04Gear

The best pickleball starter sets

Q: How many paddles come in a pickleball set?

Most starter sets include two paddles, which is enough for singles or to get a doubles game going with two shared paddles. Some family or group sets come with four. The listing always states the count — check it before you buy.

A set is the fastest, cheapest way to get two people playing — paddles, balls and often a bag or net in one box. Ranked with live prices and an honest verdict on each.

By Stephen V.Editor, Post & PaddleUpdated July 22, 2026

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A starter set is the fastest way to get two people playing: two paddles, a few balls and usually a bag, all in one box for less than buying the pieces separately. Our top pick is the niupipo Pickleball Set — proper mid-weight paddles, both ball types and a bag at the best value here.

Sets are ideal for a couple, a family, or a gift, and for anyone who wants to try the sport without overthinking it. If you already own a paddle and just need to equip a partner, skip the set and buy a single beginner paddle and a tube of ballsinstead — you'll only waste the duplicate paddle a set forces on you.

01The short answer

Quick picks

#	Product	Best for	Score	Price
01	niupipo Pickleball Set (2 paddles) The best-value way to get two people playing today: two paddles, balls and a bag in one box.	Best beginner set	8.0	$34.19Amazon
02	Franklin Pilot Paddle & Ball Set A trusted-brand two-paddle set from the official ball supplier to the pro tour.	Best brand-name set	7.5	$54.48Amazon
03	A11N Premium Starter Set (with net) The whole game in a box: two paddles, balls and a portable net for the driveway or backyard.	A complete driveway kit	8.0	$59.99Amazon
04	JOOLA Ben Johns Set A JOOLA-branded starter set carrying the sport's biggest name — reassuring quality for a gift.	A premium-feeling gift set	7.3	$79.00Amazon
05	Amazin' Aces Classic Graphite Set A graphite-faced two-paddle set — a slightly more controlled face than the usual fiberglass starter kits.	A graphite-faced starter set	7.8	$29.99Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of Sep 8, 2026. Where we have no verified live price, we show none — we would rather leave a gap than print a number that has rotted.

02In detail

The picks, in full

Best beginner set

niupipo Pickleball Set (2 paddles)

2 paddles2 indoor + 2 outdoor ballsCarry bagUSAPA standard dimensions

8.0/10

The best-value way to get two people playing today: two paddles, balls and a bag in one box.

Paddle quality: 7
Completeness: 8
Durability: 7
Value: 10

Pros

Everything two people need to start a game the day it arrives
Real 8 oz mid-weight paddles on a widebody face — a proper starter paddle, not a toy
Cheaper than buying two paddles and balls separately

Cons

Fiberglass beginner paddles you'll eventually out-grow
niupipo lists these as USAPA standard size, not on the approved equipment list

Don't buy this if…

…you already own a paddle and just need a partner's. Buy a single paddle and a tube of balls — you'll waste the duplicate here.

$34.19View on Amazon

$36.998% off

Price as of Sep 8, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to niupipo Pickleball Set (2 paddles)

Best brand-name set

Franklin Pilot Paddle & Ball Set

2 fiberglass paddlesBalls includedFranklin qualityUSA Pickleball approved

7.5/10

A trusted-brand two-paddle set from the official ball supplier to the pro tour.

Paddle quality: 7
Completeness: 7
Durability: 8
Value: 8

Pros

Franklin's brand reliability across both the paddles and the balls
Balanced fiberglass paddles that are easy to learn on
A safe gift that will not disappoint a new player

Cons

No bag in some configurations — check the listing
Paddles are entry-level; keen players upgrade within a season

Don't buy this if…

…you want the most gear for the money. The niupipo set usually bundles a bag and more balls for less.

$54.48View on Amazon

$119.9955% off

Price as of Sep 8, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Franklin Pilot Paddle & Ball Set

A complete driveway kit

A11N Premium Starter Set (with net)

2 paddlesBallsPortable net includedDriveway-ready

8.0/10

The whole game in a box: two paddles, balls and a portable net for the driveway or backyard.

Paddle quality: 7
Completeness: 10
Durability: 7
Value: 8

Pros

Includes a portable net, so you can play anywhere with a flat surface
Turns an empty driveway or cul-de-sac into a court in minutes
Genuinely everything a family needs to start from zero

Cons

The bundled net is a lightweight practice net, not a tournament frame
More expensive than a paddles-only set because of the net

Don't buy this if…

…you already play on public courts with nets. You'd be paying for a net you won't use — a paddles-and-balls set is the cheaper path.

$59.99View on Amazon

Price as of Sep 8, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to A11N Premium Starter Set (with net)

A premium-feeling gift set

JOOLA Ben Johns Set

2 reinforced paddlesBalls includedJOOLA brandReinforced fiberglass

7.3/10

A JOOLA-branded starter set carrying the sport's biggest name — reassuring quality for a gift.

