Best Pickleball Accessories UK: Grips, Training Aids, and More

By Gary, founder of RacketRise. Researching and testing racket sport equipment so you don't have to.

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Last Updated: March 2026

Quick Summary

• Must-have accessories: Overgrips, spare balls, and a paddle cover will improve your experience immediately
• Best training investment: A rebounder net lets you practise alone — invaluable when court time is limited
• Best quick upgrade: A fresh overgrip transforms how your paddle feels for under £5
• Find courts near you — use the RacketRise Court Finder to find padel and pickleball courts across the UK

Once you have your paddle and balls sorted, there is a whole world of pickleball accessories that can improve your game, protect your equipment, and make playing more enjoyable. Some are essential. Some are nice to have. A few are completely unnecessary.

Quick Answer: Start with the basics — a pack of overgrips (£5-£10), a paddle cover (£8-£15), and some spare outdoor balls (£10-£20 for a pack). Once you are playing regularly, consider a rebounder net (£40-£80) for solo practice and lead tape (£5-£10) if you want to fine-tune your paddle weight. Do not buy everything at once — add accessories as you identify what your game actually needs.

Table of Contents

• Overgrips
• Lead Tape
• Edge Guards
• Paddle Covers
• Ball Holders and Ball Retrievers
• Training Aids
• Court Markers for Garden Play
• Other Useful Accessories
• What You Don't Need
• Sources & Further Reading
• Related Articles
• Frequently Asked Questions

Overgrips

An overgrip is the thin tape wrapped around your paddle handle, over the top of the existing base grip. It is the single cheapest upgrade you can make to any paddle, and it makes a surprising difference to comfort and control.

Why Overgrips Matter

Sweat absorption. Even in the UK's mild climate, your hands sweat during play. A tacky overgrip absorbs moisture and maintains your grip when the original base grip becomes slick.

Grip size adjustment. If your paddle grip feels slightly too thin, one or two layers of overgrip can increase the circumference by 1-2mm — often enough to find the perfect fit.

Fresh feel. Base grips deteriorate over weeks and months. An overgrip takes 2 minutes to apply and gives you that fresh-from-the-box feel every time.

Best Overgrips for UK Players

Tourna Grip (£5-£8 for 3 pack). The dry-feel option. Tourna Grip starts slightly tacky and becomes more absorbent as it gets damp. Preferred by players with very sweaty hands. Widely available on Amazon UK.

Selkirk Overgrip (£6-£10 for 3 pack). The tacky option. Selkirk's overgrip maintains a consistent tackiness throughout its life. Good in dry and slightly damp conditions. Feels premium in hand.

JOOLA Overgrip (£5-£8 for 3 pack). Similar to Selkirk's offering with a slightly thinner profile. Good all-round performance. The thinner wrap is useful if you do not want to add much circumference to your grip.

Tourna Tac (£6-£9 for 3 pack). A tackier alternative to the original Tourna Grip. Better in dry conditions, less effective in heavy moisture. Popular among competitive players.

How often to replace: Every 5-10 sessions for regular players, or whenever the grip starts to feel slick. At £2-£3 per overgrip, this is a cheap investment in consistent performance.

Lead Tape

Lead tape adds weight to specific areas of your paddle, allowing you to fine-tune the balance and overall mass. It is the most affordable way to customise how your paddle plays.

How Lead Tape Works

Lead tape comes in thin strips that you apply to the edge or face of your paddle. Adding weight to the head increases power. Adding weight to the handle increases manoeuvrability. Adding weight to the sides increases the size of the sweet spot.

Best Lead Tape Options

Selkirk Lead Tape (£5-£8). Pre-cut strips designed for pickleball paddles. Easy to apply, stays in place, and comes with guidance on placement. Available on Amazon UK.

Tourna Lead Tape (£5-£10). The classic option used across racket sports. Comes in a roll that you cut to length. Slightly more versatile than pre-cut options. Widely available.

How to use it: Start with small amounts — a 5cm strip weighs roughly 2-3g. Add tape to the top of the paddle head for more power on overhead shots. Add to the sides (3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions) for a larger sweet spot. Play a few sessions with each configuration before making permanent changes.

Price range: £5-£10 for enough tape to experiment extensively.

Edge Guards

Edge guards protect the perimeter of your paddle from chips, cracks, and damage caused by hitting the ground, net posts, or other hard surfaces. Many paddles come with edge guards, but they wear down and need replacing.

