Pickleball Etiquette & Style: Serving Up Southern Charm on and off the Court

August 2025 • Evie Beasley

If you have ever stepped onto a pickleball court and thought, “Bless their hearts, but someone needs to teach these folks how to play nice and look cute doing it,” you are not alone, sugar.

Coming from the tennis world where etiquette and elegance reigned supreme, I have brought a little of that southern polish with me to the pickleball court. But do not worry. We are not talking stuffy tradition. We are talking fun, flair, and just enough decorum to make your mama proud and your opponents wish they had your finesse.

Here is how to play with grace, grit, and good get-up.

🎯 1. Look the Part: Fashion That Works as Hard as You Do

Pickleball is not a fashion show, but let us be real. If I am chasing down a third shot drop, I am doing it in a Good Get skirt that moves with me and makes me feel like I have my life together, even if my partner just poached a dink into the net.

The golden rule is simple: Function first, flair a close second.

• Good Get skirts are my go-to. Flowy without flying up, high-waisted for support, and available in colors that pop without screaming “80s aerobics.”

• Pair it with a breathable top, stylish visor, and court shoes that whisper "athletic goddess" instead of "just came from a power walk."

• Add charm with a wristband, a delicate necklace that will not swing into your serve, or matching paddle grips. It is the little things, y’all.

🤝 2. Mind Your Manners (and Your Feet!)

Let us talk court etiquette. This is not Wimbledon, but that does not mean it is dodgeball recess either.

• Say “good game” like you mean it. Even if you got smoked. Because the fact of the matter is, if you're out there playing pickleball (win or lose) you're livin' right.

• Do not walk behind someone’s court mid-point. You would not walk in front of a church choir mid-hymn, would you?

• Watch your volume. A little whoop is great, but there is a fine line between fired-up and feral.

• And yes, please call the ball clearly. Yelling “YOURS!” while both of y’all watch it drop is not helping anyone’s doubles game.

🥃 3. Southern Hospitality Does Not Stop at the Net

Winning is sweet, but being invited back to play again is even sweeter.

Offer to rotate in a new player, share your sunscreen, and avoid hogging the court like it is the last deviled egg at a church potluck. This sport is about connection just as much as competition.

After the match, keep the charm flowing:

• Invite your court crew for a post-play sip, whether it is a chilled rosé, a whiskey sour, or a sparkling water with lime.

• Compliment someone’s paddle, skirt, or serve. Even if your partner whiffed a lob, a little kindness goes a long way.

Final Serve: Style and Spirit Go Hand in Hand

Pickleball is the people’s sport. It is for grandpas with killer spins, college kids with quick feet, and women like us who are competitive, charming, and stylish as all get-out.

So next time you lace up, remember: Serve with power, return with grace, and always dress like you might be invited to brunch after.

Yours in dinks, drinks, and good skirts,
Evie Beasley
Good Get Ambassador | Former Tennis Queen | Pickleball’s Southern Sass