Do you wish to learn how to play pickleball or improve your current abilities as a beginner? Take lessons now! But how much do pickleball lessons cost?
If you're a beginner who wants to try it out for the first time, the fees of playing pickleball may be as low as next to nothing. However, if you want to get anything spectacular out of it even as a beginner, you need to invest some money on it before taking that step up.
You might say we haven't answered the question completely. That's because, as a novice, you could spend anywhere from $0 to more than $500 playing pickleball, depending on your goals. Ideally, beginner lessons cost around $25 per 2-hour session.
As pickleball becomes more popular around the world, most people, especially those who are only beginning to comprehend the sport, wonder about the price. Is pickleball a pricey sport, or can you get by without spending a lot of money on it?
After our careful research, we had the privilege to speak with various pickleball experts. If you want a more in-depth explanation about the cost of pickleball lessons, scroll down for a personalized breakdown.
How Much Do Pickleball Lessons Cost?
You've been playing pickleball for a while, and while you use some advanced abilities and consistently play at a 3+ level, you'd like to improve to a 4.0 level. Each two-hour intermediate pickleball lesson can cost up to $75 for a single player and $30 per person for 4 players. Private sessions, on the other hand, can cost up to $100 for two hours per member. A pickleball machine can help you improve your hitting skills. Drills using a ball machine cost $10 per session.
Our four-hour pickleball camps are held on a monthly basis and can help you improve your game by focusing on a certain skill level. Additionally, camps provide the opportunity to play with and meet other players of comparable ability levels. Pickleball Camps cost around $30 to $40 per participant each camp.
Other Expenses Associated with Pickleball Lessons
As a beginner, you'll need the following items to get started:
- Paddle
- Ball
- Shoes
- Pickleball Court
You certainly can't play pickleball without a paddle and a ball, can you? Pickleball shoes are similar to tennis or other court shoes, so if you've already played one of these sports, you can likely begin your pickleball career with the same footwear. In the case of a court, a group of individuals can usually reserve them for a few hours at a time to save money.
Let's take a closer look at the actual costs of each of these items to get the total costs of pickleball lessons.
Paddles
The cost of a paddle is the most significant expense connected with pickleball. What are the prices of beginner pickleball paddles? There is a wide range of costs related to pickleball, which is why it's difficult to offer you an accurate figure.
Wooden paddles are far cheaper than any other type with costs as low as $20 at times. This isn't to say that you shouldn't invest a bit more in nicer paddles, especially if you want to take up the sport more seriously. It's a relatively inexpensive way to play pickleball, especially if you're playing with others who wish to share paddles.
If you choose non-wooden paddles, your costs will almost certainly rise, but it might not be a bad investment. This is because, once you've mastered the game, you'll prefer to play with non-wooden paddles due to their lighter weight and ease of usage.
Some novice pickleball paddles can be purchased for as little as $40-60. While individuals on the top end of the price spectrum can spend up to $200, those on the lesser end can also do so. For a beginner who is still learning the intricacies of the game, the difference between a $50 paddle and a $200 paddle might not be significant.
Shoes
Pickleball novices are typically people who have transitioned from other sports, primarily racquet sports, to try something new. Take, for example, Ben Johns, one of the top pickleball players who, in addition to baseball, had dabbled in other racquet sports such as tennis.
So, if you've ever played a sport like tennis or badminton, you'll be familiar with those specific athletic shoes. They can also be used for pickleball, so you won't have to pay for expensive pickleball shoes.
If you're new to pickleball and never played any paddle sports before, or if your shoes don’t fit you anymore or are old and worn out, you might want to invest in a new pair of tennis shoes. The average cost of sports shoes in the United States is roughly between $60 and $80.
This is a highly indicative price, and I am confident you could find good quality shoes for less, but for the purposes of this discussion, we will use $60. Especially if you want something of decent quality that will survive for a few years despite constant use in sports.
The Ball
You probably don't need to possess a pickleball as a novice who will be joining others in a pickleball game for the first time. If you want to book a court or play at a club, they will normally offer you with balls for the duration of your stay, but if you still want to use your own pickleball balls.
A 12-pack pickleball bag would cost roughly $1 per ball, with the price decreasing as you acquire more. A box of 200 balls, for example, will cost only 60 cents each ball. You won't need 200 balls right away, so consider it a $12 investment for now, and if you develop your own circle of friends with whom you play often, each can pitch in with the balls.
Pickleball Courts
The best method to play pickleball is to rent a court for a few hours and divide the price amongst yourselves, depending on how many of you are playing. Typically, the prices aren't very high, but if you plan to play on a frequent basis, they may rise
This varies depending on where you are from, but in most American cities, it ranges from $10 to $15 per hour. Clubs usually provide discounts to members and for longer rentals, as well as weekday bookings, because demand for the courts is naturally higher on weekends.
As an aside, if you're curious how much it costs to build a pickleball court, we'll be writing a separate post about it soon. But, to give you an idea, if you were to build a court from the ground up, it would cost around $25,000, depending on a variety of criteria.
Costs of Miscellaneous Items
Sunscreens, towels, caps, wristbands, and headbands are among the accessories you might want to consider purchasing once you've become a regular at pickleball, but not right away.
However, if you sweat a lot, wristbands, for example, are a must. Similarly, if you're playing pickleball outside in the hot heat, you should wear a hat and use sunscreen to protect your skin.
All of this requires a one-time expense (or at the very least, one that is not too recurring), but it may not be too big of an overhead in either case.
What about Costs That Recur?
The greatest recurring expenditure is usually the weekly or monthly payment to your clubs for pickleball court hire. Pickleball balls may need to be replaced once a month, but if you play with a group of 4-8 players, this is usually taken care of.
The paddle and shoes are the two most expensive items. Paddles last at least a year, if not longer, especially if you don't use them every day. When it comes to shoes, expect them to wear out in 6-12 months if you use them for all of your sporting needs, and you'll have to invest that much every year.
About THE AUTHOR
Michael Stevens
Since initially playing at the collegiate level, I have amassed several decades of experience playing racquetball, tennis, and pickleball. I have played thousands of matches and games, and won medals and awards in multiple tourantments. I am constantly improving my game and enjoy mentoring and coaching other players in strategy and technique. I have authored dozens of articles on the sport.
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