Former NFL wide receiver Golden Tate is one of countless professional athletes who've taken up pickleball after retiring from their respective sports.

A genuine pickleball enthusiast, Tate even has a signature paddle with Paddletek. 

Back in November, he participated in the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships in Dallas.

“I learned about pickleball back in 2010 when my girlfriend at the time lived in Washington State. I was over at her family’s house for dinner one night and I remember looking at this small tennis court they had in the backyard and asking them why they had a halfway tennis court,” Tate recalled. “They said, 'No it’s pickleball.' I asked, ‘What in the world was pickleball?' They gave me a wooden paddle and a wiffle ball and we played. I thought it was fun, but thought I’d never play it again.”

Fortunately, Tate was wrong. 

He eventually found the game again in Southern California.

“Fast forward to about five years later and I moved to San Diego. I started seeing pickleball more. I started to play because I was getting older and I couldn’t play basketball or football the way I wanted to because my knees hurt,” he explained. “This was a way for me to get competitive, have community, and have something to work towards. And now here we are, and it’s the fastest growing sport in America.”

Tate is no recreational player. He’s dinked around with pickleball pros like Connor Garnett and Tyson McGuffin.

As for his signature shot...

“I like to overpower my opponents and use my athleticism any way I can, which can be tough because the pickleball court is so small. But, I love speeding it up and getting in hands battles,” he shared. “I have good hands, but I don’t always set myself up for success.”

His extensive football background definitely gives him an advantage on the court.

A variety of raw skills come into play all the time. 

“I have really good lateral movement, and I'm considered the YAC (Yards After Catch) King. I also have the hand-eye coordination to track the balls. To know exactly where the ball is going to be is something I value, and I think I have an edge on,” explained Tate. “I also grew up playing a lot of ping pong, so having a little bit of that racket and paddle awareness is so useful.”

Like many former professional athletes, Tate is enjoying all that pickleball has to offer in this next stage of his life. 

“This is what’s so great about pickleball and sports in general. It gives people an outlet to have after a long day or whatever they’re battling at home. I know as a child, sports were my getaway. And no matter what was happening in school, at home, between siblings, or my emotions – when I got on the football field, baseball field, and now the pickleball court, it’s like my getaway,” he said. “That’s all I need, just a few hours to decompress. Hopefully that’s what pickleball does for other people, too, along with great spectating as well.” 

With a big following on social media, Tate proudly shares his love for the game.

“I’m going to be the best version of myself and hopefully do my part in growing the game and bringing people together,” he concluded.