Local Man Discovers Loophole in Pickleball Rules: Simply Lie About Everything
Chu's innovative 'just call it out' strategy propels him and Carlos to 11-9, 11-9 victory over bewildered opponents
Final Score
Best of 2 •11-9, 11-9
In a display of what legal experts are calling "technically not illegal if nobody stops you," Chu and Carlos defeated Quinn and Eddie 11-9, 11-9 at a 4.0+ DUPR event in the Quad Cities Tuesday, employing a bold new tactical approach: systematic dishonesty.
Both games reached 9-9 before Chu unveiled his secret weapon-declaring balls that landed demonstrably in-bounds to be out. Multiple times. "I've studied the rules extensively," Chu explained after the match, "and nowhere does it say you have to tell the truth about where the ball landed. That's just something people assume."
Eddie, still processing what he'd witnessed, stood at the net post-match with the hollow stare of someone questioning their understanding of objective reality. "I watched the ball hit six inches inside the line," he said quietly. "We made eye contact. He called it out. Then he did it again on match point."
Quinn was more philosophical about the loss. "You know what? I respect the commitment to the bit. Most people cheat once, feel guilty, and stop. Chu went back-to-back with it. That takes conviction."
Carlos, Chu's doubles partner, declined to comment on the line-calling strategy, though witnesses report he spent most of the second game studying his paddle with the intense focus of someone pretending not to notice a crime in progress.
Tournament officials confirmed they received complaints but noted that in recreational pickleball, players make their own line calls. "The system assumes good faith," said one organizer, laughing the desperate laugh of someone who's lost all faith in humanity. "Bold of us, really."
At press time, Chu was seen browsing Amazon for darker sunglasses, reportedly telling a friend they'd help him "see the lines better."