My encounter with pickleball
Lately, the chances of hearing the word "pickleball" among social media and friends have increased a lot.
Hearing it was a sport that combines tennis, badminton, and table tennis, honestly I was half in doubt—"is it really fun?" I wanted to resolve my lack of exercise, but a too-intense sport is tough physically. For someone like me, I felt pickleball might become a "just right" option.
When I actually tried it, I was drawn into its appeal in an instant. The fun of rallies continuing right away even as a beginner, the moderate exertion, and the pleasant feeling of working up a sweat while laughing with friends. In this article, I deliver my actual experience of trying pickleball and practical information for those who want to start.
A report on my first pickleball experience
Playing right below Tokyo Tower
The first time I experienced pickleball was on the court on the rooftop of Tokyo Tower's FootTown.
The sight of a blue court spreading out against the backdrop of the lit-up Tokyo Tower is spectacular. "To think I can play a sport in a place like this"—my spirits were already up before playing. Since it's an outdoor court, it's affected by the weather, but this day was windless and comfortable. It's a system of renting the court by time, and since paddles and balls could be rented, being able to go nearly empty-handed was casual too.
The surprise of playing a game in 10 minutes
The two friends who joined me were experiencing pickleball for the first time.
They looked anxious—"can I do this?"—but as we hit for about 10 minutes, a game soon came together. Unlike tennis or table tennis, the gap in experience doesn't show much, and most people can start from the same level—that's the appeal of pickleball. The rules are simple too, and as you lightly keep a rally going, it naturally turns into a game. I realized it's a sport where you can feel a connection with people, with smiles born from a bit of conversation during the game.
The rules and appeal I learned by trying it
Simple, easy-to-remember rules
The basics of pickleball are almost the same as tennis. You return the ball without a bounce (a volley) or on one bounce, and you lose the point on the net, an out, or a second bounce.
However, there are three unique rules to remember before starting. The serve is underhand from behind the baseline, aiming for the diagonal service court. Under the two-bounce rule, the first exchange of the serve and return must each bounce once before being hit. And the most distinctive is the non-volley rule. Inside the non-volley zone (commonly called the kitchen), you can't hit a volley. Thanks to this rule, strategic depth increases and rallies are easier to sustain. For a detailed explanation of the rules, see thebeginner's guideis also worth a look.
Why it can be enjoyed regardless of age or fitness
Pickleball's biggest feature is that anyone can enjoy it regardless of age or fitness level.
The court is about the same size as badminton, roughly a quarter of a tennis court. Because you use a lightweight perforated plastic ball, there's little intense movement, and even beginners can enjoy a rally right away. With a low risk of injury and little strain on the joints, it's also drawing attention as a rehabilitation and senior exercise program. In the U.S., tournaments centered on people in their 60s and 70s are thriving, and some even compete in their 80s. Being enjoyable across generations is also introduced in theparent-and-child starter guide.
The cost of the experience [Fee table]
As for the cost you're wondering about, in my case paddles and balls could be rented, so the initial investment was zero. For shoes, I used my own athletic shoes. Here's a table of the fees for the Tokyo Tower court I actually experienced.
| Category | Fee (1 hour, 1 court) |
|---|---|
| Weekdays 10:00–18:00 | 8,000 yen |
| Weekdays 18:00–21:00 (night games) | 10,000 yen |
| Weekends and holidays 10:00–21:00 | 12,000 yen |
The Tokyo Tower court is a court-rental system with advance booking, and splitting it among several people keeps the per-person burden down. At public facilities, there are places you can use for about 1,000–2,000 yen an hour. If you're gearing up seriously, a guideline is 5,000–20,000 yen for a paddle and about 500–1,000 yen per ball. For details on choosing gear and costs, seethe guide to the first gear to get.
Source Tokyo Tower Pickleball Court fee information(as of 2026)
The fun and difficulty I found by playing
The fun of sustained rallies
The biggest appeal is that rallies are easy to sustain.
Because the ball is light and its speed is held down, even beginners can return it easily, leading to long rallies. Unlike tennis, it's rare to decide a point with a single hard hit; shot distribution and positioning are what matter. The exchange ofdink(soft shots) at the net is like a game of chess, and I felt its depth. Thanks to the non-volley zone, you can't gain an advantage just by crowding the net, making shot selection more important.
Surprisingly difficult points
On the other hand, there were also points that look easy but are surprisingly difficult.
