Pickleballers Who Switched From Other Sports

[Impetus]

btw ... we might be Scandinavian relatives … my family tree apparently forked through Norway which I fondly refer to as my Viking blood.

Welcome to the Viking family

I'm mostly Danish, but I know my ancestry also include Italian, swedish, German and Jewish genes.

I think most Scandinavians see themself as related. We share the language and culture.

About pusher.. I agree in match setup they should play to their match level.
In practice and teaching sessions I want them in the pink group in that's their skill level!

 

[ByeByePoly]

Welcome to the Viking family

I'm mostly Danish, but I know my ancestry also include Italian, swedish, German and Jewish genes.

I think most Scandinavians see themself as related. We share the language and culture.

About pusher.. I agree in match setup they should play to their match level.
In practice and teaching sessions I want them in the pink group in that's their skill level!

S&V and chip and charge solved the pusher rite of passage for me.

German,French,English,Norwegian … I am quite the mutt.

Old Viking blood for the win

 

[I Dink Too Much]

About pusher.. I agree in match setup they should play to their match level.
In practice and teaching sessions I want them in the pink group in that's their skill level!

The thing is, pushers don't care what you think of their games.

Pushers have unshakable psyches. Mind games and insults about their lack of “real” ability have no effect on them. (They tell anyone in the Club about the times they beat the local High School “hero” in straight sets.) Pushers are completely aware that competitors are not scored on “style”. They care only about the “W / L column.”

Pushers are some of the friendliest and most outgoing members of the Club. They are always willing to help fill-in to complete your doubles court (which usually elicits groans from the other two players on your court).

- Dink

 

[ByeByePoly]

The thing is, pushers don't care what you think of their games.

Pushers have unshakable psyches. Mind games and insults about their lack of “real” ability have no effect on them. (They tell anyone in the Club about the times they beat the local High School “hero” in straight sets.) Pushers are completely aware that competitors are not scored on “style”. They care only about the “W / L column.”

Pushers are some of the friendliest and most outgoing members of the Club. They are always willing to help fill-in to complete your doubles court (which usually elicits groans from the other two players on your court).

- Dink

Hold it … pushers are tennis singles players … any other version pales in pain comparison. I have to quit talking about this … twitch coming back.

 

[Impetus]

It's a little far-fetched to claim pushers are more or less social. They just have a different game.

In practice sessions they have no business at 3.5+ level.

 

[atatu]

Well Quang Duong just beat Ben Johns AGAIN, so all the PB guys who were saying it was a fluke when a 17 year old tennis player beat the GOAT last time are going to have to come up with another explanation. Was it the new serving rule ? Too windy ? Ben wasn't really trying ? Also hilarious that Alshon got smoked by Nadal's former hitting partner after mouthing off all of last week. He should probably spend less time on twitter and more time practicing.

 

[I Dink Too Much]

Quang is #9 in the rankings and he defeated Ben (#1). What's so stunning about this? Quang has been training hard, moved up from Top 30 to Top 10; good for him!

Hmm. So a former tennis player (Vich) beat another former tennis player (8th ranked beat 4th ranked). Why troll pickleballers about this result?

I'm loving the sport and working on getting my own DUPR to 4.5 this summer. Nobody is stealing my joy.

- Dink

 

[atatu]

Quang is #9 in the rankings and he defeated Ben (#1). What's so stunning about this? Quang has been training hard, moved up from Top 30 to Top 10; good for him!

Hmm. So a former tennis player (Vich) beat another former tennis player (8th ranked beat 4th ranked). Why troll pickleballers about this result?

I'm loving the sport and working on getting my own DUPR to 4.5 this summer. Nobody is stealing my joy.

- Dink

I think it's surprising that a 17/18 year old kid who has only been playing pickleball seriously for a few years can beat the undisputed GOAT not once, but twice. When I pointed out that Novak could never lose to a someone who has only been playing tennis a few years, you made a big deal about some new serving rules and insisted that the refs were not calling it on Duong, but only on Johns. It was sad to see people trying to discredit his win. Now he's done it again and I'm waiting to hear what the explanation is this time. I'm not trolling pickleballers, I'm trolling Alshon for mouthing off about tennis players - and he then proceeds to get crushed by a hitting partner for one of the all time greats.

 

[I Dink Too Much]

I think it's surprising that a 17/18 year old kid who has only been playing pickleball seriously for a few years can beat the undisputed GOAT not once, but twice.

Okay. Be surprised.

