From Small Talk to Court Talk: How “It Reminds Me Of…” Can Level Up Your Pickleball Conversations
A simple phrase that turns sideline chatter into real connection
Some players dread the chit-chat before or after a game. Where we live is a summer vacation spot and every casual conversation seems to start with “It’s more crowded this summer than ever”. So boring. So how do you keep small talk more interesting? And better yet, why bother?
Here’s the thing: players who are good at casual conversation often build stronger pickleball friendships, find more playing partners, and feel more connected in their community. Small talk is just the warm-up—it can lead to richer exchanges about strategy, shared interests, or even lasting off-court friendships.
One of the easiest ways to keep the conversation flowing? Use the magic phrase: “It reminds me of…”
It works just like a rally—hit the ball back, but add your own spin. For example:
Them: “Man, traffic out here is worse than ever this summer.”
You:
Personal story: “It reminds me of the time I went to Yosemite and it took us 3 hours just to get into the park.”
Family: “It reminds me of my dad—he’d talk about traffic like he was a highway engineer.”
Pop culture: “It reminds me of that scene in Independence Day where everyone is stuck in traffic trying to escape the city”
See the difference? Instead of letting the conversation die with “Yep, traffic,” you’ve served up a new angle that invites them to share more.
The beauty is that “It reminds me of…” also lets you steer away from topics you’d rather avoid. If someone is stuck on a long rant about paddle weights, you can jump in with, “It reminds me of when I switched paddles last year and…”—and suddenly you’re on new ground.
Most people don’t really want to talk about the weather, the court waitlist, or how early they woke up to play. They’re just tossing out a ball for you to hit back. “It reminds me of…” is your chance to keep the rally going—and maybe even turn small talk into something that makes you look forward to post-game conversations as much as the game itself.
