Pickleball doubles, by its very nature, is a “social sport.” There are four people playing on the court at one time and everyone has their own egos, history and insecurities. The most enjoyable way to play and appreciate the sport (IMHO) is to be supportive and enjoy the game no matter who makes what shots and who misses certain shots.

I play at several different venues both indoor and outdoor and very often opposing players will compliment a good shot and make positive comments. I rarely hear anyone say anything negative.

Prem Carnot, the Pickleball Guru, has an interesting post: “How to improve playing performance with your tournament partner”

I think this is a good article to read for everyone who plays in mixed groups and with mixed levels. These apply widely and not only for tournament players.

We can all enjoy the game as a fun sport. Even in a tournament, negative attitudes and words aren’t going to help score those points!