Apr 6

Apr 6 Starting to Play Pickleball- Part 2

Last week we featured an article about the “5 Easy Tips to Start Playing Pickleball”. This week we wanted to continue with some other basics that expand on some other considerations when starting out.

1.) Find Courts:

Finding a place to play is easier today than ever. Go to USA Pickleball’s website and you’ll find a tool they provide called “Places 2 Play” and you can search your local area for court locations. Use online resources such as USAPA.org or Pickleheads.com to find pickleball courts near you. Many parks and recreation centers now have pickleball courts.

2.) Get Some Gear (Equipment)

To start playing pickleball, you'll need a paddle, some balls (probably outdoor balls unless you play indoors, then be sure to buy balls for indoor use), and consider some court shoes rather than your normal sneakers as the typical lateral movement associated with the sport puts a high demand on good footwear. Consider renting or borrowing equipment to get started or buy a beginner-level paddle to start with. If you’re buying you can find paddles & ball bundles at Target, Costco, and of course, Amazon. You can also go to specific retailers like Just Paddles, or Pickleballcentral.com which have a huge number of paddles, balls, shoes, etc. to help get you properly set up with the right gear.

Just Paddles for the best in pickleball gear

3.) Know the Rules

Pickleball has specific rules, such as serving diagonally and staying out of the non-volley zone during the serve, just to name a few. Having a basic understanding makes the game fun and enjoyable not only for you but for those playing with you. Watching how-to videos is a quick way to understand, and see, the rules.

4.) Play with Others

Find a partner, or join a local pickleball group, to play with others. This is a great way to improve your skills and meet new people. Many groups have their own Facebook groups or chat groups on applications like WhatsApp or other platforms.

5.) Practice Regularly

We talked about this in the previous article, but we can’t stress this enough. In order to play better and consequently enjoy the game more, practice is the best advice we can give. Many players just jump into games and think that if they play more they’ll get better and although this is somewhat true to a certain extent, real improvement is found in practice.

Lastly, patience is the name of the game. Pickleball is a challenging sport, so be patient with yourself as you learn and improve. Remember, the more you play and practice, the better you'll get! Check out more great articles on Pickleball University for the best tips, tricks, techniques, and knowledge, around the game of pickleball.