An agent stopped a traveler as she went through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at the airport. The woman was shocked when she realized that her pickleball paddle got her flagged.
Charissa Enget (@lifeofcharissa) holds her carry-on backpack just outside of the security checkpoint in a viral TikTok with over 610,000 views.
“TSA pulled my bag, and the guy pulled this out of it,” she says, showing her Joola pickleball paddle.
She says the agent asked her what the paddle is for, and she explained that it’s for pickleball. However, the man hadn’t heard of the popular new sport, which raised his suspicions.
“He’s like, ‘I just don’t know if you can take this through or if it could be used as a weapon or not,'” she recounts.
Enget says she then joked to the agent, “It could be used as a weapon of mass destruction on the pickleball court.” She says he didn’t find it funny.
Luckily, another TSA agent spotted the pickleball paddle and explained to the other that it’s a legitimate sport.
“They let me through,” she shares. “I’ve never had my pickleball paddle be an issue before.”
The caption reads, “I was NOT leaving without my pickleball paddle, tho it was more expensive than the Spirit flight.” Joola pickleball paddles can cost up to $300, according to the retailer’s website.
Can You Bring A Pickleball Paddle Through TSA?
With pickleball’s popularity growing rapidly in America, many “picklers” travel on airplanes out of state to competitions. Many first-time traveling picklers question whether they’ll have an issue taking the paddle in their carry-on or checked baggage.
In a post on the r/Pickleball subreddit, travelers shared mixed experiences going through TSA with their paddle.
“We got through SLC with paddles. They did pull our bag aside and check everything, so it took a few more minutes going through security,” one shared.
Another wrote, “3 of us just did. 1 was asked to show it and was fine. Other 2 had no question. Different inspection stations…”
“I brought two with me in my backpack a week ago on a round trip flight and didn’t even give it thought, and neither did TSA,” a third said.
In an email to BroBible, Enget says that she’s never had an issue with travelling with the paddle.
“I travel everywhere with my pickleball paddle,” she writes. “I’ve taken it probably on 50 flights before.”
According to the TSA’s website, pickleball paddles can be packed in carry-on and checked baggage. However, agents have discretion over what they choose to allow through and may conduct an extra examination of the paddles if they find them suspicious.
What Did Viewers Think Of Her Response?
In the comments, other travelers say she got lucky after joking with the TSA agent, advising her not to do it again if questioned about the paddles.
“Never make jokes [to] TSA agents. It’s not worth it! At customs, I was asked if I had any food in my bag. I laughed ‘just breath mints’ She rolled her eyes and sent me to the inspection line,” one shared.
“Yeah, you never joke with the TSA guy,” another suggested.
Others shared the bizarre items that TSA flagged in their luggage.
“I had my weighted yoga eye pillow flagged… they thought the buckwheat was an explosive…,” one commenter wrote.
“You should’ve seen the looks when I took my bowling ball on the plane,” a second recounted.
Another added, “My cousin got her camera stick taken cause they said same thing could be a weapon ???? like what ???”
@lifeofcharissae I was NOT leaving without my pickleball paddle tho it was more expensive than the Spirit flight 😂 the other TSA agent came thru for me 😤 #travel #pickleball #pickleballtiktok #pickleballaddict #solotravel
BroBible reached out to TSA via email for further comment.