Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on ALT 105.7 and iHeartRadio 10/12/19 - Sarah Ansboury, Palmetto Dunes Pickleball Touring Professional and Director of Pickleball

Rick is joined this week by Sarah Ansboury, Palmetto Dunes Pickleball Touring Professional and Director of Pickleball Instruction.

Have a listen to this week's segment as Pickleball is taking off at properties like Palmetto Dunes:

Pickleball is more than a thing at the Palmetto Dunes. The Palmetto Dunes Tennis and Pickleball Center has 16 pickleball courts and eight more on the way (all lighted for night play).

Pickleball is a sport that combines the elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong. It is played with oversized ping pong paddles and a softball-sized plastic perforated ball that travels at about one-third the speed of a tennis ball. "It's a fun, easy sport that is great exercise, but doesn't require a lot of skill to be an enjoyable experience" says John Kerr, Director of Tennis at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. We have eight pickleball courts right in front of the Tennis Pro Shop.

For most of Sarah Ansboury’s professional career she has resided in the Portland, Oregon area. As a member of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), she has benefitted from continuing education on fitness, racket sport body mechanics, instructional methods and sports psychology. She applied this education as a private tennis instructor, teaching club members and elite junior athletes, as well as a NCAA women’s tennis coach. Ansboury also competed nationally at the Open level as well as 5.5 rated leagues in the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA).

This is big. The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) have formed a strategic alliance to grow the sport of Pickleball. The new PTR subsidiary (PPR) will become the official education and certification partner of the USAPA. Ansboury has designed the PPR’s curriculum and certification programs.

Ansboury has been traveling the country working with recreational and advanced players to improve their all around game technically, mentally, strategically and through improved fitness. “This has been a wonderful experience to help grow the sport of Pickleball and see it advance so much in such a short time,” she said.
“My goal is to turn this area into one of the most popular Pickleball destinations. I’m very excited to have a regular place to train for my own competitive play, as well as teach.”

Guests who book vacation rentals through the Palmetto Dunes Vacation Rentals receive two hours of either tennis or pickleball court time (when courts are available) with each night of their stay per vacation rental unit or choose from one of two pickleball vacation packages. Stop by the Tennis Center to try it out or call us to find out more information on how you can get involved with this great new sport right here at Hilton Head Island

Sarah provides instruction at Palmetto Dunes daily based on availability as well as leads the Ansboury Academy, which is held several times a year for those interested in learning more about this fast-growing sport. Participants of the academy will enjoy a week of Pickleball at Palmetto Dunes — 15 hours of instruction — with each day focusing on techniques and tactics for every player to improve on the court. Learn more about upcoming academy dates and registration here. 

Players can choose from a variety of options.

Round Robins
Clinics
Lessons and regular court time.
Equipment rental is available.
Additional courts coming this fall will allow further expansion of morning round robins, while holding a few courts open for rental to families and other groups. The Palmetto Dunes Pickleball Center will also be expanding afternoon round robin sessions from two days a week to five this fall.

Agreat talk with Sarah and it's great to see how quickly Pickleball is growing around the country as it's not a replacement for tennis, but the two sports compliment each other in many ways.