Pickleball is tennis’s more approachable, laid-back cousin — and its popularity is skyrocketing in the world of outdoor activities, with participation in the sport nearly doubling in 2022. Whether you’re drawn to the trendy game to meet new people, get in shape or both, our expert-backed guide to the best pickleball paddles and balls will have you serving at the court faster than you think.
“Typically, a new player can be rallying within a half hour,” says Ajay Pant, the former vice president of racquet sports at Life Time, one of the largest operators of pickleball courts in the US.
And though beginners can get comfortable while trying out the loaner equipment found at most pickleball facilities, they’ll eventually need their own paddle and balls. “Because the court is smaller, the paddle is shorter and lighter than a tennis racquet, and the ball is made out of plastic, so it’s very easy to learn and control for most people starting out,” says Ernie Medina Jr., a member of the USA Pickleball Board of Directors.
Thankfully, the gear in our guide won’t break the bank. A sturdy, lightweight paddle starts at about $60, and pickleballs run about $2 to $3 each (and they last longer than tennis balls).
But before we dive into the gear, we’ll give you an overview of one of America’s fastest-growing sports.
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a two- to four-player racket sport that borrows from badminton, Ping-Pong and tennis. That makes a lot of sense once you realize that the game was improvised back in 1965 when two friends — Joel Pritchard, a Washington State congressman, and Bill Bell, a businessman — couldn’t find badminton rackets at Pritchard’s home. Using their creativity, they reached for the next best thing: Ping-Pong paddles. The game they created was such a success that they introduced the idea to friend Barney McCallum who helped finalize the rules.
Two years later, Pritchard’s friend Bob O’Brien erected the first pickleball court. The game spread from there, with the first pickleball tournament debuting in 1976, around a year after the sport was featured in National Observer. “Stifle the snickering,” the article reads. “Pickleball isn’t funny. It’s fun — green ball and all.”
What are the rules of pickleball?
Think of pickleball like a relaxed version of tennis. As with the more popular racket sport, you play a game of singles or doubles where one player serves a ball over a net to the diagonally opposite court. The serving player has to either hit the ball underhand or after a bounce. The first two shots of the rally, including the serve, must bounce before you return them.
Following the serve, the players rally until someone faults, whether that’s hitting the ball out of bounds, hitting the ball into the net or letting the ball bounce twice. During the rally phase of the game, all shots in the lines are in, and volleying the ball (hitting it before it bounces) is acceptable.
If the returning team loses a rally, then the serving team scores. If the serving team faults, the other team doesn’t score; rather, the ball moves to the next player. In doubles, you’d pass the ball to your partner, and once they fault, the ball would move on to the opposing team. In singles, the serve would move to the opponent. To put it simply, only the serving team can score. You continue that back and forth until a team reaches 11 points, winning by two.
Still lost? Medina suggests checking USA Pickleball’s Ambassador directory to find a free introductory lesson. “USA Pickleball, the national governing body of pickleball in the USA, has almost 2,000 Ambassadors all over the USA. Their mission is to help grow the sport of pickleball in their area, and one of those duties includes helping teach newcomers how to play,” he says.
The best pickleball paddles for beginners
A few factors play a role in choosing a pickleball paddle, according to David Dutrieuille, Life Time’s national pickleball director. In addition to budget, you’ll want to consider your athletic background in terms of racket sports as well as feel and quality of the paddle itself. Though a good, sturdy, lightweight starter paddle can cost you around $60 to $80, you may want to splurge on something that will more easily take you into your pickleball future.
“A beginner might not be able to tell the difference between a $50 paddle and a $300 paddle, but a more experienced player definitely can,” Medina says.
Here are some expert picks, no matter what price range you decide on.
Best pickleball paddles to start playing
For the lower price, Dutrieuille appreciates that the Joola Essentials paddle has a solid feel. It also comes with a padded grip for better shock protection and a well-respected name that he says is supported by the pros.
This lightweight Gamma pickleball paddle has a smaller paddle face for faster hand speed, and Pant likes it because it's extra durable as well as affordable. The Dart is also approved by the USAPA for sanctioned tournament play.