When I pointed out that Novak could never lose to a someone who has only been playing tennis a few years, you made a big deal about some new serving rules and insisted that the refs were not calling it on Duong, but only on Johns. It was sad to see people trying to discredit his win.

a) I did not "make a big deal" about the new serving rule. I made an observation. (We, in the amateur ranks, are afraid that stupid rule will also apply to us. So far it has not, thank goodness.)
b) You admitted you didn't watch the match; I DID. My observation stands; the officials were not calling the same (ball release height) rule on Duong in that January win over Ben. (Ben has since then adapted to the new rule; I haven't seen him called for a fault the last two months.)
c) I didn't know your feelings were so hurt that I didn't call out a marching band and arrange for a fireworks display for Quang's January win over Ben. I'm still not doing any of that, so I guess you'll just have to have hurt feelings.
d) Quang has moved from the 30s to the Top Ten in the rankings. He's a strong singles player and he's fun to watch. It's great to see the youngsters taking charge in our sport.

I'm not trolling pickleballers, I'm trolling Alshon for mouthing off about tennis players - and he then proceeds to get crushed by a hitting partner for one of the all time greats.

Yes, you are trolling pickleball players. And Alshon and Vich are EACH former tennis players. What's your problem?


(Alshon's "mouth has already written a few checks his body cannot cash." He had a win over Ben last year and acted like he was the new King of the Sport. He's not as good as he thinks he is.)


Go play tennis. Have fun. Enjoy life.

- Dink

 

[atatu]

Okay. Be surprised.


a) I did not "make a big deal" about the new serving rule. I made an observation. (We, in the amateur ranks, are afraid that stupid rule will also apply to us. So far it has not, thank goodness.)
b) You admitted you didn't watch the match; I DID. My observation stands; the officials were not calling the same (ball release height) rule on Duong in that January win over Ben. (Ben has since then adapted to the new rule; I haven't seen him called for a fault the last two months.)
c) I didn't know your feelings were so hurt that I didn't call out a marching band and arrange for a fireworks display for Quang's January win over Ben. I'm still not doing any of that, so I guess you'll just have to have hurt feelings.
d) Quang has moved from the 30s to the Top Ten in the rankings. He's a strong singles player and he's fun to watch. It's great to see the youngsters taking charge in our sport.


Yes, you are trolling pickleball players. And Alshon and Vich are EACH former tennis players. What's your problem?


(Alshon's "mouth has already written a few checks his body cannot cash." He had a win over Ben last year and acted like he was the new King of the Sport. He's not as good as he thinks he is.)


Go play tennis. Have fun. Enjoy life.

- Dink

Don't really care about you and other pickleball fans making excuses and downplaying Duong's accomplishments, it's just kind of lame, but not at all surprising.

 

[I Dink Too Much]

Pot ... kettle.

- Dink

 

[atatu]

Pot ... kettle.

- Dink

Watch it and weep, or maybe come up with some conspiracy theory about new rules or crooked refs ?? Let's emphasize what we are seeing here, a SEVENTEEN year old high school tennis player who has only played pickleball seriously for a couple of year beats Dink's hero and the undisputed GOAT. Not once but TWICE is a six month period.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Watch it and weep, or maybe come up with some conspiracy theory about new rules or crooked refs ?? Let's emphasize what we are seeing here, a SEVENTEEN year old high school tennis player who has only played pickleball seriously for a couple of year beats Dink's hero and the undisputed GOAT. Not once but TWICE is a six month period.

You also have a lot of ex-pro tennis players just jumping right in and making waves over established pickleball pros. There is a discussion to be had there for sure @atatu .

 

[ByeByePoly]

You also have a lot of ex-pro tennis players just jumping right in and making waves over established pickleball pros. There is a discussion to be had there for sure @atatu .

Whatever you do … do not tell @atatu Ben just lost again.

This is going to be bad.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Whatever you do … do not tell @atatu Ben just lost again.

This is going to be bad.

We had pot kettle.
I now present pot stirrer!

 

[ByeByePoly]

We had pot kettle.
I now present pot stirrer!

couldn’t help myself … we always were a good team

 

[I Dink Too Much]

Let's emphasize what we are seeing here, a SEVENTEEN year old high school tennis player who has only played pickleball seriously for a couple of year beats Dink's hero.... Not once but TWICE is a six month period.

Gee, it's a good thing you are not trolling. The average member of any forum would certainly think you are doing so.

I'd like you to point out any post of mine where I stated Ben Johns was my "hero". I'll wait....

- Dink

 

[atatu]

Gee, it's a good thing you are not trolling. The average member of any forum would certainly think you are doing so.

I'd like you to point out any post of mine where I stated Ben Johns was my "hero". I'll wait....

- Dink

I guess I assumed Johns was your hero because you so vehemently insisted that the refs somehow cheated him out of that match against Duong a few months ago to quote:

Second, that loss by Ben Johns was the first tourney where the new (provisional) serving rule was in-place. It's a stupid rule and I'd bet real money it won't be made permanent. (Johns was visibly upset that the rule was used against him.) The irony of that match was Duong CLEARLY consistently broke the very same provisional serving rule ... and wasn't called for it a single time.

