For months, Twila Adams showed up at West Charlotte Recreation Center with a ball machine and nobody to play against.
As programs resumed after pandemic closures, the pickleball crowd hadn’t returned. A staff member apologized that she was the only one there. Adams wasn’t bothered. She had an indoor court, a chance to practice, and somewhere she wanted to be.
“Well, I got my ball machine,” she told him. “If you just keep it open, I’ll practice.”
Eventually, other people started showing up. The program added days. Adams helped secure equipment and welcomed beginners who needed someone to slow the game down. Today, she says that group has grown to more than 30 people.
It’s one example of how the Army veteran, adaptive athlete, and author approaches pickleball: keep showing up, enjoy the game, and help someone else get started.
Now, through two books, she’s sharing the experiences that brought her here. Her latest, It’s Called Pickleball Ya’ll, explores the sport that became her happy place and the community she found along the way.
When I sat down with Adams, I wanted to hear about the books and the experiences behind them. Over the next hour, we talked about everything from learning tennis without knowing how to keep score to why she wishes more pickleball players would slow the game down. She was thoughtful, funny, and clear about what matters to her: enjoying the life she has and helping other people do the same.
From Army Veteran to Adaptive Athlete
When a recreational therapist first suggested the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Adams had questions. Starting with what, exactly, she was supposed to do there.
“I don’t play sports. I’m a nerd,” she recalled telling the therapist.
Adams served in the Army until 1991 and sustained a spinal cord injury in a 1994 car accident. Using a large scooter and living with limited hand function and chronic pain, she struggled to picture traveling to a sporting event. But the chance to reconnect with other veterans convinced her to go.
At her first Games in 2002, she watched athletes with a wide range of disabilities compete using adaptive equipment. The experience opened up possibilities she hadn’t considered.
She began trying sports, eventually finding her way to wheelchair tennis. Learning was slow. Holding the racket was a challenge, and she says it took a year just to get the ball over the net.
Still, she kept practicing. She even entered her first tennis tournament before she knew how to keep score, asking her opponent to help her figure out where to serve.
She wanted to play. She could learn the rest.
How Twila Adams Discovered Pickleball
Adams discovered pickleball in 2019 at a spinal cord injury camp where she was serving as a mentor.
The smaller court and chance to play indoors year-round caught her attention. After practicing tennis outside in all kinds of weather, that sounded pretty good. She also appreciated the game’s emphasis on placement and finesse while managing the demands on her shoulder.
Back home in Charlotte, she researched places to play and started showing up. She later became a USA Pickleball ambassador and began introducing others to the sport.
These days, Adams works with coaches, practices her game, and helps beginners get comfortable on the court. She also wants to enjoy herself.
“I had the opportunity to play,” she said, describing how she approaches a game, even when she loses.
That doesn’t mean she isn’t competitive. She’ll happily make you work for the next point. She just doesn’t want an argument over a line call taking up the time she could spend playing.
The Story Behind It’s Called Pickleball Ya’ll
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing Adams talk about how she likes to play. She loves a patient rally, a well-placed drop, and a chance to work her way to the net. Ask her about players who want to smack every ball, though, and you’ll get a pretty direct answer.
“Man, come on. You’re wearing my shoulder out,” she recalled telling them.
Sometimes, she lets a ball go and offers a simple “Good shot.” When someone protests that she didn’t even try, she has an answer ready.
“I did push a little bit.”
That back-and-forth helped inspire It’s Called Pickleball Ya’ll. She found herself reminding players that they were playing pickleball, not tennis. The unusual spelling of “Ya’ll” is intentional, too.
Adams remembers being the person who needed an invitation and a little patience. She wants to offer that to someone else.
“Just let me go out and help someone who feels overwhelmed,” she said. “Slow the game down a little bit.”
Twila Adams’ Books About Adaptive Sports and Pickleball
Adams first thought about writing a book in 2012, while learning tennis. She wanted to share the challenges of starting a sport, hearing discouraging comments, and figuring out how to keep going.
Publishing costs and expectations about length initially put the project out of reach. She wanted to tell her story in a way that felt natural to her.
The first book finally came out in 2024 with help from a longtime friend who had opened a publishing company. It focuses on those early experiences in sports.
Her second book, released in 2026, turns toward pickleball. Both books invite readers to reflect on their own experiences through affirmations and dedicated space for journaling.
Playing tournaments where she was the only wheelchair player helped shape the second book. Adams wanted other adaptive players, particularly fellow veterans, to see that there could be a place for them in the pickleball community.
She also hoped that someone watching her might think of a friend or family member who would enjoy playing—and invite them.
Book royalties help support her travel, too. As Adams explained, even a small amount can put gas in the tank or contribute toward a flight.
Helping Beginners Find Their Place in Pickleball
Her advice to someone considering pickleball is practical: call ahead, ask about beginner sessions, and give yourself permission to learn.
For facilities, she wants welcoming programs backed by spaces people can actually use, including accessible bathrooms. For players, she encourages patience and realistic expectations. Watching a professional hit a shot doesn’t mean you’ll walk onto the court and pull it off immediately.
What stayed with me most was how she talked about being seen. Adams appreciates people’s kindness, but she pushed back on the idea that simply showing up in her wheelchair should be treated as something extraordinary. She’s there because she wants to play, improve, and have a good time.
“I’m just living every day, and this is the choice I made,” Adams said.
Pickleball is the choice that brings her joy. For someone reading her books, that might be a different sport, a garden, or another activity they’ve been hesitant to try.
“Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to thrive in this life we’ve been given.”
For Adams, there are still games to play, drops to practice, and beginners to welcome. She plans to keep showing up.
“I’m just me, having fun enjoying life until life is no more,” Adams said. “And I hope that in my life someone will be encouraged to just go outside, take a deep breath, and appreciate what we do have.”
