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Observations from the Las Vegas PB Open
By Mark Renneson
I recently spent 4 days in Sin City at the inaugural Las Vegas Pickleball Open. This was a top-notch tournament played on the rooftop of the Plaza Hotel and Casino. Some of the game's best players were in attendance, competing for $25,000 in prize money. I was there to provide colour commentary for the live feed presented by Pickleball Channel.
Sitting in the broadcast booth gives me a great chance to really watch the game's best players do their thing. I love having a front-row seat to observe the evolution of pickleball up-close and in person. Here are a few of the things I noticed:
Franklin X-40 Balls Make for Exciting Points. This ball is softer and slower than the old favourite -- the Dura40. This means that the ball is harder to put away which, in turn, means longer rallies. One top player even told me over breakfast -- you know what, after a few days of playing with this ball, I actually kind of love it. Franklin is becoming a favourite of pros and amateurs alike.
2-Handed Backhands Galore. While we are used to seeing both hands on the paddle from many of the women, it looks like more and more of the men are realizing that there is something to be said for having the second hand on the paddle. Player's like Ben Johns have been using both hands to generate speed on their off-wing, as well as defend when they get jammed.
The Pros Play Power Ball. While the game's best are willing to get into a protracted dinking rally if they need to, the evolution of pickleball continues to be towards more speed, not less. I saw a lot of balls that even a year ago I would have bet would be too low to hit hard, yet the pros are getting better at attacking even from below the net. |
