Meet The Pros: Kim Jagd
by elizaled on Jun 28, 2017
Kim Jagd and Morgan Evans - 2015 SW Regional Open Mixed Doubles
Meet The Pros – Kim Jagd
Kim has a strong passion for team sports and she loves teaching people new to the game. Enjoy!
Can you list for us your major wins so we can correctly introduce you to our readers?
2017 So Cal Classic Sr Women's Doubles Open with Stacey Downey-Bronze
2017 So Cal Classic Sr Mixed Doubles Open with Scott Burr-Bronze
2017 So Cal Classic Women's Doubles 50+with Stacy Downey-Bronze
2016 US Open Sr Women’s Doubles with Lydia D Willis - Bronze
2016 Grand Canyon St Games Sr Mixed Open with Ron Chang - Bronze
2016 Huntsmen Games Sr Open Women’s 50-54 Doubles with Stacy Downey - Silver
2016 Senior Games Mixed Doubles Open with Ralph Rabago - Gold
2016 Senior Games Women’s Open with Karen Gysin - Gold
2016 LeMaster/Davison Mixed Doubles Open with Marcin Rozpedski - Bronze
2016 SW Regional Women’s Doubles Sr Open with Mona Burnett - Gold
2016 So Cal Classic Sr Women’s Doubles Open with Julie Haney - Silver
2015 Tournament of Champions Sr Women’s Doubles with Stacy Downey - Silver
2015 SW Regional Open Mixed Doubles with Morgan Evans - Silver
How my background/career helped me in pickleball?
I played tennis at a high level until age 13, when I realized that I wasn’t going to beat my Jack Kramer Club superior, Traci Austin! I had an passion for team sports where I excelled as a softball pitcher, point guard and eventually as a setter. It was volleyball that really captured my focus in high school and I eventually ended up at UCLA (NCAA Champs 1984) and then to the beach playing on tour for 3 seasons.
Coaching was in my blood early as my high school senior year where I coached my first team (jv boy’s volleyball). I was hooked! I’ve had a wonderful 30+ career coaching High School, Jr Club, USA Volleyball and at CU and UCLA! Tennis, Volleyball and coaching has been a great foundation for excelling in Pickleball.
What paddle do you play with and why?
I am currently sponsored by Selkirk. They are a great family run business that really puts an emphasis on quality of product, customer service and Team Selkirk! I have played with and for a couple of the other big paddle manufacturers and have found my home with Selkirk! I play with the 7.8 elongated Omni 31P XO. As a former tennis player, I really like the extra length for leverage while maintaining good width for blocking.
What’s your preference – playing indoor or outdoor?
I have never played indoors! I spent far too much time in volleyball gyms. (playing, coaching and recruiting)
Do you like singles or doubles better? Why?
I liked playing singles and had some success, but it far too hard on my body after 11 orthopedic surgeries! I LOVE playing high level mixed doubles!
What’s your secret sauce? Any tips for players?
I am sure everybody expects this to come from a life-long coach. . . PRACTICE if you want to hone your skills and improve faster! I also like to watch video of myself, my opponents and other top players. Like 90% of the population, I am a visual learner. There is nothing better than video analysis!
What’s your day job?
I am a retired collegiate volleyball coach. I am fortunate; I property manage for my family and get to play pickleball and golf to my heart’s (and my body’s) content!!
How many hours a week do you play? How do you make time to play?
I practice/play between 9-15 hours a week depending on my tournament schedule.
Any lucky rituals before a big tournament?
Nah, as a coach I don’t really believe in luck or have rituals other than preparation. Practice, video and play elevates my confidence so I feel like I will have earned any success that comes my way!
Do you have any pickleball goals you’d like to share?
I am helping grow the game at my country club in Indian Wells, California and enjoy seeing new players discover, improve and fall in love with this game. Personally, I want to keep improving! I enjoy the never ending yet FUN struggle of mastery.
Anything else you’d like to share about your experience being one of the best pickleball players in the world?
I live in the small, up and coming area of Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley. We have a wonderful group of 4.5 and 5.0 Pickleball Pro men and women that have a passion for practicing and playing at a high level. It’s like being in college again and being on a team of like-minded individuals that are bound by training, competition and camaraderie!
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