I just posted the following reply to an article from the Racquet Network News and Info website.
Their article was saying that the new APike paddle should be allowed by the USAPA because better technology makes the sport better. Below was my posted reply. What is your opinion?

Dear RNNI,
Maybe technology change was good for squash and tennis. But keep in mind that Pickleball is currently the fastest growing participation sport in the US. And what is driving that participation growth is the simple fact that a lot more people are able to compete and feel like they can win because of the pickleball rules of play, plus the paddle and ball restrictions. Unlike other sports, pickleball was designed, and is a game of strategy and accuracy, rather than a game of power and speed. Since power and speed are played down, this creates a lot more interest because a lot more people are capable of competing. So I endorse whatever the governing body (USAPA) chooses to do as long as it is in the best interest of keeping the sport growing. Pickleball Rocks!

That is the impression that everyone had of the 2nd Annual Middletown Ohio Open Senior Pickleball tournament.

Team Stanley along with Cheryl and Robbie put together a very professional feeling tournament atmosphere and pickleball paddles were flying everywhere.

If you have never been to the courts of the Middletown Pickleball Club, they are beautiful.  This weekend they were surrounded with food tents, banners and even an ice cream truck.  All put there to make this a great player experience and it worked.

It was a ton of fun along with a whole boatload of high performance pickleball matches.

Starting off the weekend was the men’s and women’s singles matches on Friday evening.

Tennis maven Robbie McClain took home the gold medal for the ladies, while Brookville, Indiana native Jeff Siebert captured the top prize for the men.

SIDE NOTE FROM ROCKET: I got knocked into the consolation bracket in the singles semifinals by my friend and doubles partner Jeff, but I did manage to win the consolation gold.  Very happy to get any type of hardware in return for all the pain of getting out of bed on Saturday morning.

Saturday was another perfect weather day for pickleball and it started with Ron and Deb Arnold winning the mixed doubles crown.  Around 1:30pm men and women’s doubles kicked off and the crowd was treated to a great afternoon of high quality pickleball.

After the proverbial dust had cleared, our great friend Kay Gallagher and her partner Robbie McClain claimed the Women’s Doubles Gold.

The day’s activities climaxed with the playing of the men’s double championship which was a rematch from the 2009 Indiana Senior Games.

Brookville, Indiana natives Rodney “Rocket” Grubbs and partner Jeff Siebert were able to reverse the outcome with a great three set gold medal victory over extremely talented veterans Al Hager and Lynn Carlson.  Taking the consolation gold were Dick Lewis and Rob Gartlan.

Thank you Middletown for a great weekend.

My hats off to you for another super tournament.

- Rocket

See all the Middletown Tournament Results Here

Actually it wasn’t much of a surprise at all.  We had already met a number of Middletown players at the Terre Haute Open and the Indiana Senior Games.  And Stanley Volken’s kindness and welcoming attitude is already well known here in the midwest.

We played on their six beautiful courts for almost three hours.

Everyone treated us great, except Tom and Kay who blitzed us in the first game as soon as we stepped out of the car    We were able to get them back in the next game and I imagine we will play the rubber match on our next trip.  And there will definitely be a next trip.  It was a boatload of fun.

Then two days later a carload of the Middletown Pickleball faithful, including Cheryl, Kerry, Tom and Kay  came to visit us at our new courts in Brookville.

We threw on a pot of hotdogs and some oldies music and had a great three hours of pickleball and socializing.

We are looking forward to attending the Middletown Pickleball Tournament on July 31 and August 1 and hoping to take a few new Brookville players with us.

I’m sure their tournament will be another great example of Pickleball ambassadorship at it’s finest.

Here is a quick link to download and print the Registration Form (deadline is July 25, so hurry and signup)

Can’t wait!

Hope to see you all there.