Joseph Reiser

Sharlene Buggs and Mo Garcia

Women's Doubles Scramble Skill: (2.5) Age: (Any)

Marcy Badertscher Patricia Hayer Marie Klofenstine

Results Junior Tournament

Boy's Doubles Skill: (Any) Age: (Any)

1st Place

Han Chi and Drew Fahrbach

2nd Place

Jacob Weaver and David Hollan

3rd Place

Josh Woiczechowski and David Baker

Girl's Doubles Skill: (Any) Age: (Any)

1st Place

Elliana Fahrbach and Lydia Lu

2nd Place

Charlotte McComb and Isabella McComb

3rd Place

Kaylee Castor and Izzy Aycox

Looking for faster and more exciting games? Try Rally Scoring

What Is Rally Scoring in Pickleball & How Does It Work?

Currently, the sport of pickleball uses what is known as “side out scoring.” In other words, you can only score a point on the pickleball court when you are serving. To date, there has been some discussion in the pickleball world of changing the scoring structure to what is known as “rally scoring.” In rally scoring, a point is scored on every single rally—regardless of who serves the pickleball.

Rally Scoring

Each partner on a team determines which side of the pickleball court (the left side or the right side) to start on. Then, each partner remains on those respective sides throughout the entire game. (However, a team may switch sides of the pickleball court on a time out or end change.)

The team that serves first will start the game. The player on the right-hand side of the court will serve first (serving crosscourt).

If the serving team wins the rally, then they will win a point and continue to serve. However, the partner on the left-hand side of the court will serve (but, remember, the players will stay on their respective sides of the court). The serve alternates between the players on the left- and right-hand side of the court (without the players changing positions) until they lose a rally.

If the serving team loses the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the receiving team will win the serve. To note, there is no second server (so the score will only be two numbers—the serving team score and the receiving team score—and there will be no third number for the server number).

Which player will serve on a team is determined by the score of the serving team. If the score is even, then the player on the right-hand side of the court will serve. If the score is odd, then the player on the left-hand side of the court will serve. So, for example, if the score is 0-0, and the receiving team wins the rally, then the receiving team will win a point and the right to serve. The score will now be 1-0, so the player on the left-side of the receiving team will serve next.

The teams will change ends of the pickleball court when a team reaches 11 points.

The first team to 21 points wins (win by 2 points). However, points after the 20th point may only be scored on the serve. Further, if one team is at 20 points, the other team's points will "freeze" at 18 points, and such other team may only score points when serving.

Again, players will remain on their respective sides (the left side and the right side) for the entire game, unless there is a time out or an end change (in which case the players on a team could change sides). A point is scored on every rally, regardless of who has served (except the final point, which the final point may only be won when serving). Whichever team wins the rally, wins a point. If the serving team wins the point, then the players alternate serves until they lose a rally/point. Then, the serve goes to the receiving team, and the player that serves will be based on the serving team’s score. The final point (or points after the 20th point (or 18th point for the opposing team)) may only be scored on the serve. First team to 21 points wins (win by 2 points)!

When play is limited because of court time, games can be first to 15, win by 2, or even first to 11, win by 2.

There are a few arguments for and against using rally scoring in pickleball. The arguments in favor of rally scoring generally include: (1) faster, more exciting games; (2) more predictable game times, which is important for marketing the sport for national broadcast and reaching a wider audience; (3) simpler or easier for a beginner or newbie to the sport to understand; (4) more accurate ratings of players because every point counts; and (5) better format for gambling, which some believe is important to continue to grow the sport.

The arguments against rally scoring generally include: (1) rally scoring alters the delicate balance between the serving team and the receiving team, so it may change the essence of the game and/or result in unfair outcomes; (2) many sports only permit you to score on “offense” (i.e., serving), so it could be confusing if a team can score a point when on “defense” (i.e., receiving); (3) it could be confusing to change the scoring system at this point in the sport’s evolution; (4) it favors the underdog by encouraging comebacks (assuming that side out scoring is used for the final point (as described below)); and (5) it takes away from and/or changes the strategy of pickleball (for instance, there may be less reason to stack on the pickleball court and, as a result, no reason to “unwind” the stack).

More research into scoring formats for the sport of pickleball is in the works. However, the effects of rally scoring may really be tested during certain Major League Pickleball events and most of the pro team tournaments are using Rally Scoring.

Article by Stacie Townsend

Summer League

The 3.0 Outdoor Mixed Doubles Summer League played their last matches on Thursday which determined the Gold Medal winners. Click here for the final results. Photos and results are at the bottom of League page - check out the trophies!.

Minutes for September 18th, 2023 Leadership Team Meeting

The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting held on September 18th have been posted. Items discussed were an update on - the October 21 outdoor tournament and need for volunteers, monthly activities such as Drills with LBJ and the New Players Clinics and Practices, the status of our 5013C application, feedback from player reps and much more. Go to Forums or Click here to read the full report.

