What you need to start playing pickleball

To start playing pickleball you really need just three things: a paddle, a pair of proper court shoes, and a few balls. If there's no court near you, add a portable net; once you own gear worth carrying, a bag is a nice extra. A complete, sensible beginner setup runs roughly $80 to $150, and many players start for less by splitting a starter set with a friend. Here's the full checklist, in priority order.

The beginner checklist

• A paddle — buy this first.Your paddle is the one piece of gear that actually affects how you play. You want a forgiving, mid-weight, wide-body paddle in the $40-80 range — not the cheapest wooden one, and not a $200 pro model you can't yet use. See our best paddles for beginners, or read how to choose a paddle if you want the reasoning first.
• Court shoes — the safety buy. Do not play in running shoes. Pickleball is full of quick side-to-side movement, and running shoes are built only for forward motion, so they roll ankles. Proper court shoes (tennis or pickleball shoes) have the lateral support and grip you need. This is the second thing to buy — our best pickleball shoes covers the picks.
• Balls — indoor and outdoor. Pickleballs are perforated plastic balls, and there are two kinds: indoor balls have fewer, larger holes and a softer feel for gym floors, while outdoorballs have more, smaller holes and a harder shell to handle wind and rough courts. Grab a few of whichever matches where you'll play — see the best pickleball balls, and indoor vs outdoorif you're not sure which you need.
• A bag — once you have gear to carry. Not essential on day one, but once you own a paddle, shoes, balls, water, and a phone, a dedicated bag keeps it all together and saves your paddle from getting knocked around. See our best pickleball bags.
• A net — only if there's no court nearby. Most people play on public or club courts that already have nets, so you can skip this. If you want to play in a driveway, park, or cul-de-sac, a portable net turns any flat surface into a court. The easiest way in is a bundle — see our best starter sets, or best portable nets for the net on its own.

What you don't need yet

Skip the extras until you know the sport sticks. You don't need a $200 paddle, a ball machine, special apparel, or a second "backup" paddle to start — regular athletic clothes are fine, and any water bottle works. The fastest way to overspend is to kit yourself out like a tournament player before your first game. Buy the three essentials, play a few times, and let your preferences (and your budget) guide the upgrades.

How much does it cost to start playing pickleball?

Here's a realistic budget for one person buying everything new:

• Paddle: about $40-80 for a good beginner model.
• Court shoes: roughly $50-90 for a dependable pair.
• Balls: around $10-20 for a pack of a few.
• Bag (optional): about $25-50.
• Portable net (only if needed): roughly $80-150.

Add it up and a paddle-plus-shoes-plus-balls start is commonly $100-190, less if you already own suitable court shoes. Two people can start even cheaper by buying a starter set that bundles two paddles and balls, then splitting the cost. Prices on all our pick pages are live, so you can see the real current numbers before you buy.

Not sure how the game works yet? Start with the rules and how to play, then come back and kit yourself out.