What’s in Your Pickleball Bag? A Look Inside at Every Level
From first-time players to professional players, what’s in your pickleball bag says a lot about how you approach the game. But how much really changes as you level up?
We talked to three players across different stages of their pickleball journey to find out:
Grant McClure (3.704 DUPR) - gearing up for his first tournament
Elissa Brown (3.232 DUPR) - a tournament competitor and founder of Black Girls Pickle Too
Trang Huynh-McClain (5.453 DUPR) - a tournament pro competing at the highest level
Surprisingly, there are more similarities than you’d expect. But the differences? That’s where things get interesting.
Paddles & Pickleballs: The More you Play, The More You Pack
Every player needs a paddle, but the number they carry tells you a lot about their level of play.
Grant’s Pickleball Gear
Grant brings one extra—just in case. Elissa keeps one in her bag, two in her car. Trang doesn’t take chances—she carries three.
Pickleball count follows the same pattern. Grant stocks 8-12 balls, while Elissa and Trang stick to three or four.
Our Take: At the rec level, backups are for peace of mind. As competition ramps up, multiple paddles and a smaller but reliable ball stash become the norm.
Hydration & Snacks: From Convenience to Strategy
Water is universal, but how players fuel varies.
Grant starts with water but adds electrolytes once the heat kicks in. Trang keeps one bottle for water, one for electrolytes during tournaments. Elissa keeps it simple—strictly H2O.
Snacks tell a similar story. Trang packs Tosi bars for quick energy without the crash. Grant keeps snacks on hand for longer sessions. Elissa? She’s carrying an emergency pack of Sour Patch Kids she hasn’t touched in weeks.
Our Take: Early on, players rely on whatever’s available. The more competitive the play, the more strategic hydration and nutrition become.
Overgrips & First Aid: Small Details That Make a Big Difference
Grip maintenance is a clear separator between player levels.
Trang swaps hers every week with RTP overgrips. Grant changes his monthly and keeps 4-6 backups. Elissa? "I have extra grip in my bag... but I've only changed mine once."
First aid follows the same pattern. Trang has a stocked mini med kit with bandages, Neosporin, and Advil. Grant just realized he should probably add some essentials. Elissa keeps it minimal—"Bandaids and Vaseline—gotta keep the lips in check!"
Our Take: The more you play, the more intentional gear upkeep and first-aid preparation become. Grip control and recovery aren’t optional at higher levels.
Trang & Her Pickleball Bag
Sunscreen & Self-Care: Best Intentions vs. Reality
Everyone knows they should reapply sunscreen. Actually doing it? Another story.
Grant stays on top of it—every 60 minutes. Trang tries to reapply every two hours but usually forgets. Elissa? "Reapply? Hardly. But I do use my Black Girl Sunscreen before hitting the courts."
Our Take: Every level of play starts with good sunscreen intentions. The execution? That’s where things fall apart.
Tech & Gadgets: Tracking Progress or Going by Feel?
Recording and tracking performance is common among tournament players, but pros? Some rely purely on instinct.
Elissa documents everything—"I always carry my phone tripod and my DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera for game highlights, vlogs, and pictures." Grant is looking into apps to track stats. Trang doesn’t bother—"I don’t use any."
Our Take: Tournament players use tech to analyze their game. Some pros lean into data, but others rely on experience and intuition.
Wildcard Items: The Little Things That Matter
Every player has something unexpected in their bag.
Elissa always carries lip gloss—"You never know when you’ll need it." Grant keeps a 3D-printed bag clip with his group chat’s name, “Pickled Ballers,” which doubles as a good luck charm. Trang never leaves home without a keychain engraved with her two dogs—plus, "I have chapsticks in every bag I own."
Our Take: Some things are about function. Some things are just for comfort. Either way, there’s always something in your bag that isn’t strictly necessary—but you’d never leave without it.
What Really Changes at Each Level?
Rec & First-Time Tournament Players → Figuring out what works. A backup paddle is a good idea but not always a priority. Hydration is usually just water, and grip maintenance? Maybe later. First-aid supplies are hit or miss—some players carry a full kit, while others don’t think about it until they need it.
Tournament Players → More refined, but not perfect. Backup paddles are common, but the number varies. Hydration starts to include electrolytes, grip changes happen more regularly (for some), and recording matches becomes part of improvement. First-aid kits make an appearance, though not everyone remembers to restock them.
Pros → Consistency & preparation. Three paddles in the bag. Grip swaps are routine. Hydration and fueling are intentional. A first-aid kit is standard, but even pros aren’t perfect—sunscreen reapplication still gets forgotten, and personal must-haves (like chapstick and lucky charms) always find their way into the bag.
One thing stays the same across all levels—every player has something in their bag that isn’t essential but always makes the cut.
Your Turn—What’s In Your Bag?
Some players carry three paddles. Some carry too many pickleballs. Others just have way too much chapstick.
What’s the one thing in your pickleball bag that you never leave home without?
