Tag Archives: pickleball

Episode 49: Transforming Health & Community with Pickleball Part 2



Ready to take your pickleball game to the next level? Join host Bryan Bibbo as he continues our conversation with Verna Griffin, the “Pickleball Queen of Neptune Beach.”  In part two, we dive deep into the strategy and technique that separates recreational players from competitive ones. 

With over 15 years of experience playing and teaching sport, Verna has a lot to share. She also reveals her inspiring journey from retirement uncertainty to finding renewed purpose as a certified instructor, proving that it’s never too late to discover a passion that transforms your physical and mental well-being. 

Key Topics: 

  • Game Strategy: Learn how modern pickleball strategy has evolved and what separates recreational from competitive play. 
  • Essential Techniques: Discover the key shots every player should master and common mistakes to avoid. 
  • Mental Benefits: Understand how pickleball keeps your mind sharp and improves cognitive function at any age. 
  • Getting Started: Practical advice for beginners and insights into the future of this rapidly growing sport. 

Episode 48: Transforming Health & Community with Pickleball Part 1



What happens when a simple introduction to a “silly game with a plastic ball” transforms into a lifelong passion that builds community and transforms health? In this energetic conversation, host Bryan Bibbo sits down with Verna Griffin, a Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) certified instructor, affectionately known as the “Pickleball Queen of Neptune Beach,” who has been teaching and promoting pickleball since 2009—long before most of us knew it existed. 

Verna shares her remarkable journey from that first hour of play that got her “hooked” to building a local community that grew from four players to 45 people within just one month. Through candid stories about chalk-lining courts every Saturday morning, teaching players from age 5 to 92, and witnessing the sport explode in popularity nationwide, Verna reveals how pickleball offers something no other sport does: a perfect combination of physical fitness, mental engagement, and genuine social connection that welcomes “all walks of life.” 

Key Topics: 

  • The Social Revolution: Discover why pickleball’s unique protocol of introducing yourself at the net creates lasting friendships and supportive communities unlike any other sport. 
  • Health Benefits at Any Age: Learn how this low-impact sport provides excellent cardiovascular exercise, muscle engagement, and mobility improvement for players from children to seniors in their 90s. 
  • From Tennis to Pickleball: Understand the key differences and why former tennis players need to “stop playing tennis on the pickleball court” to truly excel at this growing sport. 
  • Practical Playing Tips: Get professional advice on paddle grip techniques, the differences between indoor and outdoor balls, and strategic moves like “playing dodgeball” to improve your game.