A cult sport that dates back to 1965 in the US, pickleball has only recently seen a surge of popularity here across the pond.
Dubbed one of the fastest-growing sports around the world, its loyal fan base is expected to grow from 10,000 people to 25,000 by 2025 in the UK alone, according to the organising body Pickleball England.
Picklecore has taken over and trying your hand at the sport is easier than you may think. Once you have the rules down, there is not much kit required in addition to comfortable and breathable activewear that you likely already have in your wardrobe. That is except for a spot to play with a lower net, the paddleball itself and a paddle. But before we share the expert’s recommendations for the latter, we decode everything you need to know about pickleball.
What is pickleball?
Alex Minogue-Stone, Director of Lemon Pickleball, explains “Pickleball combines elements of table tennis, tennis and badminton into a fun and exciting new sport. It is played on a badminton-sized court, with paddles that resemble a large table tennis bat, and a tennis-sized plastic ball with holes in it”.
He continues, “What differentiates pickleball from other racket sports is that it is much more accessible and easier to learn than a sport like tennis. Therefore, it is a sport for all ages and abilities. But at a high level, it is also incredibly intense - if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s also more social, due to the smaller court and the fact that it is usually doubles”.
How do you play pickleball?
First and foremost it is important to learn the vocab. Minogue-Stone breaks it down.
- The kitchen: The 7ft area on either side of the net
- Dinking: a soft shot that lands in and around the kitchen area
Now you have that down, he shares, “Pickleball is a game of volleying and the pickleball-specific shot, dinking. Because it is a slow-moving ball, pickleball is played mostly at the kitchen line, so all four players are quite close to each other.
“A high-level pickleball rally will involve lots of dinking, eventually leading to someone speeding up the rally, resulting in players manically volleying back and forth to each other from close range, something that would look like a very fast version of bat and ball on the beach.
“The scoring and rules can be a little complicated, to quote Jeremy Clarkson ‘the rules make American football look like the 100m sprint’ but once you have picked that up you can be playing a proper match after 20 minutes”.
Why is it called pickleball?
Unusual terms are a signature of the sport – and that begins with the name itself. “Pickleball was invented by two men called Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, who wanted a game to play using the equipment they had lying around”, says Minogue-Stone. “This was a badminton court, table tennis paddles, and a whiffle ball. And since the sport was created from leftover equipment from other sports, they went for the name pickleball, after pickle boats that were made up of leftover rowers.
“There is also another story that explains that pickleball was named after their dog ‘Pickle’ but my extensive research on the matter has found that this is, in fact, a myth”.
Is pickleball the same as paddle tennis?
Often confused due to their up-and-coming nature, these variations of tennis are very different. Daniel Weir at Pickleball Social pickleballsocial.co.uk, reveals, “While they are both racket sports, padel is played on a special enclosed sport, uses different paddles and balls and has different rules.
Minogue-Stone adds, “Padel is almost an exact mixture of tennis and squash”.
What equipment do you need for pickleball?
After the court (“You can play on a badminton or tennis court but lower the net and mark it out with markers or tape”, explains Weir), you need the following:
- A pickleball-specific net: Minogue-Stone says, this is “slightly shorter and lower than a tennis court”
- The pickleball: He adds, “The balls and net don’t make a massive difference, just make sure that you get an indoor ball or an outdoor ball depending on where you are playing”
- The pickleball paddle: As for the paddle, he explains, “This is a minefield”
What should you look for in a pickleball paddle?
“Buying a pickleball paddle can be quite daunting”, says Minogue-Stone. “There are more and more brands popping up that are keen to include some technological jargon to bamboozle you. So, I’ll do a simple summary of what to look for in a pickleball paddle.
There are three main things that affect the performance of the paddle:
- The grittiness of the paddle: In general, you should look for paddles with a gritty surface. This should allow for more spin, which is only a good thing. More spin (topspin specifically) means you can get the ball to come up and down quicker, which means you can hit it harder.
- The thickness of the paddle: This affects the power and control. A thicker paddle cushions the ball (so more control) and a thinner paddle bounces off with more force (so more power). I would look for a thicker paddle (16mm+) as power is not too much of an issue and soft shots are a crucial part of the game.
