In 2014, if you asked a random American if they had ever heard of pickleball, the likely response would be no. Ten years makes a world of difference, as just about everyone has now seen, read about or played this hybrid of tennis and ping-pong that is taking the country by storm.
Pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in the United States for three years straight, and a 2023 Association of Pickleball Professionals study found that 48.3 million adult Americans (nearly 19% of the total adult population) had played pickleball at least once in the past 12 months.
If you have friends or family who are part of that 48.3 million, you may have already overheard conversations that include new phrases like “stay out of the kitchen,” “avoid pop-ups while dinking” and getting “body-bagged during a firefight” – and don’t worry, getting “body-bagged” in this instance isn’t going to result in an ambulance ride or crime scene investigation. The easiest path to unlocking the code for this secret language is to grab a paddle and head to your nearest pickleball courts to join some open-play doubles games. Don’t be intimidated about being a first-timer. Pickleball isn’t too demanding in the physical fitness realm (it’s perhaps the only sport of its stature that seniors made popular) and is known for being easy to learn, not to mention very fun, even quite addictive.
So, if you’re interested in joining the pickleball revolution, here are some essential items to get you dinking, slamming overheads, and crushing topspin drives in no time.
Quality beginner paddle
First things first – a paddle! While many first-timers opt for a group set of ultra-budget paddles, I recommend bypassing this step, as it takes just a few sessions to realize how poor-performing such paddles can be. Spend a bit more per paddle ($50-$60) to get something that will work for a beginner/intermediate player for six months to a year. Look for a paddle in the 14-16mm thickness range with a honeycomb core and, if possible, some surface grit on the face of the paddle. This will help you generate spin on the ball. Also, pay particularly close attention to how the handle feels when you hold the paddle. Handle width and length will play a big factor in how comfortable the paddle feels to you. If you have previously played tennis, a longer handle (5+ inches) will probably feel great, while those used to playing ping pong may opt for something shorter.
Outdoor vs. indoor pickleballs
If you’re going to primarily play outdoors, make sure to pick up some dedicated outdoor pickleballs. Outdoor pickleballs are generally harder than their indoor counterparts. You can tell the difference between the two by the number and size of the holes in each ball. Indoor balls have fewer but larger holes. The indoor game is generally known as being a bit slower and more dink-intensive (dinks = softer hits around the no-volley zone near the net). The harder outdoor balls have more but smaller holes, playing into a bit more of a hard-hitting game that allows drives and serves to be propelled with increased speed.
Dedicated court shoes
A handful of major shoe manufacturers have started producing footwear designed specifically for pickleball, but really any modern true-tennis shoes will generally work just as well. You can even get away with playing in cross-trainers since they are designed for stability and often feature a wider toe box – an essential feature of tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are generally designed to have good stability for lateral motions which helps prevent spraining an ankle or slipping and falling on the court. Their rubber outsoles are a higher density because tennis and pickleball courts are known for tearing through sneaker soles. The more expensive pairs are often lighter and more durable, while cheaper shoes are heavier and may wear out faster.
Overgrip and lead tape paddle tweaks
If you purchase a paddle and find that the handle grip feels a bit too slick or slim, fear not, there’s an easy remedy for this ailment – traditional tennis overgrips. Overgrips are cheap, easy to install and can work wonders for your game, especially if you tend to have sweaty hands. Additionally, if you have been playing with a paddle for a couple weeks and feel that it is a bit too light, grab some lead tape to save the day. Placing lead tape on the edge of the paddle near the low to middle sides of the paddle face will increase paddle stability and improve the paddle’s stability, while placing lead tape on the edges of the paddle near the top (or even above the paddle’s face) will increase power.
Protective eyewear
Pickleball is fast becoming a game overflowing with “bangers” – players known for teeing off on every ball sent in their direction with as much power as humanly possible. As a result, it’s no surprise that eye injuries have occurred during games. These are most often caused by very rapid rebounds, such as a ball ricocheting from a partner’s paddle into your face. Since the pickleball is pretty much just a glorified whiffleball, sunglasses are usually good enough to protect your eyes from hits. If you are playing indoors or just want a higher level of protection, impact-resistant eyewear is available. Many options even offer interchangeable lenses, and you can sometimes even find a pair that don’t look like you live on a spaceship.
Pickleball net
If your city or state has let its population down by not having ample pickleball courts available for its citizens, then you may have to go rogue and purchase your own net. Just mark some lines with chalk or tape, set up the net and you are good to go. Don’t go super-cheap on the net as you will want to be sure that a sudden gust of wind doesn’t blow it over or that it sags too much in the middle. Spring for a durable net with casters so you can roll it into place at the center of the court as opposed to the non-wheeled variety that will require constant lifting for placement once it is assembled.
Wall training pad
If, after a couple of weeks of playing, you find yourself constantly watching professional pickleball tournament clips on YouTube, and suddenly know the ins and outs of Ben Johns’ and Anna Leigh Waters’ gameplay, then you may be officially addicted to pickleball. Don’t worry, there are millions of others just like you out there, and many even utilize a clever little device that can turn an open wall in their house, garage or basement into an impromptu pickleball training facility. These wall trainers are basically posters that give you targets for dialing in specific shots. Sure, the ball popping off the wall and paddle may drive your family members/roommates/pets a bit crazy, but think how much it will improve your dinking game.
