The Pickleball Walk of Shame
There’s a unique moment in every pickleball match that no one talks about enough.
You just lost a point. Maybe it was a body bag, maybe a brutal overhead, or a sharp cross-court angle that made your paddle feel like a pool noodle.
Whatever it was, it was definitely not your proudest moment.
But the real insult? The ball didn’t just bounce out of bounds.
It sailed.
Right into someone else’s court, maybe even across three of them.
And now... You have to go get it.
Welcome to what I lovingly call: The Pickleball Walk of Shame.
Traditionally, the “walk of shame” conjures up an image of someone tiptoeing home in last night’s clothes after a questionable decision and a night of zero sleep.
In pickleball? The clothing's sportier, the choices are more strategic (sort of), but the emotional arc is eerily similar.
Regret? ✔️
Self-judgment? ✔️
Trying not to make eye contact with strangers as you retrieve your errant ball from between their feet? ✔️✔️
According to unwritten pickleball etiquette (which is somehow more binding than real rules), the person closest to the ball must go after it. No matter who missed the shot. No matter who hit the ungettable lob.
You stood nearest. You go fetch. You are now the Chosen One.
Chosen to feel all your feelings as you jog across court lines and silently vow to never attempt that tweener again.
The Psychology of the Shame Walk
What makes the Pickleball Walk of Shame so emotionally potent?
It’s the combination of:
Just having lost the point (likely due to a poor shot or bad decision),
Now being physically removed from your team/pod while you retrieve the ball,
And walking back under the imagined (or real) gaze of every other player on the courts, holding The Ball of Your Failure™.
It’s like your own personal walk of reflection... in your Hokas.
How to Survive (and Maybe Even Win) the Walk
Now, I’m a Mental Caddie, so I’m legally obligated to drop a mindset tool in here.
So let’s reframe this moment:
Treat the walk as a reset.
You’ve got 10–15 seconds to breathe, remember why you play this game, and return to the court grounded, not grumpy.Use a PQ rep. (See here if this doesn’t sound familiar)
Feel your paddle in your hand. Wiggle a toe in your shoe. Count your breaths. (For at least 10 seconds.)Smile like you meant to do that.
Confidence is powerful. Own it. Maybe even thank the other court for safeguarding your ball.
In Conclusion (or Confession)
If you've never done the Pickleball Walk of Shame, you're either new or a liar.
We’ve all been there.
And we’ll all be there again, probably in the next game.
So next time you find yourself trudging across unfamiliar court territory, shoulders slightly slumped, cradling your rogue Franklin ball, just remember: You're not alone. You're just playing rec pickleball. Badly. But bravely.
And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful.
Cheers,
Lauren
P.S.
Want to learn how to bounce back mentally (and physically) faster after shots like these?
That’s what Mental Caddie Coaching is for. We can’t stop you from missing. But we can help you recover like a pro.