Learning To Play Pickleball In Singapore - Here’s How And Where To Do It

New to pickleball and want to know how best to pick up the popular racket game? We tell you where to start.

You may have heard that pickleball is a wonderful sport to pick up, thanks to its physical and mental benefits and how easy it is to learn and play. If you’re a complete beginner looking to get the hang of the game, we tell you what you need in terms of equipment, where to take pickleball lessons and how to kick things off.

#1: Get your pickleball gear.

Pickleball equipment is affordable, and you need just a paddle and some balls to start. You can get a set of two paddles and four balls from as cheap as $16 on Shopee, to slightly more expensive paddles which cost from $30 to $150 from sports shops like Decathlon, as well as specialty shops like Pickleball88. More professional paddles can go up to hundreds of dollars, if you’re thinking of taking the game more seriously or going competitive. As for shoes, while there is an increasing selection of pickleball-specific shoes, you will find that tennis shoes for outdoor games and badminton or squash shoes for indoor courts will suffice. Technically, you can wear generic sports shoes, but shoes designed for court use would provide better support and traction for the moves used in pickleball.

#2: Find your pickleball gang.

Pickleball is known as a social game, great for making friends, staying connected and maintaining a sense of community. To play pickleball, you need at least one partner to play with, and a court can hold up to four players. If friends and family are occupied, pickleball academies such as Play! Pickle have social sessions where you can meet new people and garner tips for pickleball. Check out https://www.playpickle.sg/social. Also keep a lookout for community play sessions in your neighbouhood, community center or sports centre where you can possibly drop in, play some ball, make friends and stay healthy. 

#3: Find a place to play.

You can play pickleball in Singapore on dedicated pickleball courts, indoor and school sports halls and sports centres, badminton courts, tennis courts and more makeshift locations like outdoor spaces or even dance studios. When you’re starting out and learning, any venue with a hard floor and enough space is a good place to practise. Read our article here for more info on where you can play pickleball in Singapore. 

#4: Get up to speed on the basics of pickleball. 

While the rules are simple, they do exist, so it’s great to pick up the basics either by reading or watching online tutorials, or learning from friends and family. You can also join beginner sessions with academies such as Play! Pickle, where friendly coaches can help with basics like how to hold the paddle, how to hit the ball, and tips on strokes and strategies.

#5: Join a pickleball community.
Connect with pickleball academies and clubs. These communities often organise events and open sessions where newcomers can play and improve their skills.

#6: Level up your skills.

Once you've got the hang of the basics, consider taking your game up a notch with solo or group classes and coaching lessons. Play! Pickle has private and group classes for adults and kids, or for families, so you can level up on pickleball as quickly as possible and keep advancing in the game and maxing out your potential. And who knows, perhaps a tournament or two would be in your near future? There are now plenty of leagues and tournaments to join to experience competitive play and meet fellow enthusiasts.