When You Need New Edge Guards

Visible damage. If your edge guard has chips, cracks, or sections missing, replace it. Exposed paddle edges are vulnerable to delamination, which can ruin the paddle permanently.

After drops. Dropping your paddle on a hard court surface is the most common cause of edge damage. If you drop your paddle regularly (no judgement — it happens), check your edge guard after every session.

Best Edge Guard Options

Selkirk Edge Guard Tape (£5-£8). Self-adhesive tape that wraps around the paddle edge. Easy to apply and provides solid protection. Available in various colours to match your paddle.

JOOLA Edge Guard Tape (£5-£8). Similar to Selkirk's offering. Slightly thinner profile, which some players prefer for minimal impact on paddle aerodynamics.

Generic edge guard tape (£3-£5). Available from Amazon UK. Quality varies, but decent options exist at lower prices. Look for ones specifically designed for pickleball paddles rather than general-purpose tape.

Price range: £3-£8 depending on brand and quality.

Paddle Covers

A paddle cover protects your paddle face and edge when it is in your bag, car, or storage. Given that a decent paddle costs £50-£150, a £10 cover is smart insurance.

What to Look For

Padded interior. Thin neoprene or foam padding prevents the paddle face from getting scratched by keys, zips, or other items in your bag.

Secure closure. Velcro, zip, or drawstring — it does not matter as long as the paddle cannot slide out. Velcro is the most convenient for quick access.

Size. Make sure the cover fits your paddle shape. Standard width paddles and elongated paddles need different covers. Most covers state which shapes they accommodate.

Best Paddle Covers

Selkirk Paddle Cover (£10-£15). Neoprene construction with a quality zip. Fits standard and elongated paddles. The best single-paddle cover available.

JOOLA Paddle Cover (£8-£12). Similar quality to Selkirk with a slightly lower price. Velcro closure is quick and easy. Good padding.

Generic neoprene covers (£5-£8). Amazon UK has dozens. They are fine for basic protection — just check that the size matches your paddle shape.

Price range: £5-£15 depending on brand and materials.

Ball Holders and Ball Retrievers

These accessories sound trivial but make a real difference to your playing experience, particularly during practice sessions.

Ball Holders

A ball holder clips to your waistband, pocket, or belt and holds 1-2 pickleballs ready for serving. It saves you from stuffing balls in your pockets (uncomfortable and they fall out during play) or bending down to pick one up between serves.

Best options: The Franklin Ball Holder (£8) and Selkirk Ball Clip (£10) are both well-designed and hold balls securely. Any ball holder from a reputable brand will work.

Ball Retrievers

A ball retriever is a tube or cup on a handle that lets you pick up balls without bending down. This sounds like a luxury until you have spent an hour picking up 50 balls during a practice session. For players with back or knee issues, it is practically essential.

Best options: The Tourna Ball Pick-Up Tube (£15-£20) holds multiple balls and works on all surfaces. The ONIX Ball Retriever (£12) is simpler but effective.

Price range: £8-£20 depending on type and capacity.

Training Aids

If you want to improve faster than court time alone allows, training aids let you practise specific skills at home or in your garden.

Rebounder Nets

A rebounder net is a angled net frame that returns the ball to you when you hit it. It is the single best training aid for pickleball — you can practise dinks, volleys, drives, and placement without a partner or a court.

Best options:

JOOLA Pickleball Rebounder (~£60-£80). Purpose-built for pickleball with the right angle and tension. Adjustable tilt for different shot types. Folds flat for storage. The best option if you can find it in UK stock.

Generic rebounder net (~£40-£60). Amazon UK has several. Look for one with adjustable angles and a frame that can handle repeated impact. Tennis or multi-sport rebounders work fine for pickleball as long as the frame is not too large.

Price range: £40-£80 for a quality rebounder.

Target Cones and Markers

Setting up targets on the court gives your practice sessions purpose. Instead of hitting randomly, you aim at specific zones — which translates directly to better shot placement in games.

Best options: Standard sports training cones (£8-£15 for a set of 20) work perfectly. Some players use flat disc markers, which sit flush to the court and do not interfere with play. Any set of brightly coloured markers from a sports shop or Amazon UK will do.

Price range: £8-£15 for a set.

Practice Balls

Dedicated practice balls are slightly softer or have different flight characteristics than competition balls. They are useful for indoor practice (quieter) and for beginners who want a slower game to develop technique.

Best options: Franklin X-40 practice balls (£10-£15 for 6) are widely available. ONIX Fuse indoor balls (£12-£18 for 6) are designed for indoor play and practise sessions.

