You have a pickleball addiction. You dream about it. You schedule your daily activities around it. You watch YouTube videos and instructional content — and pro matches — on the weekend. Am I right? If this struck a nerve or sounds all too familiar, we ought to talk about the balance of pickleball and life. Believe me, it is not easy. Maybe you started as a casual weekend player, and now you're sneaking in games before work, during work, after dinner, and even sometimes when you have important errands to run — groceries, mowing the lawn, or yep… CRAP, picking up your kids! You’re not alone. Pickleball has a way of becoming more than a hobby. It becomes a passion, therapy, and stress reliever — even your identity if you’re not careful.

Let me be brutally honest with you for a second. The best wins, drops, drives, and smashes can’t substitute for being present in your life outside of the court. As a father, mother, partner, friend, or professional, this is how you will be remembered — for your true character. So finding the ultimate balance between pickleball and life is crucial.

I have always sucked at juggling… Ok, well it was a unit in PE class in junior high and I was bad! Don’t worry, I have an angle here. At the beginning of my pickleball journey, I had a hard time balancing it all. My kids were young, and I thought, why not go and play and release some stress? But then I was trying to find ways to play more. I fine-tuned my skills and started entering tournaments at the highest level to test myself — first, locally, then regionally, and eventually nationally.

Now, I was not playing constantly, but enough to start missing home. I would get on that seat at the airport and scroll through baby and wifey pics. It didn’t feel right. I missed them. I started to realize — and told myself — pickleball is NOT GOING ANYWHERE. It will be around for a long time. Those moments — like first steps or first words — there’s no second chance for those. Not worth it to satisfy my own pickleball desires and goals. How do I want to be remembered? I decided to choose family.

So, how do we juggle the irresistible attraction of the pickleball court with real-world responsibilities that also deserve our energy?

1. Pickleball is a Piece of the Pie, Not the Whole Thing

It’s easy to let pickleball become the central focus of your free time — why not? It's fun, social, competitive, and great for your health. But being a great player means little if you're dropping the ball in your relationships. Seriously — you’re missing bonding time.

Solution: Set boundaries. Give yourself permission to play after you’ve put in the time at home — with your kids, your partner, or friends. Be the player who brings their best self to the court because you’ve already shown up where it matters most. And make sure the family/marriage slice is bigger than the pickleball slice of the pie.

2. Family, Relationships, and Responsibility

No one has ever looked back on life wishing they’d played one more game. If they have, well… that sucks! Yes, I am being judgmental. As you age, people regret not spending enough time with their kids, not playing at the park watching them be kids, not taking walks around the block to talk about their day, or — as I pointed out earlier — missing important life moments.

Solution: Easy! Just make time. Nike said Just Do It, right? So do it. Throw the football around, go fishing, tuck your kids in, and tell a story about when you were a kid. The times you waited for your dad to come home so you could pitch to him in the backyard, pretending it was the Dodgers vs. The Mariners in the World Series. If you have already played four times this week, do a date night instead of the round-robin tournament. The court will always be there — your kids’ childhood won’t. Create memories and traditions they might pass on to their own families.

3. Explore Other Hobbies that Spark that Same Feeling

Pickleball DOES NOT have to define you. Be well-rounded, not ONE-DIMENSIONAL. Here are some other hobbies: fishing, hiking, woodworking, playing music, reading. They might not all suit you, but I bet some will.

I’ve always told my kids, art is everywhere. Lakes, rivers, nature — look at all of the designs. Take photos and appreciate them. Go for hikes with family and capture the moments. Go kayaking and explore. Not long ago, I rediscovered my passion for fishing with my sons. I used to fish back in the Northwest where I grew up. Then life happened. Now, we fish, take photos, and release. Find a new body of water to explore. Cook new meals from a different culture — Korean BBQ and Vietnamese pho, to name a couple. Learn about the culture and food! Appreciate diversity.

Solution: Having multiple interests makes you a more well-rounded, diverse, and resilient person. It also helps you keep perspective on what’s truly important. We’re human and only on this planet for a limited time. When I first said that to myself, it felt morbid, but now it reminds me to live my life fully. Think about this scene for a sec — just to give you some perspective. A quiet morning at a new lake, casting a line, reminding you that life isn’t all about hitting a plastic ball over a net one more time. Life is so much bigger than that.

4. Bring Your Fam

Not everyone in your life will want to join you on the pickleball court. That’s just the way it is. We are all different in our likes and interests. However, if your kids are interested, play with them — even if it’s against the garage wall or in your driveway. If your partner is curious about pickleball, invite them into a game or two. Turn your passion into quality time. Just don’t make it purely about competition. You might lose them that way. Turn that switch off and help them see the beauty and fun of the sport. And, if they’re not into it? That’s ok too. Don’t force anything. Again, we are all different.

Solution: Involve your family in a way that keeps it fun and optional.

5. Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself (I couldn’t resist!)

Pickleball can easily become an addiction. Even though it’s a healthy addiction, pickleball can become priority #1. It shouldn’t — but it can.

Solution: Ask yourself:

Am I using pickleball to escape anything or anyone?
Am I missing moments with my family or friends for hours on end and often saying, ‘One more game’?
Am I still showing up fully in my relationships or just being there in a lackluster way?

Neil taking a selfie with his family outside of pickleball.

6. Schedule It

Treat pickleball like an appointment — but without the seriousness. It’s for lifelong health: social, mental, and physical. Schedule it. When you plan your week, carve out time for family first, work second, and your personal passions, like pickleball, third. The balance is already set in the calendar.

In the End…

Pickleball is the gift — sport, fun, social connection. It keeps us healthy. It introduces us to amazing people. But it’s not what defines us as a person.

Pickleball enhances your life. It’s the whipped cream on an iced mocha. It plays a part in your life, but the largest piece of that pie chart should always be the lifeline: family and relationships. Balance your hobbies and interests after those.

Don’t forget — have fun playing, but balance is the overall key to real success.

About the Author: Neil Friedenberg is a certified pickleball coach and Head of Education for Empower Pickleball. He is passionate about helping players of all levels grow their skills and confidence on the court. A lifelong player with deep roots in the sport, Neil also brings experience as a paddle company owner, blending technical expertise with a love for the game.

Can I Balance My Pickleball Addiction? It’s a Must…Or Else!