Pickleball pro Kaitlyn Kerr warns of dangerous nipple injuries from serve shots

Pickleball professional Kaitlyn Kerr, known online as Pickleball Chick, issued a public warning that the sport poses a specific risk of injury to the nipple area during serves. Kerr, who describes herself as the voice of pickleball, stated that the game is dangerous for nipples and urged players to keep their paddles raised at all times to prevent such incidents.

The warning followed a video Kerr posted showing her receiving a serve to the chest while standing with her paddle down by her side. In the clip, the serving player smashed the ball toward her, and despite her attempt to avoid it, the ball struck her nipple. Kerr was shown rolling on the court in pain after the impact. She used the footage as a public service announcement to highlight the severity of the injury.

Kerr noted that she is not the only player to experience this type of trauma. Other players identified in the comments as survivors of similar incidents shared their own recollections of nipple injuries sustained on the pickleball court. These accounts underscored the frequency with which players are hit in this vulnerable area during matches.

The rise in pickleball's popularity has brought increased attention to safety concerns on neighborhood tennis courts and country clubs. While early observers predicted only minor weekend warrior injuries, reports have emerged of paddles being used as weapons and balls striking players in the eye. The recent focus on nipple injuries adds a new dimension to the safety hazards players face.

Kerr argued that an outright ban on these types of shots would not be effective because players often have extra rules that complicate enforcement. Instead, she placed the responsibility on individual players to protect themselves. She emphasized that the injuries are avoidable if players maintain proper defensive posture and keep their paddles up while waiting for serves.

The advice aims to prevent players from contemplating quitting the sport or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the pain of being struck in the nipple area. Kerr's message is direct: players must take responsibility for their own safety by maintaining vigilance during gameplay.