Pickleball is addicting, especially for pickleball beginners.
Once you start, it’s hard to stop.
And if you are just beginning your journey, welcome to the amazing world of pickleball–one of the fastest growing sport in the United States.
I’m guessing you are here because you want to learn how to play pickleball but you don’t know where to start.
You may wonder: how hard is it to learn pickleball for new players?
It’s actually extremely easy to get started and learn the basics of the game, but it can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out.
So we want to help.
We have put together the ultimate guide to walk you step-by-step on your journey to pickleball for beginners.
Whether you are one of thousands of tennis players who are drawn to the sport or you are new to paddle sports altogether, we want to help you get started.
In this guide, we will show you how to prepare for your first pickleball game, where to find a place to play, and how to have your best first game–plus a ton more.
This guide is both practical and actionable. You can check off each step as you go.
When you’re done, we think you’ll be hooked on pickleball–just like us.
So let’s jump in.
Step 1: Learn Pickleball Basics
Pickleball is a new sport that is a combination of badminton, ping-pong, and tennis.
Players use paddles (similar to larger ping-pong paddles) to hit a plastic wiffle ball over a net on a court that also looks like a smaller tennis court or badminton-size court.
The game can be played as singles or doubles.
While it has elements of tennis, pickleball is its own unique, paddle sport.
Check out our free guide about What Does Pickleball Look Like for more in-depth descriptions of the game.
But more importantly, you want to know: how do I play pickleball?
How To Play Pickleball For Beginners
PIckleball is a simple game to learn, even for a new pickleball player.
While there are a number of unique rules of pickleball, you don’t want to get bogged down with all of them early on.
You really just need to know a few of them to get started, and then you need to get out there and play and have a great time.
You’ll learn more along the way.
So we want to fast-track you to the court by keeping it simple.
There are 6 basic things you need to know to play pickleball as pickleball beginners:
1. A game begins when one team serves the pickleball from behind the baseline on the serving side.
2. The serve must be hit underhand (below the waist) and it should cross the net in the air and bounce one time in the square on the opposite side of the net.
3. The opposing team can return the serve after one bounce on their side of the court (you must let the ball bounce before you hit it–more on this later.
4. A return shot must also bounce one time in the serving team’s court before they hit it.
5. From here, starting with the third shot, the ball can be hit back and forth across the net off the bounce or out of the air.
6. When one team fails to return a shot or the ball bounces twice on their side, play is over.
How Do You Score A Point In Pickleball
In pickleball, the serving team is the only one that can score.
Here is what a point could look like:
You serve the ball underhanded, and it flies over the net.
It bounces once (as required by the rules) and then your opponent hits the ball back across the net.
You allow it to bounce once and then you hit a soft shot that just crosses the net onto their side.
Your opponent rushes forward and hits a lob shot back over the net at you.
You jump and smash the volley back at your opponent’s feet. It skips past your opponent so quick that they can’t return the pickleball.
That ends the rally.
Since you were the server and you won the rally, you win the point.
Congrats! That’s the first point you have ever scored in your pickleball career.
You’re already getting the hang of this!
If you had lost that rally to the receiving team, no point would have been awarded, and your opponent would then have the opportunity to serve on the next rally and earn some points.
Games are played to 11 (win by 2).
Step 2: Find a place to play
Now that you understand the basics of pickleball, it’s time to find a place to get on the court and play some matches.
While this may scare you, I want to assure you: You are ready.
Yes, you still have a lot to learn about pickleball, but the best way to learn is to play.
And it’s also the most fun way to learn.
Where Can You Play Pickleball?
Pickleball is played both outside and inside, depending on the season.
In my hometown, there are regular morning pickleball groups all throughout the year.
During the summer months, the groups gather multiple mornings per week at a local park and play on outdoor pickleball courts. These courts are built on converted tennis courts that now have pickleball lines.
When it gets cold, the groups meet almost every morning at the local YMCA and plays pickleball on converted gym basketball courts.
Where can I find a local court to play pickleball?
