What Equipment Do you Need to Play Pickleball

As a newbie to Pickleball, you may be wondering what Pickleball equipment you need to play the game. If you’ve ever watched Pickleball, you’ve seen how much fun it can be for both players and spectators alike. The basic Pickleball equipment needed to play the game is quite simple too. You need one Pickleball ball, two Pickleball paddles, a Pickleball net and a Pickleball court. If you’re wanting to make Pickleball even more enjoyable or if you’re wanting to be the best Pickleball player you can be then you will need a few more items of Pickleball equipment & accessories. We have compiled a comprehensive list, with recommendations, of the best Pickleball equipment & accessories. The list contains over 20 items  with a minimum of 5 recommendations for each. 

Here is the list of Pickleball equipment & accessories needed:

Pickleball Paddles

A Pickleball paddle is an integral requirement to playing Pickleball. Without this essential piece of Pickleball equipment, it’s just not Pickleball! Pickleball games can be likened to tennis in the fact that you play singles and doubles. Depending on your game, you need either two paddles or four paddles (for doubles). Pickleball paddles come in a host of features that you can opt for when buying Pickleball paddles. These features encompass weight, grip size, material of construction, area of hitting, edge guards and more. Take a look at our article where we go into the details of what makes a good Pickleball paddle.

Pickleball as a game is technically a combination of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong, and as such, the paddles are a cross-over of tennis rackets and Ping-Pong paddles too. When Pickleball was first invented, the first Pickleball paddles were made out of wood. However, with time, the game evolved to become a faster, more precise version of the original. The paddles also evolved and are now made of lightweight composite materials such as graphite, aluminum and others. Basic wood paddles are still available. Take a look at our article with the best Pickleball paddles reviews where we review the best Pickleball paddles of 2021 so that you can choose the best Pickleball paddle to suit your needs.

Here are the 5 Pickleball paddles which we would recommend to players:

Pickleball Balls

A Pickleball ball is quite unique in structure and has holes uniformly across the ball. It is quite similar to a whiffle ball, except that a Pickleball ball has holes which are only circular. When it comes to Pickleball equipment, the ball is one of the most important aspects of the game. Let’s face it, Pickleball with any other type of ball is just not Pickleball!

Balls for Pickleball are chosen on the basis of whether Pickleball is played indoors or outdoors. Outdoor Pickleball balls tend to be made of stronger, harder plastic and are seamless since construction is by molding one piece of plastic with the requisite number of holes drilled into the plastic after cooling. Indoor Pickleball balls tend to be lighter than their outdoor counterparts for softer court surfaces and have larger holes since they do not have to encounter breezy or windy conditions.

According to USAPA, Pickleball balls should not be multi-colored – each ball should be a single color. The most common colors for Pickleball balls are neon orange, yellow and white.

Take a look at our Pickleball ball reviews where we review the best Pickleball balls on the market today. These reviews give you the necessary information so you can make sure that you’re playing with a good quality Pickleball ball and not one that will crack or break after limited use.

We have split our recommendations of Pickleball balls into the 2 main categories, Indoor & Outdoor Pickleball balls:

Outdoor Pickleball Balls

Indoor Pickleball Balls

Pickleball Nets

A Pickleball net is another essential piece of Pickleball equipment which a Pickleball player can’t go without! In Pickleball, a net with a width of 20 feet and a height of 36 inches at the ends and 34 inches at the center is used to split the court into two.

A good Pickleball net should have the following features:

• It should have the dimensions mentioned above,
• Needs to be strong and durable with a powder-steel coating to prevent it from rusting because of the elements,
• Should be portable,
• Needs to be taut towards the center.

When it comes to the best Pickleball nets available today, you may note that most are very strong and durable yet lightweight, and the poles are made of either steel or composite materials for extra durability and longevity. Portable pickleball nets can be great training aids if you have the space to set them up in your backyard or in your driveway.

If you decide to join a Pickleball club or a group of established Pickleballers the chances are that the Pickleball courts & nets will be provided. We have written an article telling you all you need to know about Pickleball nets & why it’s good to have your own one, so take a look & learn some valuable information which will help your Pickleball game.

Once you’ve decided that you’d like to buy your own Pickleball net it’s very important that you look at our Pickleball net reviews where we review the best Pickleball nets available.

Here are recommendations of 5 great Pickleball nets:

Pickleball Courts

A standard Pickleball court measures in at 40 feet in length and 20 feet in width. Pickleball is a somewhat new game in contrast to tennis and badminton which have been around for centuries.  If there are no purpose-built Pickleball courts, Pickleball players use tennis or badminton courts. They convert them into Pickleball courts by removing the tennis/badminton nets and fitting Pickleball nets. 

