Are You A Fair-Weather Pickleball Player?


First of all, do you play indoor or outdoor pickleball?

If you only ever play indoor pickleball, you may not fully appreciate this editorial.

If you play outdoor pickleball, you can definitely relate!

So, I would not consider myself a fair-weather pickleball player.

I have played while it was raining.

I have played when it's 97 degrees and very humid. You know the kind of day where you start sweating just getting your paddle out of your bag!

I have played when it's cloudy and when it's sunny.

I have played when it's windy with 12 - 15 mph winds and gusts above 20 mph.

I have played when the temperature was in the low 40's with a wind chill in the upper 30's.

Out of all the conditions, I hate playing in the wind!

It irritates the you-know-what out of me. 

When the wind is so strong it changes the direction of the ball. Ugh!

When you're all set to hit a winner, and the wind blows the ball just enough that it caroms off the end of your paddle out of bounds. Yuck!

Or when you've gotten accustomed to the gusty wind on one side of the court such that you hit the ball quite hard just to get it past the kitchen line on the other side. Then, you switch sides and your first shot sails almost to the next county. Trash!

What I hate most is that it makes it hard to improve your game.

I don't know about you, but I want to see myself improving on some skill each time I play.

The wind adds another variable making it hard to work on anything other than countering the wind.

It is so annoying!

Recently, it was supposed to rain, so a small group of us made indoor court reservations for two hours at a very nice facility.  

It was so nice having a climate-controlled environment with no wind!!

I could get used to that, I thought.

Have I become a fair-weather pickleball player?

No, I still love playing outdoor pickleball in the bright sun at about 78 degrees with just a slight, occasional breeze.

You know, perfect conditions!

And that happens maybe once every two years where I live.

Anyway, the wind in the fall of the year is an issue. 

I can deal with it.  I just really don't like it!!

What about you?

What conditions do you love?

What conditions do you dislike?

Please email me at:

   Ben@pickleball-living.com

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!


Ben Holt
​CEO, Pickleball Living