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I have read multiple articles where people are blogging who clearly have never played pickleball and are just trying to get clicks and I felt obligated to put an article together from someone who competes and plays recreationally, travel all the time for tournaments, and volunteers and supports local pickleball community engagement. This article is intended for both non-pickleball players and seasoned players. Read further for a list of the must have items for pickleball players:
- Pickleball Paddle: Gryp Pickleball Balance 1
- Pickleballs: Franklin X-40, Dura Fast 40, Vulcan VPRO Flight
- Pickleball Bag: Vulcan VPRO Pickleball Backpack, Franklin Sling Bag, Fresh Pickle Tote Bag, Franklin Pro Series Pickleball Bag
- Portable Charger
- Chair: Helinox Chair Zero, Expandable Stool, Double Loveseat
- Eye Protection: Ria Eyewear, Oakley
- Luggage Tag
- Sunscreen: Supergoop Unseen, Banana Boat Spray
- Sport Towel
- Hat/Visor: Vimhue Sun Goddess Hat, Melin Hydro Collection
- Collapsible Cooler
- Matching Outfit
- Paddle Cover or Paddle Case
See below for detailed explanation on each item, what I recommend, and what to watch out for!
You can’t play without a paddle. I commonly get asked “what pickleball paddle should I play with?” and the answer is “it depends” (the worst answer!) and that’s because everyone is different and that means a paddle that works for one person might not for another. However, I do tell people to keep in mind a few things to help them with the overwhelming process of picking:
- Paddle Shape
- Technology
- Use case: competition vs recreational
- Budget
Shape: Some advice I give is if you are someone with a racquet sports background, you are more likely to enjoy an elongated paddle shape than the traditional shape. People with larger hands (or two-hand backhand) might prefer a longer handle.
Technology: There is a lot of unique technology that has come out in 2024. Many focused on making the ball bounce faster and adding more spin to the ball but I do caution that there has been recent controversies regarding some of the newer technologies coming out and whether they are appropriate and safe for players with some paddles getting banned (i.e. Joola Gen3). T700 Carbonfiber paddle face, Thermoformed edge walls are some of the latest, most common technologies which gives the ball some more pop when paddle makes contact. If you have tennis elbow or prone to getting it, then I would recommend a paddle with a soft core to absorb the shock.
Use Case: If you are considering playing in tournaments (or you know you will in the future), then I recommend looking for a paddle (and brand) that is USAPA approved. WARNING: not all paddles that have the mark “USAPA Approved” on the paddle face are approved. The manufacturer has to stamp that on to ship the paddle out and so young companies who are overly eager to enter the market might sell to unknowing players. Referees in tournaments will ask that you have checked on the official USAPA approved website. Now, if you are more into playing with friends and not competing, then “USAPA approved” won’t mean anything to you and there are many cute paddle companies popping up that also make custom paddles too! There is a new certification coming out for PPA Tour so PPA events might be following different standards soon.
Budget: For most beginners, the paddles won’t be noticeable as focus will be on your technique, form, and understanding of the game. So I tell people to purchase something they are comfortable paying for. I do have friends who like to full-send; nothing wrong with that! If you want to purchase a higher end paddle and try the latest and greatest tech, then you get to experience some of the paddles pros play with. Also, pickleball is a community sport so having extra paddles so that you can share with your friends is another great use of any paddles you accumulate over time so don’t stress about that first paddle! Likely, once you try pickleball, you will become a pickleball addict with multiple paddles. And if you know yourself and your competitive nature is strong with the force, then I generally recommend buying a paddle in the $150-$300 range just so that you learn/train with a paddle you are more likely to use long-term because the longer you play, the more you will notice paddle differences. Don’t forget – buy nice or buy twice!
My Paddle: I use the Gryp Pickleball Balance 1 for a few reasons: I have a tennis background and the elongated shape is ideal for me, it’s reasonably priced unlike the top brands for the same technology, and its got adjustable weights so that I can have the flexibility. Also, Balance 2 is in the works and I heard its going to be traditional shape! Finally, what I want is a paddle company that I can grow with and they specialize in technology in their paddles. But what works for me might not work for you!
