Complete Beginner's Guide to Pickleball Gear

Pickleball is one of the cheapest sports to try: most public courts are free, and you can borrow a paddle for your first session at almost any rec center or park. But once you're hooked, and most people get hooked fast, it's easy to feel pressure to buy the same $300 paddle the pros use. You don't need to, at least not yet.

Here's exactly what to buy first, what to skip, and where to spend more once you know you're playing regularly.

Step 1: Get a Real Paddle

The single biggest upgrade from a rental or hand-me-down paddle is going from wood or cheap composite to a proper polymer-core paddle. You don't need carbon fiber yet. A solid $50 to $75 paddle will outperform almost anything you've borrowed, and it won't hold your game back for at least a season or two.

Step 2: Get Court Shoes, Not Running Shoes

This is the most overlooked beginner upgrade, and the one most likely to actually get you hurt. Pickleball involves constant lateral movement: side shuffles, quick direction changes, split steps at the kitchen line. Running shoes are built for forward motion and offer little side-to-side support, which is how ankles roll. Court shoes (tennis or pickleball-specific) have flatter, wider soles built for lateral stability.

Step 3: Grab a Few Balls

Indoor and outdoor pickleballs are different: outdoor balls are harder with smaller, more numerous holes to resist wind, while indoor balls are lighter with larger holes. Buy the type that matches where you'll actually play. A sleeve of 3 to 6 balls is plenty to start; they crack and wear out with regular play, so don't over-invest in premium tournament balls until you know your preferred brand.

Step 4: Consider a Bag Once You're Playing Regularly

For your first few sessions, a paddle and a couple of balls fit fine in a gym bag or even a large pocket. Once you're playing multiple times a week and carrying a second paddle, extra grips, and water, a dedicated pickleball bag keeps everything organized. This isn't a first-session purchase.

What You Don't Need Yet

• A $250+ carbon fiber paddle - genuinely better in skilled hands, but wasted on a beginner still learning to control contact. Upgrade once you can consistently place dinks and resets.
• Multiple paddles - one paddle you know well beats three you're indifferent about. Add a backup once you have a favorite.
• Overgrips, dampeners, and edge guards - nice-to-haves once you know your paddle needs them, not day-one purchases.
• A ball machine - useful for solo practice once you're serious, but completely unnecessary while you're still learning the rules and basic strokes.

Putting It All Together

For most new players, a reasonable first purchase looks like: a solid entry paddle (~$50 to $75), court shoes if you don't already own a pair, and a sleeve of balls matched to indoor or outdoor play. That's a complete, functional setup for well under $150, and everything else can wait until you know what your game actually needs.

For the full paddle rankings across every budget, see our Best Pickleball Paddles guide.