VIRAL Pickleball PSA: Stop the Silent Treatment

PLUS: Pickleball Meets NASCAR—And Takes a Hit & What’s your unpopular opinion about Pickleball?

December 02, 2024

 

Good evening, picklers.

This is The Pickle Talk, the newsletter that feels as good as waking up to the aroma of bacon filling up your nostrils.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

PICKLE TALK

📣 Pickleball PSA: Stop the Silent Treatment 🛑

🚨 A Facebook post by Nick Brames—a guitarist from Indiana—has gone a bit too viral, and it’s hitting pickleball players right in the feels. Brames has one message for doubles players: stop giving your partner the silent treatment when they’re struggling.

Here’s why this matters and what he said 👇

🎤 The Viral Riff

Nick Brames took to Facebook to share his blunt opinion and experience:

“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if you give your partner the silent treatment when they’re not playing well—hitting balls into the net, out of bounds, etc.—you are not helping. I guarantee a lot of them will play worse.”

Brames went on to explain how this happens in both recreational games and tournaments:

“If you give me the silent treatment, I guarantee you I will play worse.” OOP.

🧠 The Psychology Behind It

Let’s get real for a second and why he is absolutely right: when your partner feels isolated and not communicated to, their performance tanks.

Here’s why:

• Pressure ≠ Precision: Studies in sports psychology show that negativity and stress impair fine motor skills, which are crucial in racquet sports like pickleball.

• Team Sports 101: Positive reinforcement & communication builds confidence, while silence—or worse, frustration—creates tension.

In short…mind reading does not exist.

🤝 Communication = Winning

Pickleball, especially doubles, is all about coordination. If you’re not communicating, you’re basically handing your opponents free points.

A quick word of direction, encouragement, a paddle tap, or even a light joke can:

• Reset the vibe 🌀

• Help your partner refocus 🎯

• Turn the match around 🔥

🧘 Brames’ Big Takeaway: Chill Out

Win or lose, it’s just a game. Brames reminded us all to keep things in perspective:

“Whether we win or lose this game, life will go on, and it will not change your life. Be a good partner and be supportive.”

📊 The Stats Don’t Lie:


Want proof that positivity works? Here are some numbers:

• Teams with high communication levels win 20–30% more games, according to a study by the Journal of Sports Behavior.

• Supportive teammates report 40% higher enjoyment of the game.

🏆 Final Word: Be the Partner You Want

Next time your partner flubs a shot, resist the urge to sulk. Instead, channel your inner coach and say something encouraging. Who knows? You might turn the match around—and even have more fun while doing it.

So, next time you’re on the court, remember Nick Brames’ words: Chill the F out. 😎

We like this guy.

BITE-SIZED PICKLES to watch out for this week 👀

1/ 🚗🏓 Pickleball Meets NASCAR—And Takes a Hit

Denny Hamlin brought some pickleball flair to the Martinsville Speedway playoff race with a decal featuring a pickleball paddle and colorful balls on his FedEx car. But while the design stood out, the race didn’t go as planned. (It hurt to watch)

💥 A Crash Near the Paddle Decal

Hamlin’s throttle stuck during practice, sending him crashing into the wall—right near the pickleball paddle decal.

✅ He avoided a head-on collision by spinning the car.

🚨 But his car was totaled, forcing him to use a backup for the race.

Hamlin managed a strong 5th-place finish, but it wasn’t enough to advance to the NASCAR Championship.

🏁 Pickleball & NASCAR: A Growing Duo

While Hamlin’s crash may have dulled his pickleball enthusiasm, the connection between the sport and NASCAR is a win:

• Hamlin and Austin Dillon are avid players, often setting up temporary courts at tracks.

• Earlier this year, PPA pros even visited Bristol Motor Speedway for some dinks and laps.

🎨 Is a Pickleball Car Next?

Hamlin’s paddle decal could be just the start. Imagine a fully-branded PPA racecar tearing up the track and snagging the checkered flag. Now that would be cool. PPA, MLP… get your wallets out and quickly.

Despite a tough result for Hamlin, this crossover shows pickleball’s growing influence—even at 200 mph.

