In This Issue…
🤡 The Circus is coming to McCarren
🥊 All the different types of volleys
🙌🏼 NYC MLP Team League starts tonight!
🤑 Find your pickleball stocking stuffers

Plan Ahead: We have a beautiful sunny day ☀️ today, two colder days with highs of 37 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday, and back to 48 and 50 for Thursday and Friday. Expect showers 🌧️ Friday afternoon, beautiful Saturday, but questionable Sunday with a chance of showers.

Pickleball Court Closure: Vincent Albano playground is now officially closed for renovations. The plan currently includes 2 pickleball courts. Given how long the Houston & 6th courts took, I think it will take at least a few months especially given the holiday season. Look to move to the St Vartan Park community, or the lone BYON court at Asser Levy Playground.

Forward this to your favorite NYC pickleballers to keep them in the loop!

The Circus is coming to McCarren!

McCarren Park in Williamsburg has become a central part of the North Brooklyn pickleball scene. Pioneered early on by USAP ambassador Anna Garwood, the space is home to several hundreds of players throughout the year, including the ever popular “Rise ‘n’ Brine” sessions hosted by Michael, Olivia, and Nick in our #games_williamsburg slack channel.

Unfortunately, from now until December 11th, the Flip Circus will be taking residence in the park, so pickleballers will need to find another home for the next few weeks. Their final show is on the evening of the 10th, and the 11th is when the official parks permit ends. TBD on whether or not some of the outer courts will be available, but given that the performers will also be training and living on the lot, we’re not holding our breath.

As an alternative, there are 4 courts at Ericsson Playground, about a 5 minute walk east and the surface and lines are considerably better than McCarren (we measured 6 times, painted once). We have also set up in the past at Marsha P Johnson Park (Corner of Kent and N 7th) where Smorgasburg is normally held and the concrete slabs make it very easy to chalk out lines since they are 10’ wide so you only need to measure out the kitchen and the baseline.

Or maybe take a few weeks off from pickleball and learn a new skill. Read a book. Go back to an old hobby you used to love. Get assessed for that nagging shoulder injury you’ve had (mention NYC Pickleball to get a $50 session!) Grab a drink with your non-pickleball playing friends who never see you anymore. Cross train with some table tennis. The world is your oyster.

Whether you’re just getting started, or trying to break into advanced games, the instructors on our site are ready to help!

I’m (Eric Ho) still teaching these days, despite the temperatures dropping. Come find me at St Vartan Park on Thursdays or in Queens on Fridays/Saturdays.

Here’s my tip of the week:

Know the difference between different types of volleys, and when to use them. Your choice is often based on three primary factors: Where your opponents are on the court, the height of where you can make contact with the ball, and whether you are on offense or defense.

• Punch Volley - Typically when the ball is just at or above the net height, and your goal is to keep the opponent back. This can also be used as an attack at the kitchen line. Mostly used by the backhand. Engage your forearm with a firm wrist and follow through forward.

• Block Volley - You are looking to neutralize the ball off a speed up or drive. Usually a backhand. Soft grip, minimal movement and follow through. Contact is a little closer to your body.

• Swinging Volley - When a ball is high and popped up and you want to power through the ball to put it away. Typically forehand swinging volleys although possible with backhands as well. Active your shoulder and lats, follow through across your body on these if your opponent is back, but shorter follow through if they’re at the kitchen in case they get it back.

• Flick Volley - When you want to attack your opponent from a low position and catch them by surprise. Be ready for the ball to come back though! Can be either forehand or backhand, but involves the wrist, forearm, and shoulder. Aim for their dominant shoulder.

• Dink Volley - Just let the paddle do the work and dink the ball out of the air back to your opponents kitchen. Ideally this makes them move and takes time away from them. Do this a few times, and then surprise your opponent with the flick volley. You can also use this to cut off angles and prevent your opponent from being offensive with their dink and moving you around.