In particular, the non-volley zone rule makes you fault again and again until you get used to it. Volley while stepping on the line and you lose the point; step into the zone from your momentum after hitting and you lose the point too. Hitting while staying conscious of it was harder than I'd expected. The way you count the score is unique too—you call it in the order "server's points, receiver's points, server number"—so I was confused at first. If you pair up with someone experienced, there's no problem leaving the score to them at first.
Tips for beginners to improve
Points to be conscious of
Here are the points I felt beginners should be conscious of from actually playing.
First is the dink shot. This shot, hit low and soft over the non-volley zone, pins your opponent to the kitchen line and prevents aggressive volleys. Next is positioning. The ideal is just behind the kitchen line, from where you can react quickly to your opponent's shots and use dinks and volleys as appropriate. For details on how to hit, see thedink mastery guide.
Effective practice methods
I also found several practice methods that work for improvement.
What you can do alone is hitting against a wall, which hones your paddle feel and control. With two people, dink practice is the most important. Standing behind the non-volley zone line on both sides and hitting low, soft balls back and forth improves your touch and control. In doubles, communication with your partner and positioning decide wins and losses, so get in the habit of calling out to each other too.
How to find a facility and how to start
Where you can play
Facilities where you can play pickleball are gradually increasing in Japan too.
Because it's almost the same size as badminton, many gymnasiums let you use existing badminton courts as is. Inquiring at a public gymnasium or sports center, you may find one surprisingly close by. Courts in special locations like Tokyo Tower and indoor facilities unaffected by the weather are also appearing. Facilities within Tokyo are summarized in theTokyo court information, so use it as a reference.
How to get started for beginners
For those who want to start, we recommend three steps.
First, head to a trial session or clinic. The Japan Pickleball Association and local clubs regularly hold beginner events, and equipment lending is available too, so the financial hurdle is low and you can start casually. Next, invite friends or family. Since it's a sociable sport, it's even more fun with companions, and even among beginners, rallies continue right away. Finally, join social media or online communities to connect with enthusiasts and find practice partners.
For your very first time, the right answer is to choose a trial session or court that has equipment rental. You can confirm "it's fun" without buying gear, and court-rental facilities like Tokyo Tower become affordable per person if you split it among several. First inviting a friend and going empty-handed is the most casual approach.
FAQ
Can even beginners play pickleball right away?
Yes. With about 10 minutes of practice, a game comes together. Thanks to the light, slow ball and the wide-faced paddle, even beginners can sustain rallies easily, and the gap in experience doesn't show much.
Can I join empty-handed even for the first time?
Many trial sessions and court-rental facilities let you rent paddles and balls. Since you can start with your own athletic shoes for footwear, you can join nearly empty-handed the first time. If it seems like something you'll keep up, gradually gather your own gear.
How much does the Tokyo Tower court cost?
It's a court-rental system, at 8,000 yen per court per hour on weekdays 10:00–18:00, 10,000 yen for weekday night games 18:00–21:00, and 12,000 yen on weekends and holidays (as of 2026). It's advance-booking, and splitting it among several people keeps the per-person burden down.
What rules do beginners tend to stumble on first?
The non-volley zone (kitchen) rule. Volleying inside the zone is a foul, and stepping on the line from your momentum after hitting also loses the point. The way you count the score is unique too, so leaving it to someone experienced at first while you learn goes smoothly.
Summary: Pickleball is a sport anyone can enjoy
By actually trying it, I truly felt pickleball's appeal.
The fun of rallies continuing right away even as a beginner, the moderate exertion, and the pleasant feeling of working up a sweat while laughing with friends. Anyone can enjoy it regardless of age or fitness, the necessary gear is simple, and the initial investment is kept low. With the strategic depth the non-volley zone creates and the maneuvering of dinks, it's a sport that looks simple but is deep, and gets more interesting the more you improve.
"I want to resolve my lack of exercise," "I want a new hobby," "I want to work up a sweat with friends." For people like that, pickleball is the perfect option. First, find a nearby facility or trial session and join empty-handed. You're sure to be drawn into its appeal.
Related Articles Worth Reading
- A Beginner's Guide to Pickleball | The First Gear to Get and How to Choose It
- Where Can You Play Pickleball in Tokyo? A Look at Courts in the City
- Starting Pickleball as a Family | Why It's Fun Across Generations, and How to Begin
- How Many Calories Does Pickleball Burn? Comparing One Hour of Exercise Intensity With Data
- Pickleball and Mental Health | Why It Works for Stress Relief and Preventing Depression
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