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Guides

Black pickleball paddle and yellow ball on a blue court

Pickleball

Pickleball Paddles Under $100: a Buying Checklist

Check the delivered cost and the exact model before choosing a paddle under US$100.

Padel racket and balls beside a net

Padel

Choosing Your First Padel Racket

Choose a first racket you can handle comfortably throughout a session.

Player holding a pickleball paddle on an outdoor court

Pickleball

Choosing Your First Pickleball Paddle

What to compare when buying your first paddle.

Pickleball paddles, ball and sports equipment on court

Pickleball

Pickleball Paddle Approval for Tournaments

Start with the rules for your event and division. Then match your paddle’s exact model and thickness to the approval list the organizer uses. A logo on the paddle is not enough to settle every case.

Purple pickleball paddle with wrapped handle beside a yellow ball

Pickleball

Pickleball Grip or Overgrip: When to Replace

Check which layer is worn before buying a new paddle. An overgrip wraps over the existing grip; a replacement grip takes the place of the cushioned layer on the handle. Choose the part you need before removing anything.

Hands stringing a tennis racket on a stringing machine

Tennis

How to Choose Tennis Strings

Write down your current string, gauge and tension if you know them. Decide what you want to change, then discuss the next setup with your stringer. Changing one variable at a time makes the comparison easier to interpret.

Yellow perforated ball and paddle beside white court lines

Pickleball

How to Choose a Pickleball for Your Court

Check the surface you play on before choosing a ball. An indoor hard court and a wooden sports hall can call for different choices. For a tournament, start with the ball specified by the organizer.

Four squash balls marked with blue, red, single yellow and double yellow dots on a wooden court

Squash

Squash ball dots: which ball should you choose?

The dot marking indicates a squash ball’s speed category. Its bounce also depends on how warm it is during play.

A player holding a solid-faced pickleball paddle on an outdoor court

Pickleball

Pickleball Paddle Weight: Beyond Grams

Read static weight, swingweight and twistweight together, then compare paddles in the setup you actually use.

A yellow ball beside a perforated padel racket on a blue court

Padel

Padel Balls vs Tennis Balls: How to Choose

Padel and tennis balls have different diameter and rebound limits, but share the same weight range. Common pressurized padel balls generally have lower internal pressure than pressurized tennis balls. Similar yellow felt does not make them interchangeable.

Two squash players examining the strings of a racket

Squash

Squash Strings: Gauge, Tension and Replacement

Choose a string setup you can repeat, with a gauge and tension suited to your racket and your usual shots.

Close-up of yellow strings across a tennis racket

Tennis

16 × 19 vs 18 × 20 String Patterns

The string pattern tells you how many main and cross strings a racket has. Use it alongside head size and your string setup when comparing rackets.