Pickleball - Open Play Etiquette and Procedures
 

I’m in a weekly 4-some of pickleball players who play each week during open play at the Rec Center. We’re on the courts at the crack of dawn and usually play until about 830 AM or so. Up until January, there has been no waiting to get onto a court. Now that we’re in snowbird season, a line starts forming around 745AM, which is understandable for this busy time of year. Our group is probably at an “advanced beginner” stage, but none of us are rated, as we are just out to have fun and get some exercise.

Question - while waiting our turn in line, a group of 3 in front of us who’s turn it was to go onto the court needed a 4th person, we allowed a single person behind us in line to go in front of our group of 4, so that we could wait and play together when a court became available for us. This infuriated a man further back in line who yelled out at us to split up and for one of us to join the group of 3 ahead of us. The man was pretty belligerent and wouldn’t let it drop, even after the fact. We just smiled at him and didn’t respond to his outburst. I noticed a group of 4 ladies playing together did the same thing, as they wanted to play as a group. If we were in error, we surely want to be corrected, and play by the rules, but I never remember in pickleball class this particular issue ever being brought up. Was hoping someone from the pickleball community could chime in whether what we did is permissible or not. Thank you for your replies.

Ah yes. "Florida's friendliest hometown".

The complainer is full of crap. It didn't change the number in front of him. Some people are not happy unless they are miserable.

You did nothing wrong.

I agree, OP by smiling you did the right thing.

Known as pickleball hogs. Some claim court on open times and don’t get off ( just look at us we so good don’t challenge us) if you guys want to play by yourself do it after open play times 10AM preferably reserve court for your group.

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OP was not hogging, merely keeping his group together. OP and his group were well within their rights to do what they did. There is always someone who thinks they know the rules and tries to enforce "their" rules on other people.

OP did the right thing. Smile, be sweet, and don't let bossy "know-it-alls" push you around.

During open time you fall in line wait for your turn. We not middle school girlfriends. O wait..

Wait your turn, yes.

Must play with whoever happens to be next to you in line? Nope.
Even if you resort to middle-school name calling, you don't make the rules.

Correct. You are under no obligation to break up your group just because the line falls that way as long as you wait your turn in line and play only one game to 11 if others are waiting. Correct etiquette is exactly what the OP did: allow someone further down the queue to jump in front of their foursome so they can stay together. The guy who was griping was clueless.

If proper etiquette is playing one game to 11 and others are waiting wouldn't that mean the 4 players of that game should walk off and the whole court becomes available after each and every game ? If standard practice how often is this adhered to ? Are there published rules of etiquette posted on/near the courts ? Just curious I'm not a pickle-ball player.

NEVER said must.
And you don’t either.

61, U R all good.

Sorry you met one of the 1% boneheads in TV.

Thanks to everyone for replying - I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t in violation of some rule for which I was unaware - I love pickleball, and for the most part, the people I meet there are some of the nicest and kindest people here in The Villages. Retirement is the best!

Depends on what rec center, some only two leave court while winners play 2 games in row before they get back in line. Some play rally score but most don’t.

Really proper etiquette is get back in line and play your turn. What happens some don’t want play with lower level players cause they think it will ruin their game. Which IMO not that good if the can’t deal with lower skilled player’s. And there are just snobs that want only play with their little group at open times. Which they have open play and group reserved times.

Or… a lesser player may not feel comfortable playing with much better players. Maybe that’s why they came with their group in the first place. If that guy was too belligerent, video him and report him. If he was just upset then turn your back and talk with your group.