Quantity: I always carry two paddles in my bag. While pickleball paddles are fairly durable, it can still break. I know from personal experience because I had a Vulcan paddle once where the paddle face snapped off from the handle during a tournament and I had to borrow someone else’s! In my case, it was a manufacturing issue and Vulcan sent me a replacement immediately. And for those of you that let your competitive nature get the best of you and you go diving for balls or you travel and check your bag, I highly recommend you have a back-up.
What Else to Consider? There’s so much more than what I listed including weight distribution, balance point, brand loyalty, etc. While I know a fair amount about paddles, I am not a paddle expert so I recommend that you research if want to dive even further. If you are interested in more technical details such as swing speed, swing weight, torque. pop, spin rate, and much much more, there are some really good resources such as John Kew, Pickleball Studio, and Pickleball Central.
If you plan to compete (outdoors), then you should consider purchasing these brand of pickleballs:
- Most Affordable and Durable: Franklin X-40, Neon
- Best in Wind/Cold Conditions: Dura Fast 40, Yellow or Neon-Green
- PPA and MLP Official Ball: Vulcan VPRO Flight, Neon – note: one of the most expensive balls in the market
- DUPR Official Ball: Gamma Chuck
- APP and UTR Official Ball: OWL CK-40
What about other brands? Recreational use? If you don’t play in tournaments, then the brand of ball is not that important and I would recommend buying Franklin X-40 or Selkirk Pro S1 balls since they are less expensive. Note that Selkirk balls have 38 holes versus the traditional 40 holes.
Why these brands? Since each ball plays differently, it’s better to practice with the tournament ball prior to competition so that you are familiar with how it performs. Most tournaments currently use Franklin or Dura but recently there has been a more brands jumping into the market as of 2024. On Jan 4, 2024, PPA Tour, the largest pickleball organization, announced Vulcan VPRO Flight pickleball as their official ball. PPA is only one organization out of many that host tournaments. Given PPA’s poor management of many tournaments in 2022 and 2023, there is a large group of amateur players that have decided to boycott PPA events so those individuals could skip buying the Vulcan balls since they are not widely used outside of PPA currently. On Jun 27, 2024, APP, the other major pickleball organization, announced OWL CK-40 as their official ball.
Performance:
Franklins play slower than Dura since they are lighter. Duras are a heavy ball (denser), and that weight transfers into faster ball speeds. It’s currently one of the fastest balls. In windy conditions, you will see less wobble and change of direction with Dura due to weight/gravity. Still need to personally test the Vulcan ball to say where it falls.
- Franklin X-40 play slower than Dura since they are lighter
- Dura Fast are a heavier ball (denser), and that weight transfers into faster ball speeds. It’s currently one of the fastest balls. In windy conditions, you will see less wobble and change of direction with Dura due to weight/gravity.
- Vulcan VPRO Flight similar in weight to the Dura. When you first play with them, the spin kicks up fast but the ball goes out of round quickly which is why Vulcan is releasing Gen2 of VPROs summer 2024 due to too many complaints.
- Gamma Chuck have 38 holes instead of 40
- OWL CK-40 – new ball so I have no personally tested
- Selkirk Pro S1 also have 38 hole instead of 40. The ball bounce seemed unpredictable at times since hole size is not uniform
Color (outdoor): Last Christmas, my significant other’s family was going to get him some pickleball balls and asked me. I told them which brand and didn’t even think about specifying a color. To my horror, they were about to buy him the rainbow pack. but thankfully someone asked me again and I realized my mistake. I forget that non-pickleball players don’t really understand all the nuances of the game. The color of the ball matters! Fluorescent colors play faster generally, you can check out this 1-minute YouTube video where pro Julian Arnold talks about the difference between the colors. If you are competing, then likely you would want to practice with the same ball that you would be playing in the tournament. If Franklin, the match will be played with a neon ball.
For Dura, if you are playing non-pro events, you should purchase neon balls. The yellow and green balls do perform differently. Yellow is heavier which is why its used in pro levels; and green is lighter which slows the ball down for the amateurs (else the points would never end with the pros!). For practice, its unlikely you will notice the subtle difference between the Dura colors but I am superstitious and only practice with the exact tournament ball. With Vulcan, they only have one color: Neon.
