In This Guide
What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It's played on a court roughly one-third the size of a tennis court with a solid paddle and a lightweight plastic ball with holes (similar to a wiffle ball). The game can be played as singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two), with doubles being the most popular format.
Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball was originally a backyard game for kids. Today, it's the fastest-growing sport in America, with over 48 million players across all age groups. Its appeal is simple: it's easy to learn, social, and gives you a genuine workout without requiring elite athleticism.
A typical recreational game takes about 15–20 minutes, which means you can play several matches in a single session. Most public courts use an open-play format where players rotate in and out, making it a great way to meet people and build a community around the sport.
Equipment You Need
One of the best things about pickleball is that you don't need much gear to get started. Here's what you'll need:
A Paddle
Pickleball paddles come in a wide range of materials and prices. As a beginner, you don't need to spend a lot—a solid mid-range paddle ($40–$80) will serve you well while you learn the game. Key things to know:
- • Weight: Lighter paddles (7.0–7.5 oz) offer more control and are easier on your arm. Heavier paddles (7.8–8.5 oz) provide more power. Mid-weight is a good starting point.
- • Grip size: Grip circumference typically ranges from 4” to 4.5”. A quick test: hold the paddle with your dominant hand, and you should be able to slide a finger from your other hand between your fingertips and palm. If there's no room, the grip is too small. If there's a big gap, it's too big.
- • Material: Polymer core paddles (the most common) give a nice balance of control and power. Graphite and carbon fiber face paddles are popular at all levels.
Check out our gear recommendations for specific paddle picks.
Pickleballs
There are two types of pickleballs, and which one you use depends on where you play:
- • Outdoor balls have 40 smaller holes and are harder. They hold up better in wind and on rougher surfaces but wear out faster. Common brands: Dura, Franklin X-40, ONIX Fuse.
- • Indoor balls have 26 larger holes and are softer. They're quieter, have more texture, and last longer but don't perform well in wind. Common brand: Jugs Indoor.
Most rec play venues supply balls, so you usually don't need to buy your own right away.
Court Shoes
Pickleball involves a lot of lateral (side-to-side) movement. Running shoes are designed for forward motion and don't give you the side support you need—they also increase your risk of rolling an ankle. Look for dedicated court shoes or tennis shoes with flat, non-marking soles and good lateral support. This is the one piece of equipment that's truly worth investing in for both performance and injury prevention.
Optional Extras
- • Overgrip: Wraps around your paddle handle for better sweat absorption and comfort ($5–$10 for a pack)
- • Sunglasses & hat: Essential for outdoor play, especially for tracking high lobs
- • Paddle bag: Protects your paddle and holds balls, water, and accessories
- • Paddle edge guard tape: Protects the edge of your paddle from ground scrapes
The 6 Basic Shots
You don't need a huge repertoire to start playing pickleball. Master these six shots and you'll be competitive in any recreational game:
1. The Serve
An underhand shot hit diagonally to your opponent's service area. As a beginner, focus on consistency over power. A deep serve that lands near the baseline is more effective than a hard one that goes out. Stand behind the baseline, contact the ball below your waist, and follow through toward your target.
2. The Return of Serve
After the serve bounces (remember, the two-bounce rule requires this), hit it back deep into the serving team's court. A deep return gives you time to move forward toward the kitchen line, which is where you want to be. Don't try to be fancy—just get it deep and in play.
3. The Third-Shot Drop
This is the most important shot in pickleball strategy, and the hardest to learn. After the return of serve bounces (second required bounce), the serving team hits a soft, arcing shot that lands in or near the opponent's kitchen. The goal is to "neutralize" the point and give yourself time to move up to the kitchen line. It takes practice, but it's the shot that separates beginners from intermediate players.
4. The Dink
A soft, controlled shot hit from near the kitchen line that arcs just over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen. Dinking is a patience game—you and your opponent trade soft shots back and forth, waiting for someone to pop one up high enough to attack. Good dinking is about touch, not power: a loose grip, a short backswing, and a lifting motion with your legs.
5. The Volley
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces (not from the kitchen). Volleys are usually hit when you're at the kitchen line and your opponent pops a ball up. The key: keep your paddle up and in front of you, use a short punching motion (not a big swing), and aim for placement over power. A compact, blocked volley is far more consistent than a wild swing.
6. The Lob
A high, deep shot that sends the ball over your opponent's head when they're standing at the kitchen line. It's a useful change of pace, but risky—if it's not deep enough, your opponent gets an easy overhead smash. Use it sparingly and aim for the baseline. A good lob should be high enough that your opponent can't reach it without retreating.