You’re thinking: that’s great for you, but how do I find a local place to play pickleball.
It’s fairly simple.
Most cities and towns already have local groups going.
Here are 5 simple ways to find a local place where you can play pickleball.
1. Go to the USA Pickleball Association Places to Play website and type in your zip code. You will get a list of local places that people play pickleball.
2. Check with your local YMCA or community centers to see if they offer any open court times for pickleball.
3. Search Facebook for local Pickleball groups.
Login to Facebook and go to the top left where it says “Search Facebook.” Type in your town + pickleball group. For example, if you live in Sarasota, you would type in Sarasota Pickleball Group and you’ll get a number of options. Once you’re in, ask them when and where they play.
4. Search Google.
Type in “Where to play pickleball in (your hometown).” For my hometown, the search results offer locations (park and YMCA) as well Facebook groups.
5. Ask your local tennis club if they have any pickleball courts.
Many tennis clubs have begun to add pickleball courts to their center due to the games rise in popularity.
Step 3: What Do I Need To Play Pickleball? Getting the Essentials
Now that you’ve found a place to play, we have to gather some things for our first match.
Again, pickleball is a simple game, so you don’t need much.
Here is what you’ll need to play your first game of pickleball:
1. An Opponent
2. Pickleball Ball
3. Pickleball Court with Net
4. Pickleball Paddle
Pickleball Opponent
If you’ve done the work in Step 2, this part should be easy.
You should have plenty of pickleball opponents when you arrive during the pickleball time at your local YMCA or park.
At 7:30 a.m. in the summers, there are often 15-20 people at my local park playing pickleball. I can show up and jump in.
But if you don’t want to show up by yourself, ask a friend or a family member to learn pickleball with you.
You could even start by playing them so that you both can learn the game together.
Of course, you should have them read this step by step guide as well, so that they are prepared to play–just like you will be.
As you both grow together, they could become your partner in doubles as well.
But what pickleball equipment do you need?
Pickleball Ball: What Kind of Ball Is Used For Pickleball?
Pickleball balls are a perforated plastic ball–similar to a larger version of a plastic whiffle ball, but with round holes all over the surface.
In order to play a game of pickleball, you will need at least one pickleball.
There are outdoor pickleballs and indoor pickleballs, so depending on where you are playing, you will want to buy the appropriate ball.
Indoor pickleballs are a little softer because they don’t need to cut through as much wind as the outdoor pickleball.
You can buy pickleballs on Amazon. A few of our favorites are:
1. Onix Pure 2 Outdoor Pickleball
2. Franklin Sports Outdoor Pickleball
3. Franklin Sports X-26 Performance Indoor Pickleball
Pickleballs typically cost around $3 per ball.
Pickleball Court and Net
If you have done the work in Step 2, you should already have a pickleball court at a local park or gym.
But if you would prefer to set something up yourself, you can put together a temporary court on any hard, flat surface.
You will need to purchase a portable pickleball net like this one.
And then you can use tape to mark off the court lines.
The Pickleball Paddle
Lastly, you will need a pickleball paddle.
The pickleball paddle is unique to the sport of pickleball.
So don’t show up with a table tennis paddle or tennis racket.
Pickleball paddles can be made of wood, graphite, or fiberglass (composite).
While the wood paddles will be the cheapest option, you won’t want to buy one of those.
The wooden paddles are better used in a school gym class setting.
When you are just beginning to play pickleball, you should purchase a graphite or composite paddle.
These will be more expensive than the wooden paddle, but it will be well worth the investment.
Pros can pay as much as $200 for their paddles, but you don’t need to pay that when you are starting out.
You can find a good paddle for under $100.
While you may be tempted to buy a $25 paddle, you will likely regret it after your first few weeks of play.
The more expensive paddles are made of higher quality materials.
A good pickleball paddle can also help enhance your game by providing extra spin or more power.
Of course, you’ve never played pickleball before. So how do you know if you are a spin and control player? Do you have a soft game or power game?
How do you know what type of paddle works best for your style of play?
You won’t.
