By Lydia Hirt, VP Marketing, Life Time
@lydia.pickleball / Love at First Dink
This holiday season feels like it flew by, leaving little time for decorating, parties, shopping, and of course balancing it all with your pickleball obsession and quality court time.
If you're still searching for the perfect gifts, these suggestions for the pickleball enthusiast in your life can help you find inspiration this weekend—or even set your loved ones up for a smashing start to 2025 (shipping times permitting).
The Life Time Ultimate Pickleball: I LOVE this ball. These balls play fast, bounce consistently, and don’t crack — they’ll be the gift that keeps on giving long after the holidays.
My dad, who plays with both power and spin, is getting the new JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus 3S Paddle, which I also play with - love a matching moment!
A growing trend I think we’ll see more of in 2025 is protective eye wear on the pickleball court. As the game speeds up, it makes it more risky - and it would be hard to pickle with only one eye! I don’t get on the court without JOOLA’s eye protection.
Though if I’m playing outside and it’s sunny, I pull out my classic Celine sunglasses. I swear this gold frame looks good on everyone - think of them as an investment.
Speaking of playing in the sun, why not give the gift of an experience? Exploring new destinations and discovering pickleball courts along the way is one of the most exciting ways to combine travel and play. My top recommendation is Club El Dorado in Costa Rica.
I’m obsessed with my Oura ring, notably the sleep data. I also love comparing stats with friends who are playing other sports and seeing how pickleball compares activity-wise. There’s a certain racket sport that often likes to tout itself as more competitive, but that’s not always what my data shows…!
Staying hydrated will always be on trend. Grillo Pickles dill bloody mary mix is the perfect way to start your holiday morning (with or without vodka); I can’t get enough of Spindrift’s Apply flavor - it’s the adult version of apple juice you remember fondly from childhood; and I am obsessed with my Collina Strada rhinestone water bottle.
Pickle Guys: An iconic NYC institution with pickled everything - don’t miss the pineapple (see my post here) and they ship all over. Shop small (and delicious).
Time to refresh your court shoes! I’ve long been a friend of Acacia Pickleball Shoes. This family-owned company in SoCal was an early adopter to the sport and they’ve continued to iterate. Their latest pickleball shoe launch includes this metallic pink DinkShot model and I LOVE it. Use code lydia10 to get 10% off your order at Acacia Sports.
I love socks with personality: These Life Time PKBL socks are comfortable & cute. I would be thrilled to find these stockings in my stocking.
Sure, the holidays might be nearly over, but it’s never too late to blame shipping delays and score some points with these pickleball-perfect gifts. After all, who doesn’t love a little surprise...even if it’s fashionably late?