Programming this week

Morning Open Plays:

Wednesday 11/29: Low Intermediate (3.0-3.5) 7:30-9:30 AM

Thursday 11/30: Advanced (4.0+) 7:00-9:00 AM

Friday 12/1: High Intermediate (3.5+) 7:00-9:00 AM

Drill Sessions:

Friday 11/1 Intermediate and Advanced Drill sessions 7:30-9:00 AM at Stuy Dome in Bed Stuy

MLP Team League starts tonight!

Last week we held an 8 team draft for all the players who signed up to be a part of our 3 week Major League Pickleball (MLP) format event. The 8 team captains have an average DUPR of 4.54, and the team aggregate ratings ranged from 16.5-17.5. The teams are the following:

• Tribeca Pickle Mecca 🥒

• Battery Park Ballers ⛹️

• PKLYN Pigeons 🪽

• LGA Legends 🛫

• Triboro Trash Pandas 🦝

• Tristate Lobsters 🦞

• Dinkytown Donkeys 🫏

• 5 Borough Bobcats 😼

We have players coming from all across the city, as well as several from New Jersey. If you want to come see what MLP is all about, we’d love to have you come watch. The first matches start at 7 PM at Major Owens in Crown Heights.

Our local team, The Brooklyn Aces are sponsoring some prizes for the finalists, and the winners will be receiving $1,200 in PickleBucks (credit for future NYC Pickleball events, not crypto 😂). Definitely read about the the Brooklyn Aces latest run to the semi-finals of MLP Dallas a few weeks ago.

Here’s a great clip of Tyler Loong of the Aces in action:

majorleaguepb

View more on Instagram

Last minute deals and gift ideas

Still last minute shopping for your pickleball loving friends and family? Or let’s face it, you’re contemplating getting ANOTHER paddle for yourself. Here’s a quick list of items that are on sale, or that we recommend. Some links and discount codes are affiliate links for us or follow community members, so by purchasing through here, you’re helping to support us and everything we do.

Paddles:

Vatic Pro - $20 off their main line of paddles, NYCPB stacks and gives another $10

Ronbus - Pulsar $40 off with codes PulsarBF20 and xPROnycpb. Nova $30 off with RonbusBF10 and xPROnycpb

CRBN - 25% off sale through 12/3 code 25AMF86

Selkirk - Lots of markdowns, free hat and 3 Pro S1 balls with any paddle purchase. Use advocate code ADV-KKERAWALA for a rebate on your next purchase

Joola - 15% off applied at checkout site wide 30% off select paddles

If you want a comprehensive list of other brands with sales, Chris Olson at the Pickleball Studio put together this awesome Notion doc. I’ve left his codes in where we don’t have our own.

Nets:

Swiftnet - $299 vs normal $369.99 price. Can’t beat this!

Rally Portable Net - If you want something a bit cheaper, this was the first portable net we ever bought and it’s still going strong. Use code CRNYCPB for 5% off anything at pickleballcentral.com 

Accessories:

Yonex Super Grap Overgrips - These are my favorite overgrips if you’re looking for a tacky feel

Volkl V Dry Overgrip - If you need a grip that can absorb sweat, this is the one to try

Hesacor Grip - for those that want a long lasting grip. Code JONNY10 for 10% off

Classic NYC Pickleball T Shirt - Great designs, great organization 😉 

Selkirk Pro S1 Balls - Newly released balls from Selkirk, I haven’t heard of anyone cracking one yet. Use advocate code ADV-KKERAWALA for a rebate on your next purchase

Brooklyn Aces Team Bag - $118.99 for a great looking pickleball bag that will turn heads

Fromuth Pickleball clearance - Tons of great clothes, paddles and gear on sale, and 10NYC stacks on top to give an additional 10% off

31 Days of Pickleball at City Pickle - Not a gift per se, but free pickleball is always great to share!

If you have some favorite gift ideas, let us know!