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The Purple Guide to Learning Pickleball in 10 Days
A no-fluff day-by-day plan to hit your first successful pickleball rally in 10 days
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: First Day
First Day
Before we talk about paddles, kitchens, or the difference between a dink and a drop shot, let's get one thing straight: today is not about being good. It's not about looking like the people you've seen on YouTube who never seem to sweat. Today is about getting your hands on a paddle, hitting a ball a few times, and learning what the game actually feels like when you're standing on the court. That's it. If you end today with a sore forearm and one good hit that sailed over the net, you've won.
You do not need to buy anything today. If you have a friend with a paddle, text them and ask to borrow one. If you don't, check your local community center, recreation department, or parks and rec office—most of them either have loaner paddles or know a neighbor who plays and would happily let you try one. A pickleball paddle is a solid rectangle of wood or composite, about the size of a slightly oversized ping-pong paddle on a short stick. You should not care about the brand or the price yet. You need one that feels comfortable in your hand and isn't heavier than a hardcover book. That's the whole requirement.
You also need a place to play. Today, the single best starting point is not a full pickleball court—it's a flat wall. A racquetball court, a squash court, a school gym wall, even the side of a brick building