In A Pickle is a game-changer for couples. I laughed, I cried! This book perfectly captures the chaos and joy of playing pickleball with your partner.
Pickleball Pro Dave ‘the Badger’ Weinbach
10-time National Champion, 15-time US Open Champion, and winner of 210 Gold Medals
This book is dynamite for couples, blending hilarious insights with genuinely useful tips on keeping love alive while smashing it on the pickleball court. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants to score big in both their relationship and their pickleball game!
Dr. Sharon Noble, Ph.D
PhD, Couples Therapist, School Psychologist, Somatic Embodiment Coach
In this delightful and humorous book, couples are taken on a journey of learning how to play pickleball together without driving each other crazy. The author's witty and relatable anecdotes make this a must-read for any couple looking to strengthen their relationship while mastering a new sport.
Kevin Beeson
KB Pickleball, Senior Pro Player, 3-time National Champion, Touring Teaching Professional, and Author of Pickleball Metaphors: The fast track to better pickleball
This book is a delightful blend of beauty and humor. By reading it, not only will you enhance your game, but you will also strengthen your connection with your better half on the court. Enjoy the journey!
Fernanda Aragon
Pickleball Pro, COPA LATAM PICKLEBALL National Women's Doubles Champion for Costa Rica
Buy Now
Pickleball. Is it the ultimate therapy or a fast track to the counselor’s couch? While couples flock to the courts with dreams of shared joy, they are often quickly confronted by criticism and frustration – in other words, the reality of playing pickleball together. It's no wonder both marriage counseling and divorce are on the rise.
With a blend of humor and expertise, they offer couples playful and powerful strategies to master their relationship, have more fun, and win more points. Because at the end of the day, it’s just pickleball. And no one wants to end up on an episode of Dateline.
Book
the
Everyone has it in them to be a dick. We use this as a non-endearing, genderless term that can either be in reference to the reader of this book or their spouse.
When the heat turns up, thick skin becomes thin, eye rolls become audible, and whispered words stab like a knife.
Exaggeration? Maybe. But you know what we mean. As unfortunate as it is, there will come a time on the court when the love of your life, your pickleball teammate, becomes the person you most want to annihilate. Presume the feeling is mutual.
The First Rule of Pickleball
Communication is an art and a skill that can be practiced and improved. When you're good at it, you can avoid most misunderstandings, which are the source of 80% of conflict.
The Bad News
On the small size of the pickleball court, all your communication faux pas are illuminated. The drama becomes Drama with a capital D, and the punishment outweighs the crime. Sometimes the court feels like a cage, and you are in it with either your best friend or your mortal enemy. It all depends on how well the game is going.
No One Thinks They’re a Bad Communicator
Nothing beats being in the zone with your partner. When you and your spouse are setting each other up for the put-aways, trusting that you've got the middle, knowing you both have each other's backs, you are winning! This is what happens when you are playing with intention, rather than playing in tension.
Setting an intention is not some woo-woo, hippie way of hoping for the best. It is a well-studied strategy to direct your thoughts, actions, and energy. Typically, an intention is a commitment to yourself that is aligned with action. It can be one word or a few words that you invoke to help you stay focused.
Playing with Intention vs. "In Tension"
We love safe words. No one ever wants to find themselves in a compromised position against their will. Why should Pickleball be any different? Sure, you might not be physically bound, but you can justifiably feel emotionally contorted to the degree that it just needs to stop!
When the heat rises and the tension builds, it is hard to hear any kind of direction, feedback or command your partner is giving you. If you're making mistakes, you know you're making mistakes. If for some ungodly reason your partner chooses that exact moment to let you know they also know you're making mistakes, then too bad for them for using terrible judgment.
Safe Words & Other Success Strategies
When you spend an inordinate amount of time living your addiction to this sport and playing with the person you are sleeping with, there are bound to be big highs and even bigger lows.
Stormy and Teri know the struggle. They've witnessed countless couples transform from sweethearts to sparring partners in the blink of an eye.
So based on their experience as players, they wrote this book for pickleball-playing couples who love the idea of playing together but don't love what happens when eye rolls and irritation take over the court.
“Our goal is to show you it doesn't have to be this way. You can master the court with your spouse and continue to enjoy and excel at this sport we all love.”
Inspiration
the
Benefits
the
Designed to help you play better, love more, and win more points. Our hope is your relationship will be more fun and fulfilling, and your pickleball game elevated.
Improve communication on and off the court
Boost pickleball emotional intelligence to be a better player and human
Enhance feedback skills to be a more effective partner
Learn how to set effective intentions and goals together
Navigate court conflict to be a stronger team
Understand your partner’s pickleball love language to show you’re paying attention
Meet Stormy
Dr. Stormy Hill is a co-author of The Transformational Journey - Stories on Business, Life and Happiness and a certified relationship coach. Residing in Salt Lake City, where you can ski some of the best peaks and play pickleball all in the same day.
The Authors
meet
Meet Teri
Teri Citterman is the author of From the CEO’s Perspective and a certified executive coach advising senior leaders and CEOs. She’s from Seattle, the birthplace of pickleball, and lives in Austin, TX, home to some of the top pro pickleball players in the world.
Stormy and Teri are doubles partners at the 3.7 - 4.0 level.
Stormy and Teri met in Costa Rica and found they shared a love for pickleball and for their respective partners. They realized that, sometimes, the combination of the two ignites a chemical explosion that teeters on the edge of amazement, before it plummets into a cesspool of disappointment.
We love hearing from you!
Send Us A Message,
an Inquiry or a Question
follow along for tips and strategies for on and off the court
In touch
get
Stormy Hill
Stormy@loveandpickleball.net
Teri Citterman
Teri@loveandpickleball.net
