Let’s face it – behind tennis, Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States today.
People are setting down their racquets, albeit temporarily, and picking up a paddle. They are hitting the pickleball courts and for good reason. In addition to keeping up with hand-eye coordination, the game promotes balance, agility, and mental awareness. It’s also great for tennis players who aren’t ready to retire their racquets but are nursing an injury such as a hip, joint, or shoulder problem.
The Popularity of Pickleball:
- Pickleball can be played year-round both indoors and outdoors
- The initial start-up cost is very minimal
- Pickleball was designed for amateurs, but athletes play it as well
- It doesn’t require as much of a time commitment as tennis or golf
- Pickleball is easier on your body than tennis
Pickleball: Getting started
Let’s take a peek at some of the must-haves in order to get out there and feel pretty on the pickleball courts.
First up – the SHOES!
You know the age-old saying, “If the shoe fits, buy it”. They’re not kidding!
And shoe manufacturers are keen to recognize pickleball might be played on a tennis surface, but no two games are alike. That’s why some of the industry tennis shoe manufacturers such as K-Swiss, Fila, Head, Babolat, Mizuno, Lotto, and Diadora, are making specific shoes, just for pickleball.
These Fila Women’s Volley Zone Pickleball Shoes are a beautiful combination of trendy and traditional.
Fila is notorious for dressing some of the top female tennis pros, like Ashleigh Barty, Sofia Kenin, and Karolina Pliskova.
Here, Fila has designed some top-rated Women`s Volley Zone Pickleball Shoes. Sticking to the brand’s reputation for engineering quality performance shoes, these pickleball shoes are highly responsive with an energized midsole cushion, as well as targeted pivot areas underneath for maximum performance and mobility.
They are non-marking, and best of all, come in white and knockout pink.
Next Up – the BAG
What’s cuter than a new pair of shoes? A gorgeous handbag!
And boy do we have the perfect one for you! Sportschic Women’s Vegan Midi Pebble Grain Pickleball/Racquetball Backpack.
These bags come in three eye-stopping colors: Titanium, Pewter, and Bronze.
Notice the luxurious look and feel of this bag. It’s the ultimate combination of utility and style.
It’s easy-to-clean, UV protected, and has a durable exterior as well as a functional hot pink interior. The interior of this bag boasts two slip pockets as well as a secure zipped pocket.
There are two insulated exterior pockets that can be used to keep drinks and snacks hot or cold. It also has a designated spot for your padded and polished metallic hardware on the feet.
As a bonus, this bag doubles as a racquetball bag and will meet a variety of needs with a padded shoulder strap. The bag measures 10″ x 13″ x 5″ and weighs less than two pounds.
Third Up – is Pickleball APPAREL
What’s not to love in this Love2love Women’s Pickleball Top Stonewashed Denim top.
You’ll want to hit the courts or maybe a sophisticated happy hour in this adorable Love2Love Women’s Pickleball Top in Stonewashed Denim. Aside from the tongue-in-cheek humor, you’ll be turning heads in this super-soft, cotton/polyester blend, with a relaxed fit. The longer back hem offers extended coverage, while the short sleeves allow for a free range of motion. This top is a prerequisite for any Pickleball outing.
Next up – the Pickleball PADDLE
While there are a variety of paddles to choose from, and a ton of manufactures including Head, Gamma, and Wilson, these paddles by Paddletek were specifically designed to provide high performance while staying light in weight. They are the perfect paddle for beginners, and really, players at all levels.
The Paddletek Phoenix Genesis Pickleball Paddles are made from textured fiberglass. They are finished with an epoxy Hybrid Hitting Surface to help players maintain control, especially when it comes to the amount of spin they put on the ball.
The Polymer Composite Honeycomb Core provides a comfortably dampened response and is designed to help the paddle protect itself against minor scuffs and scrapes.
One of the best parts about this paddle is that it comes in a variety of vibrant colors including purple, green, yellow, blue, and red.
Second to last – Pickleball GRIP
There are a variety of ways to doll up your pickleball paddle, and one of the biggest ways you can personalize it, is by adding do this is by adding a wrap to the grip.
Pickleball grips are similar to tennis grips, in that they provide a level of comfort and can wick away unwanted moisture from your hand. They also provide a nice grasp for your paddle and can be added for players who want a similar size grip to their tennis racquet.
Some of the up-and-coming pickleball grip manufacturers are some of the same great names we’ve come to love in tennis including Gamma, Head, Tourna, and Vulcan.
Last, but in no way least on the list – the BALLS
As I mentioned earlier, pickleball can be played both indoor and outdoor, which is why you have to be sure to purchase the right kind of pickleballs.
Similar to the tennis balls, court surfaces do make a difference. If you’re playing on a clay court, hard court, or grass, you’ll need to take into account the amount of felt on a regular or heavy-duty tennis ball.
The same rule applies here. It is important to account for the various elements you’d find whether you’re playing indoors or out.
While both indoor and outdoor pickleballs are made from durable plastic, indoor balls have larger holes and are a little lighter. This allows the player to control their shot more accurately. The indoor ball is also softer because most indoor courts are played on a wood surface, such as in a gymnasium or on an indoor basketball court.
Outdoor pickleballs are a little heavier with harder plastic and have smaller holes. These features give the outdoor balls a slightly bigger bounce and make them more weather and wind resistance.
They also come in two bright colorways.
So there you have it, whether you’re playing for a reason or a season, you can feel pretty playing pickleball with these and other items from www.tennisexpress.com.
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