2/ 🏆 2024 PPA Tour Finals: The Best of the Best

The 2024 PPA Tour is coming to a close, and the CIBC Finals kick off this Wednesday! Held at the breathtaking San Clemente Life Time Fitness, widely considered the top venue on the tour, this event is where the year’s best players will face off in one final showdown.

The format? Two pools per event. Players battle it out in round-robin matches, with the top two from each pool advancing to semifinals and finals. Let’s take a look at the competition.

🎯 Men’s Single

ATP Pool: Federico Staksrud, Hunter Johnson, Dylan Frazier, Jaume Martinez Vich

This pool is stacked with talent. Staksrud has been consistent all year, while Johnson has been on fire over the past two months.

Erne Pool: Ben Johns, Connor Garnett, Quang Duong, Tyson McGuffin

With Duong coming off some injuries and McGuffin facing tough competition, this pool is shaping up to be a battle between top seeds.

🎯 Women’s Singles

ATP Pool: Anna Leigh Waters, Kate Fahey, Salome Devidze, Parris Todd

All four players are at the top of their game, but Waters and Fahey are the clear favorites in this highly competitive pool.

Erne Pool: Brooke Buckner, Catherine Parenteau, Kaitlyn Christian, Mary Brascia

A weaker pool, but unpredictable. Buckner and Parenteau hold the edge with their strong seeding.

🎯 Mixed Doubles

ATP Pool: Anna Leigh Waters/Ben Johns, Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon, Meghan Dizon/James Ignatowich, Rachel Rohrabacher/Federico Staksrud

Expect intense competition for the second spot, with Waters and Johns likely dominating.

Erne Pool: Anna Bright/Gabe Tardio, Jorja Johnson/JW Johnson, Tina Pisnik/Dekel Bar, Jessie Irvine/Riley Newman

This pool will come down to consistency, with Bright/Tardio and the Johnson siblings looking to advance.

🎯 Women’s Doubles

ATP Pool: Anna Leigh Waters/Catherine Parenteau, Mary Brascia/Meghan Dizon, Jorja Johnson/Lacy Schneemann, Tina Pisnik/Parris Todd

Waters and Parenteau are the clear standouts here, with Johnson/Schneemann looking like strong contenders for the second spot.

Erne Pool: Anna Bright/Rachel Rohrabacher, Tyra Black/Allyce Jones, Callie Smith/Lucy Kovalova, Mari Humberg/Jessie Irvine

Bright and Rohrabacher should excel, but Black and Jones have developed impressive chemistry this season.

🎯 Men’s Doubles

ATP Pool: Ben Johns/Collin Johns, JW Johnson/Gabe Tardio, Dekel Bar/Christian Alshon, Riley Newman/Jaume Martinez Vich

This pool is loaded, with all teams capable of advancing. Expect Johnson/Tardio and Bar/Alshon to push the limits.

Erne Pool: Dylan Frazier/Pablo Tellez, Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin, Tyson McGuffin/Andrei Daescu, Matt Wright/James Ignatowich

With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising pairs, this pool could deliver surprises.

GOLDEN PICKLE: Your must-clicks of the week

Just a few crumbs before you go…😉

1️⃣ Turning over a new leaf: Popular tennis brand Tecnifibre partners with SixZero to come out with a power-focused pickleball paddle

2️⃣ Capitalism at its finest: President-elect Trump is selling 45-branded pickleball paddles on his store for $180.

4️⃣ Pickleball tech: The official pickleball one paddle for Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3/3s now on preorder. Feel real wind resistance while playing virtual pickleball.

5️⃣ Watch and learn: The 6 pickleball strategies 5.0 Players swear by, presented by Pickleball Playbook

6️⃣ Miss the last Pickle Talk?

Pickle Talk: Pickleball Goes Global: PPA & MLP Expand to Asia
Bite-sized: Pickleball Courts Push Mayor to Resign in P.E.I.
Golden Pickle: #1 Ben Johns teaches the secret to pickleball’s 3rd and 5th shots.

No pickle left unturned…

AND BOOM!

Just like that, another edition of The Pickle Talk has concluded.

How about another round you hungry, hungry boi?

Thanks for sticking around for another edition and hey, if you’ve enjoyed this Pickle Talk…

Go ahead and share it with a friend or 3. There’s really no reason to gate keep great pickleball content 😉

Thanks for reading!

Until next time, picklers.