The unwritten rules of pickleball can baffle even seasoned players.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Although the official rules of pickleball are clearly defined, a system of unspoken rules still exists among long-time players and amateur tournaments, surprising many people.

Pickleball, a sport famous for its complex official rules such as spin serves, head-hunting tactics, and the "kitchen" area, is now causing a stir with a completely different system of rules that are not documented in writing.

Pickleball culture also operates through "unwritten rules" that help maintain a respectful and friendly atmosphere on the court (Photo: Getty).

The unwritten rules emphasized by the community mainly revolve around respect and sportsmanship. The Dink points out that the most commonly mentioned rule is not to give technical advice to other players on the court unless they have proactively asked for it.

Below the comments, many people expressed agreement and added: "Pickleball is much friendlier than many other sports thanks to the habit of asking each other's names before the match, showing a personal connection," commented user Voidwalker13.

Furthermore, everyone agreed that strong, direct spikes to the body of older or female opponents should be avoided in order to maintain safety and fairness.

Additionally, unwritten rules are also applied to maintain balance and fairness in amateur matches. The user G8oraid suggests: "In matches with a significant skill disparity, you should hit 80% of the ball towards the stronger player of the opposing team to keep the game from becoming too one-sided."

In pickleball, incorrect scoring is a common problem. User 90day111 advises: "Everyone gets the score wrong. Wait until the play is over before correcting the score" to avoid disrupting the flow of the game.

Many veteran pickleball players admit they only learned about the unwritten rule after being reprimanded on the course (Photo: Getty).

Unwritten rules are also applied as a way to standardize player behavior, such as: not celebrating excessively when an opponent makes a mistake without forcing it; not serving when the receiver is not ready; not using an overly powerful serve to show off to a new player; and always acting in a way that benefits the opponent if the ball is not clearly visible.

The existence and development of this unwritten rule system shows that pickleball is not only a sport of skill, but also a sport of culture and community behavior.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/quy-tac-ngam-trong-pickleball-khien-nguoi-choi-lau-nam-cung-lung-tung-20251216112514878.htm