Also, unless you are playing with your friends, most community players only play with yellow/neon green balls (especially older folks) and will usually ask to switch. Secretly, they might judge you and assume you are a beginner if you whip out your pink and orange balls so let me save you now. If you play, you will notice the difference in contrast as well. Especially at the higher levels where the ball is coming faster, it’s not fun to lose a point because you lost track of the ball.
Durability: Cold weather -> Franklin, windy/hot weather -> Dura. Not sure where Vulcan sits in the durability range yet as I still have to test it out. Franklins are thinner than Duras so the cold weather and hardening of the plastic is less affected. Whereas Dura’s thicker plastic withstands heat better and is not as impacted by the wind, but is more vulnerable to cracking in colder weather.
Indoor Balls: If you live in a cold, rainy area, then you might need indoor balls as well. Indoor balls are intended for indoor gym surfaces so before purchasing, I recommend you check out if the indoor facility near you has that surface. If its like an indoor tennis court surface (concrete), then you would be playing with outdoor balls still.
How Many? Discounts? I know it’s more spendy, but I do recommend buying the 100 pack because it is cheaper per ball. Franklin does offer 20-25% off about every few months so I recommend waiting for the deal (Amazon price matches when they do offer sales so if you have the Amazon prime card, that’s 5% cashback on top). That’s about $1.50/ball pre-tax if you buy the 100-pack. Onix, manufacturer of Dura Fast 40, does not have sales very often (sometimes over the holidays). Vulcan just became popular after the PPA announcement so it’s unlikely discounts will occur for some time (excluding the 1 hour window PPA gave for 10% off on 1/4/24…). However, Pickleball Stuff does have the 12 pack at a discount.
Pickleball Bag
Size: Pickleball bag is a necessity to hold all your pickleball gear. If you are new and wondering what stuff goes in a bag. Commonly, you need a bag big enough to hold shoes, socks, spare shirt (if you sweat a lot), multiple balls, sun screen, water, and paddles.
Shape: There are many bag types so its a personal preference. I like a bag with many pockets to stay organized. Common bag shapes are:
- Sling bag
- Backpack
- Miniature Tennis Bag – the formal name is “Pro Pickleball Bags” but that doesn’t help most people visualize the shape
- Duffle bag
- Tote Bag – due to the popularity of the sport, seeing more and more fashion designers trying to enter the market by making these style bags. I do caution that sometimes designers know nothing about the sport and will release impractical designs so make sure to get one that can hold at least two paddles and a water bottle holder.
Travel: You might end up with multiple bags but if you travel for pickleball, then you should consider having a bag that is carry-on size. While it’s a personal choice to check or carry on a bag on a flight, there’s always that risk that the airline loses your bag so I usually carry one paddle at minimum on my person. While not that common, a few of the bigger brands make pickleball roller bags like Onix Pro Team, JOOLA Vision Suitcase, and Vulcan VMAX. I personally have not tried any of the roller bags since it’s not as practical for my everyday play.
What I Use: Vulcan VPRO Pickleball Backpack. I prefer a bag with two straps since it distributes weight more evenly and makes it easier on my shoulders. Specifically, I like the Vulcan VPRO for the following reasons:
- Pockets: they have a lot of pockets to keep your organized. One of the side pocket has the thermal lining to protect from heat and the bottom pocket has ventilation for your shoes so they don’t stink up your bag
- Customization: for extra $20, you can get your name (or a message) printed on it so that no one will mistaken my bag for theirs. You need to order directly from Vulcan for it to be customized
- Color Options: they have multiple including black/gold combination which is one of my favorite color combos
- Built-in Hook: great to avoid bugs crawling in your bag and also when there’s too many bags on the ground, then you can hang your bag on the fence and out of the way. Personally, I have had ant infestations before from leaving my bag on the ground for a couple hours. As someone deathly afraid of bugs, this built in hook (which can be tucked inside when not in use) is a requirement for me.
Portable Charger
These chargers are a great investment, life saver in pickleball and everyday use. The battery is 10000mAh and can charge your phone multiple times before running out of juice.
