Tennis vs Pickleball Wars
I have played tennis since I was 16, so that's over 50 years. I still play competitively, but I'm probably down to a 3.5 level now. I picked up pickleball about 4 years ago and am advancing to where I'm at a higher level in pickleball than tennis. I personally believe there's room for both and both games are getting more players.
The problems arise because pickleball players simply want tennis to go away. I am a snowbird and live in an HOA in the winter. The leaders of the pickleball club are toxic people and will do anything possible to piss tennis players off. One of them is now on the HOA board and another is now Chairman of the Rules Compliance. I have tried to be nice to these two, but I've had it. It's like Pickleball clubs have developed a strategic plan to displace tennis wherever. In several HOA's around here, they have basically run the tennis players out by being nasty. I played in a pickleball tournament this weekend, and this one pair was bragging about how they had just about run tennis out of their HOA. My partner and I kicked their asses. How does a person deal with these toxic assholes. I just want to play both sports and have fun. I didn't move in here to be at war. |
fortunately the US allows us to keep and bear arms. :)
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I saw "HOA" and knew all I needed to know. A bunch of people with ego driven personalities or pure narcissists who basically believe everything must be the way they see it, or it's wrong, and they will do everything in their power to do so. They also tend to take the smallest amount of power given to them, and push it as hard and as far as they can.
How do you deal with them? That depends... how malicious are you capable of being? After beating them thoroughly I would have casually mentioned that I was actually a tennis player before picking up the much easier sport of pickleball. Nice double whammy to their fragile egos. |
HOA's have a ton to offer for certain people. My 86 year old mom loves hers for all the reasons you'd expect. It's the CLUBS she's joined at the "club house" that are a challenge for the reasons you've explained. Even her Quilting Club has the same power struggles as bike clubs! It's ridiculous.... I joke to her, "Just go have fun, Ma. No fist fights, and for love of Pete, don't bring your knife!"
All you can do is do your best to get along with both groups.....and continue to kick their collective asses on the court. After all, it's all about "scoreboard" in the end. |
Real men play lawn darts. Tennis and pickleball are for wimps. :p
I second what Dan said. Frustrated wannabe dictators and control freaks. Is the head of your HOA addressed as Mein Fuhrer? |
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My latest problem with the HOA happened Friday. I was playing tennis, and HOA maintenance sprayed me with herbicide. I quit playing, immediately, chastised the sprayer, and walked across the street to report it and complain to the HOA. I then walked home because I couldn't ride my bike. I went into anaphylactic shock and ended up in the ER.
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That must have been one hell of a herbicide! What were they spraying?
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In discussion with my therapist, he basically exclaimed about 1 in 6 are on the cluster B Personality spectrum.
My Biological father being 1 of them and my grandfather on my mothers side. If you want manage/deal with such a personality you can look into the 'grey rock' method. There are soulless entities in this world, so knowing what your dealing with is half the battle. |
Well, for what it's worth, before growing up into a fat, old guy, I was once ranked 3rd in my age bracket (11-13) in Nor Cal in tennis in my league.....so although I'm pulling for peace in the situation, I'm leaning your tennis side........
Pickle ball to me, looks like Tennis Light. Like Cornhole is to actual horseshoes. The puffier side of the sport. Can't spill the Zin, you know! |
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Back on topic - whenever I meet people like you mentioned, I tell them my story. This is just one activity among many other worthy ones, and being too fanatic about one sport is not going to help them much. Most are jolly people, but if they seem too anal about only-Pickleball and act like Tennis has to go, I ask them to visualize them and their family stumbling across that venue/park/courts, and the kids wanting to try out Tennis and find Pickleball not to their fancy; then I ask them would they still like to be selfish and force/go with Pickleball-only?? :) Also, one year to the week, I was in Colombia, SC trying helping a friend transport back a KTM 890R. Seller was an avid biker, did TAT, TOD, SCAR a few times and a famous Youtuber - an awesome guy!! His elderly mother-in-law was visiting from up North and i had on our own Pickleball jersey and we got to talk about the sport and how the scene is up there etc., She was so happy about getting a chance to go out and discover other players, meet people and make friends. I agree it may be more practical for some people, but it should be an inclusive sport (all juniors under-19 play free in our tournies :) ) but should not be filled with aggressive older players who want to drive other athletes to extinction. That does not bode well. |
Get them to play with a much aggressive double partner or a much better player. That would break their mind and heart and humiliate them. Take every chance you get to add insult to injury 'Hiya Bob, Mike said you lost 2-11. You'll get there. It's just 2023. The next Olympics isn't until 2028, you've got time' :D
or "I know a coach in <California> who can work wonders with you. Why don't you fly out there, practice with him, stay a month and come back?" :D |
The 2 toxic individuals here, I play against occasionally, but they tend to avoid me. I've taken the low road with them and hit them with the ball as often as possible, usually aiming at their chicken wing or legs.
It seems that other HOA's around here have the exact same problems, even worse than here. |
bwahaha, you're my kind of man, magician! :D
i used to be an assistant coach, and i believed that aiming AT a better opponent (after trying everything else) to open a strategic advantage or to gain some time or to throw them off isn't a bad idea... just getting in their head. just not the face. |
So...is it time yet to start hearing millenials say 'What's this Tennis you speak of?' :D :D
Small update from my side: Whereever we travel, we've actually been promoting Tennis and helping counties plan their future facilities better and provide inputs, as needed, on how they can keep the clashing to a minimum. I haven't played much PB at all and this year I want to get back into my Tennis and stay fit and see if my lazy bones can still handle it. |
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