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 (similar to a wiffle ball). Games can be singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2)—doubles is by far the most popular.
Invented in 1965 in Washington State, pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport in America with over 48 million players. Its appeal is simple: it's easy to learn, social, and gives you a real workout without requiring elite athleticism or expensive gear.
15–20 min
Per game
2 or 4
Players
$30–$80
Starter cost
Equipment You Need
One of the best things about pickleball is how little gear you need to start.
A solid mid-range paddle ($40–$80) will serve you well while you're learning. Key things to know:
Weight
7.0–7.5 oz = more control. 7.8–8.5 oz = more power. Start mid-weight.
Grip Size
4”–4.5” range. Slide a finger between fingertips and palm—just enough room is right.
Material
Polymer core = great balance of control and power. Most popular at all levels.
Outdoor Balls
40 small holes, harder plastic. Holds up in wind. Common: Dura, Franklin X-40, ONIX Fuse.
Indoor Balls
26 large holes, softer. Quieter, longer-lasting. Common: Jugs Indoor.
Pickleball involves heavy lateral (side-to-side) movement. Running shoes are designed for forward motion and offer no lateral support—they increase your ankle injury risk significantly. Look for court shoes or tennis shoes with flat, non-marking soles. This is the one gear investment that's genuinely worth prioritizing from day one.
Nice-to-Have Extras
The 6 Basic Shots
Master these six and you'll be competitive in any recreational game.
An underhand shot hit diagonally to your opponent's service area. Focus on consistency over power. A deep serve near the baseline is more effective than a hard one that goes out. Stand behind the baseline, contact below your waist, and follow through toward your target.
Let the serve bounce, then hit it back deep into the serving team's court. A deep return gives you time to move forward to the kitchen line. Don't overthink it—just get it deep and in play, then move up.
The most important shot in pickleball strategy. After the return of serve bounces, the serving team hits a soft, arcing shot into the opponent's kitchen. The goal: neutralize the point and move up to the kitchen line. This is the shot that separates beginners from intermediate players.
A soft, controlled shot hit near the kitchen line that arcs just over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen. Dinking is a patience game. Use a loose grip, short backswing, and lift with your legs rather than flicking your wrist.
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces (not from the kitchen). Keep your paddle up and in front, use a short punching motion, and aim for placement over power. A compact blocked volley is far more consistent than a wild swing.
A high, deep shot over your opponent's head when they're at the kitchen line. Useful as a change of pace, but risky if not deep enough—your opponent gets an easy overhead. Use it sparingly and aim for the baseline.
Court Positioning
Golden Rule
Get to the kitchen line as fast as possible. The team that controls the kitchen line controls the point.
Serving Team
After serving, stay back near the baseline. The two-bounce rule means the return must bounce on your side first. If you rush forward, you'll be stuck in "no man's land" when the ball arrives. After your third shot, work your way up to the kitchen line.
Receiving Team
The returner hits from near the baseline, then immediately moves to the kitchen line. Their partner should already be at the kitchen line before the serve. This gives the receiving team an early positional advantage.
Avoid "No Man's Land"
The middle of the court (between baseline and kitchen) is the worst place to be. Balls at your feet are the hardest to return—and that's exactly where opponents will aim. Commit to the baseline or the kitchen line; don't linger in between.
Move as a Team (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. Gaps between partners are the easiest thing for opponents to exploit.
Tips for Your First Games
Don't worry about winning
Your first sessions are about learning how the ball moves and getting comfortable. Everyone was a beginner once, and the pickleball community is famously welcoming.
Focus on keeping it in
The #1 beginner mistake is trying to hit winners. Most points in pickleball are won because someone made an error. 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 balls of your feet, knees soft. After every shot, return to this position immediately.
Aim for the middle
When in doubt, aim for the center of the court—farthest from the sidelines, most forgiving, and in doubles it creates confusion about who should take the ball.
Find open play near you
Most public pickleball courts run open-play sessions where all levels rotate in. It's the best way to learn fast. Use our court finder to find courts near you.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Staying too far from the kitchen line
Hanging back at the baseline feels safe but puts you on defense. Work on getting to the kitchen line after every return—that's where you can control the point.
Swinging too hard
Pickleball rewards control over power. The court is small, and hard-hit balls frequently sail out. Use a compact swing and place the ball—don't try to blast it.
Letting the paddle drop between shots
After hitting, many new players let their paddle drop to their side. This costs you precious reaction time. Keep your paddle up and in front at all times.
Short, weak serves
A serve near the kitchen line is a gift to the receiver—they can attack aggressively. Aim deep, near the opponent's baseline.
Using wrist instead of body
Good shots come from your legs and core, not your wrist. On dinks and drops especially: bend your knees and use a lifting motion from the legs for much better control.
Pickleball Etiquette
Pickleball has a strong culture of sportsmanship. These are the unwritten rules that make the community so welcoming:
Call the score loudly before every serve
Make sure everyone hears it before the ball is in the air.
Make honest line calls
Give benefit of the doubt to your opponent. If you're not sure, call it in.
Tap paddles after every game
The pickleball equivalent of a handshake. Always do it, win or lose.
Don't walk behind active courts
Wait until a rally ends before crossing behind someone else's game.
Share courts fairly during open play
Play one game and rotate off if others are waiting. Respect the paddle rack system.
Encourage new players
A kind word or quick tip goes a long way. Everyone remembers being the beginner.
What to Work on Next
Once you can keep rallies going, follow this progression:
Consistent, deep serve
Your foundation. A serve that lands near the baseline every time sets up every other shot.
Learn to dink
Soft, controlled shots at the kitchen line. This single skill will improve your game more than anything else.
Practice the third-shot drop
Start from the baseline and land soft shots in the kitchen. This shot unlocks your ability to play offense after serving.
Work on placement
Instead of always hitting to the middle, practice aiming for cross-court, down the line, and at opponents' feet.
Study strategy
Watch how advanced players position themselves, when they speed up the ball, and how they create opportunities.
Ready to Start Training?
Use our drill library and training videos to practice the shots you just learned.
