What Pickleball Can Teach Us About PR and Communications
I never expected to find professional wisdom on a pickleball court. I started playing a couple of years ago, just for the fun of it. Somewhere between my awkward dinks and competitive rallies, I started seeing the game differently.
As someone who’s spent decades in PR and communications, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the same principles apply. What makes you a better player on the court can make you sharper, more thoughtful and more effective in how you communicate.
Here are a few lessons from the court that I think every communicator should carry with them:
1. Power Isn’t the Point
In pickleball, when I swing hard and hope for the best, the ball sails out of bounds or into the net. Same goes for PR. Flooding the zone with countless emails, posts and press releases doesn’t build credibility. Thoughtful, timely and well-placed communication does.
2. Control the Tempo with the Soft Game
Veteran players will tell you that mastering the soft game, those gentle drops and dinks, is how you win matches. It disrupts rhythm and forces intention. In PR, the soft game is knowing when not to speak, when to pause and when to choose nuance over volume. Some of the best communication is quiet but powerful.
3. Anticipation Beats Reaction
Good pickleball players don’t chase the ball, they’re already moving to where it’s going. I’m not one of them! Anticipation is everything in communications. Whether it’s spotting a potential issue before it becomes a headline or reading the room before a major launch, staying ahead gives you control. Reacting late usually means you're cleaning up a mess. Much like my partners on the pickleball court.
4. You Can’t Communicate Alone
Doubles pickleball teaches you fast: if you’re not talking to your partner, you’re in trouble. Same in PR. Success depends on alignment between teams, departments and decision-makers. You can’t run an effective campaign or navigate a crisis if people are out of sync or operating in silos.
5. Repetition Builds Rhythm
There’s something beautiful about a long rally. The back and forth, staying in it and building momentum. PR is a long game, too. You don’t build trust or reputation with one big hit. It’s the consistency of showing up, message after message that creates lasting impact.
Pickleball might be a game, but like any good game, it reveals character. It rewards strategy, patience, awareness and connection. These things all matter just as much in communications as they do on the court. And for those of us building something meaningful, it reminds us to stay nimble, stay kind and keep the rally going.
See you on the court.