- The length of the handle: This is entirely up to you. I prefer a longer handle, as I come from a tennis background and like to use two hands for backhands.
“It’s worth remembering that all of the paddles will have a different feel, so it is important not to change paddles too often otherwise you will be constantly trying to adapt to the differences, so once you have picked one make sure to stick with it!”
Shop the best pickleball paddles below
Diadem RUSH Pickleball Paddle in Marine Teal
Best for: intermediate players
This is Pickleball Social’s Daniel Weir’s paddle of choice for intermediate players. And it’s not just on account of its sleek marble-textured design. The bat hits the sweet spot between power and comfort with a special grit surface texture to allow for spin. The handle is 5.4 inches and it weighs around 224g.
Buy now £89.95, Framework Sports
Head Radical Tour EX Raw Pickleball Paddle
Best for: all player types
This was recommended by the Director of Lemon Pickleball, Alex Minogue-Stone. It may be minimal in design but it comes packed with features to take your pickleball skills to the next level. This includes a longer handle for powerful two-handed backhands and a comfortable grip made from Head’s new Ergo Grip that better absorbs impact. The paddle is made from carbon fibre and weighs 230g.
Buy now £162.49, Amazon
PickleBoom Pickleball Paddles Set of 2
Best for: beginners
When you’re just dipping your toe into the pickleball trend, we understand that you may not want to splash three figures on a paddle. PickleBoom has the solve with this bumper pack that includes two paddles and four pickleball balls. The British brand may be designed for beginners but it doesn’t scrimp on performance features, offering the paddles with a hard-wearing carbon fibre surface and a cushioned grip. They weigh 220g each.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
ProXR Pickleball Zane Navratil Signature
Best for: pros
This paddle was created in line with American professional pickleball player Zane Navratil, considered to be one of the best in the world. So if you’re looking to play like a pro, the ProXR model may be the one for you. Its carbon face is designed to optimise spin and it has a slightly longer handle for those channelling Nadal with a two-handed backhand. It weighs 224g.
Buy now £180.00, Pickleball
Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle
Best for: style
The attractive blue, white and red design of this pickleball paddle from Franklin Sports is just one of six designs available. It is made from polypropylene (hence the cheaper price tag) but this provides durability as you progress on your pickleball journey. The surface layer is fibreglass so you’re getting the benefits of the material’s enhanced control. The grip is a good mid-length and altogether, the paddle weighs 224g.
Buy now £86.98, Amazon
Diadem Warrior Edge
Best for: power
Warrior by name, warrior by nature - this pickleball bat uses a vertically etched carbon fibre graphite surface to allow players to send the ball flying with power, speed and control. The Edge has elevated its predecessor with improved manoeuvrability by minimising the width of the polymer core. Your opponent won’t know what’s coming. Weighs 227g.
Buy now £143.71, Amazon
Selkirk 2024 LUXX Control Pickleball Paddle
Best for: advanced control
The latest model of the Selkirk LUXX Control paddle is for serious players. With each shot, you will be maximising the honeycomb core that puts control in your hands, while the ProSpin+ NextGen Micro Texture technology offers consistency game after game. It is made from carbon fibre and weighs 218g.
Buy now £300.08, Amazon
JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 14mm Swift Pickleball Paddle
Best for: reliability
JOOLA is a brand that will be familiar to those in the alternative racket sports sphere - it’s the official paddle sponsor of the PPA and APP Tours. The label has set its sights on the pickleball community too by teaming up with Ben Johns, the American professional pickleball player ranked No.1 and 2 for doubles and singles respectively.
The paddle offers a carbon friction surface that is said to have greater lasting power and provide more spin. There’s the favoured honeycomb core for reliable contact and edge-to-edge performance. Weighs 218g.
Buy now £113.30, Amazon
Diadem Icon Performance Pickleball Paddle
Best for: Japanese carbon fibre
Don’t underestimate the Icon. Layered together in a sleek black package, you will find premium, durable materials, from the Japanese carbon fibre face to the sticky polyurethane coating. It won’t take long to get accustomed to the feel of the paddle, and once you do, you have a piece of kit that you can rely on for predictability with each strike. Weighs 218g.
Buy now £103.68, Amazon
