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By ARTI Pickleball. Last updated September 2026.
55% off ARTI gift sets
The Sandstorm, Dogs & Giraffes, Flowers and Horizon Duo gift sets are $35.99 each, regularly $79.99. Every set is a complete two-player kit: two USA Pickleball approved fiberglass paddles, four outdoor balls, and a carry bag in one box. Two sets ship free. Shop the gift sets.
The short answer
To start playing pickleball you need four things: a paddle, a ball that matches the court you play on, court shoes, and somewhere to put it all. Everything except the shoes comes in one box. For two people, buy the ARTI Sandstorm Pickleball Paddle Set, which is two fiberglass paddles, four balls and a carry bag. For four people, buy the ARTI Court Crew 4, which is two sets in one box. For a couple who already play and want to buy once, buy the ARTI K&K Carbon Doubles Duo or the ARTI State Carbon Doubles Duo, two 16mm carbon paddles in one order with each of you picking your own face.
What you actually need, and what you do not
| What you need | Why it matters on day one | The ARTI pick |
|---|---|---|
| Two paddles | Pickleball is not a solo sport. One paddle means waiting for someone else to have one. | Sandstorm Set, two paddles in the box |
| The right ball | Outdoor and indoor balls are different objects. The wrong one makes a good paddle feel broken. | ARTI Outdoor or ARTI Indoor |
| Court shoes | Pickleball is side to side. Running shoes are built to go forward and will slide on the first hard step. | Any court shoe with lateral support |
| A bag | Paddles left loose in a car trunk get chipped faces. | Included with every ARTI gift set, or see Bags |
| A net | Only if you have no local court. Most people do not need one. | Check your local parks first |
I'm new to pickleball, what equipment do I need to get started?
Less than you think. A set of two paddles with balls and a bag covers everything the sport requires except shoes. You do not need a net, a ball machine, three grips or a second paddle in a different weight. Those are all answers to problems you have not met yet.
The one thing worth getting right on day one is the ball, because the difference between an indoor and an outdoor ball is larger than the difference between two paddles. Outdoor balls are harder with smaller holes so they hold a line in wind. Indoor balls are lighter and softer with larger holes so they behave on a gym floor. Every ARTI gift set comes with four outdoor balls, and if you change surfaces you can add balls of the other kind rather than buying another paddle.
Best pickleball starter set for a couple
ARTI Sandstorm Pickleball Paddle Set, the one to buy first
What is in the box. Two fiberglass paddles over a honeycomb polymer core, four balls and a carry bag.
Who it is for. Two people who have played a few times on borrowed gear and are ready to own their own. Fiberglass plays a little livelier and a little more forward than carbon, which is the right compromise while you are still learning where the ball goes.
Skip it if. You are both already playing weekly and losing points on soft shots at the net. Go to carbon instead, below.
ARTI Horizon Duo, the same set with a bolder face
What is in the box. The same two paddle, four ball, one bag build as the Sandstorm. The Horizon Duo pairs two abstract faces, one in blue and blush and one in orange and grey.
Who it is for. Two people who want the set to look like something they chose rather than something they were issued. If abstract is not your style, Flowers and Dogs & Giraffes are the same build again in a different mood.
Skip it if. You want carbon. Every set at this level is fiberglass.
ARTI K&K Carbon Doubles Duo, the set for a couple who will not start over
What is in the box. Two Kristen & Kristy paddles, each of you choosing your own artwork. Both are a 16mm honeycomb polymer core with a 100% carbon fiber face.
Who it is for. A couple who already know they are playing twice a week and would rather buy the paddle they will still be using in a year. Carbon gives a quieter, more predictable contact than fiberglass, and a raw carbon face holds its surface texture over time better than a painted grit finish does.
Skip it if. One of you is still deciding whether they like the sport. Start with a fiberglass set and upgrade the convert.
ARTI State Carbon Doubles Duo, for two people from two places
What is in the box. Two State Collection paddles, 16mm honeycomb polymer core with a 100% carbon fiber face, each picked separately. California, Florida, New York and Texas.
Who it is for. Couples who did not grow up in the same state and enjoy that fact slightly too much, and anyone who wants to find their paddle on a crowded rack without squinting.
Skip it if. Your state is not in the four. The K&K Duo plays the same way.
Best pickleball set for a family just starting out
ARTI Court Crew 4, the four player answer
What is in the box. Two ARTI gift sets of your choosing, which is four paddles, eight balls and two carry bags in one order.
Who it is for. A family of four, two couples who play together, or a household that has worked out that doubles is the format everyone actually enjoys. You can pick two different designs so the paddles are easy to tell apart at a glance, which matters more than it sounds like when four people put them down on the same bench.
Skip it if. Only two of you are playing. Two paddles that get used beat four that do not.
Which ball goes with it
ARTI Outdoor Pickleball
Harder shell, smaller holes, built for asphalt and wind. This is the one for public courts, tennis courts with pickleball lines, and driveways. Sold on its own so you can top up a set rather than replace it.
ARTI Indoor Pickleball
Lighter and softer with larger holes, for gym floors and community centers. An indoor ball played outside will feel dead and skid, and it is a common reason a new player blames their paddle.
What you can skip for now
- A net system. Find out whether your local park already has lines painted before you buy one.
- A second paddle in a different weight. You cannot compare two paddles until you can play consistently with one.
- A 14mm paddle because it sounds more advanced. A thinner core sends the ball off quicker, which magnifies early mistakes rather than fixing them.
- Matching everything. Two different faces in one bag is easier to sort out at the court than two identical ones.
Common questions
What is the best pickleball starter set?
For two people, a two paddle fiberglass set that includes balls and a bag, so you are not buying three things separately. The Sandstorm Set is the straightforward version of that. For four people, the Court Crew 4.
Is a starter set worth it, or should I buy one good paddle?
If you have someone to play with who already owns a paddle, buy one good paddle. If you do not, buy the set. A common reason new players stop playing is having nobody to play with, and a spare paddle solves that faster than a better face does.
How many balls do I need?
Four is enough to play without walking after every miss. Outdoor balls crack eventually with regular play, so expect to add to the pile over a season.
Do starter sets come with a bag?
Every ARTI gift set includes a carry bag with the two paddles and four balls. If you want something larger for shoes and water, see Bags.
Should a beginner set be fiberglass or carbon?
Fiberglass while you are deciding, carbon once you have decided. Fiberglass plays livelier and is the standard build for a two paddle set. Carbon gives a quieter and more controlled contact and is where many regular players end up. The K&K Carbon Doubles Duo is the way to buy two carbon paddles at once and skip the middle step.
Do I need an approved paddle to start?
Not for open play, league nights or anything at your local court. Sanctioned tournaments require a paddle from the USA Pickleball approved equipment list, so if you expect to enter one, check the current list for the exact model first. The paddles in every ARTI gift set and in both carbon Doubles Duos are USA Pickleball approved, so they are real paddles rather than a toy set.
Where to start
Two people: Sandstorm Set, or browse Paddle Sets. Four people: Court Crew 4. Two people buying once: K&K Carbon Doubles Duo or State Carbon Doubles Duo. Every gift set in one place: Starter Series.
Changelog. September 2026: rewritten around the question in the words buyers use, added a named pick per group size, added the equipment table, and removed claims about ball certification that ARTI does not publish.