Pickleball, explained from the baseline up.

Rules, scoring, strategy and paddle advice in plain English. Every guide lists the official sources it was checked against, so you can trust what you read before you step on court.

Browse every guide See paddle reviews

Start here

Four guides, in order. Read them and you will know enough to play your first game.

Step 1: What pickleball is
The game in five minutes
Step 2: The rules
Serve, return, rally, fault
Step 3: Keeping score
What the three numbers mean
Step 4: The kitchen
The seven feet that decide points
The kitchen, 7 ft
The kitchen, 7 ft

Latest guides

See all guides

Rules & Basics

Pickleball Serving Rules: Volley Serve and Drop Serve

Pickleball serving rules explained: the volley serve and drop serve, where to stand, where the serve must land, service faults and the two-bounce rule.

8 min read

Rules & Basics

Pickleball Court Dimensions: Official Size Guide

Official pickleball court dimensions: a 20 by 44 foot court, 7-foot kitchen, 15 by 10 foot service courts and a 34-inch center net, with a court diagram.

7 min read

Rules & Basics

Pickleball Terms Glossary A to Z

An A to Z glossary of pickleball terms, from ATP and dink to side out and volley, with short definitions based on the official USA Pickleball rulebook.

9 min read

Getting Started

Pickleball vs Tennis Differences Explained

Pickleball vs tennis compared side by side: court size, net height, paddles and rackets, balls, serving rules, scoring and how much ground each game covers.

8 min read

Getting Started

Pickleball Equipment List for Beginners

A beginner pickleball equipment list: paddle, balls, court shoes, net and bag. See what to buy first, what can wait, and typical US price ranges for each.

7 min read

Paddle reviews

Scored from published specs, price and manufacturer information. Not play-tested, and we say so on every review.

See all reviews

Buying guide
Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners: 5 Verified Picks
Five beginner pickleball paddles from $50 to $90, compared on verified specs, current US prices and USA Pickleball approval. Research-based, not play-tested.
Paddles compared
5
JOOLA
JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16mm
JOOLA's original Hyperion is still sold, still USA Pickleball approved, and now $60 below its launch price. A thick-core, elongated control paddle that newer models have passed on technology but not on value.
Picklenball score
8.5 / 10
Listed price
$159.95
Gearbox
Gearbox GX6 Control
A thin, edgeless carbon fiber control paddle that is still USA Pickleball approved, but Gearbox no longer lists it, so it only makes sense at a clearance price.
Picklenball score
7.0 / 10
Listed price
$134.99
Niupipo
Niupipo Voyager Pro Elongated Graphite Pickleball Paddle
One of the cheapest USA Pickleball approved ways to try an elongated shape. The long, narrow face favors reach over forgiveness, and the core is mid-thickness at about 14 mm by third-party measurement.
Picklenball score
7.0 / 10
Listed price
$49.99
AugOcean
AugOcean 3K CFS PRO AN-01 Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle
A 16 mm carbon fiber paddle for around $40 with one model on the USA Pickleball approved list. Strong on paper for the price, with thin brand support behind it.
Picklenball score
6.5 / 10
Listed price
$39.99

Browse by topic

Rules & Basics
What the game is, how a point works, and the rules that trip up new players.
7 guides
Getting Started
What to bring to your first game and how pickleball compares to sports you know.
2 guides
Strategy
Where to stand, what to hit, and why the soft game wins points.
4 guides
Gear Guides
Paddles, balls and materials, explained without the marketing copy.
3 guides

How these pages are written

Rules and dimensions are checked against the USA Pickleball rulebook and other primary sources, and each guide ends with the list of pages it relied on. Paddle reviews are desk research: specs, prices and manufacturer information, with no play-testing claimed.