Blog - Pickleball Rookie

How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle

November 20, 2025March 20, 2022 by Drew Pierce

Choosing a pickleball paddle isn’t rocket science, but it’s not that straightforward either. Some folks live and die by the equipment they use when playing sports.

I am not one of those people.

While not the best athlete on the planet, I’ve never felt the need to have the best tennis racket, baseball glove, or hockey stick. Instead, I’m a firm believer that the correct form coupled with regular practice will give you the best performance. Good equipment is just the cherry on top of an already delicious dessert.

However, in a game like pickleball, where consistency is king, I do wonder if more emphasis needs to be placed on choosing a paddle when compared to other sports.

What Is the Double Bounce Rule in Pickleball?

December 18, 2025March 17, 2022 by Drew Pierce

The Double Bounce Rule requires the ball to bounce twice after a serve before anyone can volley it: once on the receiver’s side (the serve) and once on the server’s side (the return). This rule eliminates the “serve-and-volley” advantage seen in tennis. It forces the serving team to stay back at the baseline, making the Third Shot Drop the most important skill (and gear requirement) for winning points in 2026.

Pickleball is one of the most accessible games for anyone to pick up and learn. But there are a few minor rules to the game that everyone must understand. One of those rules is the double bounce rule, which is an odd rule for many pickleball beginners to grasp initially.

Dreaming About Pickleball

November 20, 2025March 12, 2022 by Drew Pierce

There were pickleball balls everywhere.

Different colors.

A random number of holes punched through each ball.

Some had circles and some had squares and some had triangles.

If you’re wondering what the heck is happening here, it was my very first pickleball nightmare.

I showed up to play with a group at my local tennis center. But there were more people than courts. I stood around awkwardly, debating if I should just leave.

Pickleball Graduation: Moving On Up!

November 20, 2025March 11, 2022 by Drew Pierce

I had my first “low intermediate” pickleball open play session. Is it ridiculous that I was a wee bit nervous before I arrived? With one lesson and one beginner open play behind me, it felt a bit early to be stepping up, but it seems like tennis players can make a relatively easy transition.

My biggest fear surrounded scoring. Will I know what to do? Will I disrupt the game’s flow for people who are really into it? Can I hang with this next level of play?

Pickleball 101: The Popular Game Explained

November 20, 2025March 8, 2022 by Drew Pierce

C’mon, admit it! You want a better understanding of pickleball and to better understand why everyone is talking about the sport. Here is your pickleball 101 lesson. 🙂

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sports in the United States. From 2019 to 2020, U.S. pickleball players grew from 3.46 million to 4.2 million players, a 21% increase, officially making it a thing.

What Is Pickleball? I Took a Lesson to Find Out!

November 30, 2025March 6, 2022 by Drew Pierce

Pickleball is a fast-paced paddle sport where most points are won at the net (the ‘Kitchen’). For beginners, success comes from keeping the ball low, loosening your grip for better spin, and wearing proper court shoes to handle the quick lateral movements. While similar to tennis, it requires less running but faster reaction times.

I took my first one-on-one pickleball lesson this week to answer America’s favorite recent question, “What is pickleball?” I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the fastest-growing sport in America. It is clear that I have a ton to learn, but the 60-minute session left me confident that my tennis skills will translate well on the pickleball court. However, there were a few surprises for this brand new player. If you’re considering picking up a pickleball paddle, here are a few things that my instructor shared with me, as well as a few things that caught me off guard.