As much as I love watching the pros, it’s always nice to see how smaller, local pickleball tournaments operate. Last weekend, I attended a tournament in my parents' charming hometown in Central Florida. 

In the heart of downtown, there used to be a couple of tennis courts in the park. But it was only a matter of time before one was resurfaced and converted into six beautiful pickleball courts. It was a sweet victory for the local pickleball players. 

On the first Sunday in May, a tournament was held to raise money for a veteran’s fund.

Honestly, it was fascinating to watch the players, the competition, and the fashion. 

First, let’s talk about local pickleball fashion. 

I write Pickleball.com's Best Dressed List, so I’m used to watching Jorja Johnson and Tyra Hurricane Black sporting trendy dresses with perfect color coordination and accessories. That's entirely different than watching local 3.0s wearing matching T-shirts with a pickle pun on them. 

The fashion novice in me cringed, but this is a small town pickleball, baby! You gotta embrace it. 

The action started with a delightful group of beginners.  

There was the mother-daughter duo eager to rip the band-aid off and play their first tournament. Then, there were the older ladies on site for a good cause. Even the former mayor participated. There were a lot of pleasantries exchanged, tons of “Nice shot!” or “Good get!” between opposing players, along with paddle taps, and generous line calls. 

It was a friendly game from the 3.0s. Everyone had fun. 

Then the 3.5s showed up and it suddenly became a mini PPA tournament. 

The players wore color coordinating outfits. They had oversized pickleball bags with new JOOLA Pro IVs and Agassi Pros. They wore reflective sunglasses, engaged in elaborate stretching routines, and warmed up their drives with so much power it was like they were trying to intimidate their opponents before the first point. 

The 3.5s meant business. They took the event seriously. 

This bracket consisted of empty nester moms with tennis backgrounds and pretty intense two-handed backhands. There were the mid 20-something guys who typically swear they can go pro if they didn’t have a 9-to-5 job. And the retirees wearing knee braces who play pickleball at 6 a.m. every single day who can place the ball with expert precision.  

One partnership stood out from the rest – and not in a good way. They arrived for a 3.5 round robin bracket with an entourage. Their spouses and friends brought chairs and hats, sitting courtside and cheering a little too loud after a missed return by an opponent. 

They even had coaches who loudly analyzed their opposition and identified their weaknesses so they could target one. And when the players took a timeout, members of the entourage jumped up with umbrellas to hold over their heads to shield them from the afternoon sun.  

On one hand, sure, they can do whatever they want. They can have their crew, wear matching workout sets, and target the weaker opponent. But it felt so serious for a tournament with under 100 players max and a prize pot that goes to charity. 

I’m all for active and vocal participants at PPA and MLP events. If the fans want to cheer on their favorite pros, go for it. Nevertheless, please don’t heckle the 3.5 stay-at-home moms at a local tournament that doesn't even impact your DUPR. It's just not that serious. 

Like any tournament, there were winners with medals and losers with bruised egos. There was stacking and sandbagging and a few questionable line calls.

At least the "B" word wasn't uttered between players. 

Now, I gotta sign up for the next one.