Paddle quality: 7
Completeness: 8
Durability: 7
Value: 7

Pros

JOOLA's brand weight makes it a confident gift
Reinforced fiberglass paddles feel a cut above the cheapest sets
Everything needed for two to start

Cons

Costs more than the value sets for similar entry-level paddles
Still beginner paddles under the famous name

Don't buy this if…

…you're buying purely on value. You're paying a little for the name — the niupipo set gets two people playing for less.

$79.00View on Amazon

Price as of Sep 8, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to JOOLA Ben Johns Set

A graphite-faced starter set

Amazin' Aces Classic Graphite Set

2 graphite paddles4 ballsCarry bagCushioned nonslip grip

7.8/10

A graphite-faced two-paddle set — a slightly more controlled face than the usual fiberglass starter kits.

Paddle quality: 7
Completeness: 8
Durability: 7
Value: 9

Pros

Graphite faces are stiffer and a touch more precise than fiberglass at this price
Comes complete with balls and a bag
Long-standing, reviewer-friendly beginner brand

Cons

Paddles are thin-cored and firm, like most sets at this price
Grips run small
The listing makes no USA Pickleball approval claim, so check before league play

Don't buy this if…

…you or your partner has elbow sensitivity. Thin, firm set paddles transmit more shock — step up to a thicker-core single paddle instead.

$29.99View on Amazon

Price as of Sep 8, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Amazin' Aces Classic Graphite Set

03The buyer's guide

What's in a starter set

A typical set gives you two paddles, a few balls (usually two to four) and often a carry bag. Some go further and include a portable net, which turns a flat driveway or backyard into a court. The whole point is that you open the box and play — no separate shopping, no guessing which pieces fit together.

When a set makes sense — and when it doesn't

A set is the right call when two or more people are starting from zero: a couple, a family, or a gift for someone new to the sport. It works out cheaper than buying two paddles and balls on their own. A set is the wrongcall if you already own a paddle — then you're paying for a duplicate you don't need, and a single upgrade paddle is the better spend.

Sets that include a net

A few sets bundle a lightweight portable net so you can play at home without hunting for a public court. That's great for a driveway or cul-de-sac, but know the included net is a practice net— lighter and often narrower than regulation, not a tournament frame. If a sturdy home-court net matters to you, it's usually better to buy a paddles-and-balls set plus a proper portable net separately.

What to expect from set paddles

Set paddles are entry-level, and that's fine for learning. They're usually fiberglass or graphite with a thin, firm core — perfectly legal (the better ones are USA Pickleball approved) and good enough to learn every fundamental. Just know that if the sport sticks, you'll likely want a single upgrade paddle within a season. One heads-up: a thin, firm paddle transmits more shock, so anyone with elbow sensitivity may prefer to skip the set and start with a thicker-core single paddle.

How we picked

We do not run a testing lab

Everyone in this category says they tested twenty paddles. We haven't tested these in a lab, and we say so. Instead we compile the published manufacturer specs, do the math, weight everything toward what a beginner actually needs — forgiveness, a large sweet spot, sane weight and a fair price — and score each product against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from that research, not measurements we took. Where a fact came from someone else, we name it in Sources.

04Questions

Frequently asked

Are pickleball starter sets worth it?

For two or more people starting from scratch, yes — a set bundles paddles, balls and usually a bag for less than buying them separately, and you can play the day it arrives. It's poor value only if you already own a paddle, since you'd be paying for a duplicate.

How many paddles come in a pickleball set?

Most starter sets include two paddles, which is enough for singles or to get a doubles game going with two shared paddles. Some family or group sets come with four. The listing always states the count — check it before you buy.

Are the paddles that come in a set any good?

They're fine to learn on. Set paddles are entry-level fiberglass or graphite, and the better ones are USA Pickleball approved, so they're legal for organized play — not toys. Just expect to want a single upgrade paddle within a season if you get hooked.

Which starter set includes a net?

Some complete sets bundle a lightweight portable net so you can play in a driveway or backyard from day one. It's a practice net rather than a full regulation frame, so if you want a sturdier home court, pair a paddles-and-balls set with a dedicated portable net instead.

06Read next

05Sources

Quick picks

The picks, in full

niupipo Pickleball Set (2 paddles)

Franklin Pilot Paddle & Ball Set

A11N Premium Starter Set (with net)

JOOLA Ben Johns Set

Amazin' Aces Classic Graphite Set

What's in a starter set

When a set makes sense — and when it doesn't

Sets that include a net

What to expect from set paddles

We do not run a testing lab

Frequently asked

Keep going

Where our facts come from