Pickleball is addictive—we get it. But how do you know when your passion has turned into an obsession?
If you’re worried that your paddle has become a permanent extension of your arm, here are the telltale signs that you might be spending a little too much time on the court.
1. Your Car’s GPS Automatically Routes to the Courts
You know you’re in deep when your vehicle seems to have developed a mind of its own. Every time you start the engine, muscle memory takes over and you find yourself pulling into the pickleball courts’ parking lot–even when you’re supposed to be heading to the grocery store.
Your car’s navigation system has given up suggesting alternate routes because let’s face it, we all know where you’re really going. Your friends and family have started joking that they could probably find you blindfolded just by following the sound of pickleball rallies in the distance.
2. Your Social Media Feed Is Nothing But Pickleball
Your Instagram algorithm has completely surrendered to your pickleball addiction. Every scroll reveals another pro player’s technique video, a new paddle review, or action shots from last weekend’s tournament.
You’ve joined every pickleball Facebook group in a 100-mile radius, and your YouTube recommendations are exclusively paddle sports content. Friends have started unfollowing you because they can’t take another slow-motion video of your perfect dink shot or daily court check-ins.
3. Your Laundry Is 90% Athletic Wear
The transformation of your wardrobe has been subtle but complete. Business casual? Never heard of it. Your washing machine runs daily loads of moisture-wicking shirts, athletic shorts, and performance socks.
Your dresser drawers have been reorganized to prioritize court-ready pickleball attire, and you’ve developed strong opinions about which brands have the best breathability. The few remaining “regular” clothes are gathering dust, only seeing daylight when you absolutely cannot wear athletic gear.
4. You Have a Designated Pickleball Budget
The monthly budget spreadsheet has evolved to include a substantial “pickleball essentials” category. You’ve convinced yourself that having multiple paddles for different playing conditions is completely reasonable, and your premium club memberships are filed under “necessary lifestyle expenses.”
Your Amazon history reads like a pickleball catalog, and you can recite paddle prices faster than your own phone number. You’ve mastered the art of justifying tournament entry fees as “networking opportunities” and gear purchases as “investments in your health.” The local pro shop owner knows you by name and has your preferred grip tape in stock at all times.
5. Your Dreams Are All About the Game
Your subconscious has fully embraced the pickleball lifestyle. You find yourself waking up in the middle of the night having solved that tricky serve return problem, or replaying that amazing point from yesterday’s game.
Embarrassingly, your partner has even caught you sleep-talking about dinking strategies and calling out scores. You may have developed a mysterious ability to hear phantom pickleball sounds–you know the one, that distinctive “pop” that seems to follow you everywhere… even in complete silence.
6. Your Non-Pickleball Friends Have Become Pickleball Converts
You’ve become an unofficial pickleball evangelist, slowly but surely converting every friend, family member, and casual acquaintance to the sport. What started as “just come watch one game” has evolved into you maintaining a small arsenal of spare paddles for newcomers.
Your enthusiasm is so infectious that even your most sports-averse friends have found themselves practicing the kitchen rule in their living rooms. You’ve single-handedly increased your local pickleball community by at least 50%.
7. You Plan Vacations Around Pickleball Courts
The first thing you check when booking a hotel isn’t the room amenities or the restaurant reviews–it’s the proximity to local pickleball courts. You’ve become an expert at finding pickleball-friendly resorts and have a mental map of courts across the country.
Family members have learned to accept that at least half of each vacation day will involve tracking down local players for a few games. You’ve even started referring to business trips as “pickle-tunities” to play in new locations.
8. Your Kitchen Skills Have Nothing to Do With Cooking
When someone mentions “the kitchen,” your first thought isn’t about cooking–it’s about that seven-foot non-volley zone that’s become your second home. Your non-pickleball playing friends are thoroughly confused when you start discussing kitchen violations at dinner parties.
You’ve mastered the art of the kitchen dance, expertly hovering just behind the line while waiting to pounce on any short shots, and you have strong opinions about proper kitchen positioning. Your actual kitchen at home might be gathering dust, but your pickleball kitchen game is absolutely spotless.
9. You’ve Developed Pickleball-Specific Injuries
You’re on a first-name basis with your physical therapist, and you’ve learned more about rotator cuff anatomy than you ever wanted to know. Your medicine cabinet is stocked with an impressive array of sports tapes, braces, and anti-inflammatory medications.
You’ve mastered the art of playing through pickle elbow and have developed strong opinions about different brands of knee supports. Yet somehow, these pickleball injuries only seem to fuel your dedication to the game.
10. Your Phone’s Camera Roll Is a Pickleball Documentary
Storage space warnings pop up constantly because you can’t bear to delete any of your pickleball action shots or slow-motion technique videos. Every tournament, new paddle purchase, and court you’ve played on has been meticulously documented for posterity.
Your camera roll tells the complete story of your pickleball journey, filled with before-and-after shots of your improving form and countless victory celebrations. Friends and family have learned to expect a detailed photo presentation of your latest pickleball adventures at every gathering.
