Spectating PPA Newport: Middle-aged Baddie Gets it Done
Friday I got to do something I don’t do enough.. just watch pickleball.
I was courtside for the quarterfinal PPA matches, and the energy was electric. Loud crowd, insane points, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you remember why this sport has taken over our lives. I also got recognized 4 times (who's counting)...I have a couple coaching spots on PickleballTV that run on loop, plus this growing YouTube channel, and it's a very weird & cool thing to have someone say "I KNOW YOU" and it's not just you forgetting them because of mid-life hormones.
But the moment that stuck with me most wasn’t being called "that pickleball Tip Lady". It was watching Tina Pisnik - 45 years old - take down Hayden Patriquin and Anna Bright in the quarterfinals with her partner Eric Oncins.
Was she the hardest hitter on the court? No. Do her dinks roll the sharpest? No. Was she tenacious? Absolutely. Smart and strategic? Double Yes. She and her partner Eric Oncins were on fire, she fielded every ball he didn't cover, and together they pushed all the way to the semi's and ultimately to Championship Sunday.
Here’s the thing about pickleball that I never stop appreciating: that that's even possible. At 45. There's greatness available at every level, for anyone who wants to entertain it. The longevity this sport offers is genuinely unlike anything else.
And I’ll be honest...it hit personally. I’m turning 48 this month, and like a lot of you, I’m navigating new aches and pains that didn’t used to be there. Sometimes they come and go over the course of an hour. I'm sitting here wearing a red light hat as I write this to try to retain my hair(s).
I still play open & pro tournaments myself, and while I’m not PPA level, I keep up with kids half my age (and occasionally even 1/3rd). Sometimes I’m out there wondering if I really belong. But watching Tina was a reminder...it’s still possible. The work I put into training, drilling, playing, & keeping my body healthy right now matters. It’s an investment in future-me on the court.
Birthday months have a way of making you take stock. But they’re also a reminder that there’s accrued wisdom on your side, the kind you can’t shortcut, the kind that only comes with time.
And on the pickleball court? Wisdom is a weapon. Play smarter, not younger. 😄
My Question for You This Week
Who is your pickleball inspiration...and why? Reply and let me know. I read every single one.
This Week on YouTube 🎬
I did a footwork lesson with @pickleballnikki (check her out on IG) and the results speak for themselves: she went on to win a bronze medal at the PPA tournament in 3.5 right after our session. Coincidence? I think not. 😄
We broke down the drop step and split step - footwork adjustments that makes your game feel less reactive and more in control. If your feet feel like they’re always a half-second behind, this one’s for you.
▶ WATCH HERE:
🗓️ Train With Me In Person
Are you a 4.5+ lady who wants to refine their transition game? I have a few spots left for my upcoming intensive. 8 women max!
March 21 Advanced Women's Intensives 4.5 (Winning the Transition Zone) 9:00 AM–12:30 PM
Weekly Clinics at California Smash (El Segundo, CA)
Sign up through the Cali Smash app (download on the app store)
Mondays — 3.5/4.0 Skills & Drills 9:00–10:30 AM
Tuesdays — 3.0-3.5 Skills & Drills 9:00–10:30 AM
Thursdays — Advanced (3.5/4.0) Coached Live Ball 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
I also offer private, semi-private (2:1), and small group (3:1) lessons. If that’s more your style or for a private clinic, just reply to this email and we’ll find a time.
Until next time!
<3 Coach Jess
