theres a guy at my courts who grunts SO LOUD on every single shot. like tennis player level grunting. its distracting and honestly kind of annoying but i dont want to be rude about it. he seems nice otherwise. is this normal in pickleball? anyone have advice for dealing with this without making it awkward?
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We have a grunter at our courts too. Honestly I just tune it out now. Some people cant help it - its a breathing technique that actually helps them generate power. As long as its not meant to distract you (like grunting right as you hit), its fine.
wait is it cheating if they grunt when im about to hit? because that does happen sometimes
technically yes thats a distraction and against the rules. if someone consistently grunts on YOUR shot timing thats different from grunting on their own swing. one is natural, the other is gamesmanship
Grunting is super common in tennis and pickleball is getting players from that background. Its not meant to be annoying - it helps time your exhale with your swing which can improve power and consistency. Try to reframe it as part of their technique rather than something done to bother you.
At my age the grunting just tells me where the ball is going without having to watch so closely lol. I consider it helpful information. But seriously if its really bothering you, headphones with one earbud can help. Some courts allow that for recreational play.