Walking into Target to buy a pickleball gift and not sure what is actually worth putting in the cart? Here is what the Target aisle does well, where the inexpensive boxed sets quietly fail a non-player, and when a themed gift set from a dedicated brand is the better call.

Funny pickleball gifts for friends only work when the laugh survives the first week. Here are the ARTI picks that keep getting used — the Dinner and Dessert and Dogs pop-art paddle sets, the Baby Blue 'Are We There Yet?' crewneck, the party tee and the trucker hat, plus how to pair a funny piece with a quieter one.

A gift for your doubles partner should say 'same team next season,' not just 'here is an object.' Here are the paddle sets, matching hats and card-message ideas that thank the teammate who covers your lobs — plus the K&K Carbon Doubles Duo, two paddles in one order with faces you both pick.

The eclectic grandpa aesthetic — tweed, corduroy, thrifted knits, a curio cabinet in the hall — deserves a paddle that reads like a beloved object rather than gym equipment. Here is the ARTI paddle we recommend for that closet, and the kit that belongs beside it.

A paddle that celebrates where someone is from lands differently than a generic premium gift. Here is how to choose a state-pride pickleball paddle that reads as considered rather than novelty — which state designs suit which recipients, and how to pick when the answer involves more than one home.