Picking up the pickleball without bending down: 5 ways, from the free one to the one you buy
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Every point ends with a ball on the ground. And although nobody counts it as part of the game, someone bends down for it a few dozen times per match.
There are ways to reduce it. Some cost nothing, some cost a little, and all have something they don't tell you when they sell them. These are the five we know, from the cheapest to the one you buy.
1. The paddle and foot technique (free)
The most used and the one to practice. You rest the face of the paddle on the ball, roll it toward you and, with the tip of your foot, flick it up to catch it in the air with your hand.
Pros: it costs nothing and adds no weight.
Drawbacks: it takes practice, and on a very smooth court the ball escapes. Also you rest the face of the paddle on the ground, something many people don't like doing with a new paddle.
2. The hip hinge (free)
If there's no choice but to go for the ball, there are less loaded ways of doing it. Go down with your knees and hips instead of bending your back, and rest your free hand on the paddle placed upright, like a cane, to have a point of support.
Pros: it's free and works for any ball.
Drawbacks: you still bend down. You just do it better.
3. The spare ball (free)
Carry a second ball in your pocket or at your waist. When the first goes away, you take out the other and the point continues. The balls on the ground are all picked up together at the change of sides or when the game ends.
Pros: you stop pausing between points.
Drawbacks: in the end they still have to be picked up. You just group them.
4. The tube pickup tool (inexpensive)
A hollow tube that rests over the ball: the ball enters through the mouth and stays inside. When you lift it, it rises with it. It's designed for picking up many balls in a row.
Pros: ideal for training with a basket of balls.
Drawbacks: it's one more object to carry in your hand and doesn't fit in a pocket. For point-to-point play in a match, most people leave it in the bag.
5. The handle pickup tool
A silicone piece that slips onto the end of the paddle handle. You lower the handle toward the ball, press and lift it. We sell one: the SCOOP.
Pros: it's always where your paddle is, and it doesn't occupy a hand.
Drawbacks, all of them:
- It adds about 33 g (1.2 oz) at the end of the handle, and the paddle feels different. It comes off in a second.
- It's for point-to-point, not for picking up twenty balls from a basket.
- If your paddle has a very wide or unusual handle end, measure first.
Summary: which suits you
| Method | Cost | Good for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddle and foot | Free | Point-to-point | Takes practice |
| Hip hinge | Free | Any ball | You still bend down |
| Spare ball | The cost of a ball | Keeping the rhythm | They have to be picked up later |
| Tube pickup tool | Inexpensive | Training with a basket | One more object in your hand |
| Handle pickup tool | Inexpensive | Point-to-point | About 33 g (1.2 oz) on the handle |
If you play with a delicate back or knee, it makes sense to combine 2, 3 and, if you want, 5. If you train with a basket, the tube. And if bending down doesn't bother you, number 1 is free and weighs nothing.
A warning about tournaments
We haven't verified whether tournament rules allow accessories on the paddle handle. If you're going to compete, ask the organizers before using any accessory of this kind, ours or another brand's.
Frequently asked questions
Can you pick up the ball with the paddle without bending down?
Yes, with the paddle and foot technique, or with a handle pickup tool that slips onto the end of the paddle handle.
What is the best pickleball ball pickup tool?
It depends on what you do. For training with a basket, a tube one. For point-to-point play in a match, a handle one. We go into it in the ball pickup tool guide.
How many times do you bend down in a pickleball match?
There's no reliable measurement. Our rough count, with three games of doubles, comes to about 45 times per player. We explain it in this article.
