Welcome to the fastest-growing sport in America. The good news: pickleball is one of the cheapest sports to start, and you can be playing real games within a week. Here's exactly what you need — and just as importantly, what you don't.
Also from us Your first 10 hours of pickleball → Most people overthink the start. Here's what actually happens — hour by hour — between picking up a paddle and feeling like a real player.
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If you only buy 3 things to start:
Don't buy a $200 paddle yet. Beginner paddles in the $60-90 range are genuinely good, and you won't be able to tell the difference until you've played 20-30 games. Spend less now, then upgrade once you know what you actually like — heavier vs. lighter, more power vs. more control.
Borrow before you buy if you possibly can. Most public courts have a few people happy to lend a paddle for a game. Five minutes of holding a real paddle tells you more than an hour of reading reviews.
Indoor and outdoor balls are different. Outdoor balls are harder with smaller holes; indoor balls are softer with larger holes. Buy for where you'll actually play. Most beginners play outdoors, so start there.
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Your paddle is the one piece of gear that genuinely affects how you play, but not as much as the marketing wants you to believe. For your first paddle, you want something forgiving (a larger sweet spot), mid-weight (around 7.8-8.2 oz), and with a comfortable grip. Almost any paddle from a real brand in the $60-100 range will do this. The differences between mid-tier paddles are real but small — small enough that you should not agonize over the choice.
A few common shapes, each making a different trade.
Forgiving, balanced. The default starter shape.
Best for Beginners, dink-heavy play, most recreational players
Tradeoff Slightly less reach than elongated
↓ See our pickMore reach, more power, smaller sweet spot.
Best for Taller players, singles, drive-heavy play
Tradeoff Smaller sweet spot means more mishits while you adjust
↓ See our pickSplits the difference. The "I don't know yet" pick.
Best for Players unsure between standard and elongated
Tradeoff Compromise pick — never best in class for either reach or forgiveness
Selkirk is one of the most respected names in pickleball, and the Rev Core is a solid starter from their lineup. Generous sweet spot, comfortable grip, and a price point that won't sting if you decide to upgrade later. It's the paddle we'd hand a friend on day one.
Watch out for: If you have small hands, check the grip circumference — Selkirk paddles tend to run slightly large.
See on Amazon →Under $50 and surprisingly competent. The fiberglass face gives you decent power, and the honeycomb core is standard for the category. Not as refined as the Selkirk, but if you're not yet sure pickleball will stick, this is the smart way in.
See on Amazon →When you're ready to spend real money, this is where most players land. Carbon fiber face, elongated shape for reach, and the paddle of the world's #1 player. Wait until you've played for a few months before pulling the trigger — and your game will tell you whether you want power or control.
Watch out for: Elongated paddles trade sweet-spot size for reach. If you're missing the ball off the tip, this isn't the shape for you.
See on Amazon →Pickleballs are cheap and they crack — plan on replacing them. Outdoor balls (harder, 40 small holes) are what you'll need for most public courts. Indoor balls (softer, 26 larger holes) are for gym floors. Buy a 6-pack to start; you'll lose two and crack one within a month.
The X-40 is the official ball of USA Pickleball and the de facto standard at public courts and tournaments. Consistent flight, durable enough, and you'll be playing with these in a league eventually anyway. Just buy these.
See on Amazon →If you're playing on indoor gym floors, you need indoor balls — the harder outdoor ball will skid and bounce wrong on wood. Indoor balls have larger holes and a softer feel. This 3-pack gets you started without overcommitting to a brand.
See on Amazon →
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This is where we beg you not to cheap out. Pickleball is full of sudden lateral movement — the kind of cuts that running shoes are specifically not designed for. Running shoes have soft, tall heels that roll your ankle when you change direction. Court shoes (tennis shoes count) have flat soles, lateral support, and won't betray you. Ankle injuries are the #1 way new pickleball players end up on the couch for a month.
Reliable, comfortable, well-priced tennis shoe that works perfectly for pickleball. Good lateral support, durable outsole, and won't break the bank. A safe, no-regret first pair.
See on Amazon →Often available under $70, and Adidas's outsole holds up well on outdoor courts (which chew through cheap shoes fast). Not flashy, just dependable.
See on Amazon →ASICS's pickleball-specific shoe — same brand the pros wear in tennis, tuned for our sport. The forefoot reinforcement and lateral stability are noticeably better than a generic court shoe, and the cushioning holds up to back-to-back sessions. A real step up once you're playing 3+ times a week.
Watch out for: Sized slightly snug — order a half-size up if you're between sizes.
See on Amazon →You don't strictly need a dedicated pickleball bag — any backpack will hold a paddle, balls, and a water bottle. But if you start playing regularly, a proper paddle bag has dedicated paddle sleeves (so they don't get scuffed), a fence hook, and a vented shoe compartment. Worth it once you're playing weekly.
Two paddle compartments, a vented shoe pocket, and a fence hook. Everything you need, nothing you don't, at a fair price.
See on Amazon →If you only carry a paddle, a few balls, and a water bottle, a sling is plenty. Athletico's is well-made, under $30, and the right answer for casual play.
See on Amazon →A few cheap items that meaningfully improve your experience: overgrip (your paddle's grip will get sweaty and slippery; replaceable overgrip fixes it for $1 a wrap), a sweat towel (the small one that clips to your bag), and an electrolyte mix if you're playing in heat. Total cost under $25.
Tennis players have used Tourna Grip for decades for one reason: it works in sweaty hands better than anything else. Replace your overgrip every 2-4 weeks of regular play and your paddle always feels new.
See on Amazon →Small, clips to your bag, and surprisingly absorbent. Sounds silly until you're drenched at the kitchen line.
See on Amazon →Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.
A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.
You can be fully equipped for around $90 with budget picks (paddle, balls, court shoes), or around $180 with our recommended starter picks. The gear lasts — most beginners don't replace anything except balls for the first year.
We strongly recommend against it. Pickleball involves constant lateral movement, and running shoes have soft, tall heels that roll ankles on cuts. Court shoes (tennis shoes work) are the single most important gear purchase for injury prevention.
Outdoor balls are harder with 40 small holes and are designed to fly straight in wind. Indoor balls are softer with 26 larger holes and grip gym floors better. Buy for where you'll actually play — most beginners play outdoors.
You can absolutely just show up — pickleball is one of the most welcoming sports for beginners, and 'open play' sessions at public courts will rotate you in with players who'll teach you on the fly. A single lesson after a month of play is more useful than one before you start.
Less than tennis, more than walking. The most common injuries are ankle rolls (preventable with court shoes) and overuse issues from playing six days a week in your first month. Build up gradually.
A mid-weight (~8 oz) paddle in the $60-100 range from a real brand. Our starter pick is the Selkirk SLK Halo Control. The differences between paddles in this range are small enough that you shouldn't agonize over the choice — pick one and start playing.
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