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COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK

by Mary Barseleau 

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: Checkout Tanner’s 7 mistakes that keep you from reaching the 4.0 – 5.0 level skill level. If you cannot access the video on the Desert Sun website, then go to YouTube, go to Tanner Tomasi Pickleball, and search for 7 mistakes that keep you from reaching the 4.0-5.0 skill level. https://youtu.be/zmDQKVkjm9s?si=nJdOrWye4vGDH d57

Mistake 1: Being Reactive, rather than Proactive. This comes from not paddle tracking the ball after you return it. Track the ball you hit with the point of your paddle, so you are ready to return depending on where it is coming from. This is a great demo!

Mistake 2: Standing upright when approaching the NVZ line. Amateur players tend to approach the NVZ after they execute a third shot drop upright. Then, when the ball is returned, they must crouch and get ready. Pros approach the NVZ already is a low, ready position. Tanner calls this the “crab walk.” Watch the Wrong and Then the Right way.

Mistake 3: Wrong mindset in hand battles. Instead of just attacking, slow it down, and let them make a mistake. In hand battles at the net, players tend to just attack at the opponent’s chest, trying to hit through them. Instead, try to slow it down, and attack high to low, at your opponent’s feet. Watch the demo!

Mistake 4: Lazy footwork at the NVZ zone. Tanner says this is 99.9 percent of your problem when making errors. He calls this “Cement Feet.” Players are in the middle of the court in the transition zone, and they are looking to reset. Rather, you need to be on your toes, using your knees, with active feet, constantly moving and ready to respond to your opponent’s shot. The same thing happens at the Kitchen line. Super important tip!

Mistake 5: Incorrect ready position at the NVZ line. Confusion about paddle position at the Kitchen. Pros keep a low paddle position, to reset, defend, dink, or attack with topspin. This is when both of you are at the Kitchen line. Conversely, when your opponent is at the baseline, now you should have a higher paddle position, way out in front of you, so you can attack if possible. When they are back, you should stretch! This is a huge adjustment that you should make!

Mistake 6: You should never drive 2 balls in a row. If you drive your third, then drop your fifth. When you are at the baseline, you should never drive two balls in a row. If you drive the first ball, then reset or drop the second ball. This gets you to the NVZ, instead of freezing you at the baseline. Awesome demo.

Mistake 7: How to handle drives right at you. As that ball is being driven, the mistake is that you lunge and punch at the ball from in front of your chest. The ball often ends up in the bottom of the net. See the Wrong demo. Instead, reach out, with your paddle floating over the Kitchen. Reach and defend/attack in front of you, using your hips, shoulders and follow- through. Watch the Right demo.

Coachella Valley Scorpions Claim 2025 National Pickleball League Championship in Seattle

by Mary Barseleau 

Coachella Valley Scorpions Claim 2025 National Pickleball League Championship in Seattle Scorpions Earn Dominating Upset Win Over No. 1 Seed and Host Seattle Tsunami, 7-2 for First NPL Title PHOTOS/VIDEO: Scorpions Championship 2025 (credit: Brad Evenson/NPL) SEATTLE – October 20, 2025 – The Coachella Valley Scorpionsare champions of The National Pickleball League (NPL) presented by QC Kinetix after a dominating 7-2 victory over the No. 1 seeded and host Seattle Tsunami on Sunday at the Side Out Tsunami Pickleball Center. Presented by Agua Caliente Casinos and Powered by JOOLA, the No. 2 seeded Scorpions avenged two earlier losses this season to the Tsunami as the third season of the first and only professional pickleball league for champion pros aged 50-and-over came to a monumental close. “This has been a culmination of two years of hard work of building this franchise,” said Kim Jagd, Scorpions’ co-owner, General Manager and star player. “We are so grateful for the NPL and to Seattle Tsunami for putting on a first-class championship event. Our ownership group including Vince Vaughn, Ruth Ann Poppa, Don Zuker and Rob Zwemmer had a vision, and we are so pleased to execute that vision. I want to congratulate our players and staff for creating a top-notch organization built on sportsmanship, camaraderie and fun!” The award-winning actor Vaughn, who became the majority owner of the Scorpions in July of 2024, gave the Scorpions a huge shoutout on their big win. "Congratulations to the Coachella Valley Scorpions on winning the 2025 NPL Pickleball Championship! Well played! The players brought teamwork, dedication and fun to the court all year. Well done Kim Jagd on lights out coaching and playing. Big congrats to the entire league on an exciting and entertaining season. Onward.” The Scorpions were a perfect 3-0 in mixed doubles on Sunday as Jagd teamed with Scott Burr and Wendy Ochoa and Drew Slacum both won 2-0 matches while Natalie Hill and John Riedy won, 2-1. In women’s doubles, Sabrina Guillebeaux and Stacy Zelenski and Kara Williams/Hill each recorded 2-0 wins. In men’s doubles, Marcin Rozpedski/Cord Robbins and Keith Jain/Riedy both won 2-0 matches. Other Scorpion team members included: Brandi Zaslansky and David Katz. On Friday, the Scorpions defeated the Austin Ignite, 8-4, and in the semifinals, Saturday got past the Columbus Hotshots, 7-5. A total of $100,000 in prize money was handed out to the top teams during the three-day championships with the Scorpions taking him the $50,000 first-place award. NPL CEO Rod Davis credited Jagd with recruiting the best athletes she could find and putting together a powerhouse team that would not be denied. “Coachella proved to be the best in a season of incredible parity where any team could beat any other team on any given day,” Davis said. “Congratulations to Kim and the Coachella Valley Scorpions on an incredible season.” About the Coachella Valley Scorpions The Coachella Valley Scorpions are a National Pickleball League® team founded in 2024 by owners Vince Vaughn, Kim Jagd, Rob Zwemmer, Don Zuker, and Ruth Ann Poppa. The mission of the team is to elevate passion for the sport across generations in the Coachella Valley community by uniting youth, families, and seniors through spirited play, fostering camaraderie, and hosting camps, clinics, and special events. For more information about the Coachella Valley Scorpions, go to www.scorpionspickleball.com or follow the team on Instagram: @ScorpionsPickleball and Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScorpionsPickleball. About National Pickleball League presented by QC Kinetix The National Pickleball League (NPL) presented by QC Kinetix is the premier professional pickleball league for Champions Pros (age 50+). Now in its third season, the NPL features 12 teams representing cities across the country — including Austin, Boca Raton, Coachella Valley, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Naples, Oklahoma City, Princeton, and Seattle — with approximately 200 Champions Pro players competing. For more information, please visit www.nplpickleball.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn. For Media Inquiries: Steve Pratt; (310) 408.4555; [email protected] Carmine N. Tiso for NPL, [email protected] or 917.453.4296