If you do play in pickleball tournaments, then this is something that you need because all court assignments are done through texting. However, I have never been to a pickleball tournament that has provided charge stations. Especially on the days where play singles, there is no one else that receives the court assignment text aside you and the opponent so you need to make sure that your phone does not die during the tournament.
I particularly recommend the Charmast portable charger because it has all the possible input cables so whether you have iphone, android, or a flip phone, you can charge it with this charger. It’s got a built-in plug, making it simple so that you don’t have to carry another cable to charge it.
Chair
Whether you play recreationally or competitively, I recommend keeping a char in your pickleball bag or car unless you play in a location that is not that packed (and has ample seating) or at a club. If you play competitively, then you probably been in a tournament where there is not enough seating except on center court. On a long day of running around, its nice to be able to sit down between games and not every venue or facility has sufficient chairs so we always like to bring our own which has come in handy on numerous occasions.
I have the Helinox Chair Zero because it was the lightest outdoor portable chair (1 lb) in the market during its release. I like it because its not too hard to assemble and its light so I permanently keep it in my pickleball bag when not in use. It is more expensive and other chairs have gotten lighter since than. This chair on Amazon is more affordable.
My significant other loves this expandable stool. I think it looks silly but I will have to agree that it is a good chair for pickleball tournaments given its compact size (ideal for traveling), ease of use (super fast to setup once you figure out how to open it), carrying strap, and built-in charger capability. This chair has saved me twice now because I forgotten my portable charger once and another time, I had forgotten to charge my portable charger. The downside is that it does not have a backing or water holder since it’s a simple design. Just remember that if you bring this with on a flight, it must be carried on since its got a lithium battery in it (unless you get the non-battery version).
My significant other and I just bought this 2-person chair, It’s great for couples or dog owners! We have gotten so many compliments and people love sitting in it. This particular chair is much cheaper for a 2-person chair than the ones I found on Amazon by 30-40%. We use it locally and do not travel with it given its size. Another friend of ours had it first and recommended it. He uses his for his dog who he brings to the pickleball court so that the dog doesn’t have to lay on the hot concrete in the summer.
Protective Eyewear
When it comes to protecting my eyes, I am willing to spend more to ensure high quality. Majority of the pro players wear protective eyewear given the new paddle technology leading to faster play. Many of the pickleball and tennis pros play with Ria Eyewear, like Brascia sisters, Bryan brothers, Megan Fudge, Susannah Barr. The only way to get eyeglasses from Ria is online. We have two pairs of the Vantage [Transition HD+] sunglasses, rated for both indoor and outdoor play. The slight tint does not bother me too much but we do want to get an extra set of clear lenses for indoor play. They fog a little on my face since I have very high cheekbones so that happens to me with most (sun)glasses.
It is important to note that you cannot just wear any sunglasses for pickleball. Especially if they have a nose pad, those can be dangerous. We had a friend get hit in the sunglasses and the nose pad pushed up upon impact and caught her eye. Make sure your glasses are rated for impact sports.
Another notable pro that wears protective eyewear is Anna Leigh Waters but her brand of choice is Oakley. We did purchase a pair of Oakley (Sutro) sunglasses since they are a well established brand for sports (and own other pairs) but ended up returning them because they kept fogging up. However, it all depends on your facial shape so that might not be an issue for you. The benefit of buying Oakleys is that you can try them in-stores and at least the location we visited, the customer service was great and they allow for customization.
Both brands do allow you to order prescription lens. Make you sure you know your prescription and your pupillary distance (PD). You can ask your eye doctor for your PD since its not commonly written in the prescription document.
Luggage Tag
Unless you have a distinctive pickleball bag or it’s customized (Vulcan does this for the VPRO backpack), then a luggage tag is great for expressing yourself and make it a little more obvious which bag is yours or not yours. Amazon has lots of options that are affordable.
It’s also a necessity when you are traveling. While I generally don’t check my pickleball bag, for the times that I do, I never want anyone else to mistakenly take it at baggage claim.
Since my significant other loves Star Wars, I got these really cool tags with Darth Vader and with droids.
