Rick’s New Pickleball Book
And Trick Shots of the Week!
In today’s Bite Size Pickleball Newsletter:
Trick Shots of the Week
Rick’s New Pickleball Book
TRICK SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Again, call me a hot dog, a show-off, etc., all you want. But the shots work because opponents have a hard time reading what I am going to do next. I don’t do them a lot, but I do them enough to keep players off balance. It’s all about having as many tools in your kit as possible. These shots are just another tool I have to draw from. Develop as many as you can and you’ll become a versatile player, tough to beat. I want to inspire you to break out of your own pickleball box, however you can. Be creative. Take risks. Only then will you truly grow. ABC, it’s as easy as 123…
And below is a fake swing shot. It’s easy (as ABC). You purposely miss the ball when it is high in the air, then, remember, the ball will slow down once it bounces, and you have several options at this point, because the fake swing has already thrown your opponent’s off balance.
PICKLEBALL RIFFS THE NEW BOOK AVAILABLE AT AMAZON
I won’t lie, I have fun with trick shots. I have fun with pickleball in general, and I try NOT to take myself too seriously on the court. I feel like enough players do that. On the subject of serious fun…
My new book! I have compiled all my Pickleball Magazine articles in one place along with a bunch of other essays, and short riffs on pickleball, including several new toons. I am giving away 10 copies to the first ten folks who email me their full name and mailing address. You have to be willing to review the book for me on Amazon when you’re finished. My email address is rick@bitesizepickleball.com.
Below is a synopsis of Pickleball Riffs available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle:
From the courts to the culture, Pickleball Riffs is the ultimate courtside companion for anyone obsessed with America’s fastest-growing sport. With wit, wisdom, and a heaping dose of heart, veteran sportswriter and Pickleball Magazine writer Rick Cipes serves up a spirited collection of essays, life lessons, and humorous tales and cartoons from the pickleball frontlines.
Whether he's dishing on the power of a pump fake, learning mindfulness from a sarcastic AI or serving up tips from the desk of Vin Diesel, Cipes offers players of all levels an entertaining deep dive into the game behind the game. Part memoir, part motivational guide, and part cultural snapshot, Pickleball Riffs is a joyride through the sport's boom, its quirky characters, and the search for something bigger than winning: connection, growth, and joy.
Like the best sports books, this one isn’t just about the sport — it’s about the people who play it and what the journey teaches them. If you’ve ever laughed on the court, thrown a tantrum mid-match, or just needed a good reminder to breathe between points, this book is your favorite new doubles partner, who may, or may not, take your precious forehand away from you!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS OUT THERE FROM ME AND THE ROLLING STONES! "You can't always get what you want / But if you try sometimes, well, you might find / You get what you need."
"You gave me what I needed, even when I didn’t know it — thanks, Mom(s)!!!!!
