The The craziest thing about pickle ball? It’s not that it’s America’s fastest growing sport — nearly 5 million people now play, two annual professional tournaments, and an emerging breed of pickle ball resorts. The craziest thing about pickle ball is that we are all now discovering the sport, which has been around since the 1960s, when a couple of parents invented it to keep their families entertained on weekends.
Falling in love with a pickle ball now, after all these years, is a lot like a well-worn romantic comedy plot where the protagonist finally gets to know his best friend who he/she really is. Who knows why it took us nearly 60 years to fall in love with pickle ball, the important thing is that we love the sport – because pickle ball is fun. Imagine if a game of tennis and table tennis gave birth to a child, and then this child was raised by a badminton. This pickle. We don’t think anyone should be left out of this fun, so we’ve found the best pickle ball equipment on the market so you can first hop into this burgeoning sport and look good at it. Here are our favorite pickle ball picks, from the shoes on your feet to the ball you hit.
1. Holiday Paddle Zuma
Your pickle ball racket is more than just a tool. It’s an accessory that speaks volumes about your personal style. The Zuma is beautiful, with a leather-wrapped handle and a simple yet whimsical botanical print. And this beauty also performs; The composite paddle has a honeycomb-shaped polypropylene core wrapped in a fiberglass surface that is given a polished texture to help increase ball rotation and control. Comes with a canvas bag.
[$86; recesspickleball.com]
2. Onyx Pure 2 External Pickle Balls
Not all balls are created equal. The Onix Pure 2 is built specifically for outdoor play, with a heavier chassis and smaller holes so the ball flies straight into the wind, but still delivers the perfect pickle ball bounce. It’s also durable, and has been shown to resist splitting, even on the hands of heavy hitters.
[$17; onixpickleball.com]
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