Pickleball Trash Talk: Your Guide to Keeping it Funny, Not Foul
Pickleball trash talk can be hilarious—or hurtful. This guide explains the unwritten rules of banter on the court,...
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Pickleball is social by nature, but it’s still a competitive sport. Etiquette is about keeping the game fun, fair, and drama-free. Here’s your guide to the unwritten rules that keep rallies friendly and rivalries in check.
Pickleball Etiquette: The Good-Vibes Playbook
Keep it fun. Keep it fair. Keep it pickle.
I - Before you play
Do
✅ Bring water, a towel, and extra balls.
✅ Check the posted rules or house norms.
✅ Ask the group how rotation works.
Don't
🚫 Borrow everything like it’s a community gear closet.
🚫 Argue “that’s not how we do it at my park.”
🚫 Assume it’s “winner stays” everywhere you go.
II - Rotation & Pace
Do
✅ Rotate in/out promptly after games.
✅ Invite singles waiting to pair up.
✅ Clear the court quickly after game point.
✅ Be ready
Don't
🚫 Camp on the court like it’s your summer home.
🚫 Ignore the poor fellow or gal with no friends
🚫 Debrief every rally on-court while the next four wait.
🚫 Take a life story break between every point.
III - Serving, Scoring & Calls
Do
✅ Call the score loudly before every serve.
✅ Make calls promptly and only on your side.
✅ Give opponents the benefit of the doubt.
✅ Replay points if unsure.
Don't
🚫 Mumblemouth the score like you’re leaking state secrets.
🚫 Overrule balls that landed two courts away.
🚫 Treat every 50/50 as “obviously out” in your favor.
🚫 Hold a courtroom hearing for a kitchen foot fault.
IV - Shot Selection & Style
Do
✅ Match your pace to the group’s level.
✅ Practice control shots in rec play.
✅ Keep lobs reasonable and call them.
Don't
🚫 Rip missiles at beginners to “teach them respect.”
🚫 Run full-on experimental trick shots into other courts.
🚫 Moon-ball every rally in a busy park.
V - Partner & Communication
Do
✅ Use quick, positive cues: “Mine,” “Yours,” “Switch.”
✅ Encourage, don’t coach (unless asked).
✅ Own your errors: “My bad.”
✅ High-five/fist-bump after good rally's.
Don't
🚫 Shout a TED Talk mid-rally.
🚫 Critique every miss like you’re billing by the hour.
🚫 Blame the ball, the sun, Mercury, and your partner.
🚫 Sulk like your paddle owes you money.
VI - Safety & Courtesy
Do
✅ Yell “Ball!” immediately when one rolls in.
✅ Retrieve stray balls for neighbors.
✅ Keep bags, chairs, and bottles off the court.
Don't
🚫 Keep playing through a trip hazard.
🚫 Toe-tap them farther away like a soccer drill.
🚫 Build a sideline garage sale in the runout zone.
VII - Court, Gear & Clean-Up
Do
✅ Respect time limits and court reservations.
✅ Use appropriate balls for conditions.
✅ Keep food off-court; pack out trash.
Don't
🚫 Squat on reserved courts “because we were here.”
🚫 Show up with cracked, egg-shaped antiques.
🚫 Leave a picnic of crumbs and bottle caps.
VIII - After the Game
Do
✅ Say “Good game” to everyone—every time.
✅ Offer rematches or rotate as agreed.
✅ Leave with the same good vibes you brought.
✅ Invite folks to play again or check the schedule.
Don't
🚫 Ghost the handshake and rage-quit to the parking lot.
🚫 Demand best-of-seven at 10 PM on a Tuesday.
🚫 Start a post-game blame tour.
🚫 Treat the session like a secret society meeting.
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