The Best Pickleball Gear to Gift for Father’s Day

The heritage brand designed this tennis sneaker for lateral movements — and a typical pickleball match if full of them. Beyond that stable midsole, we’re fans of the sockliner, the grippy exterior and clean lines.

Another great pair, from a label that’s typically associated with CrossFit gyms. NOBULL must’ve realized that customers were using their trainers for racquet sports, and decided to just make a court sneaker. The toe bumper is an excellent shield on plays that call for quick pivots or drags.

The easiest way to get a pickleball game going is to have enough paddles for a full foursome. Dad’ll appreciate this approachably-priced set of 8 oz. paddles. (Those woodens ones you’ve seen online are beautiful, but they do a number on your wrists.)

Most pickleball sets come with a set of two to four balls. But those wear in pretty quick. For a little extra dough, you can get a six-pack of balls with specialized micro-holes, which allow them to cut through the wind for optimized outdoor flight.

Pickleball sets can trend a tad garish…but not so for this regulation net from equipment outfitter Champion Sports. It’s easy to assemble, and heavier than the cheap sets at the top of the Amazon feed (which will topple in the wind, trust us).

Go this route if your pops can’t get enough of the game. Like a premium tennis racquet, or top-line driver, he deserves the very best the sport has to offer. This paddle is what the pros use: a sub-8 oz., graphite paddle with a shock-dampening polymer core. The finish on the paddle will literally let you “grip” the ball for longer, before deciding where you want to hit it on the court. One reviewer gushed: “Do you know what it feels like to play with a balanced paddle? It feels like an extension of your hand.”

Pretty much the only annoying thing about pickleball is the difficulty of finding a court. When in doubt, bring these markers to a stretch of flat cement. Tape or chalk will finish the job.