Pant suggests this budget racket because of the grips that prevent your hands from slipping while you play. Plus, the Echo Team’s longer handle lets you more easily work on that backhand, while a bumper guard lets you swing safely away.
Not only does this good-looking pickleball paddle come in nine bright patterns but its forgiving carbon fiber core and edge guard makes it extra responsive for beginners, even when you don’t hit the ball right in the middle of the racket. A unique helix grip also helps optimize your hand positioning on the paddle.?
Mid-range pickleball paddles
Dan Santorum, president and CEO of the Professional Pickleball Registry, thinks the Selkirk Halo is a great paddle for players just getting started. “It has a raw carbon face, is really forgiving and is reasonably priced,” he says.
Dutrieuille likes this Invikta Amped paddle because its shape allows for maximum reach while not compromising on balance. As an added bonus, each Selkirk paddle is also backed by a lifetime warranty.
Premium pickleball paddles
Dutrieuille likens swinging the Black Ace Pro to driving a Lamborghini — giving all levels of players more power, speed and finesse. “With some of the industry's highest-quality carbon fiber combined with vibration-dampening technology, this paddle left me in awe,” he says.
The best pickleball balls for beginners
When choosing the best pickleball ball, it’s important to consider where you’ll be playing. Indoor balls are crafted from softer plastic for longer life and have larger holes for a higher bounce. Outdoor balls, on the other hand, are made out of harder plastic with smaller holes, which make them better for quicker play but also easier to break.
“Both are constructed differently; even though you could use either ball anywhere, they are best suited for the location they are created for,” Medina says.
Best indoor pickleball balls
These balls are a favorite at indoor recreational pickleball courts, according to Medina, mainly because they last an extremely long time and cost less. You can nab a 12-pack for under $35
Best outdoor pickleball balls
These Dura Fast 40 pickleballs are heavier, at nearly 1 full ounce, which means they stay steady even in windy weather and tend to play faster — both of which are important aspects for outdoor play. However, Medina also points out that they are made of more brittle plastic and tend to break faster.
How to choose the best pickleball shoes, nets and more
When it comes to other pickleball gear, Medina and Pant agree that though it may not be first on your mind, shoes are an important consideration. “The biggest concern is cross-training/running shoes. Do not wear these for pickleball,” says Pant.
“Running shoes are not designed for side-to-side movement, and many people end up rolling an ankle,” adds Medina, who believes a good pair of shoes, like the K Swiss Express Light pickleball shoes, is akin to cheap health insurance.
And for anyone thinking about setting up a pickleball court in a basement, driveway, backyard or wherever you may roam, it may be worth picking up a portable net like the Rally Deluxe Portable Net System (on sale for $165), though Pant suggests using caution tape strung between two chairs before investing.??
Now get out there and play pickleball
Can anyone learn to play? Sure can.
Although it’s easy enough to find videos online or pick up a copy of “Pickleball for Dummies,” Ernie Medina thinks learning in-person is best. If you don’t have time to connect with an Ambassador or get a lesson from a knowledgeable friend, working with a certified coach is a quick way to learn correctly.
“Professional Pickleball Registry has a directory of certified coaches that allows someone to search for a certified coach nearest them. Other certification organizations such as IPTPA or PCI have similar directories or contact info to their coaches,” he says. “Most facilities that have pickleball courts (clubs, wellness centers, gyms, etc.) will also have certified instructors that can get you started the right way.”
And when you’re ready to find a court near you, Santorum suggests checking out the Official USA Pickleball Places 2 Play website, which lets you search by city, state, zip code or location name.
It’s also important to warm up before you play to avoid basic injuries. It may be a smaller court, but you’ll still want to get your heart rate going before you start swinging.
“Warm up and prepare your body through dynamic stretching before you play (arm circles, squats, lunges, monster kicks, lateral shuffle, balance exercises),” Pant says. “You need to warm up all the major muscles you will use while playing.” He also suggests cooling down with static stretches after playing.
Vive le pickleball!