Pickle Ball Tip of the Week 

by Mary Barseleau  Oct 11th 2025

Tips for a Stronger Drive from the baseline, on forehand and backhand sides. Callie Smith offers a short and sweet lesson on how to hit a stronger, deeper groundstroke from the baseline. Be sure to watch the video several times. https://youtube.com/shorts/a2iFR_29PJY?si=s2jdsbE8unWsypXM If you cannot access the videos on the Desert Sun, then go to YouTube, go to Callie Smith, and go to “Tips for hitting a stronger baseline drive.” · First, take a short backswing. A big backswing does not help you with power and depth. · Everything is short and compact, with your elbow in close to your side, but not touching. · Contact is in front of you. · Use a short turn, so you are in a closed stance. · Use a big step with your front foot, and a big, long follow-through. · The more you accelerate, the more depth and power you will create. · Incorporate the same tips for your backhand side, whether using a one-handed or two-handed backhand. · Start early! Turn when your opponent contacts the ball. When the ball is bouncing in front of you, you should be moving forward to contact in front of you. The follow-through is key! Big follow-through, short backswing!

Reminder: My first outdoor Round Robin tournament is the Kick-Off the Fall Pickleball Tournament at Palm Desert Civic Center Park on October 19th, 2025. See attached flyer, and email me to register: [email protected]

Pickle Ball Tip of the Week 

by Mary Barseleau

COACH MARY’S TIP FOR THE WEEK: What to do if you have the “YIPS” on your serve?
Tanner Tomasi demonstrates a short but sweet tip on missing serves. Check out the attached video. If you cannot access on the Desert Sun website, then go to YouTube, go to @tanner. pickleball and go to “Overcoming the Yips.” https://youtube.com/shorts/GHOaEr5ZdwQ?si=jxMAaWwzJVHcR-L9 The best part of this video is the demo at the beginning. Tanner weaponizes his serve, by jumping in on his follow-through, using topspin, to control the serve to a target area.

Watch his two demo serves carefully. Step 1: The main reason you miss your serve is that you are using just your arm, and not your entire body. Step 2: Bend your knees! Load your body, get low. Step 3: Hold the ball out in front of you, rather than next to you. Slow it down, rather than being busy with just one motion. Step 4: Sniper path. I do not like to start with my paddle out in front of me contacting the ball to start, so I disagree with Tanner. Rather, I will start with my paddle at my side, with the ball out in front. Cut down on extraneous motion. Yes, contact in front. Yes, emphasize follow-through to your target area. Yes, make sure your feet are positioned so that your swing plane is to your diagonal target area. Yes, finish your serve with your paddle pointing to the target service box, rather than across your body. Notes: Topspin helps you with control with wind and sun and control. Start low to high, short backswing, big follow-through! Use your hips and shoulders and jump into your serve!

Reminder: My first outdoor Round Robin tournament is the Kick-Off the Fall Pickleball Tournament at Palm Desert Civic Center Park on October 19th, 2025. See attached flyer, and email me to register: [email protected]