Recently, the Bounce team sat down with pickleball player Marianne. She frequently shows up to open play at Maryland Farms in Middle Tennessee and plays in pickleball tournaments across the region. She played in Bounce’s Nashville Invitational and has signed up for mixed and women’s doubles at the Maryland Farms Winter Classic on January 27-28.Marianne is known as “Thumper” among her friends for the way she drives the ball on the court. Below she shares some great advice and the benefits of getting started with open play and playing tournaments.
How long have you been playing pickleball?
I started playing three and a half years ago. A former neighbor of mine who was 74 years old at the time had an outdoor tennis court he played pickleball on. He played with his whole family and needed a fourth person once, and I fell in love with it.Every Sunday afternoon I would play with his family. He had bad knees and a bad back, and he would kick my butt. I was like no, a 74-year-old is not going to beat me. He’s sadly not my neighbor anymore, but he still goes out and plays every day. He’s an inspiration to me. I want to be in my 70s and still be on the pickleball court!
What are some of the similarities and differences between tennis and pickleball?
I played junior tennis tournaments all over Middle Tennessee and played in middle school, high school and then in college. Tennis helped me initially with pickleball. I would drive every ball. I wouldn’t dink or do drops. I can now, but I had to unlearn tennis a bit, stop driving every ball and learn the dinks and drops. The two sports are so similar and so different at the same time.
What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in playing pickleball?
Go to open play! Some people are hesitant to get started often because they’re worried they’ll play against too tough opponents. But everyone was a beginner at some point, so just go and try it.I would also say to do the opposite of what I did. Have the discipline to learn the soft game first. I think that would benefit you more in the long run instead of coming in and driving the ball every single time.
What are the open play scenes like around Nashville?
I love Maryland Farm’s open play. They have good hours, especially compared to anywhere else in Middle Tennessee. I’m flexible, but some people can’t be with work. Maryland Farm’s open play goes from around 4:30pm to 8:00pm during the week, and they have open play hours on the weekend too. I love that they have both indoor and outdoor courts as well.
What do you think is unique about the pickleball community?
I’ve made some of the best friendships and am a part of a tight-knit community through pickleball. I’ve met a lot of people from all over at tournaments, and we hang out before and after games. I feel the camaraderie is like a family.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Before a tournament, I go to bed at a decent hour and eat well. I do hot yoga often as it forces me to stretch, and I feel better for it on the days I do it. I love carbs, so I often eat pasta, noodles, Chick-fil-A or the pickleball club sandwich at Subway.
What’s in your pickleball toolkit?
I have fallen in love with Skechers shoes, Selkirk Pro S1 pickleballs, and I’m on my third carbon paddle.
If you could play doubles with any celebrity, who would it be and why?
Ben Johns. In my world, he’s a celebrity, and of course I want to pick someone good!Interested in signing up for the Maryland Farms Winter Classic to kick off your new year of pickleball? Visit our tournament page!
