Pickleball · for beginners
Which paddle, which balls, what shoes, and how to walk onto a court for the first time. Written by a parent who started with his daughter and had the same questions.
A paddle, balls, shoes, and for a family, gear that fits the kids. That's the whole list.
Your first paddle, and the second one you buy when you know what you like.
Indoor and outdoor balls, a bag, grip tape, a portable net and eye protection.
Court shoes built for sideways movement, which running shoes are not.
Paddles sized for kids and teens, and sets for a family that wants to play together.
The three to read before you buy anything.
Paddles
The three things to buy, the things to borrow, what to bring to a first open-play session, and the gear that can wait until you know you're coming back.
Paddles
Weight, grip size, face material and core thickness, what each one changes, what USA Pickleball approval means, and the two mistakes first-time buyers make.
Paddles
Paddle stacking, rotating in, what the ratings mean, what to bring and how to find a session near you. The unwritten rules, written down.
Mid-weight, a comfortable grip, USA Pickleball approved, and picked on what the makers publish. The full comparison is on the paddles page.
Product links on this page go to Amazon. If you buy through them, Your First Paddle earns a commission. How we pick and earn
Mid-range fiberglass
JOOLA Essentials
JOOLA's entry paddle: a fiberglass face over a polypropylene honeycomb core, approved for tournaments, from the brand most of the pros play.
Carbon fiber, beginner to intermediate
Selkirk SLK Evo Control Max
A real carbon fiber face (Toray T700) over a 16 mm polymer core, from Selkirk's SLK line, which exists to put the brand's construction in a beginner's hands.
Mid-range, light, small grip
JOOLA Journey 10mm
A light 7.8-ounce paddle with a 4-inch grip and a thin 10 mm core, which JOOLA aims at beginners and at adults and kids sharing gear.
We compare what manufacturers publish: weight, grip size, core and face materials, and whether USA Pickleball lists the paddle as approved for tournament play. We play with the kind of gear we recommend, and we say what we haven't tried. Nobody pays to be listed. How we earn