Improve your third shot drop with the slinky drill.

Hi folks,

The Fourth of July is over, so it’s officially midsummer. And lucky for us, chances to enjoy our favorite activities- both in person and online- seem to be increasing proportionately to the temperatures.

This week we’ll be talking about improving our pickleball third shot, Roger Federer’s advice to graduates (and maybe all of us), early Olympics news and good deals on fitness gear.

Let Me Count The Ways ❤️ 

Here’s yet another reason to love pickleball: You can play it indoors, no matter what the weather, i.e., rain, snow, heat (120° in Las Vegas Sunday? Really??). Unless you’re far from a school or rec center, you can probably find an indoor game nearby.

In the spirit of improving our game, even when temperatures outside verge on hellish, let’s check out Selkirk’s short video on improving your third shot drop. Hint: The farther back in the court you are, the longer your follow-through should be.

“It’s the Wild West Out There”

So says the head pro where we play. By that he means it’s a lawless land grab for control in pickleball country. You probably know that two entities, USAP and UPA, are duking it out to be top governing authority in the U.S. But did you know that your paddle may not be approved for play by these organizations? A couple of months ago, Joola, one of the largest manufacturers (and sponsor of #1 player Ben Johns), had its line of Gen 3 paddles decertified by the USAP. Not sure if your equipment meets their standards? You can check the list here.

G.O.A.T. on the Green

Roger Federer gave the commencement address at Dartmouth this year and the video has gone viral. As usual, he spoke with humor, dignity and self-deprecation while imparting the wisdom he learned as a tennis player.

His insights include “Effortless is a myth,” “It’s only a point,” and “Life is bigger than the court.” It’s worth a watch to see this champion explain what he’s learned from the game.

Fascinating takeaway: You’d think Roger would have consistently and overwhelmingly demolished his opponents through the years. Not true. He only won 54%- barely half- of the points he played in his career. Something interesting to ponder.

Seine La Vie?

We’re gearing up for the Paris Olympics which begin on July 26.

One thing we’ve been monitoring skeptically since 2018 is the plan, despite foul-sounding pollution, to use the Seine as a swimming venue. In recent years, France spent $1.5 billion on a new sewage system and other projects to clean the river. But within the last few days, E. coli has been fluctuating above and below healthy levels (but seems to be improving.) It sounds like a decision will be made at the last moment, with a possible venue change for marathon swimming and holding the triathlon as a duathlon event.

Early Prime Day Deals

Amazon Prime Day isn’t till July 17, but our inbox is full of early deals. So why wait?

Prevention.com has a list of their 20 best early Prime deals for fitness buffs, including walking pads, hand weights, clothes and something we’re eyeing- a Stanley Cup at 25% off. 

Did you see me in the photo with the bikes? That’s my weekly riding group on our way up Vail Pass. It’s a gorgeous trek up a smooth, well-maintained combo bike/pedestrian path and, despite being at a lofty 10,000 feet altitude, completely doable on my ebike. More pics soon.

That’s it for now. Have a great weekend!

Louise