Weird Injuries Only Pickleball Players Understand (And How To Prevent Them)

Jun 12

Most sports come with their own set of classic injuries—tennis elbow, runner’s knee, sprained ankles. But step onto a pickleball court, and you quickly discover a whole new category of physical quirks that seem oddly specific to the game. These aren’t just your average strains and pulls. We're talking about the kind of injuries only a pickleball player can truly appreciate (or dread).

From inexplicably sore calves after a day of dinking to mystery bruises you didn’t notice until the shower, these oddball ailments are part of the territory. The good news? Most of them are completely preventable—if you know what to watch out for.

1. Pickleball Elbow (Yes, It’s A Thing)

You’ve heard of tennis elbow—but what about its paddle-based cousin? Pickleball elbow is a form of lateral epicondylitis caused by repetitive stress on the tendons in your forearm. The lighter paddle and faster wrist action in pickleball can make it sneakier than tennis elbow, but just as painful.

Prevention Tips:

Warm up with dynamic stretches and wrist rolls.
Use proper technique—don’t over-rely on flicking your wrist.
Consider a paddle with more forgiveness or shock absorption.
Strengthen your grip and forearm with simple resistance exercises.

2. "The Pickleball Toe"

You sprint for a shot, stop short, and boom—your big toe slams into the front of your shoe. A few hours later, it’s swollen and throbbing. This micro-trauma, sometimes dubbed pickleball toe, can cause bruised nails or even lead to black toenails over time.

Prevention Tips:

Make sure your shoes have enough toe room and proper lateral support.
Trim your toenails short—seriously.
Choose court shoes with reinforced toe boxes.

3. The “I Got Dinked” Knee

It sounds funny until it happens to you. The dinking crouch—that half-squat shuffle near the kitchen—can be brutal on your knees if you're not used to it. Add in quick lateral movements, and you’ve got a recipe for aches, strains, and the occasional “why can’t I walk today?” moment.

Prevention Tips:

Strengthen your quads, hamstrings, and glutes with squats and lunges.
Don’t lock your knees when dinking—stay loose and reactive.
Use knee braces or compression sleeves if you have a history of issues.

4. Paddle Whiplash

It happens fast: your partner suddenly moves, your swing stalls mid-air, and your body tries to stop everything at once. Cue paddle whiplash—a jolt through the shoulder or neck that can leave you sore for days.

Prevention Tips:

Communicate constantly with your doubles partner.
Avoid overreaching into your partner’s zone.
Strengthen shoulder and neck muscles with resistance bands or light weights.

5. Bruised Shins (From… Yourself?)

This one’s embarrassing: a rogue paddle backswing, a misjudged drop shot, or a poorly timed pivot—and you clip yourself in the shin. Self-inflicted bruises are surprisingly common and often go unnoticed until you see them later and wonder what on earth happened.

Prevention Tips:

Stay balanced and grounded—rushed footwork often causes accidental contact.
Practice footwork drills to improve agility and control.
Wear longer socks or light shin guards if you’re prone to close-quarters mishaps.

6. Wrist Snap Fatigue

Unlike tennis, pickleball often rewards quick wrist flicks. But over time, this leads to wrist fatigue, especially if your grip or paddle weight isn’t ideal. It can escalate into tendonitis if left unchecked.

Prevention Tips:

Use a relaxed grip—gripping too tightly puts excess strain on your wrist.
Experiment with paddle weights to find the sweet spot for your playstyle.
Add rest days if you play multiple days in a row.

Play Smart, Play Long

Pickleball might look deceptively gentle at first glance, but anyone who’s spent a weekend playing knows it demands more from the body than expected. These weird little injuries might be part of the charm, but they don't have to derail your game.

By dialing in your technique, investing in the right gear, and respecting your body’s signals, you can keep strange aches and pains at bay—and stay on court doing what you love.

Because let’s face it: the only thing weirder than these injuries... is how addictive pickleball has become.