How to Start Playing Pickleball After 60

Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the country, and a huge share of that growth is people taking it up in their sixties and beyond. If you’re thinking about joining them, the barrier to entry is wonderfully low — you need very little gear and no experience. Here’s exactly how to get started, in order, so your first weeks are fun rather than frustrating (or painful).

Step 1: Get the all-clear if you need it

Pickleball is low-impact and widely recommended for older adults, but if you have a heart condition, arthritis, a recent injury or any concern about starting a new sport, have a quick conversation with your doctor first. It’s a five-minute step that buys peace of mind. (Nothing on this site is medical advice.)

Step 2: Buy proper court shoes — before anything else

If you spend money on one thing, spend it here. Injury data shows the leading risk for players over 60 is falls, and the right shoe is the best defense. You want a court or tennis shoewith a stable base and good cushioning — never a running shoe, which is unstable during pickleball’s side-to-side movement. This matters more than the paddle.

Step 3: Get a light, forgiving paddle

You do not need an expensive carbon paddle to learn on. Start with an inexpensive, lightweight paddle with a comfortable grip — light is easiest on the arm, and forgiving is what you want while you develop a swing. Play with it for a couple of months, then let your own preferences guide a better second paddle.

Step 4: Learn the basics

Ten minutes of homework makes your first game far less bewildering. Learn three things: the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule (the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys), and the non-volley zone — the “kitchen” near the net where you can’t hit the ball out of the air. That’s enough to play.

Step 5: Find a game

This is easier than you’d think. Local recreation centers, YMCAs, senior centers, clubs and public courts almost all run open playor beginner sessions, and the pickleball community is famous for welcoming newcomers. Just turn up to a beginner-friendly session — playing with others is far more fun, and far faster to learn from, than hitting alone.

Step 6: Warm up and pace yourself

Most beginner injuries come from doing too much too soon. Warm upbefore every session, start with shorter outings, and build up over a few weeks as your body adapts. Play the soft game rather than lunging for everything, and stop if something genuinely hurts. Do that, and pickleball can be one of the best — and most sociable — things you take up at 60 or any age after.