Pickleball Equipment

Pickleball needs less kit than people think. A paddle each, a tube of outdoor balls and a net is a game. Everything after that is refinement, and plenty of it is optional for years. This page is the honest order to buy in, what each piece actually does, and where the money is worth spending.

The three things you genuinely need

1. A paddle each

The paddle is the only piece of equipment that changes how you play, so it deserves more of your budget than everything else combined. The decisions are core thickness (16mm sits the ball down, 14mm sends it faster), shape (elongated for reach, widebody for forgiveness, hybrid for both) and face (raw carbon grips the ball, painted does not). Browse all pickleball paddles, or jump to starter, intermediate or professional if you already know where you sit.

2. Balls matched to your surface

Outdoor balls have 40 small holes and a hard shell so they hold a line in wind. Indoor balls have 26 larger holes, a softer shell, and are quieter on timber. Quiet foam balls exist for courts with noise limits. Buying the wrong family is the single most common equipment mistake we see, and it makes the game feel worse in ways people usually blame on themselves. See pickleball balls or the indoor vs outdoor explainer.

3. A net, if you are making your own court

A regulation pickleball net is 6.7m wide, 91cm high at the posts and 86cm at the centre, and portable sets that hit those numbers go up in about five minutes. If you play at a club or a council court you can skip this entirely. See pickleball nets, and net height and court dimensions for the full setup measurements.

The things worth adding next

• A paddle cover. The least glamorous item here and the one that protects the most value. A raw carbon face is the entire reason a modern paddle grips the ball, and keys, zips and boot floors sand it flat.
• Overgrip. The cheapest change with the biggest effect on feel. Build the handle up if your hand cramps, strip it back if the paddle feels slow in a hands battle.
• Lead tape. The real tuning tool. A few grams at 3 and 9 o'clock widens the effective sweet spot; the same weight at 12 adds plough-through on drives and costs you hand speed. There is a full walkthrough in grips, overgrips and lead tape explained.
• A bag. Once you own two paddles and a tube of balls, carrying them loose stops being viable.

All of it sits in paddle accessories.

Training gear, once you are serious

A ball machine is the only tool that will give you a thousand identical third-shot drops in an hour, which is why it moves a game faster than any paddle upgrade. Pickleball Labs training aids cover the smaller stuff. If you are practising alone, solo drills without a partner is where to start before you spend anything.

What you do not need

You do not need a second paddle until your first one is worn or you want a different shape. You do not need indoor and outdoor balls unless you actually play on both surfaces. You do not need a court-marking kit if you are playing on an existing tennis or netball court, since tape and a portable net do the job. Buying a paddle above your level does not accelerate anything, because a stiff pro-tier face gives you no help on the mishits you are still hitting.

Starting from nothing

If you are kitting out a household or a group from scratch, a pickleball set bundles paddles, balls and in some cases a net into one box and lands under the cost of buying the pieces separately. The set guide works through which one suits which group size.

Clubs, schools and councils

We supply clubs, schools and councils in volume: paddles, balls, nets, court gear and custom club merchandise such as branded shirts and caps. We invoice on purchase order and you deal with Ben and Chris directly. Email support@pickld.com.au with roughly what you are setting up and how many players it is for, and you will get a real quote back rather than a form response.

Buying in Australia

Everything here is Australian-stocked and dispatched from Sydney, usually in one to three days. Free Australian delivery applies over $150, local pickup is available from Mount Colah, and we are an authorised reseller for the brands we carry, so warranty is assessed through us rather than an overseas portal. Factory-fresh paddles can be returned within 30 days.

Common questions

What equipment do I need to start playing pickleball?

A paddle, a ball, and access to a court with a net. That is genuinely it. Court shoes with lateral support are the first thing worth adding, because pickleball is played almost entirely sideways and running shoes roll ankles. Everything else can wait until you know you are staying.

Can I play pickleball on a tennis court?

Yes, and most Australians start that way. A pickleball court is 13.4m by 6.1m, so a tennis court fits several. Mark the lines with court tape and use a portable net at 86cm in the centre. The court dimensions guide has the full measurements.

What shoes should I wear?

Court shoes, not running shoes. Pickleball is lateral movement, split steps and quick stops, and running shoes are built to roll forward rather than resist sideways load. Tennis or volleyball shoes work. We do not stock footwear, so this one is advice rather than a pitch.

How much does it cost to get started?

Less than most racquet sports. A decent starter paddle and a tube of outdoor balls gets you playing at a club. If you are building a home court, the net is the largest single item. A set is usually the cheaper route once you need more than two of anything.

Do you supply schools and councils?

Yes. We supply equipment in volume on purchase order, including nets, durable paddles, bulk balls and storage, plus custom club merchandise. Email support@pickld.com.au with the player numbers and we will quote it.

New to the game? Pickleball for beginners in Australia covers how to actually start, and the rules and scoring guide covers the bits that confuse everyone in week one.