What Do I Need to Play Pickleball?
To play pickleball, you need four things:
- A Pickleball Court - A pickleball court can be created on just about any hard surface that is at least 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. For instance, you can create your own pickleball court by marking out pickleball court lines (by using line kits or even chalk) and setting up a temporary net on any concrete area, wood or gym floor, or other hard surface, including a tennis or basketball court.
- A Pickleball Paddle - A pickleball paddle can be made out of wood or composite materials. With that said, most quality pickleball paddles are made out of composite materials and range in price between $50 and $150. A pickleball paddle's combined length and width, including any edge guard and butt cap, cannot exceed 24 inches (60.96 cm), and the pickleball paddle's length cannot exceed 17 inches (43.18 cm). There is no restriction on the thickness of a pickleball paddle.
- A Pickleball - A pickleball is essentially a hollow ball made of plastic and other durable material, which has 26 to 40 circular holes in it. The pickleball should have a diameter between 2.87 inches (7.29 cm) to 2.97 inches (7.54 cm), and a weight between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces (22.1 and 26.5 grams). Also, the pickleball has a bounce of 30 to 34 inches (76.2 to 86.4 cm) when dropped from a height of 78 inches (198.1 cm) onto a granite surface plate.
- A Few Friends - Whether old friends or new friends, you need at least one friend to play singles pickleball and three friends to play doubles pickleball. The easiest way to make new friends is to play pickleball, so get out there on the pickleball courts!
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