Publication Date: November 1, 2024
Pickleball. Is it the ultimate therapy or a fast track to the counselor’s couch? While couples flock to the courts with dreams of shared joy, they are often quickly confronted by criticism and frustration, in other words, the reality of playing pickleball together. It’s no wonder both marriage counseling and divorce are on the rise.
Dr. Stormy Hill and Teri Citterman know the struggle. They’ve witnessed countless couples transform from sweethearts to sparring partners in the blink of an eye.
With a blend of humor and expertise, they offer couples playful and powerful strategies to master the court, have more fun, and win more points. Because, at the end of the day, it’s just pickleball. And no one wants to end up on an episode of Dateline.
Who knew that a primer on pickleball could include relationship advice?
That’s precisely what Dr. Stormy Hill and Teri Citterman set out to do with In a Pickle. The subtitle: How to Master Love and Pickleball and Not Kill Each Other foreshadows the tongue-in-cheek humor featured.
Pickleball has captured the attention of people of all ages, but for those with a competitive streak, it can uncover all sorts of opportunities for friction. The authors use real examples to emphasize the various concepts.
Divided into nine chapters, the book quickly lays out the ground rules for taking up the sport as a couple. Having fun is key since this sport can create a serious relationship stress test.
While I have never played pickleball, I found the points made by the authors to be sensible, especially for those of us hoping for longevity in our relationships.
In a Pickle celebrates couples who use pickleball to strengthen their relationships rather than tearing them apart.
Stormy Hill is a mental health therapist and relationship coach from Salt Lake City, where you can ski some of the best peaks and play pickleball all in the same day.
Teri Citterman is an executive coach from Seattle, the birthplace of pickleball, who now resides in Austin, Texas, home to some of the top pro pickleball players in the world.
We are doubles partners at the 3.5 – 4.0 level. We met in Costa Rica and found we shared a love for pickleball and for our respective partners. We realized that, sometimes, the combination of the two ignites a chemical explosion that teeters on the edge of amazement, before it plummets into a cesspool of disappointment.
We’ve experienced the pickleball highs and lows with our partners. Some days we rock the court as a relational unit to be reckoned with. Other days, our looks can kill, words can wound, and it’s not just us. We’ve witnessed this dynamic between couples at rec play, drill practice, and at camps, clinics, and tournaments. We’ve seen couples – husbands, wives, spouses, significant others, life partners, soulmates, and lovers – in conflict and losing points and faith in each other because of it.
We know the anguish and the addiction firsthand.
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