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 — USA Pickleball approved paddles, balls 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	$33.29Amazon
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	$69.99Amazon
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	$51.00Amazon
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 Jul 22, 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 paddles4 ballsCarry bagUSA Pickleball approved paddles

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
The paddles are USA Pickleball approved — legal for organized play, not toys
Cheaper than buying two paddles and balls separately

Cons

Fiberglass beginner paddles you'll eventually out-grow
The included bag is basic

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.

$33.29View on Amazon

$36.9910% off

Price as of Jul 22, 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 Jul 22, 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.

$69.99View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 22, 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.

$51.00View on Amazon

$70.9128% off

Price as of Jul 22, 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 bagUSA Pickleball approved

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

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

$32.999% off

Price as of Jul 22, 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