Sunscreen
Pickleball is commonly played outdoors and my favorite tournaments are wherever it’s sunny and nice weather. I am naturally tan but anyone can get skin cancer so I always apply sunscreen. Since I travel and compete, I carry travel size containers in my pickleball bag.
I personally love the feeling of Supergoop Unseen since it is incredibly lightweight for my face. Since Supergoop is more expensive, I use Banana Boat spray for the rest of my body. Spray is faster to apply and reapply. It’s also much easier to use spray for most men because rubbing sunscreen cream through arm and leg hair is no fun. I don’t have personal preference on brand of sunscreen spray but the travel-size Banana Boat spray is available at Target so easy to find in-person.
Since my best friend is allergic to zinc, I always like to disclose to others that Supergoop is made with zinc oxide. Since I don’t have this allergy, I can’t personally recommend another brand.
Sport Towel
Pickleball is not an one game sport and if ever seen those memes where “just one more game” turns into two hours later, that’s most people’s realities. It’s a great workout and that means you will likely break a sweat at least once so I recommend having a sport towel(s).
If you play tournaments, a lot of the larger ones occur in CA, AZ, and TX and those places can be hot (and humid for TX). I don’t sweat that much and I went through two towels during a July tournament in Dallas! And from observation, men sweat a lot so it might be worth bringing a bath towel if you know yourself.
I prefer the microfiber towels since they are absorbent yet soft. Millie Rose has a cute collection that are pickleball-themed and even come with a carabiner so you can hook it onto the fence. The towels run 15″X17″ so they are good size. They also make for great practical gifts because most people don’t usually have an overabundance of sport towels already.
Hat/Visor
It took a long time for me to convert to putting anything on my head because I did not like the sensation. But I also don’t enjoy wearing sunglasses either so when it’s super sunny, I will take a hat over sunglasses. However, a few years ago, I started wearing them and I now prefer to always have one for several reasons:
- Sweat absorbing: the hat helps to prevent more sweat accumulation from rolling down your face and eyes during points (I hate distractions)
- Controls the hair: if you have long hair (guy or girl), a hat helps so that those hairs don’t get into your line of vision
- Sun protection: your scalp can burn like every other part of your body. Especially those with dark hair or bald, there is more risk of scalp burn
- Blocking the sun: you can’t control the sun and many people play during the hours that overlap sunset and sunrise so having a hat really helps with visibility. Losing because the sun got in one’s eye is no fun
For those with long hair, Vimhue Sun Goddess is the perfect hat. I got these last year and love how comfortable and feminine they are. It has a neat backing design where you can put a ponytail through with varying ponytail height AND its rated UPF 50+ (win, win)! From a decade of tennis, I have seen hats similar to this and was not convinced when I tried them on because they were too stiff. Vimhue Sun Goddess hat is soft material and its got multiple heights that you can string a ponytail through.
Melin hats are more expensive than your typical Adidas/Nike hat but they are also high quality and specialize in water resistant hats (Hydro collection). I find their hats to be more masculine than I prefer but they are popular especially for the male population. Hydro collection comes in various hat types/fits.
Collapsible Cooler
As I attended more pickleball tournaments, I realized how dissatisfied I was with the food options. One day, I just packed the cooler with some delicious food and it improved my tournament experience.
Food at Tournaments: There is no requirement that a tournament has to provide food. The larger ones likely will have food trucks but it can be unpredictable what options they have. At one PPA event I attended, the food trucks didn’t even show up on the second day. Smaller tournaments might just have one food truck and if you are not craving BBQ or you’re vegetarian for example, then you are out of luck. All to say that if you have dietary restrictions or you’re a picky eater, having a cooler is better than risking it since tournaments can run 10-12 hours (especially PPA) and you will need fuel.
Also, don’t expect a tournament to have any ice so either use frozen water bottles or ice packs if you need to keep your food cold.
Travel: I love the collapsible cooler because I can still put it in my suitcase. Since it’s insulated, it still does take up some room but it collapses to about 3 inches thick. It comes with an handle and strap making it easier to carry once filled.