I understand it was upsetting for you to see the pickleball GOAT lose to an unknown 17 year old who just recently switched over from tennis, but that was a little bit unhinged. In all seriousness, do you have any excuse for Johns after this more recent loss to Duong or can you now admit that he lost that fair and square ?

 

[I Dink Too Much]

Oops. Don't know how to un-do a reply....

- Dink

 

[I Dink Too Much]

Ben just lost again.

Yes. Juame played a really good match ... and in the 2nd game he was visibly limping. (Hip flexor? Something.) His court coverage is impressive ... as is his touch when floating passing shots just out of Ben's reach.

I haven't watched Juame much, but I did notice his whip FH looks a lot like Sock's ... and was nearly as punishing. I said we'd see players emulate that whip FH. (I think I'll work on some drills for that myself.)

- Dink

 

[I Dink Too Much]

I guess I assumed Johns was your hero because you so vehemently insisted that the refs somehow cheated him out of that match against Duong a few months ago to quote:

Second, that loss by Ben Johns was the first tourney where the new (provisional) serving rule was in-place. It's a stupid rule and I'd bet real money it won't be made permanent. (Johns was visibly upset that the rule was used against him.) The irony of that match was Duong CLEARLY consistently broke the very same provisional serving rule ... and wasn't called for it a single time.

I'm really wondering about your mental health, atatu. You keep pretending I held positions I never did.

a) I wasn't "vehement" about anything. I think vehemence is really silly with conversing with "people" who are really just a bunch of 1s and 0s online.

b) I didn't ever state the Refs "cheated".

c) It appears I was wrong about the new rule not lasting. It seems they're sticking with it. (Too bad.)

I understand it was upsetting for you to see the pickleball GOAT lose ...

d) I'm not upset at all.

... to an unknown 17 year old

e) Quang is 18, and certainly NOT "unknown".

... that was a little bit unhinged.

f) I agree that your trolling is approaching the level of "unhinged".

In all seriousness, do you have any excuse for Johns after this more recent lose to Duong or can you now admit that he lost that fair and square?

Ben's recent loss to Quang was a good win for Duong. (Both the January win and the April win were solid wins for Quang.)

- Dink

 

[ByeByePoly]

Yes. Juame played a really good match ... and in the 2nd game he was visibly limping. (Hip flexor? Something.) His court coverage is impressive ... as is his touch when floating passing shots just out of Ben's reach.

I haven't watched Juame much, but I did notice his whip FH looks a lot like Sock's ... and was nearly as punishing. I said we'd see players emulate that whip FH. (I think I'll work on some drills for that myself.)

- Dink

Ben lost to 18 year old Hayden Patriquin yesterday … LA round of 16 … with that $280 (can you say gouging the customer) paddle

Yes … many of the pros use paddle lag like the racquet lag in tennis. I did it automatically coming from tennis without thinking about it … but a 16ish inch paddle doesn’t come close to a 27” racquet lever.

 

[atatu]

I'm really wondering about your mental health, atatu. You keep pretending I held positions I never did.

a) I wasn't "vehement" about anything. I think vehemence is really silly with conversing with "people" who are really just a bunch of 1s and 0s online.

b) I didn't ever state the Refs "cheated".

c) It appears I was wrong about the new rule not lasting. It seems they're sticking with it. (Too bad.)


d) I'm not upset at all.


e) Quang is 18, and certainly NOT "unknown".


f) I agree that your trolling is approaching the level of "unhinged".


Ben's recent loss to Quang was a good win for Duong. (Both the January win and the April win were solid wins for Quang.)

- Dink

Actually at the time of the first loss, Duong was 17. Nice of you to finally acknowledge that his win over Johns was legit though.

 

[Bud]

I'm really wondering about your mental health, atatu. You keep pretending I held positions I never did.

a) I wasn't "vehement" about anything. I think vehemence is really silly with conversing with "people" who are really just a bunch of 1s and 0s online.

b) I didn't ever state the Refs "cheated".

c) It appears I was wrong about the new rule not lasting. It seems they're sticking with it. (Too bad.)


d) I'm not upset at all.


e) Quang is 18, and certainly NOT "unknown".


f) I agree that your trolling is approaching the level of "unhinged".


Ben's recent loss to Quang was a good win for Duong. (Both the January win and the April win were solid wins for Quang.)

- Dink

He's just a troll. If you stop responding, he'll go away.

There are too many unchecked trolls on this site and the reason I rarely post anymore.

Go play pickleball and have fun.