A tennis court is ideal for playing Pickleball tournaments because two or three Pickleball games can take place simultaneously on one tennis court! We have an article explaining how to turn tennis courts into Pickleball courts. For playing doubles in Pickleball, you can also opt to use a tennis court. You can lower the tennis net slightly to 34 inches.

Other Pickleball Gear

Pickleball Sets

If you’re a newbie to Pickleball & want an easy way to purchase the basic Pickleball equipment you need then Pickleball sets could be the ideal solution. Pickleball sets usually have a small bag containing  two pickleball paddles & a couple of pickleball balls. Buying Pickleball sets is a good way to reduce costs when you’re first starting out with Pickleball because sets are usually cheaper than buying the individual items.

Here are our recommendations for Pickleball sets:

 

Pickleball Shoes

The correct Pickleball shoe is vitally important for both women & men Pickleball players. Pickleball shoes is an important piece of Pickleball equipment because it give you the ability to move around the pickleball court with ease. The right shoe also prevents Pickleball injuries from occuring.

Lateral stability and good sole traction should be the first consideration when choosing Pickleball shoes. Cushioning is also an important consideration.

Whether you play indoors or outdoors will also determine what type of shoe you need to choose.

Here are our recommendations for Pickleball shoes:

Womens Pickleball Shoes

Mens Pickleball Shoes

 

Pickleball Clothing

Pickleball clothing & apparel is important for anyone playing Pickleball. The problem Pickleballers face is that when they want to choose clothing to wear while playing Pickleball there is no “Pickleball clothing” category to search. Pickleball has become more & more popular which is why players want the clothing they wear on the court to look good while being functional too. If you want to know what to wear to play pickleball, we’ve made it easy for you by doing all the necessary research to give you men’s & women’s Pickleball clothing recommendations.

Mens Pickleball Shirts

Men need their Pickleball shirts to be breathable, moisture wicking and allow air to flow while they play.  Depending on the weather conditions men can either wear long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts or tank tops.

Here are our recommendations:

Womens Pickleball Shirts

Women Pickleball players need to be comfortable on the court, but look good too. Polyester for it’s moisture wicking properties or cotton for it’s light and airy feel are the most popular shirt materials amongst women Pickleball players. So if you were wandering what do you wear to play pickleball, polyester is a great shirt option. Long sleeve, short sleeve or sleeveless shirts are the most popular women’s Pickleball shirts.

Here are the recommendations for womens Pickleball shirts:

Mens Pickleball Shorts

Ease of movement is the most important thing to consider when choosing pickleball shorts.

Polyester pickle ball shorts are the most popular type of men’s Pickleball shorts. They’re light, comfortable & easy to move in which makes them ideal for Pickleball. Cotton shorts are also worn by some men Pickleball players.

Take a look at our recommendations for mens Pickleball shorts:

Womens Pickleball Skirts, Skorts & Shorts

Women Pickleball players need to be comfortable while moving around the court. Skorts and pickle ball shorts are the most commonly seen on the Pickleball courts, but some women do prefer wearing skirts too.

Here are our recommendations for women pickleball skorts, shorts & skirts for women pickleball players.

If you want to take a look at more Pickleball Clothing options read our comprehensive article on the subject with even more recommendations.

Pickleball Bags

You need various pieces of Pickleball equipment & accessories, so it makes sense that you have a Pickleball bag to place all these items in.

There are different styles of pickleball bag, including backpacks, sling bags, duffel bags and bigger tennis racket style bags, but which style bag you choose is ultimately down to personal preference.

Take a look at our recommendations of the best Pickleball bags:

 

Pickleball Paddle Covers

Pickleball paddle covers are designed to protect your pickleball paddles from damage or wear & tear while they are not being used. The cushioning provided by Pickleball paddle covers prevents chipping, denting or even worse damage caused when you are not using your paddle. A Pickleball paddle can be a sizable financial investment, so a relatively cheap paddle cover purchase can be a worthwhile item of Pickleball equipment it if it prolongs the life of your paddle.

Here are our recommendation:

 

Pickleball Gloves

The main reason for wearing Pickleball gloves is to prevent your hands slipping due to sweat. Sweaty hands can cause your Pickleball paddle handle to slip while playing your shots & this can cause a big problem for any player. Pickleball gloves help you grip the Pickleball handle tightly, irrespective of how much you’re sweating during your game. A secondary reason for Pickleball gloves is the fact that you can get blisters on you hands when playing Pickleball for a long period of time. Gloves help cushion your hands & prevent blisters.

Here are our recommendations for Pickleball gloves: