Women's Guide
Pickleball for Women
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport among women in America, and the #1 player in the world is a woman. Here's why, and everything you need to start playing.
Women lead the sport
Anna Leigh Waters, who started playing at age 12 with her mother Leigh Waters, became the #1 ranked professional pickleball player in the world, not just among women. She's won more titles than any player in PPA Tour history.
The PPA and APP tours pay women equally to men. Women's pro pickleball features the same strategy, speed, and skill as the men's game. This is not a lesser version of the sport.
Why women love pickleball
The fastest-growing women's recreational sport in America, for good reason.
Strategy beats power
Pickleball rewards patience, placement, and dink strategy over brute force. The soft game, controlling rallies from the kitchen line, is where matches are won. This levels the playing field and makes pickleball genuinely skill-based.
One of the most social sports
Open play rotates teams every game, so you meet 8–12 new people every session. Women's pickleball communities are known for being welcoming, inclusive, and social, often extending to post-game coffee or meals.
Quick to learn, years to master
You can play a real game within one session. But the strategy, when to attack, when to reset, how to control the kitchen, keeps the game interesting for years. Skill development never plateaus.
Great full-body workout
A typical pickleball session burns 350–600 calories per hour. The sport improves cardiovascular fitness, agility, hand-eye coordination, and functional strength, with less joint stress than tennis or running.
Women at the top of the sport
Anna Leigh Waters is the #1 ranked player in the world, overall, not just women's. The pro pickleball circuit pays women equally to men. Women don't play a lesser version of the sport, they play the same game at the same level.
Play is everywhere
There are now more pickleball courts in the US than tennis courts. YMCAs, parks, recreation centers, and dedicated pickleball facilities offer year-round indoor and outdoor play in virtually every city.
How to get started
Five steps from zero to your first real game.
Learn the core rules (30 minutes)
Focus on six things: the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen (no volleying from inside), scoring (to 11, serving team only), calling the score, and basic fault rules. You don't need to know everything, these six things get you through your first game.
Get your first paddle
A mid-weight composite paddle in the $50–100 range is ideal for beginners. Don't over-invest before you know you love it. Women tend to prefer paddles in the 7.5–8.0 oz range for the balance between power and control. Many women start with the Paddletek Bantam EX-L (~$89).
Wear court shoes
This is the #1 equipment mistake beginners make. Running shoes have no lateral support and are an ankle injury waiting to happen. Tennis shoes or volleyball shoes are fine, look for non-marking soles for indoor courts. Pickleball-specific shoes are also available.
Find a women's group or beginner open play
Women-only groups are beginner-friendly, welcoming, and social. Look for 'ladies open play,' 'women's pickleball,' or 'beginners welcome' sessions at your nearest YMCA, rec center, or dedicated club. Use The Pickle Nest to search your city.
Take a beginner clinic
One 60–90 minute clinic teaches you the fundamental patterns, serve, return, get to the kitchen, dink, attack, faster than hours of random open play. Women's clinics in particular are great for building confidence and a community of playing partners.
Master the soft game
Pickleball rewards patience and strategy, not power. These are the fundamentals that win matches.
Get to the kitchen line fast
Every serve and return is a setup to advance to the non-volley zone (NVZ). Players who control the kitchen control the point.
Dink cross-court, not straight ahead
A cross-court dink travels the longest distance and gives you the most recovery time. Straight-ahead dinks are easier to attack.
Reset instead of attacking
When you're off balance or under pressure, a soft reset dink to the kitchen beats a forced attack every time. Patience wins rallies.
Third shot drop, not drive
The third shot drop, a soft arc that lands in the kitchen, is the most important shot in pickleball. It neutralizes the net player's advantage.
Use spin to create angles
Topspin dinks kick up after the bounce and are harder to reset. Backspin drops die in the kitchen. Mixing spins keeps opponents off balance.
What paddle do pro women use?
Anna Leigh Waters
#1 ranked player in the world
Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CAS
Lea Jansen
PPA top 5, known for soft game mastery
Selkirk Power Air Invikta
Callie Smith
Top 10 PPA, control specialist
Paddletek Bantam EX-L Pro
Frequently asked questions
Is pickleball good for women?
Yes, women make up nearly half of all pickleball players and the sport is growing fastest among women aged 18–34 and 55+. Pickleball rewards strategy, consistency, and soft touch over raw power, which levels the playing field and makes it genuinely fun for players of all body types and athletic backgrounds.
What paddle should a woman beginner buy?
For women beginners, a mid-weight paddle (7.5–8 oz) with a standard-length grip provides the best balance of control and power. Look for composite or graphite face materials in the $50–100 range. Popular picks include the Paddletek Bantam EX-L, Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CAS, and Selkirk Vanguard Invikta, all used by top women players.
Do women use different paddles than men?
Not necessarily, there are no officially 'women's only' paddles. However, many women prefer paddles with shorter grips, lighter weights (under 8 oz), and elongated shapes that provide extra reach without sacrificing control. Pro players like Anna Leigh Waters use standard-shape paddles, while others prefer elongated faces for reach at the kitchen line.
How long does it take a woman to get good at pickleball?
Most women can play a competitive open play session within 1–2 sessions of learning the basics. Getting to a competent 3.0–3.5 skill level typically takes 3–6 months of regular play. The sport rewards patience and soft game strategy over athleticism, so progress often feels faster than in racket sports like tennis.
Are there women-only pickleball groups?
Yes, women-only pickleball groups have exploded in popularity. Many clubs and recreation centers offer women-only open play mornings, ladies doubles leagues, and women's clinics. These groups are welcoming to beginners and are often the most vibrant, social pickleball communities in a given city.
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Best Paddles for Women
Ranked picks used by pro women players, from beginner to advanced.
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