We asked the experts for their picks for the best pickleball paddles, balls, running shoes and more to improve your game as a beginner
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All the best pickleball gear for beginners
What to wear to play pickleball
Everything else you should know about pickleball
What is pickleball?
How do you play pickleball?
Does pickleball count as a workout?
Maybe it was the contrarian in me, or maybe just the tennis player, but I must confess that I spent years dissing pickleball during its meteoric rise. When I finally decided to give up my grinching and try the sport I had derided as “mini tennis”, I discovered what I’d been missing.
Learning how to play was fun, simple and affordable. I began my journey with a beginner class at Court 16, a New York-based indoor tennis and pickleball club where I started working with coach Dylan DeBiase, assistant director of tennis.
“Pickleball is simply a great way to explore a thriving and growing community of all ages,” DeBiase told me. “It’s an awesome way to meet people and engage in healthy activity.”
While pickleball doesn’t require much gear, the right equipment can not only improve your game, it can prevent injuries and keep you coming back. I consulted DeBiase and a few other professionals for their suggestions on the basic gear that beginner players need to join the party. Here are their recommendations, along with some personal favorites.
It should be no surprise that the right paddle is the next priority on our experts’ list. “When choosing a paddle, prioritize a weight and grip size that feels comfortable and doesn’t require excessive force to control, especially if you’re a beginner or prone to arm injuries,” says Gallucci Jr. “I recommend trying several paddles with different weights and grip sizes, paying close attention to how your arm feels during and after play.”
Luckily, there’s not much discussion on which balls to use. “The ball of choice is the Franklin Sports X-40,” Heller says. “It is the official outdoor play ball and is used in the US Open of Pickleball.”
Though it may not be the first thing you think about, nearly every expert I spoke with put the right footwear at the top of their list for beginners. “Movement is everything in pickleball. Running shoes are built for straight-line movement. Pickleball is lateral, quick and reactive,” says Daniel Gottfried, a Canadian National Pickleball League Champion, coach, and co-founder of Ontario Pickleball Academy (OPA). “Court shoes are designed for side-to-side support and stability.”
Don’t sleep on protecting your eyes during play. “You are only 14 ft away from players hitting a hard ball,” says Gottfried. “Deflections happen. Sometimes it even comes off your partner’s paddle. Solid eye protection is smart at every level.”
After you have all the essentials, you’ll probably want a stylish way to carry them.
If you’re going to play pickleball, you may as well look good doing it.
Pickleball is a popular racket sport that mixes tennis, badminton and table tennis. As you’ve seen above, it requires simple equipment: a hard paddle and plastic ball. It is played on a 44ft long court (roughly half the size of a standard tennis court).
Originating in the 1960s, the game has unique rules compared to other racket sports. Unlike tennis, pickleball players can only serve underhand. The court is also about half the size of a standard tennis court, decreasing the distance you have to travel to return a shot. To increase rally time, players must adhere to the double bounce rule when returning a serve. The scoring system is also different, as pickleball games are played to 11 points, whereas tennis games are played to four points, although you must win by two points in both games.
Yes! Pickleball is an aerobic exercise that can improve your balance, flexibility and strength.
Lauren Gould contributed additional research
