Christmas is right around the corner, so I need to finish shopping for all of my pickleball people.

Trust me when I say that I still have work to do.

With that in mind, here is my official gift guide for all the different pickleballers in my life:

Mixed doubles partner who never drinks enough water

I am so tempted to get him the Versix Vector paddle in blue, and I can have the pink edition so we can have “his and hers” paddles. But okay, I’ll go practical. My mixed partner is in desperate need of a good water bottle because he’s constantly on the cusp of dehydration. And we play in the south. So, I’m getting him a Takeya water bottle. 

My sister who’s only there to look for a date 

She is not at the pickleball courts to play. She’s there on the prowl, looking for a shirtless pickleball playing hunk. But she’s got to look her absolute best, so I’m getting her an adorable Born to Rally pickleball necklace and an erne pickleball dress to look and feel amazing while she’s out courting. 

My brother-in-law who thinks he’s a 5.0, but he’s really a 3.5

Yeah, we’ve all got one of those in the family, don’t we? He’s convinced that he’s a 5.0, but his DUPR is wildly inaccurate. Either way, the whole family is pitching in to get him a ball machine. He’s been talking about how drilling with a ball machine could help him eventually turn pro. After Christmas, there’s no excuse. Time to be the next Ben Johns.

My aunt who wants to start playing with her husband 

My sweet auntie has no idea about the storm that’s about to be unleashed on her marriage. She told me her New Year’s resolution was to play in a tournament with her husband. And while she’s a decent player, she’s definitely going to need a powerful paddle to give her an edge alongside her hubby. So, I got her a JOOLA paddle to seriously elevate her power game.  

My tennis purist cousin 

Yeah, she’s had her nose in the air ever since the rest of the family started playing pickleball. But sorry, cuz, it’s time to give in and play in the Christmas Day pickleball tournament. Since she is an avid tennis player, I think Genie Bouchard’s Versix paddle is the perfect choice for her because it’s made with tennis players in mind.

My grandma who’s the best player in the family

Grandma is the feisty on the court and the reigning family champion, so I’m getting her a new pair of court shoes because hers are a little worn out. The Skechers viper court shoes provide great support, and she's going to love them in that gorgeous pink color.

My fashionable women’s dubs partner 

Matching outfits of course! I’ll be looking for a BOGO deal, so I can give myself the same look. We’ve got a few tournaments on the schedule for 2025, and we need to look our best to play our best. That starts with coordinating outfits. I’m thinking of this lavender skirt from CRZ yoga and white top to look as cute as Parris Todd and Callie Smith did in Milwaukee.

My brother who’s in it for the social game

My brother is not there to get hyper competitive on the court. He just enjoys being outside with friends. So, I’m getting him a RAD pickleball paddle because he’s a sucker for crazy designs and skater culture art. And he loves a conversation starter, and these paddles are perfect for that.  

My mom 

I want to buy the whole Pickleball Central store for her because that’s what moms deserve. But her pickleball bag is not functional and it’s not cute. A complete travesty that she mutters about whenever we hit the court. It’s time for a pickleball bag upgrade to elevate her court accessory game. Ame & Lulu are my go-to for cute bags.

Happy holiday shopping!