Court Positioning
Where you stand on the court matters as much as how you hit the ball. Here's the positioning strategy that most intermediate and advanced players follow:
The Golden Rule
Get to the kitchen line as quickly as possible. The team that controls the kitchen line controls the point. Standing at the baseline puts you on defense. Standing at the kitchen line gives you the ability to volley, dink, and put the ball away.
Serving Team Positioning
After serving, stay back near the baseline. Why? Because the two-bounce rule means the return must bounce on your side before you hit it. If you rush forward, you'll be caught in "no man's land" (the middle of the court) when the ball arrives. After hitting your third shot, work your way forward to the kitchen line.
Receiving Team Positioning
The returner stands near the baseline to hit the return, then immediately moves forward to the kitchen line. Their partner should already be at the kitchen line before the serve even happens. This gives the receiving team an early positional advantage.
Avoid "No Man's Land"
The area between the baseline and the kitchen line (roughly the middle of the court) is the worst place to be. Balls hit at your feet are the hardest to return, and that's exactly where opponents will aim if you're stuck in the middle. Either be at the baseline or at the kitchen line—commit to one or the other, and work your way up when the opportunity arises.
Move as a Team
In doubles, you and your partner should move together like you're connected by a 10-foot rope. If your partner moves left, you move left. If they move forward, you move forward. Gaps between partners are the easiest thing for opponents to exploit.
Tips for Your First Games
Don't worry about winning
Your first several sessions are about learning how the ball moves, getting comfortable with your paddle, and understanding the flow of the game. Everyone was a beginner once, and the pickleball community is famously welcoming to new players.
Focus on getting the ball in
The number one mistake beginners make is trying to hit winners. Most points in pickleball are won by the other side making errors, not by hitting amazing shots. Just keep the ball in play. Consistency beats power at every level.
Learn the "ready position"
Hold your paddle up in front of your chest, elbows slightly bent, weight on the balls of your feet, knees slightly bent. This puts you in position to react quickly to shots on either side. After every shot, return to ready position.
Hit to the middle
When in doubt, aim for the middle of the court. It's the safest target (farthest from the sidelines), gives you the most margin for error, and in doubles it can create confusion between opponents about who should take the ball.
Find open play near you
Most public pickleball courts run open-play sessions where players of all levels rotate in. It's the best way to learn—you'll play with different partners, pick up tips from experienced players, and get lots of reps. Use our court finder to find courts near you.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Standing too far from the kitchen line
Many beginners hang back near the baseline because it feels safer. But at the kitchen line, you can angle your shots, control the net, and finish points. Work on getting up to the line after every return.
Swinging too hard
Pickleball rewards control over power. The court is small, and a hard-hit ball often sails out of bounds. Focus on a compact swing and placing the ball where your opponent isn't, rather than blasting it past them.
Dropping your paddle between shots
After hitting the ball, many new players let their paddle drop to their side. This costs you precious reaction time when the ball comes back. Keep your paddle up and in front of you at all times—this alone will improve your game immediately.
Hitting the serve too short
A short serve that lands near the kitchen line is a gift to the receiver—they can hit an aggressive return and immediately take the kitchen. Aim your serves deep, near the opponent's baseline, to push them back and make their return harder.
Using wrist instead of body
Good pickleball shots come from your legs and core, not your wrist. Especially on dinks and drops, bend your knees and use a lifting motion with your legs rather than flicking your wrist. This gives you far more control and consistency.
What to Work on Next
Once you're comfortable with the basics and can keep rallies going, here's a suggested path for continued improvement:
- 1. Develop a consistent serve that lands deep every time. This is your foundation.
- 2. Learn to dink. Spend time at the kitchen line practicing soft, controlled dinks. This one skill will level up your game more than anything else.
- 3. Practice the third-shot drop. Start from the baseline and try to land soft shots in the kitchen. This shot unlocks the ability to play offense after serving.
- 4. Work on shot placement. Instead of always hitting to the middle, practice aiming for specific targets—cross-court, down the line, at your opponent's feet.
- 5. Study strategy. Watch how advanced players position themselves, when they speed up the ball, and how they use the third-shot drop to get to the kitchen.
Pickleball Etiquette
Pickleball has a strong culture of sportsmanship. Here are the unwritten rules that make the community so welcoming:
- • Call the score loudly before every serve. Make sure everyone hears it.
- • Make honest line calls and give benefit of the doubt to your opponent. If you're not sure, call it in.
- • Tap paddles after every game—it's the pickleball equivalent of a handshake.
- • Don't walk behind active courts. Wait until a rally ends before crossing behind someone else's game.
- • Share courts fairly during open play. If people are waiting, play one game and rotate off. Most courts use a "winners stay" or a "paddle rack" system.
- • Encourage new players. Everyone remembers what it was like to be the beginner. A kind word or quick tip goes a long way.
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