A Year in Review:
2024 was such a fun year at Smithfield TPC! We hosted over 20 events, tournaments, leagues and benefits that have highlighted the impact of pickleball and tennis in Cedar Rapids! Additionally, we had so many new and returning folks come in to play on our courts throughout this year. We are so pleased to have wonderful members willing to participate in the fun and fast-paced environment here at Smithfield.
2025 is already ramping up to be a year to remember but before we dive in racquet first, we want to take a moment to thank our members for showing us how great the pickleball and tennis community is and celebrate the moments we’ve had together in 2024!
“Hey, that’s mine!”: Why respecting court time is so important
Everyone’s been there, someone walks on to your court and all of a sudden you aren’t paying attention to the game: you are making sure the person crossing your court isn’t going to get hurt or interfere with your gameplay. Whether you are playing for fun or in a serious match, someone unknown on your court takes your attention away from the game. Being respectful of court time and space is a way everyone can uphold fairness and sportsmanlike behavior in any sport, especially tennis and pickleball.
At Smithfield, we want to make sure that our members feel that their time on court is respected and their space is treated appropriately. Coming on to court too early can interfere with the time that others have to play and pull their focus from their game. Waiting until it’s your reserved court time can help ensure others don’t feel uncomfortable or distracted. We ask that our members wait until 3-5 minutes before their reserved time to ensure that the prior reservation’s space is not being intruded upon. Similarly, making sure you are off the court on time shows that you respect your fellow members and want them to have a pleasant time in the facility.
Whether you are itching to get on court to warm up or want to take some time to cool down, planning ahead so you don’t go over your scheduled court time helps make sure everyone feels supported and respected by their fellow players. This may mean you do some lobby friendly warm ups, or you agree with your friends and teammates that you will have warm up and cool down time before you begin playing. If you see a court available before your scheduled play time, you are more than welcome to ask the deskworker if you are allowed to warm up out there. It is important the front desk knows who is out on court and they can make sure you are not infringing on anyone else’s space! Smithfield TPC thanks you for doing your part to keep our facility a kind and respectful place for all players!
Shoe Care + Court Care
Wearing shoes specifically meant for on court can benefit you and the courts! Wearing shoes you’ve worn outside, to the grocery store, or doing yard work can bring in rocks, debris, and other gunk that can wear on the surface of the court, making the court slippery or create gashes in the surface. Changing into different shoes before you get on court can help keep the courts cleaner and keep play safer!
During winter it’s especially important to bring a change of shoes and to change shoes before heading out on to the courts. Slush, salt, and water can all be carried out with you and dirty up the courts. Smithfield TPC takes great care in cleaning the courts regularly and maintaining them so they are safe for play! We definitely want to keep the courts clean and lasting a long time so our members can continue to play on them for many more years!
Additionally, wearing court specific shoes can even help your game play! The gritty surface of the courts can easily wear down street shoes and tear them up. Wearing shoes meant for tennis or pickleball have a sturdier tread that will withstand movement on the surface much longer than another type of shoe. These types of shoes are also built to support omnidirectional movement to help you move quickly wherever the ball may be. While a running shoe supports unidirectional movement to support the runners forward motion, tennis and pickleball shoes ensure support for fast movement in various directions.
NEW 2025 Head Gravity Racquets: Eliott’s Review
If you’re looking for a modern racquet that offers classic control and playability, then the 2025 updated Head Gravity MP and new-to-the-line Head Gravity Tour should absolutely be at the top of your list!
Offering a thin 22mm beam on a 100 square inch frame with a 16×20 string pattern, the Gravity MP contacts the ball with a flexible feeling reminiscent of an earlier time of racquets while still offering your arm a comfortable feel. If you crave the experience of a 90 or 95 racquet but still want the benefits of 100 in. power and forgiveness, this is the place to find it. Swinging out provides a satisfying pop on the ball while maintaining control over depth and placement. That said: the high quality of control comes at the cost of free power, which generally translates to being a liability on defense. Players who are confident in their speed and preparation will be the ones to reap every benefit from this frame and will have a great experience on court with it!
The all new Gravity Tour boasts a 98 square inch frame with the same 22mm beam and a slightly higher weight, dialing the control up even higher while packing a heavier punch due to the increased weight through the ball. While the smaller head size will offer less free power than its MP cousin, the increased static weight packs a heavier punch behind the ball, giving flatter hitters more than enough stopping power to plow through the baseline. Couple that with the higher degree of control off the sides and you suddenly have a placement-players’ dream racquet. The only true downside to the tour over the 100 (outside of the lower latent power) is the stability at net, as the MP performed far cleaner in the front of the court in that category.
Whether you’re a fan of 2000’s tennis and are nostalgic for the thin beam flex of those racquets, or are a modern control player looking to open up the sides of the court before flattening out a winner off the back, the Head Gravity is absolutely a racquet you should consider giving a demo!
Kepros Physical Therapy & Performance 2025 On-Site Consultations
Ted Kepros, of Kepros Physical Therapy & Performance, will continue to do monthly on-site visits at Smithfield on Mondays from 2:30-3:30pm. Have an injury or nagging discomfort? Check your email for the monthly announcement and sign up for a 15-minute free injury consultation!
January 27
February 24
March 24
April 28
May 19
June 23
July 28
August 25
September 22
October 27
November 17
December 15