Inclusivity

by Lisa Barrett-Johnson

My love for this Aiken Pickleball community continues to grow as I get to know all of you. If you don't know me yet, I am making my way around the courts at Odell and Gregg to introduce myself and maybe make you laugh. I have been playing here for about four years and teaching here for four months. I so thoroughly enjoy working with all of you. I would like to talk about something that I consider very important to our community and that is this: Inclusivity.

Let's be more kind, generous, and inclusive when making our social games. Let's be more cohesive and open-minded at drop-in play. Let's be more accepting of each other's faults and mistakes on and off the court.

As Michael Jackson said, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror." Let it start with me, and if I am doing it wrong, let me know. I live in Augusta, Georgia but my home; my community; and my Pickleball world is in Aiken and Graniteville. Let's make it the best place to play, and make everyone feel a part of it.

xo,

LBJ

Open Play at Virginia Acres Park

There is open play outside every Tuesday & Friday at Odell Weeks - Virginia Acres Park from 6-9pm! For more updates on outdoor play join the outdoor open play group thru Team Reach app using code “openplay10”!

Mid-Year Rule Change - Incorrect Serve- Incorrect Position

In an unusual, but not unprecedented movie, USAP has issued a mid-year revision to the rules governing Incorrect Server - Incorrect Position. Following clarification is by

Mark Peifer, a USA Pickleball Certified Referee and Past Chairman, USA Pickleball Rules Committee

USA Pickleball just released a mid-year Rulebook revision, eliminating player out of position faults. Most of what follows relates to non-officiated play since that is what most of us play. There are similar rules for officiated play with guidance for referees, but they are not addressed in the article below.

So, what exactly changed? It is no longer a fault if:

a. the incorrect server serves

b. the correct server serves from the wrong position/incorrect court

c. the correct receiver returns the serve from the wrong position/incorrect court

d. the incorrect receiver returns the serve

Before we dig into this a little further, let’s remember that in non-officiated play, players have never been able to enforce a fault on their opponents, even out of position faults. The rule that tells us this is Rule 13.D.1.d. If you are not familiar with that rule, I recommend you take a look at it. Doing so may prevent future on-court disagreements. Nevertheless, herein lies one of the primary advantages of this rule change; whereas before a receiving team had no enforcement remedy if the serving team served out of position (and vice-versa), accidentally or on purpose, now they do. The enforcement remedy? Now the opponent can call a replay if the out of position player is caught before the end of the rally.

Here is how this works: It is both teams’ responsibility to make sure the correct server and receiver are in the correct position before the serve occurs. This should result in just a simple reminder from one team to another that they are out of position and need to move. But, what if the serve occurs with one or more players out of position? This is where a common-sense approach takes over. As long as the incorrect server or incorrect receiver is realized before the end of the rally, any player can stop play, note the error, and call for a replay. If incorrect, however, it is a fault for stopping play, so be sure you’re right if you stop play!

What if the rally ends and then a player realizes that either a, b, c, or d above happened? Since every player had an equal chance to identify the error before the serve and during the rally, the rally and any points scored stand. At that point, you just correct the out of position player(s) before the next serve occurs.

Here are some advantages in this rule change:

Players now have an enforcement remedy if the other team either purposely or accidentally lines up incorrectly and the serve occurs. This has never been in the rules until now.

It reinforces that points are scored based on superior strategy and paddle skills on the court.

It eliminates or greatly reduces any impact on players who unfortunately suffer from a form of dyslexia. People dealing with dyslexia can have issues reading maps, following directions, and confuse their left and right.

The player experience is enhanced. I’ve never been a fan of repeated questions from opponents of mine who ask, “Am I good?” And, let’s face it, the spectator experience is enhanced as well.

On a related note, many will find it of interest that out of position faults did not become part of the official rules until 2007, so these faults have only been in place for 16 years. Therefore, to some extent, by taking this action, USA Pickleball is reverting to the original rule that was in place for 42 years, the sport's inception.

Mark Peifer

USA Pickleball Certified Referee

Past Chairman, USA Pickleball Rules Committee

Nelson Swartzentruber - April 22nd, 1944 - June 1st, 2023

Several of you have asked who Nelson Swartzentruber was. Nelson started playing pickleball about the time he turned seventy, eight years ago. He enjoyed golfing, kayaking and spending time with his family. Like many of us, he became an avid pickleball player. His greatest passion, however, was his mission work. Throughout the years, Nelson traveled to poverty-stricken third world countries to help those in need.

Unbeknownst to most of us, Nelson had Parkinson's Disease. A devoted member of Hillview Baptist Church, he introduced the game of pickleball to others with Parkinson's and the church supported this endeavor. Thanks to Nelson, there is now an active pickleball program for players with Parkinson's.

If anyone has any suggestions of other worthy causes for donations from future events, please let us know via email at info@aikenpickleball.com. Thank you

PS:

I visited Nelson at Aiken Hospital four days before he passed away with complications from Leikemia. I asked him if he thought there was pickleball in heaven. His response was "you betcha".