It's no secret Matthew Perry loved pickleball ... but now we're learning the game also helped him tremendously in his recovery from drug abuse.
The "Friends" actor played pickleball religiously at Riviera Country Club near his L.A. area home -- and he even had a personal coach, Matt Manasse.
Manasse told People magazine ... Perry used the game as a tool to keep him away from drugs and on the straight and narrow.
"He thought it was something that could help in his recovery and he was doing an awesome job," Manasse said.