About New to Pickle
New to Pickle is a small site with one job: help people who are brand new to pickleball feel less lost.
Most pickleball sites are made for players who already know the game. They talk about gear science and pro tactics. That's great — but it's not much help on your first day, when you don't even know what to buy or where to stand.
This site is for that first day. And the first week. And the first few games, when everything is new and a little scary.
Who writes this
Big Al
I started pickleball as a total beginner, the kind who showed up in running shoes and had to borrow a paddle. I play Sundays in Orange County, California, and I write every guide on this site while the beginner experience is still fresh.
That is on purpose. Once you get good, you forget what it felt like to be lost. I have not forgotten yet, and this site exists so you can skip the confusing parts I had to figure out the hard way.
How this site makes money
Some guides link to gear. If you buy through those links, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. That keeps the site free. I only point to things I'd hand to a friend. You can read the full affiliate disclosure here.
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