But we will guide you through the process with some simple tips to get you to your first pickleball paddle.
Step 4: Choosing a Pickleball Paddle
There are hundreds and hundreds of pickleball paddles on the market.
There are also a variety of specifications that make each pickleball paddle different.
For a pickleball beginner (and a pro), that can be overwhelming.
In an ideal world, you would have some friends that could let you borrow their paddle (or even better, a variety of paddles) to test them out and see what you like best.
If that is not an option, then you will need to buy a pickleball paddle with the information that you have.
When you are just starting out, it’s important that you simplify the process as much as possible.
Don’t get bogged down with all of the specifications.
How Do You Pick A Pickleball Paddle For Beginner?
There are a few simple things to look for in a pickleball paddle when you are just starting out.
So what should you look for when picking a pickleball paddle as a pickleball beginner?
Price: You should only pay what you are comfortable paying. Once you know your price range, then you can begin to narrow down the best paddles in the range. If you are asking us, we suggest that you find a pickleball paddle that’s at least over $50. If you go below that threshold, you will want a new one soon in order to enhance your game.
Weight: Pickleball paddles come in a range of sizes and weights–between 6 and 14 ounces. A heavier paddle will typically give you more power, but it can wear your arm out quicker. A lighter paddle typically offers more control. If you have arm issues, you will want to aim for the middle weights.
Feel: How does the paddle feel in your hand? Your body will tell you. Listen to it. Is it too heavy? How does it feel when you hit the ball? Does it pop off the paddle? Is it accurate? While feel can be subjective, pickleball paddles can sometimes be like finding love. You can’t describe it; you just know when you’ve found it.
These are the three categories to consider when you are starting out.
As you get more used to the game, you will also want to consider:
1. Paddle Material (graphite, fiberglass/composite, etc.)
2. Paddle Core (poly, aluminum, Nomex)
3. Paddle Surface (grit, smooth)
4. Grip size
5. Playing Style (If you like to spin the ball, does your paddle fit that? If you are a power player, does your paddle give you more juice?)
6. Paddle Length
7. Paddle Shape
8. Sweet Spot
While these are very important, you won’t know what you like until you play more pickleball.
And we are trying to fast-track you to the court.
So stick to the first three with your first pickleball paddle purchase, and then consider the others as you get more comfortable with the game.
Best Pickleball Paddle For Beginners
Again, there are hundreds upon hundreds of options when you begin looking for a pickleball paddle.
So what is the best pickleball paddle for a beginner?
Here are our three favorite pickleball paddles for beginners:
1. Paddletek New Era Bantam EX-L
3. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid Max 2022
If you want to check out some more options for pickleball paddles under $100, we have put together an in-depth list and review of 15 paddles to choose from.
Also, if you want a more in-depth look at how to choose a pickleball paddle, check out this Pickleball Paddle Guide.
Once you narrow it down, purchase one and let’s hit the court.
Step 5: What Do I Wear To Play Pickleball? Picking The Right Apparel
As with any sport, there are plenty of companies selling pickleball shirts, shorts, socks and tennis-style dresses.
You don’t need to get all of that right away.
In fact, you don’t need any of that at all–but if you fall in love with the sport and want to buy some gear, it can add some spice to your wardrobe.
Still, you don’t need it.
You simply need comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Wear something you would workout in–athletics shorts or sweats and a t-shirt.
While you probably won’t need to buy new shorts, there is one area you absolutely need to invest in early on: pickleball shoes.
Please don’t skimp out here.
Good shoes can prevent injury and keep you on the court.
For your first few times, you can wear running or athletic shoes.
Once you know you are going to stick with the game, you should buy pickleball shoes as soon as possible.
Can you wear running shoes to play pickleball?
Running shoes are not a good long-term option.
They are made for in-line running and not for the cutting and planting that takes place in pickleball.
You need to invest in a good pair of volleyball shoes for indoor games and a sturdy pair of tennis-court shoes for outdoor play.
If you are just starting out, go ahead and wear athletic shoes to figure out if you are going to stick with the game, but be careful.
