Pickleball Gear Checklist — What to Bring to Pickleball

Essential gear (you literally need this to play)

If you forget any of these four, you're either borrowing from a stranger or sitting out. Bring all four every single session.

• A pickleball paddle.This is the single most important piece of gear. A decent beginner paddle in the Philippines runs ₱2,500 to ₱5,000 and will last you a year of regular play. Don't buy the cheapest wooden paddle on Shopee — it's heavy, slow, and will give you tennis elbow within a month. See our best beginner paddles in the Philippines for vetted picks.
• Pickleballs (3-pack outdoor minimum). Outdoor balls have 40 small holes and survive rough concrete; indoor balls have 26 larger holes and are softer. Most PH courts are outdoor, so default to outdoor balls. Bring at least three because outdoor balls crack in the heat — a 3-pack typically lasts one solid session.
• Court shoes (NOT running shoes). Running shoes are designed for heel-to-toe forward motion. Pickleball is constant lateral movement — sudden side cuts, stops, and direction changes. Running shoes have soft, elevated heels that roll your ankle on those cuts. Use tennis, badminton, or volleyball shoes with a low, flat sole and reinforced sides.
• Water (1L minimum for a 90-minute session).Filipino heat and humidity drain you fast. A 90-minute open-play session in Manila or Cebu will cost you 1 to 1.5 liters of sweat. Bring more than you think you need — most courts don't sell water on-site, and the nearest sari-sari store may be a five-minute walk.

Strongly recommended (don't skip these)

You can technically play without these, but you'll regret it within an hour. Every regular player carries all of these in their bag.

• Sweat towel.Filipino humidity is no joke. By the second game your hands will be slick, your grip will slip, and you'll start losing shots. A small microfiber towel clipped to your bag solves this — wipe your hands between points, your face between games.
• Overgrip or replacement grip. Grips wear down fast in humid conditions. An overgrip is a thin tacky wrap that goes on top of your existing grip — costs ₱150 to ₱300 and replaces in two minutes. Keep two spares in your bag at all times.
• Extra paddle. A backup serves two purposes: a loaner for a friend who wants to try the sport, and insurance against a cracked face mid-session. Tournament players are required to carry a second paddle for exactly this reason.
• Sunscreen (outdoor).Most PH outdoor sessions run from 6 to 10 a.m. or 4 to 7 p.m., but UV index in Manila stays above 6 even at those times. Use SPF 50+ sport sunscreen, apply 15 minutes before you start, and reapply every 90 minutes if you're sweating heavily.
• Sunglasses with a strap. Outdoor glare ruins your tracking, especially on lobs. A strap is non-negotiable because a hard volley off the bridge of your nose will send unsecured sunglasses flying. Polarized sport sunglasses run ₱800 to ₱2,500 locally.
• A reusable insulated water bottle. Skip plastic disposables. An insulated 1L bottle (Stanley, Hydro Flask, or the many local equivalents under ₱500) keeps water cold for the full session — and cold water is meaningfully better for performance in PH heat than room-temperature water.

Nice to have (upgrade tier)

Once you're playing two or three times a week, these upgrades start paying for themselves in comfort, injury prevention, and convenience.

• Pickleball-specific backpack. Designed with dedicated paddle compartments (usually two), a ventilated shoe pocket, and a small mesh pouch for balls. Brands like Franklin, Selkirk, and Joola sell them locally for ₱2,500 to ₱6,000. A regular gym bag works fine — but a dedicated bag keeps wet shoes and sweaty clothes away from your phone and keys.
• Knee and elbow sleeves. Recreational pickleball is hard on aging joints. Compression sleeves (₱400 to ₱1,200 per pair) help with mild tendinitis, patellar tracking, and tennis-elbow-style pain. Highly recommended for players over 40 or anyone playing four-plus sessions per week.
• Compression socks.Improve circulation, reduce calf fatigue on long sessions, and dry faster than cotton athletic socks in PH humidity. Especially useful if you're traveling to and from courts in heavy traffic — they reduce post-session leg swelling.
• Portable net. If you have a friend with a private concrete area, garage, or empty rooftop in the right dimensions, a portable pickleball net (₱5,500 to ₱12,000) turns it into a real court. Sets up in 5 minutes, folds into a carry bag.
• Lineman tape.For outdoor multi-use courts that don't have pickleball lines painted in. Bring a roll of 2-inch white tape and you can mark the kitchen and baseline in 10 minutes. Common at barangay basketball courts and tennis courts being shared for pickleball.
• Cooling neck towel. A chamois-style towel you soak in cold water and drape around your neck between games. Drops your core temperature noticeably faster than just toweling off — meaningful in 33°C+ heat with high humidity.

Tournament day extras

Your first sanctioned tournament will have rules and pacing that casual play doesn't prepare you for. Pack everything in the previous three sections, then add these.

• Two or more paddles.Tournament rules vary, but most require you to have a working backup in case your primary paddle cracks or is found non-compliant during a spot check. Don't bring two identical paddles either — bring one slightly different weight as an option if your arm fatigues late in the day.
• Extra overgrips. Tournaments can mean six or seven matches in a day. Plan to re-grip at least once. Bring three spares minimum.
• KT tape or RockTape. Pre-tape wrists, ankles, or knees that have ever given you trouble. Two-hour brackets followed by a 30-minute rest and another match is harder on the body than a normal session — pre-emptive support prevents mid-bracket injuries.
• Snacks: banana, energy bar, electrolyte drink. You may wait 90 minutes between matches. Eating real food in that gap is essential. Bananas for cramping, a quick energy bar for sustained calories, and an electrolyte drink (Pocari, Gatorade, or salt tabs in water) to replace what you sweat out.
• Change of shirt (or two). You will not want to play your second match in a fully soaked shirt. A dry shirt between matches is genuinely a performance advantage — your grip stays drier and you cool down faster between games.
• USAPA-approved paddle if required. Sanctioned PH tournaments increasingly require USA Pickleball–approved paddles, and officials may spot-check faces and edges. Check the rules before you register. See our equipment guide and paddle buying guide for approved options.
• Photo ID and club membership card.Required at registration for age-bracket events and to confirm you're the registered player. Bring a government ID plus your club card if your event requires affiliation.

What to NOT bring (PH-specific)

A few things that get casual players in trouble at Philippine courts. House rules vary, but these are the common ones.

• Glass water bottles. Most indoor courts and a lot of outdoor venues explicitly disallow glass. A dropped bottle near the playing area is a session-ending mess and a real injury risk. Stick to metal or hard plastic.
• Loud Bluetooth speakers. Open play is shared with other players who may be drilling, talking strategy, or coaching. Personal music is fine on earbuds, but speakers at session volume are not — and most clubs will ask you to turn it off.
• Pets. Even at outdoor courts, most PH venues prohibit pets on or near the playing surface for hygiene and liability reasons. Leave the dog at home or arrange someone to wait with them in the car.

Frequently asked questions