Price range: £10-£18 for a pack of 6.

Court Markers for Garden Play

If you play in your garden or a local park, temporary court markers let you set up proper court lines without permanent markings.

Options for Marking a Court

Court tape (~£10-£20). Adhesive tape designed for marking sports courts temporarily. Peels off without leaving residue on most surfaces. Works on concrete, tarmac, and indoor floors. The most accurate way to mark a full court.

Chalk (~£3-£5). Works on concrete and tarmac. Washes off with rain, which is either an advantage (no cleanup) or a disadvantage (you re-mark every session). Cheap and effective for casual play.

Flat disc markers (~£8-£12 for a set). Place at the corners and mid-court lines. Less accurate than full-line marking but quick to set up and remove. Good for parks where tape is impractical.

Spray chalk (~£5-£8 per can). Temporary spray paint that washes off with water. Quick to apply, easy to see, and disappears after rain. One can typically marks 2-3 full courts.

Price range: £3-£20 depending on method.

Other Useful Accessories

Sweatbands and wristbands (£5-£10). Prevent sweat from running down your arm to your grip. More useful in summer or during intense sessions. Any sports brand will do.

Pickleball-specific sunglasses (£15-£40). If you play outdoors, sports sunglasses with contrast-enhancing lenses help you track the ball against the sky. Brands like Tifosi and Goodr are popular in the pickleball community. Standard sports sunglasses work equally well.

Cooling towels (£5-£10). Soak in cold water, wring out, and drape around your neck. Surprisingly effective in summer. Compact enough to carry in your bag.

Water bottles with ball storage (£10-£15). Some pickleball-specific water bottles include a mesh pocket for carrying a couple of spare balls. A nice novelty but a regular water bottle works just as well.

What You Don't Need

Paddle vibration dampeners. These exist, but pickleball paddles generate far less vibration than tennis rackets. If you are experiencing arm discomfort, the issue is your technique or paddle choice, not vibration.

Weighted training paddles. Some brands sell heavy paddles designed for strength training. Your time is better spent playing with your actual paddle or doing general fitness work.

Paddle cleaning kits. A damp cloth is all you need. Specialised paddle cleaning solutions are an unnecessary expense.

Ball machines (for most players). At £300+, a ball machine is a serious investment that only makes sense for dedicated competitive players. For everyone else, a rebounder net and a willing practice partner are more effective and far cheaper.

Sources & Further Reading

• Pickleball England — Getting Started
• RacketRise — Best Pickleball Paddles UK
• RacketRise — Best Pickleball Sets UK

Related Articles

• Best Pickleball Paddles UK
• Best Pickleball Sets UK
• Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners UK
• Pickleball Balls Guide UK
• What Is Pickleball? Complete UK Beginner's Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What pickleball accessories should I buy first?

Start with overgrips (£5-£10) and a paddle cover (£8-£15). These are the two accessories that every player benefits from immediately. Add spare balls and a rebounder net once you are playing regularly.

How much should I spend on pickleball accessories?

A basic accessory kit (overgrips, paddle cover, spare balls) costs £20-£40. Adding training aids like a rebounder net and markers takes the total to £80-£120. You do not need everything at once — buy as your game develops and you identify specific needs.

Are pickleball-specific accessories better than generic sports accessories?

For overgrips and edge guards, yes — pickleball-specific products are designed for the right dimensions and usage patterns. For general accessories like cones, towels, sunglasses, and ball retrievers, generic sports equipment works equally well.

Can I use tennis overgrips on a pickleball paddle?

Yes. Tennis overgrips are the same product — they wrap around a handle in exactly the same way. Many pickleball players use tennis overgrips (like Tourna Grip or Wilson Pro Overgrip) because they are widely available and slightly cheaper than pickleball-branded alternatives.

How often should I replace my overgrip?

Every 5-10 playing sessions, or whenever it starts to feel slick and worn. Some competitive players replace their overgrip before every session. At £2-£3 per grip, frequent replacement is affordable and makes a genuine difference to how your paddle feels.

Is lead tape legal in pickleball?

Yes. Lead tape is legal under USA Pickleball and Pickleball England rules, provided the modified paddle still meets the maximum weight and dimension standards. Most recreational additions of lead tape will not push a paddle beyond legal limits.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Equipment recommendations are based on research and testing — individual preferences may vary. Always consult venue staff about court-specific requirements. Prices and availability are subject to change.