We don’t want any injuries.
Once you know that you want to play the game regularly, you need to buy pickleball shoes.
Seriously, don’t wait on this. Go buy them now.
We cover how to choose pickleball shoes for beginners in Step 12 of this guide.
Step 6: Get Your Body Ready To Play Pickleball
Playing pickleball demands a lot lower intensity than playing a game of tennis or running a mile.
Pickleball is the perfect sport to get your heart-rate up without creating excessive wear-and-tear on your lower body.
Pickleball is played on a smaller court than tennis so it requires less running. The pickleball court is closer to the size of a badminton court.
But you can still burn some calories playing pickleball.
How active is pickleball?
Pickleball is an active sport.
During gameplay, you will bend, lunge, and take quick shuffle steps.
This can be taxing, especially for older players.
But pickleball is a sport that almost any person can play–no matter your age or athletic background.
It’s a great sport for older adults, younger children, and people of all ages.
You don’t even need to be overly athletic to play pickleball.
There is not a lot of running in pickleball, especially doubles play, since it’s on a badminton-sized court.
It’s a great sport for all skill levels.
How many calories do you burn playing pickleball?
Pickleball is a good workout.
According to a study by Western State Colorado University, pickleballers can burn an average of 353 calories per match (Study Link).
In other words, pickleball is no walk in the park.
You will work up a sweat playing pickleball, and it’s a fun way to burn off some of those calories and get in shape.
You may even lose some weight.
On the flip side, you will to make sure your body is ready to jump into the game so that you don’t have an injury.
Best Pickleball Exercises
Cross-training exercises can strengthen your hips, back, and legs to prepare for a pickleball match.
You may be wondering: are there ways that I can increase my stamina for pickleball?
Again, there are hundreds of exercises that can help you reach your goal of playing injury-free pickleball.
We suggest 8 exercises that will help you with pickleball:
1. Squats (bodyweight)
3. Walking or jogging for 1 mile
4. Abdominal Bridge
5. Planks
6. Full-body stretching or Yoga
7. Jumping Jacks
8. Push ups
While these exercises will improve your overall health, they will also get you on the court and keep you there for a long time.
Step 8: Go Play Pickleball
Now that your body is ready, it’s time to get on the court.
Go play your first game of pickleball.
Once you get out there, you’re going to learn so much in just an hour of playing.
You’ll also likely make some new friends that you can ask questions about pickleball.
They are advanced players. They’ve learned the game through the trials and errors of playing, and they can help you through your first time.
So don’t be afraid to dig into their experience.
Ask them what they’ve learned.
See if they will let you try out one of their paddles.
Look at what shoes they wear.
Ask them how they hit that amazing spin shot that won the game–that’ll make them feel good.
Then, come home and learn some more.
Step 9: Master the Rules of Pickleball
You may wonder: why didn’t we cover the rules before we hit the court?
Pickleball is a sport. You’re not filing your taxes.
Who wants to read boring rules without context?
It’s much more fun to learn the rules of a game while playing it.
Plus, we wanted to fast track you to the pickleball court, and we guessed that you would pick up some of those rules very quickly with the help of your partners.
But in this post, we want to keep it simple.
Five Basic Rules of Pickleball
Here are 5 basic rules of pickleball that will help you understand the game:
1. Double Bounce Rule: Each team must play their first shot off of a bounce.
At the start of a rally, one team serves across the court to the other team. The serve must bounce once on that side before you return the ball. You cannot hit it directly out of the air. When your return shot goes over the net, that shot must also bounce before the serving team returns it to you. At that point, the ball no longer has to bounce before being returned. You can then volley it out of the air.
2. The Kitchen Rule: You cannot hit a volley shot out of the air while in the kitchen.
The Kitchen or the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) is a 7-foot area on both sides of the net. You are not permitted to step into the Kitchen and hit a ball out of the air. You also can’t step on the non-volley line when you are hitting the ball out of the air. This is a fault. However, if the ball bounces, you may step inside the 7-foot no-volley zone and return the shot over the net.
