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What Is It Like Playing in the APTA Nationals? The 2026 APTA Nationals marked the 8th or 9th Nationals I’ve competed in during my career. My first came when I was just 19 years old in Chicago, Illinois. I remember walking into that event feeling both excited and intimidated. Nationals always had a certain aura to it — the best players in the country, the biggest crowds, and the sense that you were stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage. Since that first experience, the tourn

Advantage or disadvantage? Advantage  — if you understand court positioning and communicate well. In platform tennis, positioning and overhead control decide matches. A righty/lefty combo gives you the ability to control the middle with forehand overheads on both sides of the court. That alone is a massive tactical edge. But most right-handed players struggle with two big adjustments: When to switch Who takes middle overheads Let’s break it down. Why Playing with a Lefty Is a

As we all know, paddle is a team game, and bringing the best out of your partner is incredibly important. Winning teams aren’t just about shot-making — they’re about trust, communication, and energy. Here are a few things I try to focus on when I’m playing. Defense Want to be a better teammate on the paddle court? Play good defense. If my partner can trust that I’ll handle volleys, make push overheads, and manage the screens, it allows us to be patient and pick the right mome

As the weather changes, it’s important to adjust your game as well. Cold conditions have a real impact on how paddle is played. The ball feels heavier, doesn’t bounce as much, and it comes off the screens noticeably slower. All of that naturally shifts the game away from pure offense and puts a bigger emphasis on patience, control, and decision-making. Baseline Strategy From the baseline, cold conditions reward patience and control. The ball isn’t jumping off the paddle the w