Photos: Our Readers Share Their Pickleball Tattoos

We asked, you delivered: From flaming pickleballs to one heartfelt reminder of a near-death experience, here are a few of our favorites.

Every tattoo has a story, as they say.

In our world, that can only mean one thing: Pickleball players proudly and permanently displaying their love of the sport on necks, torsos, and limbs. Like this minimalist ode to peace, love, and pickleball that recently made the rounds on Facebook.

The Dink's readers are no exception.

In a recent newsletter, we asked to see your best pickleball ink. And you delivered.

From flaming pickleballs to a sleek, silhouetted Erne, below is a collection of a few of our favorites.

'It saved my life'

While we're not here to pick favorites, there is one, pictured above, that stood out.

It was submitted by Fred Hull, and depicts an electrocardiogram with the words, "I'm alive with a little help from my friends" splayed down his entire forearm. There's also a date: March 11, 2025.

In March, Fred lost consciousness and collapsed while playing at a private facility in St. George, Utah. 911 was called immediately by a player on a nearby court.

He wasn't breathing when two fellow players, Norm Ritchie and Casey Zimmer, jumped into action.

They started CPR, and utilized the on-court automated external defibrillator, or AED, a device that can restore a normal heart rhythm by way of an electrical shock.

AEDs can be seen on the court at most professional pickleball events these days. And many recreational facilities are recognizing the importance of having them, and making players aware of their purpose, as well.

For Fred, the AED could have been the difference between life and death.

"The most important message should be to strive for AED availability at all pickleball facilities," Fred told me, "and encourage everyone to become familiar (if not trained) with CPR. It saved my life."

If you're wondering, Fred is doing fine. He's even returned to the pickleball court, and plays regularly with the people who helped save his life just a few months ago.

More pickleball tattoos from The Dink readers.