Pickleball is easy to start and surprisingly hard on kit. The court is small, but the game is full of short bursts, quick shuffles along the kitchen line and sudden stops on a hard surface. Most new players turn up in running shoes and gym clothes, and within a few weeks they notice the same things: feet sliding inside the shoe, soles wearing thin at the toe and shirts soaked by the second game. A proper pair of pickleball shoes and a couple of pieces of court wear make every session more comfortable and a little safer.
Your Starter Kit Checklist
Work down the list in order. The shoes matter most, so they come first.
- Court shoes with lateral support. Side-to-side movement is constant, and a shoe built for it keeps the foot over the sole instead of rolling off it.
- A durable outsole with a non-marking compound. Hard courts wear rubber quickly, especially at the toe where players drag a foot while reaching for dinks.
- Toe protection. A reinforced toe guard takes the scuffs that would otherwise tear through mesh.
- A fast-drying top. Sweat-wicking fabric keeps you cooler through long open-play sessions.
- Bottoms you can move in. A skort or shorts with a built-in liner and a waistband that stays put.
Why Not Just Wear Running Shoes?
Running shoes have soft, high heels and smooth outsoles shaped for forward motion. On a pickleball court that combination feels unstable during lateral moves, and the soft rubber wears out fast on the hard surface. Purpose-built court shoes sit lower, grip in every direction and use tougher rubber where it is needed.
Three Shoes and Two Pieces of Court Wear
All five come from a dedicated pickleball shoes and apparel collection, so they are designed with this game in mind.
NetRush PKL
Designed for competitive players. An NDurance rubber outsole is built for durability, an extra-padded tongue is designed specifically for pickleball comfort, and a durable toe guard protects the high-wear areas that take the most punishment during play at the net.
SmashStep PKL
The more responsive option. FuelCell foam gives a propulsive feel for quick first steps, an NDurance rubber outsole adds durability, and a supportive upper helps keep the foot secure during fast changes of direction.
EveryMatch PKL
A straightforward all-rounder for regular open play. A multi-court outsole works on different surfaces, the NDurance rubber stands up to hard courts, and a durable toe guard handles toe drag.
Tournament Skort
Fast-drying fabric wicks moisture away from the skin, an Accelerate waistband with a bonded finish keeps the fit smooth, and a built-in inner short means there is nothing to adjust between points.
Tournament Top
The same fast-drying fabric with raglan sleeves for an easy swing and built-in mesh side panels for extra airflow during long sessions in the sun.
Settling In
Wear new court shoes for a short session or two before a tournament day, and keep them for the court rather than the walk to it, since outdoor pavement wears down the outsole faster than play does. Pack a spare top for summer evenings. Most of all, choose the shoe first; it shapes how confident you feel at the kitchen line more than anything else in the bag. A good pair also makes it easier to stay low and balanced through long dink rallies, which is where many points are decided at every level of the game.
How Often to Replace Them
Regular players who get on court three or four times a week often find their outsoles wearing smooth within a season, especially under the ball of the foot where pivots happen. Check the tread every month or so. When the pattern starts to fade or the shoe feels less steady during side steps, replace it before an ankle finds out first. Tops and skorts last much longer, though washing them cool and air-drying keeps the fast-drying fabric working as it should.
The Takeaway
Good kit will not fix a third-shot drop, but it removes the distractions: sliding feet, worn soles and a soaked shirt. Start with court shoes for pickleball, add a top and bottom that dry fast, and the game gets more fun from the first rally.
The shoes and court wear above are all made by New Balance. For more short reads on new hobbies and staying active, browse 2minuteread.