3. Serving: You must serve underhand, and the serve must go over the net and travel cross-court into the square opposite of you.
4. Scoring: A game is played to 11 or 15 points depending on court rules.
5. Common Faults: A rally is lost if…
- The ball is hit out of bounds
- The shot does not clear the net
- The ball bounces twice on one side
- A player steps on the Kitchen line and hits the ball out of the air without first allowing it to bounce.
We have covered pickleball rules extensively in another post.
Step 10: Learn Pickleball Strategies for Beginners
With a few games of pickleball under your belt, we can see your competitive fire starting to glow.
It’s time to get better.
A smart pickleball player focuses on two pathways for growth: pickleball drills and pickleball strategies.
We will cover some pickleball drills a little later in this post.
But there are some pickleball tips that can give you an edge and help you avoid some of the most common mistakes as a beginner. These are pickleball best practice.
10 Pickleball Strategies for Beginners
1. Serve deep. Hit your serve as deep into the court as possible. This will keep your opponent near the baseline for as long as possible, giving you an advantage if you can get to the Kitchen quicker. Speaking of…
2. Get to the Kitchen. You will want to get to the Kitchen line as soon as you can after the serve. This will give you the upper-hand if you can arrive before your opponent.
3. Keep Your Opponent Back. You want to get to the Kitchen first, and you want to keep your opponent at the baseline as long as possible. Hit deep, strategic shots to hold them back.
4. Focus on accuracy. In baseball, young pitchers are taught to master throwing their fastball to a specific spot before they learn to throw a curveball. Pickleball is no different. Don’t go for spin shots right away. Don’t focus too much on power. Learn to hit your shots in low, accurate spots that are difficult for your opponent to return. These are good shots.
5. Aim for your opponent’s feet. This will keep the ball low and in an awkward position for a return shot. Plus, it forces your opponent to move their foot position, creating instability.
6. Track the ball at all times. Your eyes will allow you to be successful. Watch the ball come off your opponent’s paddle so you can immediately identify the ball path and potential spin. Then, watch the ball all the way into your paddle for your next shot.
7. Play to your opponent’s weakness. Do they struggle with a backhand? Do they have trouble getting to low shots? Identify their weakness and then play towards it as often as possible.
8. Hit down the middle of the court. In doubles play, hit the ball down the middle of the court. Your opponents may both go for the ball due to lack of communication. It’s a great way to create confusion.
9. Vary your shots. You want to keep your opponent off balance. As you develop your ability to hit different types of shots, use them to keep the other team guessing.
10. Play safe and smart. Don’t try to be the hero. Hit consistently safe shots that put the pressure on your opponent. Let them make mistakes or unforced errors.
These are just a few of the helpful tips that will launch you on your way to pickleball success.
Step 11: Practice Regular Pickleball Drills
As with any sport, if you want to get better at pickleball, you have to practice.
It’s hard to learn new shots or develop new skills during gameplay.
Your growth will come through pickleball drills at home or on your own.
4 Pickleball Drills for Beginners
1. The Basics: This drill allows you to get a feel for your paddle and ball striking.
When I was a kid, I always wanted to practice my basketball shot. But on rainy days, it was difficult to play outside. So I would lay on the ground in my living room and practice shooting the ball up in the air, working on my form and getting a feel for the ball. You want to do the same with your pickleball paddle–though you don’t need to lay on the floor. Take your paddle and hit the ball in the air over and over. Try to keep it from hitting the ground. When you can consistently control it off the paddle, try adding some spin.
2. Target Practice: Find a flat wall outside your house. Tape a square or circle in different places on the wall. Try to hit the target from different distances.
3. Footwork Shuffle: Your footwork will win or lose you points.
Set up three cones 2-3 feet apart from one another in a line. Take an imaginary swing and then move forward, shuffling your feet under control. As you arrive at the first cone, use your split step to get into ready position and take another imaginary swing and then continue on to your next step. Shuffle on to the next cone, split step and swing, and continue with the progression until you reach the last one.
