Playing pickleball with your significant other can either be a wonderful date night that includes laughter and making new friends, or be a complete disaster that turns into an awkward and tension-filled car ride home. 

But romantic partners Parris Todd and Hunter Johnson have made it work at the pro level, which is no easy task.  

“Most people have these stories like, ‘Oh gosh I could never play with my wife,’ or ‘We’ve tried once and we’ll never do it again.’ But we’re here to encourage you to keep trying. I think it helps you learn to communicate,” said Johnson, during a recent interview for the PPA Tour YouTube channel. 

Todd shared several questions they talk through after a match to help strengthen their game, communication, and their relationship. 

-       What do you think really happened in this match?
-       What can I improve on?
-       What can you improve on?
-       How can we keep this momentum going?
-       What do you need from me?
-       What do I need from you?

“Communication. That’s what we’re learning,” emphasized Johnson. “From the outside, it looks like you’re going to fight more and it’s going to cause strain on your relationship when you play together, but we try to take situations as they are and figure out ways to work through it.”

“It’s really helped our relationship off the court because we learn more about each other and we’ve really grown because of pickleball,” noted Todd.  

Todd and Johnson shared that the major hurdles when playing pickleball with your significant other are communication, emotion, and not trying to kill each other when tensions run high on the court. 

“The best lesson to learn is when you have two people who are willing to work on something, it’s only inevitable that you’re going to find some way to work it out and find success in that. Whether it’s business, pickleball, relationships, marriage, anything,” explained Johnson. 

In short, just talk it out. Be open, be honest, and be receptive to what your partner is telling you. And if both parties are willing find a solution, you probably will. 

“Each person has to play their part in figuring out what’s best for each other and figure out what your partner’s needs are. Once you both are able to understand each other and know you’re both going to benefit from that, that’s the biggest puzzle piece,” said Johnson. 

He also added that vulnerability is key. Admitting your mistakes on and off the court can be tough, but it ultimately benefits the partnership as a whole. 

“For example, if you come over and take a ball you’re not supposed to, admit it and say, 'My bad. How can I change that?' And then you talk about it. It’s little things like that that go a long way,” mentioned Johnson.

As for Todd's biggest advice for playing with a romantic partner: be positive. 

“You’re getting to be active with the person you love. There’s so much joy in that. Find the positives instead of the negatives. Instead of thinking, ‘I have to play with them.’ Instead, think, ‘I get to play with them.’ You get to do something outside of the house together, with other people, and you get to be social and do that together,” she stated. “Don’t get too competitive. Encourage each other. Have fun. Be positive. And enjoy the sport we all love.”

For more pickleball tips straight from the pros, follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).