Court chemistry is everything when it comes to a successful partnership on the pickleball court.

Whether you and your partner are trying to be the next Hunter Johnson and Parris Todd, or if you’re trying to dominate in your rec league, court chemistry is what separates an average partnership from a great one. 

Here's how you know if your tandem has good court chemistry:

1. It’s just easy

You know that feeling when you meet someone and it’s almost as if you speak the same language? The conversation just flows easily and it’s like you don’t run out of things to talk about. Think about that feeling, but when you’re playing doubles.

Sometimes, you pair up with someone and you’re hyper aware you’re playing with a stranger. You can’t communicate, you’re missing balls down the middle, and you just can’t get into a rhythm with them. 

But other times, you pair up with someone and it feels like you’ve played alongside them before. You find yourselves moving with synchronicity without having to clarify ‘yours’ or ‘mine’ with every ball. That’s a telling sign you and your dubs partner have chemistry. 

2. You complement each other well

The second sign that you and your partner have good court chemistry is that your strengths complement your partner’s weaknesses. If you have a strong power game, but your dinks are a weak spot, partner up with someone who has a killer soft game. That way, you can work on those skills together, learn from one another, and dominate on the court as a strong unit. 

3. You have fun together

Sometimes as competitors, we forget that we originally showed up to the court to have some fun. At its core, pickleball is about getting exercise, connecting with people, and having fun.

So if you’re playing with someone and they’re adding more joy to your game, that’s a really good sign. If you find yourself laughing a little harder and not getting so frustrated over a bad shot, then you might have just found yourself an excellent partner for life. 

Pros with great court chemistry

We all need a little bit of inspiration from the pros when we look to implement pickleball tips and tricks. 

Parris Todd and Hunter Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Parris Todd (@itsparristodd)

The current pro pickleball “IT” couple. As their respective games only get better and lead them to more championships, it appears that their relationship only gets stronger. Learning and practicing communication on and off the court has brought them some serious court chemistry.  

Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by CARVANA PPA TOUR (@ppatour)

These two have been playing together for nearly 10 years. Kovalova and Wright are the definition of "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it." With strong game play, natural rhythms, and understanding that simply comes with time, Kovalova and Wright are expert examples of growing together as the sport grows too. 

Lauren Stratman and Julian Arnold

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lauren Stratman (@lolo_strat_pb)

Stratman and Arnold color coordinate on the court better than any other romantic couple in the game. And they’ve found balance with playing together and playing with other people to keep their court chemistry strong. After all, when you play with other people, you’re reminded just how lucky you are to be with your partner. 

Hannah Blatt and Grayson Goldin

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Hannah Blatt (@hannahblatt)

When Goldin first started playing with Blatt, he quickly noticed that their court chemistry was so good that he wanted to explore it off the court as well. So go with your gut if the pickleball sparks start to fly. 

Court chemistry isn’t strictly romantic, but if you’re both single and have good chemistry on the court, you might want to explore that connection off the court. Who knows? You might find that doubles partner for life. It wouldn’t be the first (or last) time pickleball played matchmaker. 

How do you know you have good court chemistry with your partner? Let us know on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).