What Is Pickleball? The Court, the Paddle and Why It Took Over in 60 Seconds
What is pickleball? A paddle sport on a 20 by 44 foot court, played to 11. See the gear you need, what a starter set holds, and how many courts fit your space.
Disclosure: Paddlory is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations. See our full disclosure for details.
Pickleball is a paddle sport played with a perforated ball on a 20 by 44 foot court, over a net 36 inches high at the sidelines. You serve underhand, play to 11 and win by 2. Two paddles and one ball are all you need to start.
The 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook calls it a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis. The court is small, and the minimum playing surface, run-off included, is 30 by 60 feet.
Below you will find starter gear, a table of what each set contains, and a calculator that counts how many courts fit your space. The sections after that answer what beginners ask first.
Paddlory earns a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Starter gear
Three paddle sets and a pack of balls to get a game going
Most reviewed set
niupipo Fiberglass Paddle Set with Balls and Bag
Fiberglass paddles over a polymer honeycomb core, with 2 indoor and 2 outdoor balls. The listing gives paddle weight as 7.62 to 8 oz and the grip as 4.25 inches around.
Catch: one page sells both the 2-paddle and 4-paddle sets, so check which one is in your cart.
Brand-name set
JOOLA Pickleball Paddle Set with Carry Bag
Two paddles, balls and a carry bag. The listing describes reinforced fiberglass layers over a polypropylene honeycomb core.
Catch: no paddle weight on the page, and 739 reviews is a thinner record than the niupipo.
Family pack
DULCE DOM Pickleball Paddles Set of 2/4
The 4-paddle version has 9-ply basswood paddles, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor balls and a sling bag, enough for a doubles game.
Catch: the maker says it is built for casual play, not tournament-level power shots.
Spare balls
Onix Pure 2 Outdoor Pickleballs, Yellow 6-Pack
Sold as weighted to fly straighter outdoors, with 2,038 reviews. Any approved ball is allowed indoors or out under rule 3.C.1.
Catch: “most durable” is the maker’s claim, and the listing gives no game count.
What is in a pickleball starter set?
| Product | Paddles | Paddle build (listing) | Balls | Bag | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| niupipo set | 2 (page also sells 4) | Fiberglass face, polymer honeycomb core, 7.62 to 8 oz | 2 indoor, 2 outdoor | Yes, per title | 11,243 |
| JOOLA set | 2 | Reinforced fiberglass, polypropylene honeycomb core | 2 (title says 2 to 4) | Carry bag | 739 |
| DULCE DOM set | 4 (page also sells 2) | 9-ply basswood, rubber edge guard | 2 indoor, 2 outdoor | Sling bag | 3,077 |
| Onix Pure 2 | None, balls only | Not applicable | 6 outdoor | No | 2,038 |
Figures are from each Amazon listing, with review counts read on 28 October 2026. No prices appear in this table; Amazon prices change daily and the buttons above show today’s price.
Court fit calculator
How many pickleball courts fit your space?
Defaults are a 60 by 120 foot slab. Edit with your numbers.
Courts at the 30 by 60 ft minimum
–
At 34 by 64 ft recommended
–
Spare area at minimum
–
Status
–
Formula: whole courts across the width times whole courts along the length, trying both orientations. Uses the rulebook’s 30 by 60 ft minimum playing surface and the 34 by 64 ft size it recommends for new construction and tournaments (rule 3.A.3); each court gets its own full surface.
How do you play pickleball for beginners?
You hit a perforated ball over the net with a paddle, and only the serving team scores.
The serve is underhand and goes diagonally across the net. Each side lets the ball bounce once before anyone volleys, and nobody may volley from inside the 7 foot kitchen. Games go to 11, and you win by 2.
Our full pickleball rules guide has the section numbers and a score call builder.
Video: PlayPickleball.com
What equipment do you need to play pickleball?
You need a paddle each, a ball and a net, and a starter set covers the first two.
The rulebook caps the paddle at 24 inches of combined length and width and 17 inches of length, with no limit on weight or thickness (rules 3.D.2 and 3.D.3). For sanctioned events the paddle must also appear on the USA Pickleball approved list.
Approved balls are legal indoors and out, so the product listing, not the rulebook, tells you whether a ball is weighted for outdoor play.
Once you know you like the game, our guide on how to choose a pickleball paddle covers shape, core and grip.
How big is a pickleball court?
The court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, with a non-volley zone 7 feet deep on each side of the net.
The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. The rulebook asks for a playing surface of at least 30 by 60 feet, and 34 by 64 for new construction.
The calculator above counts courts for your space, and our pickleball court dimensions page gives every line in feet and meters.
Questions people ask about what is pickleball
Is pickleball easy to learn?
Yes, the basics come down to three things: the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule and the kitchen. Learn those before your first game and the rest follows from the court layout.
What is the difference between pickleball and tennis?
Pickleball uses a solid paddle and a perforated ball on a 20 by 44 foot court, with an underhand serve. Tennis uses strung rackets on a much larger court and allows an overhand serve.
Do you need special balls for pickleball?
You need a ball approved by USA Pickleball, and rule 3.C.1 allows any approved ball indoors or outdoors. Some listings sell balls weighted for outdoor play, so read the product page.
How many players are on a pickleball court?
Two players in singles or four in doubles. Both formats use the same 20 by 44 foot court.
Keep reading
Last updated: October 28, 2026