08/02/2025
Maybe something for us to pay attention to in keeping this sport fun and inclusive in our town
đ„What Nobody Wants to Admit About the Elitist Culture Killing Pickleball For Others
I love this game. Iâve coached thousands, played hundreds of tournaments, trained with pros, and poured the better part of my time into elevating others on the court. But lately, Iâve started to feel something I never expected: embarrassment.
Not from the game itself, but from the culture thatâs quietly infecting it.
Itâs not the newbies. Itâs not the weird paddle colors. Itâs not even the paddle arms race.
Itâs the arrogance.
The snobbery.
The obsession with status.
Letâs call it what it is: pickleball elitism. And if we donât collectively check it, itâs going to choke the life out of the very thing we claim to love.
What Happened to "Everyone's Welcome"?
Pickleball exploded because it was inclusive. You could be 16 or 66. You didnât need to be a D1 athlete. All you needed was a paddle and some curiosity. There was joy in that.
Now? Walk onto some courts and itâs like entering a country club with invisible gatekeepers. If you donât âlookâ like a 4.0, youâre ignored by many. If you donât already know the lingo, youâre laughed at. If youâre not wearing the right brand or playing with the latest $333 thermoformed âpro series,â youâre dismissed as irrelevant.
Iâve seen people mocked for their shoes. Literally. Their shoes.
What are we doing?
Rating Chasers, Cliqie Courts & 4.0 Delusions
Letâs talk about those sacred numbers. Ratings.
Iâve seen players refuse to partner with someone unless their DUPR is within .05 of theirs. Iâve had rec games where players argue over line calls like itâs the U.S. Open, and theyâre ranked #2 in the world.
Worse? Players who treat 3.0s like theyâre diseased. I've heard whispers:
âUgh, I got stuck with a 3.0 again.â
âHe says heâs a 4.0 but plays like a 3.2.â
âShe shouldn't even be on this court.â
Enough.
There are 5.0s with zero humility. And there are 3.0s who embody everything beautiful about this game: joy, hunger, camaraderie, growth. Give me those players any day.
Pros Arenât Helping (Yeah, I Said It)
And here's where I p**s off a few peers: Some pro coaches are feeding this beast.
You make content for âseriousâ players only. You bash beginners for âruining rec.â You charge $300 for a camp and then act annoyed when a 3.0 shows up. Your message? If youâre not elite, youâre irrelevant.
Stop pretending this sport belongs to you. It doesnât. Youâre lucky to be here, just like the rest of us.
Letâs Bring the Soul Back
Want to know why the best communities in pickleball thrive? Itâs not because of level-based open play, or perfectly spaced court reservations. Itâs because thereâs heart.
They cheer each other on. They rotate partners. They invite new faces. They remember why they started.
They don't just play to win, they play because they love it.
What Iâm Asking From You
Whether youâre a 5.0 tournament grinder or a beginner who just learned what a kitchen is, this sport is yours. Youâre allowed to love it. Youâre allowed to belong.
So next time you step on court, ask yourself:
Did I welcome someone new?
Did I make someone feel included?
Did I leave my ego at the gate?
If not, maybe youâre the problem.
This game doesnât need more exclusivity. It needs more humans. And if we protect that, this game will outlive all of us.
Post this. Share it. Send it to that one guy who thinks heâs better than everyone else because he has a 4.35 DUPR. Letâs bring the joy back.
Iâm not quitting. but if this elitist crap keeps spreading, the soul of pickleball might.
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