When you are just a beginner, it can be hard to get into a new hobby. It can feel like you are constantly spending money and your head is spinning in a dizzy haze with all the information you are taking in and equipment, clothing, and gear you are buying. Not all hobbies are like that though, and if you have chosen pickleball as your new obsession, you are fortunate as it is both relatively simple to learn and fairly inexpensive, especially compared to other sports.
In the following post, we are going to look at some of the things you can do to help you get started in this addictive, fun, and very rewarding sport.
Find A Friend or Relative Who Loves Pickleball
This is by far the most efficient and easiest way to make your way as a beginner learning about pickleball. If you know a relative or friend who is already into it, that’s great. They will be able to teach you the rules, give you advice on the best equipment to get and where to get it from, and may even have information about classes and other things like that.
You will also be able to borrow their equipment while you find your feet in the sport.
The Basics You Need
If you are struggling to find someone in your social circle who is a pickleball fanatic, don’t despair as we are going to now look at some of the key things you need to invest in to get the most out of playing this sport.
Paddle
A pickleball paddle is the main tool of the sport. So, it’s the number one piece of equipment you need at all stages of your journey from beginner to pickleball master. There are a lot of factors that come into play that affect the quality and performance of different pickleball paddles, however, if you are just getting started, that may not be of interest to you and is unlikely to affect your enjoyment. You will find reviews at Pickleball Ace that could help you.
Pickleball-Suitable Shoes
This is another subject that you really don’t need to worry too much about in the beginning. Trust me, there are pages and pages on Reddit and other forums, blogs, and resources about what is and what isn’t a good pair of pickleball shoes. The bottom line is, that you need sturdy shoes, but shoes designed for sport, not swim shoes, hiking boots, or open shoes. The rest is down to personal preference really.
Somewhere to Play Pickleball
Similar to having a paddle, you need to have a place to play pickleball. If you are unfamiliar with local groups and leagues and don’t know where there are any local play locations, all is not lost. The best place to look initially is USAPA and their official website. All beginners at some point started their journey there.
Understanding the Basics of the Game
So, you’ve got reasonable shoes, a paddle of some description, and a place to play pickleball…what else do you need to know? Oh, that’s right, you need to know the basics of the game.
Let’s get one thing out of the way straight off the bat, if you have played other racket sports in the past, whether its badminton, ping-pong, or tennis, you are already almost there. Although experienced players will help you out with understanding the rest of the game, there are two important rules you should start trying to learn and memorize before you even arrive.
The Kitchen Rule – The kitchen or non-volley zone rule refers to a section of the pickleball court that is at 7-feet from each side of the net. The basic rule states you are not allowed to volley the ball if your feet are in the kitchen, or if the momentum of you hitting a ball with a volley causes you to step into the kitchen.
The Double Bounce Rule – The second rule you need to remember is the double bounce rule. This basically says that the ball is only allowed to bounce once after a serve and return serve.