How I Pack My Cooler: If anyone attended 2023 Nationals in Dallas, they ran out of water during the mid-week events. Anything can happen so it never hurts to come extra prepared. If the place I am staying has a freezer, I like to freeze 4-6 water bottles the night before and then use them like ice-packs because if I need water, that’s my back-up. Plus, they stay cold for the entire tournament and I love cold water.
Security: There has been no security restrictions on coolers in any tournament I have played so far. If you are concerned, reach out to the tournament coordinator.
Also, don’t expect a tournament to have any ice so either use frozen water bottles or ice packs if you need to keep your food cold.
Matching Outfit
Do you need to match? Absolutely not, but I like the idea for many people because it allows them to express themselves and get a little creative. In tournament settings, this might be intimidating for the opponents or if you have a really bright outfit, this makes it easier for your fans/spectators to find your court (especially now that pickleballbrackets.com requires you to login to your account which makes it harder to find player court assignments if don’t play pickleball and are just coming to watch a friends/family).
If any of my tennis partners saw this, they wouldn’t believe I wrote this post because I am against matchy matchy. However, there are many ways to “match” without wearing the exact same outfit. Types of matching:
- Exact match: I have seen many fun patterns out there or custom t-shirts
- Same colors: these can be all the same color or matching color tops and matching color bottoms
- Color block: opposite of same colors is when my top and bottom will be different colors and my partner will have same colors but their top and bottom will be opposite color as mine. This is perfect if you and your partner are trying to compare what colors you have in your closet and don’t have the same top and bottom colors
Men’s doubles: My significant other is a former frat star and obnoxious matching outfits is up his alley. Some of his best outfits have come from Chubbies which a brand known for being fun and outgoing. My personal favorite of his is The Neon Lights print. He has the lined swim trunks and performance polo shirt. When his partner and him are both wearing that on the court, they get a lot of compliments. I did talk to Chubbies at a PPA event and they are working on a pickleball line for guys and girls so watch out for them! He also has a pair of shorts with dinosaurs on the lined undershorts which I think would be so cute for a matching father-son combo.
Mixed doubles: I think this is one of the biggest opportunities for clothing companies because there are not too many brands that specialize in matching guy/girl combo outfits for tennis or pickleball. I find that strange because mixed doubles is quite popular and someone looking to buy matching outfits will have to buy two (more sales for a company).
- I love Vuori because their products are high-quality and their dream knit collection is unbelievable soft. However, unless its black or gray, the shades of the colors are not usually same between the guys and girls items from the same collection so watch out
Women’s doubles: especially for women, styles and body shapes can vary drastically so I will leave it to you to decide what works for you and your partner. However, I did receive a cute skirt with a pickleball print for Christmas from a popular tennis brand, Lucky in Love. They now have a pickleball collection that has prints with pickleball paddle and balls if you want to show off your pickleball obsession in your clothing choices.
Paddle Cover/Paddle Case
Design: I was walking through the Pickleball Central tent on the last day of Nationals and saw them selling paddle covers of NCAA teams. I wanted one to show off my school pride but they sold out so fast. At the same time, I loved the idea of custom paddle covers and I hope more companies start manufacturing fun designs. Since paddles vary in shape and size, double check the specs to make sure it fits your paddle.
Material: most paddle covers out there are made of a blend of leather, foam, and acrylic. Paddle cases range in material composition. Franklin sells a lightweight plastic paddle case and Selkirk has a leather paddle case. If you want to go really fancy, there is the Selkirk Labs project covers (which you can only get with a Project paddle).
Do I really need one? Some paddles come with a case or cover so you might want to wait until you receive your paddle if you are okay with basic ones. You can play pickleball without ever owning a paddle cover/case so its not required. The purpose of the paddle cover/case it to protect the paddle so it depends on how much you care about your paddle. Or if you don’t want to bring your entire pickleball bag with you, then it is nice to have the cover for on-the go, especially if its rainy/snowing where you are.
For those that have a pickleball bag, you might decide you don’t need it. They do take up room so that would limit the amount of paddles you could fit. However, if you don’t have separate storage compartment for your paddles in your current bag, then I recommend having a pickleball cover to prevent the paddle face from getting scratched.
