Should "Tagging" Opponents Be Part of the Game in Pickleball?


A few months ago, I wrote an editorial here about intentional tagging of opponents.

If you remember, there had been a PPA Tour match in which Andre Daescu intentionally hit his opponents, Zane Navratil and Dekel Bar, ten times during the match.

One of them was a hit to the neck.

I stated here that I didn't like that style of play and hoped it would be addressed in the future. 

Then, subsequently, there was the very viral video of PPA star Ben Johns hitting an extremely hard drive back toward Quong Duong during a match. He later said he was sending a message that two can play that game if that's the way people want to play the game.

As a result of all of those public issues, the United Pickleball Association has issued a rule about "intentional or reckless" targeting of opponents above the shoulders. 

UPA-A says they consider such behavior to be, in their words, "extreme unsportsmanlike conduct."

As a result the new rules state the following:

 1. When a player intentionally hits an opponent in the head or neck area, it will be considered a technical foul. There will be a loss of one point. There will also be a $2500 fine for that player.

 2. If there is retaliation by the opposing team, there will be a technical foul with a one point penalty and a minimum $5000 fine.

 3. If the first team commits another targeting foul above the head or neck area, the match will be forfeited. And the player will be fined $5000.

 4. If a player engages in similar behavior in subsequent matches, there will be additional fines, penalties, and potential suspensions. 

Personally, I am glad to see this rule change about targeting.

Pickleball is a game of strategy, and I enjoy playing as well as watching others organize shots in a strategy to move opponents around which results in a winning shot.

That is far different from the tactic of just hitting opponents in the body.

The other problem with hitting opponents in the body is when you miss and hit them in the head, or if they duck and the attempted body shot hits them in the head.

What ever happened to just targeting their feet?

That is just as effective of a strategy, and no one gets hurt or gets mad.

Please let me know what you think!

Please email me at: Ben@pickleball-living.com

Ben Holt

​CEO, Pickleball Living