4. Driveway Dinking: Dinking is essential near the Kitchen in pickleball, but you can practice it in the driveway.
Tape several 1×1 foot areas in your driveway. Practice hitting soft and lower shots over an imaginary net and try to hit it into the taped zones. You could also purchase a portable pickleball net to set up. You could also practice your drop shot with this setup.
With drills, you are building muscle memory. It’s better to practice 15 minutes per day rather than one longer session only one day per week.
Regular drills will allow you to take your game to the next level and become a good player who plays pickleball the right way.
If you are looking for more strategies and drills, check out our in-depth post on How To Play Pickleball Better.
Step 12: Buy Pickleball Shoes
If you’ve gotten this deep into the game, it’s time to buy some pickleball shoes.
As we mentioned earlier, running shoes won’t cut it.
And you don’t want to skimp out on this purchase.
Buying pickleball shoes will likely be your most expensive cost as you begin playing pickleball.
But it’s well worth the investment.
Good pickleball shoes can go a long way in keeping you healthy and on the court.
You need to get a good pair of indoor or outdoor pickleball shoes. If you play both indoor and outdoor, you should buy two different pairs of shoes for the different playing surfaces.
What is the difference between indoor and outdoor pickleball shoes?
For outdoor play, you will want to purchase a tennis court shoe that can provide grip and hold up to asphalt or concrete surfaces.
For indoor play, you should choose basketball or volleyball shoes that give traction on a gym surface with their gum-like sole.
How To Choose Pickleball Shoes
So what should I look for when choosing pickleball shoes?
Your pickleball shoes should:
1. Be comfortable.
2. Provide good ankle support.
3. Hold a strong grip on the playing surface.
4. Be lightweight.
5. Support movement in all directions–forward, backward, and lateral.
Before you buy, we would also suggest asking other pickleball players what shoe they recommend.
Best Pickleball Shoes
If you are looking to read more about the best pickleball shoes to buy, we have put together an in-depth guide of pickleball shoes options.
But we want to narrow it down for you: What shoe is best for pickleball?
Here is a list of 4 great pickleball shoes:
1. ASICS Gel-RENMA Pickleball Shoes (Men) [Outdoor]
2. ASICS Gel-Challenger 12 Tennis Shoes (Women) [Outdoor]
3. HEAD Grid 2.0 (Men) [Indoor]
4. ASICS Gel-Rocket 10 Volleyball Shoes (Women) [Indoor]
Step 13: Study The Game
We have learned a ton about pickleball in this guide to pickleball for beginners.
But if you fall in love with pickleball, you may want to continue studying the game.
You don’t ever have to stop learning about how you play pickleball?
There are many resources that you can read or watch to grow in your knowledge of the game.
We have some great blog articles here on Pickleball Takeover.
But we also recommend watching the pros on the Pickleball Channel. We have learned so much from watching the best players in the world play.
You can find helpful video of professional pickleballers on Pickleball Channel’s YouTube page.
If you are wanting to learn more drills and practical tips, check out the short videos on Primetime Pickleball.
Videos from these sites and content from our blog will give you the knowledge base to grow your game on the court.
So don’t stop learning.
Study the game of pickleball.
And maybe you’ll even be interested in some pickleball lessons to take your game to the next level.
Step 14: Play Pickleball Regularly
Now that you are playing pickleball, you are no longer a pickleball newbie.
And the best way to keep getting better is to play regularly.
Learn the regular schedule for open play at your local park or YMCA.
Then, get out and play.
How Many Times A Week Should You Play Pickleball?
You should set aside a day or two a week (at least) to go play an hour.
Put it on your calendar. Set your alarm. And get out and play.
If your body can handle more and you have the time, go play every day. That’s a great thing.
You’ll be surprised at how much better you are at playing after 3 months of competitive game.
You’ll be shocked at how far you’ve come after a year.
And you’ll be proud when you become the pickleball pro that is teaching the beginner about the intricacies of this fun sport.
So grab your paddle and get to the court as often as you can.
We hope you have as much fun as we have.
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