Here's the full list of equipment you need to walk into your first pickleball session: comfortable clothes, a pair of trainers, and a water bottle.

That's it. Everything else is either provided for you or completely unnecessary at this stage.

Quick answer: For your first session, bring nothing - equipment is provided at almost all venues. When you start buying your own kit, prioritise court shoes first, then a paddle. In that order.

The paddle

The paddle is the most important piece of equipment in pickleball, and also the one most beginners don't need to own straight away. Most venues and clubs provide paddles for new players as standard. Dedicated facilities like Dinks Pickleball in Eastleigh, Courtside in Stourbridge, The PicklePad in Bournemouth, and Assembly Pickleball Club in Manchester all include equipment as part of their sessions.

When you are ready to buy your own - and that point tends to come naturally after a handful of sessions - entry-level paddles in the UK start at around £30 to £50. That's more than enough for recreational play. Paddles vary in weight, grip size, and surface material, all of which affect how they feel on court. None of those differences mean much until you've spent time playing. Which is exactly why borrowing first makes sense.

The ball

Pickleballs are plastic, perforated balls - similar in size to a wiffle ball but designed specifically for the sport. There are two types. Outdoor balls are harder and heavier, designed to handle wind and rougher surfaces. Indoor balls are softer and lighter, better suited to sports halls and leisure centres.

Most UK pickleball is played indoors, so indoor balls are the most common. You almost certainly won't need to bring your own - balls are provided wherever equipment is available.

Footwear - the thing most beginners get wrong

This is the one area worth paying real attention to, even as a complete beginner.

Pickleball involves a lot of short, sharp lateral movement - stopping, starting, and changing direction quickly. Running shoes aren't built for that. They're designed for forward motion, which makes them feel unstable when you're moving sideways and increases the risk of rolling an ankle on a smooth court surface.

Court shoes - the kind worn for tennis, badminton, or squash - are ideal. They're designed for exactly the kind of movement pickleball demands. If you don't own a pair, most regular trainers with a flat, grippy sole will manage fine for a first session. Just avoid thick, cushioned running shoes if you can. Your ankles will thank you.

Most beginners think about buying a paddle first. The more useful purchase is actually court shoes - the difference they make to comfort and confidence on court is immediate and noticeable.

Clothing

Comfortable, breathable sports clothing is all you need. A t-shirt or sports top with shorts, leggings, or tracksuit bottoms works perfectly. There's no dress code. If you've ever been to a gym session or a casual game of tennis, you already own appropriate clothing.

For indoor sessions - which covers the majority of UK pickleball - sports halls warm up quickly once you're moving. Lighter layers are more comfortable than heavier ones. If you're playing outdoors, bring something you can take off once you've warmed up.

A few small things worth having

A water bottle. Pickleball is more active than it looks from the sidelines and you'll be warmer than you expect within the first ten minutes.

A small towel if you tend to run warm.

That's genuinely the full list. Nothing on it requires a trip to a sports shop.

The right order of things

Borrow equipment for your first few sessions. Get a feel for the game and develop enough court time to know what you want. Then buy court shoes - they make an immediate difference to comfort and confidence. Then, when you're playing regularly, buy a paddle that suits your developing game.

That order makes every purchase a better one.

Ready to get started? Find a pickleball venue near you on The Pickleball Directory | The Home of UK Pickleball.