Beginner’s guide to pickleball

Pickleball has quickly become one of the more popular sports in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. The game combines fast rallies with simple rules, making it appealing to both pros and complete newbies – not to mention its competitive nature, which adds a fun factor.

If you’re looking to get into pickleball in 2026, but don’t know where or how to start, here’s everything you need to know about playing pickleball as a beginner.

What is pickleball?

Combine elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, and you’ll get pickleball – it’s a paddle sport played on a court that’s the same size as a badminton doubles court, using solid paddles and a lightweight plastic ball with holes.

The game feels fast-paced and reactive like table tennis, but with longer rallies and more movement. Despite this, pickleball gained massive popularity from 2021 onwards because it’s low-impact and relatively easy to learn.

You don’t need years of training to enjoy a proper rally – most beginners are able to keep the ball in play within their first session.

Is pickleball beginner-friendly?