Nothing ruins a morning session faster than realizing you left your water bottle (or your paddle) at home. Here's our checklist of what belongs in a well-packed pickleball bag.
The must-haves
- Your paddle, and a backup. Edges chip, grips wear out, and it's always handy to have a spare to lend a new player.
- The right balls. Outdoor balls are harder with smaller holes to handle wind and rough courts. Indoor balls are softer with larger holes. Pack the type you're actually playing with.
- Court shoes. Side-to-side movement needs real lateral support (see our post on why running shoes don't cut it).
- Water. More than you think, especially on outdoor courts in the summer.
The things people forget
- Overgrips. A fresh overgrip makes an old paddle feel new and keeps sweaty hands from slipping.
- A towel. For your face and your grip.
- Eye protection. A fast ball at the kitchen line can find your eye in a fraction of a second, and on sunny days glare makes high lobs hard to track.
- Sunscreen and a hat or visor for outdoor play.
- A paddle eraser. Clears ball residue off the paddle face so it keeps its grip and spin.
- Snacks, a light layer, and a phone charger for long tournament days.
Keep it organized
Once you're carrying all of this, a bag built for pickleball makes a real difference. The Court Caddy Pickleball Bag holds 4 paddles, keeps 8 balls in Rapid Grab pockets, stands upright on its own, and has a laptop sleeve that fits up to 15", so it works for the office as well as the courts.
Add-ons that pair with it:
- Court Caddy Shoe Cube: keeps your court shoes separate from everything else.
- Court Caddy Front Paddle Sleeve: extra paddle protection on the front of the bag.
Don't forget your eyes
Solaro Cotton Candy sunglasses were designed by professional baseball players and come with three interchangeable lenses, so you're covered from bright midday sun to cloudy evenings.
Print-and-pack checklist
- Paddle + backup paddle
- Indoor or outdoor balls
- Court shoes
- Water bottle
- Overgrips
- Towel
- Sunglasses or eye protection
- Sunscreen + hat
- Paddle eraser
- Snacks + phone charger
See you on the courts!