New to Pickleball? Here's Everything You Need to Start

New to Pickleball? Here's Everything You Need to Start

Pickleball is taking off across the UK, and once you've played, it's easy to see why. It's easy to pick up, genuinely social, and a brilliant way to stay active without needing tennis-level fitness to enjoy your first game. At MPS, we built our whole store around helping players get this stage right, so here's everything you need to know before your first session.

What Do You Actually Need to Get Started?

Just three things, and most venues already have the net set up for you:

● A paddle
● A ball
● A net

No special shoes or kit required for your first go, just comfortable trainers and something you can move in.

The Basic Rules, Simplified

● Serves must be underhand and hit diagonally across the court
● The ball must bounce once on each side before either player can volley it (hit it out of the air)
● There's a no-volley zone right at the net, nicknamed "the kitchen", where you can't hit the ball out of the air
● Only the serving side can score points
● Games are usually played to 11, but you must win by 2
● Standard play is doubles, though singles is allowed too

 

Where to Play Pickleball in the UK

If you're the social type, joining an existing group beats playing alone every time. Pickleball England's club locator is the easiest way to find a session near you; most welcome complete beginners, and plenty run taster sessions just for people picking up a paddle for the first time.

Choosing Your First Paddle

This is exactly why we built RYFT, our Beginner series paddle. It uses a forgiving fiberglass face and a 16mm core specifically so new players have the biggest possible margin for error while they're still finding consistent contact. Our buying guide breaks down the reasoning in more depth if you want to understand what actually matters before you buy.

Shop RYFT →

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