Pickleball Packing List: Tournament Edition
Pickleball in the Sun walks you through everything you may want to bring with you to your first-ever pickleball tournament.
Congratulations! You’ve finally entered your first pickleball tournament and are getting ready to hit the courts in full force. You’ve played your heart out trying to qualify for this tournament and guess what - you did it!
Pickleball tournaments can be a lot of fun, but they can also be a little intimidating for first timers. Between the hustle and bustle of the tournament grounds, the chaos of trying to find your specified court out of the 70 total courts in play, the stress of getting to your court on time, well before the start of your match - the whole experience can be a lot! As a result, the last thing a first time pickleball tournament player wants to do is forget a key item when packing for the first tournament of their career.
No need to worry! Pickleball in the Sun has everything you need to know and prepare for when packing for a pickleball tournament. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following list, and we promise you’ll be more than prepared to crush the tournament standings and kickstart your professional pickleball career.
What to Wear to a Pickleball Tournament
Thankfully, the sport of pickleball is quite lenient and open about what players choose to wear on tournament days. Unless you are specifically sponsored by a brand and need to wear their gear, or you have plans to wear matching outfits with your partner, you can basically choose to wear whatever is most comfortable for you and your style of play. If possible, choose clothing that is breathable, comfortable, and you can move around in easily. It’s very important that you wear pickleball court shoes to help avoid injuries as you move around the court. Above all, be comfortable and confident in your apparel choices!
Pickleball in the Sun’s Top 10 Items to Bring to a Pickleball Tournament
There are a ton items one could bring with them to a pickleball tournament that could help set them up for the greatest success. Besides your apparel, there are plenty of items that you may find useful to have in your pickleball bag. Take a look through the checklist below to find out what you may want to consider bringing with you to your first pickleball tournament.
Your favorite pickleball paddle - preferably the one you have the most practice playing with! If you’re playing in a sanctioned USA Pickleball tournament, ensure your paddle has the “USA Pickleball Approved” stamp on it.
Two balls (for practice purposes, of course)
Water bottle - hydration is key!
Sunglasses + hat - if your tournament is taking place outdoors, a hat and sunglasses to avoid sun glare is critical.
Sunscreen - protect your skin!
Sweat towel - pickleball tournaments can get pretty intense, so most likely, you will be sweating quite a bit!
Your ID for checking into the tournament - this item is crucial!
Folding chairs + blankets - make sure your fans attending the tournament have their chair to sit near the courts you’re playing on.
Snacks - you may want a light snack before your game. Consider bringing an energy bar, banana, or something small of the sort.
A tote bag to carry everything in.
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While this list is nowhere near conclusive, we are sure that following along with this checklist is sure to set you up for success for your first pickleball tournament. Best of luck - Pickleball in the Sun will be cheering you on!
Have any suggestions for this list of what to bring to a pickleball tournament or anything to add? DM us on Instagram at @pickleballinthesun or send us an email at laura@pickleballinthesun.com.
Best of luck!
