Meet The Pros: Scott Lennan

by glenepeterson on Mar 1, 2017

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Meet The Pros - Scott Lennan

Scott Lennan is a force to be reckoned with on the pickleball court, according to our own Brian Ashworth. He also has an interesting 'habit' for keeping his attention on the game: He sings! Enjoy!

scott-lennan-action2

Can you list for us your major wins so we can correctly introduce you to our readers?
2016 USAPA Nationals VIII Men’s Doubles 55+ with Jim Hackenberg – Gold
2016 USAPA Nationals VIII Mixed Doubles 55+ with Roxanne Pierce – Gold
2016 USAPA Nationals VIII Senior Mixed Open Doubles with Roxanne Pierce – Bronze
2016 Huntsman World Senior Games Men's Doubles 55-59 A with Jim Hackenberg – Gold
2016 Huntsman World Senior Games Mixed Doubles 55-59 A with Roxanne Pierce – Gold
2016 Huntsman World Senior Games Men's Doubles 5.0: 50+ with Jim Hackenberg – Gold
2016 Fall Brawl Mixed Doubles 50+ / 5.0 with Roxanne Pierce – Bronze
2016 USAPA Southwest Regional Men's Doubles Skill/Age 5.0: 19+ with Jim Hackenberg – Silver
2016 USAPA Southwest Regional Mixed Doubles Skill/Age 5.0: 50+ with Yvonne Hackenberg – Silver
2015 USAPA Nationals VII Men’s Doubles 55+ with Jim Hackenberg- Gold
2015 USAPA Nationals VII Mixed Doubles 55+ with Roxanne Pierce – Silver
2015 USAPA West Regional Men's Doubles Skill/Age 5.0: 50+ with Doug Koch – Silver
2015 USAPA West Regional Mixed Doubles Skill/Age 5.0: 50+ with Roxanne Pierce – Gold
2014 USAPA Nationals VI Men’s Doubles 35+ with Tony Tollenaar – Bronze
2014 USAPA Nationals VI Mixed Doubles 55+ with Roxanne Pierce – Gold
2014 USAPA Nationals VI Senior Open Men's Doubles with David Redding – Silver
2013 USAPA Nationals V Men's Doubles 50+ with Jim Hackenberg – Gold
2013 USAPA Nationals V Mixed Doubles 50+ with Roxanne Pierce – Gold

pop-xl-pickleball-paddleWhat paddle do you play with and why?
I've been playing with the POP Aluminum XL Paddle for three years. It gives me tremendous power and spin as well as a long reach.

What’s your pickleball story? How were you introduced to pickleball?
I saw employees playing pickleball at work. They let me play and I loved it immediately. 

What’s your preference – playing indoor or outdoor?
Outdoor! All of the medals listed are outdoor tournaments. I love the Dura 40 Ball.

2016 Fall Brawl St. George, UT! Gold - Gigi LeMaster/Tyler Sheffield, Silver - Scott Clayson/Laura Ogden Fenton Kovanda, Bronze - Roxanne Pierce/Scott Lennan 2016 Fall Brawl St. George, UT! Gold - Gigi LeMaster/Tyler Sheffield, Silver - Scott Clayson/Laura Ogden Fenton Kovanda, Bronze - Roxanne Pierce/Scott Lennan

Do you like singles or doubles better? Why?
I like doubles better than singles. There's more strategy in doubles and it's not as physically demanding as singles.

scott-lennan-action-1What’s your favorite place to play? Why?
I like to play at Redmond Community Center and at Palm Creek in Casa Grande, AZ. There are 32 individual dedicated courts. It doesn't get any better than that.

What’s your secret sauce? Any tips for players?

  1. Change the pace on most of your shots. Hit different speed serves, volleys and ground strokes. If you're predictable you will have a difficult time winning. Also play with great partners like I have! 
  2. Play against better players if you want to improve. Take your beatings. Learn from them.
  3. Practice dinking and third shots. Any team can be beaten by keeping the ball low. Also, have lots of patience.

scott-lennan-at-huntsman-2014_01 Scott Lennan at 2014 Huntsman World Senior Games

What’s your day job?
I test and repair ultrasound systems for Philips Healthcare.

How many hours a week do you play? How do you make time to play?
Approximately 10 hours a week. I play after work and on the weekends.

Any lucky rituals before a big tournament?
While I'm playing, I sing parts of songs to keep my brain from thinking about shots to hit. I've practiced enough before the tournament and know what shots to hit and when.

Do you have any pickleball goals you’d like to share?
To win a gold medal at the US Open in 2017.

2016 Huntsman Senior Games - Gold: Roxanne Pierce/Scott Lennan Mixed Doubles 55-59, Gold: Jim Hackenberg/Yvonne Hackenberg - Mixed Doubles 65-69, Bronze: Ron Chang/Bonnie Williams - Mixed Doubles 50-54 2016 Huntsman Senior Games - Gold: Roxanne Pierce/Scott Lennan Mixed Doubles 55-59, Gold: Jim Hackenberg/Yvonne Hackenberg - Mixed Doubles 65-69, Bronze: Ron Chang/Bonnie Williams - Mixed Doubles 50-54

Anything else you’d like to share about your experience being one of the best pickleball players in the world?
Find someone that will practice with you. Don’t just get the ball over. Have a purpose for every shot. Develop an overhead shot. This will keep your opponents from lobbing every shot. Work on your game if you want to be on the podium. Watch teaching videos by Joe Baker, Mark Renneson and Deb Harrison.