Professional pickleball stars Parris Todd and Hunter Johnson recently shared their best advice for couples looking to enjoy the sport together. The pair, who both won gold medals at the PPA Tour Proton Tucson Open on Sunday, also starred in a Michelob Ultra Super Bowl commercial alongside Catherine O’Hara and Willem Dafoe.
Todd and Johnson, despite recalling different versions of how they met, have developed a strong bond on and off the court. Their experience playing together has helped them navigate competition challenges while strengthening their relationship.
Insights from the Champions
The couple offered several key tips for romantic partners who play pickleball together. Their advice includes the importance of communication, managing competitiveness, and balancing emotions.
“The better relationships you can have on a team, the better it is for everyone. The fact that we were so close … the communication was there.” – (todd)
Johnson emphasized the need to keep things lighthearted, saying,
“Don’t get too competitive and have fun. It’s light-hearted stuff! You shouldn’t kill each other (although you could) but just look at the positives, communicate and just enjoy the sport that we all love.” – (Johnson)
Managing Emotions and Communication
Playing as a couple can come with challenges, but Todd and Johnson stress the importance of handling disagreements effectively.
“We do a good job of hiding it when sometimes maybe we do quickly bicker, but we try to move on quickly from that as much as we can because you don’t want it to fester.” – (Johnson)
Johnson also described how their personalities balance each other out on the court.
“I like to be the emotionally neutral part of the relationship – she might snap a couple times … if you see her on court she’s pretty fierce, which is a very good thing – but if you’re on the wrong side of that it could be a little dangerous.” – (Johnson)
Keeping the Game Fun
One strategy the couple uses is occasionally playing with different partners to keep things fresh.
“We’re together all the time, so we try to mix it up and play with other people. Sometimes just to break it up (is helpful) because we feel like when we have a little bit of that separation and then we come back together we appreciate each other more.” – (todd)
At the end of the day, they agree that relationships should come before the game.
“At the end of the day it’s a sport that we play. Even though it’s a career, there’s things that are bigger – relationships are more important than just a game.” – (todd)
News in Brief: Parris Todd and Hunter Johnson
Parris Todd and Hunter Johnson shared their tips for playing pickleball with a romantic partner. Their advice includes staying positive, communicating well, and balancing emotions. The couple, who both won gold at the PPA Tour Proton Tucson Open, also appeared in a Michelob Ultra Super Bowl commercial.
ALSO READ: Parris Todd’s Super Bowl Surprise – How Pickleball Landed a Spot in Michelob Ultra’s Ad 2025!
