How to Become a Pickleball Player

So, you've made the first step and have purchased your first pickleball paddle, but what now? Well, there are a few other things you will need before you can play. If you are a complete newbie, this simple guide will be enough to make sure you have everything you need to get you started.

(Note: if you have yet to purchase a paddle, you can find our collection of pickleball paddles here. We offer the best, high-quality and cute pickleball paddles.)

Don't Forget to Bring a Pickleball

You may know what a pickleball looks like, but did you know that there are different pickleballs for indoor and outdoor use? Its true! An indoor pickleball is softer and has less but wider holes (usually 26), while an outdoor pickleball is harder and has more holes (usually 40). Why the difference? The simplest answer is wind. Pickleballs are lightweight compared to tennis balls, and without holes they would fly all over the place, especially on a windy day. With no wind in an indoor court, it makes sense that indoor balls don't need as many holes.

Pick out Your Accessories

There are going to be a lot of miscellaneous things you'll need to bring with you to the court, such as water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, balls, etc. Its best to have a bag to store these things in, and what better to have than a bag that is made specifically for pickleball! Paddle & Palm offers several different styles of bags, all of which have special compartments designed specifically for pickleball paddles. You can find them here.

Bring some Friends

You can't play pickleball by yourself, so you'll need to call up 1 or 3 of your friends to get a game going. Pickleball is similar to tennis in that you can play singles (1 on 1), or doubles (2 on 2). While the rules change slightly when comparing singles to doubles, the game is mostly played the same.

Find a Court

Pickleball is played on special courts that are similar to, but slightly different than tennis courts. For one, pickleball courts are much smaller (you can almost fit 4 pickleball courts inside of one standard tennis court). With pickleball becoming more popular by the day, it is much less difficult to find a pickleball court in your city than it used to be. A new trend has been transforming neglected tennis courts into pickleball courts, giving the courts new life.

If you happen to live in Naples, FL, you can check out our favorite spot, the Naples Pickleball Center. Its the largest dedicated pickleball facility in the country, with 64 courts!

Understand the Rules

The last, and most important thing you'll need is a good understanding of the rules. USAPA is the main governing body for pickleball, and has great resources, as well as an easy to digest guide for rules and tips for playing. Once you have a basic understanding, the next best way to learn is to get out there and play. Have fun, and we'll see you on the court!