DALLAS, TX – The most romantic day of the year is fast approaching, and I’m so happy for all the couples out there whose beautiful partnerships translate perfectly to the pickleball court in the healthiest of ways.

But for us singles looking for a doubles partner, we’ve only got six days left to find our pickleball valentine.

No pressure.

With that in mind, I’m taking my quest to find a Valentine to the court. 

I think courts are going to become the new hot spots for matchmaking because pickleball has so many players, and lots of them are young, hot singles who prioritize community, health, and wellness. Courts have become like this century’s watering hole.

There are a number of strategies one could use to find a soulmate at your favorite pickleball venue.

What to wear

It starts before you even set foot on the court. Assess your pickleball wardrobe and pick out the outfit that makes you feel the most sparkly. 

If you feel your best, you’ll look your best. Wear the cool black tennis dress that makes you feel incredible, or the pink tennis skirt that fits you just right. Whatever your favorite cute pickleball outfit is – wear that. And feel like a 5.0 player. 

Who to bring

Don’t arrive solo. Bring a pickleball friend and show up at peak hours. 

Usually, I try and avoid going early in the morning or right after work because I have to fight for my life to get on a court. It’s too much stress and there’s no guarantee I’ll get out there. 

But we’re looking for soulmates and we need the numbers on our side. We’re not here to play, we’re here to find a doubles partner who will stick by us through every match point.

What to do

Since you brought a friend, both of you can begin observing your options. Start real-life swiping through potential pickleball bachelors. They’ve already made it past the first cut because they’re on the pickleball court. Clearly, we’re not looking for a tennis player. No tennis Romeo and pickleball Juliet, please. 

Instead of impatiently waiting on the sidelines for the next available court, use this time to your advantage. Bond with others waiting on court time. Build camaraderie and banter with your fellow players.

Pickleball is the perfect conversation starter – you already have so much in common. And who knows, if things go well, you may find yourself in a mixed doubles match. 

If there’s a specific someone that catches your eye, strategically maneuver your way onto the court next to them. Accidentally hit the ball into the neighboring court so you have to walk over and grab it, initiating an interaction. Do this very sparingly because a ball rolling into the nearby court can get annoying very fast, but once or twice to spark an interaction can help break the ice.

Try a pickleball pickup line that may or may not work – use at your own discretion. 

-       Nice dink. (a wink is optional depending on your level of boldness)

-       Wanna see my DUPR score?

-       You’re clearly a champ, I’d call you an 11.

Better yet, if you find yourself in a round robin with a hot dinker sharing the court with you, after the paddle tap (win or lose) might just be the perfect time to shoot your shot. 

It could be something simple like, “We should play again some time.”

Or you could take it up a notch, “Do you want to grab drinks after this?” 

And then they’ll respond with an enthusiastic “Yes!” and you’ll ride off into the sunset together to play in your first tournament, win gold, have a pickleball wedding, and raise PPA pro kids. It’s foolproof!

This Valentine’s Day, I have a feeling the pickleball court is going to be more popular than the fanciest steakhouses. So, get to courting.