Does the Apple Watch Have Pickleball? A Complete Guide

Pickleball has exploded in popularity over the last few years, quickly becoming one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. With over 4.8 million players in 2021, up 39% since 2019 according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), it’s no surprise that more people are looking to track their pickleball sessions. So can you use your Apple Watch for pickleball?

The short answer is yes, you can track pickleball workouts on the Apple Watch! Since the release of watchOS 7 in 2020, the Apple Watch has included pickleball as an official workout type you can select. This allows Apple Watch wearers to conveniently track metrics like calories burned, heart rate, and more for their pickleball games and practices.

How to Track Pickleball on Apple Watch?

Tracking your pickleball workout on an Apple Watch is simple and straightforward. Just follow these steps:

Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
Scroll down and tap on Pickleball under the Other workout types section.
Enter the duration of your pickleball session if you know it ahead of time, or leave it open-ended.
Tap Start and head out to the pickleball courts! The Apple Watch will automatically start tracking your workout.
Play your pickleball games as usual. The Apple Watch sensors will record your active calorie burn, heart rate trends, and other workout metrics in real-time.
When you’re done playing, open the Workout app again and tap End to stop tracking and save your workout summary.

The tracked pickleball data including heart rate zones, calories, and duration will sync from your Apple Watch to the Activity app on your paired iPhone where you can review details and trends over time.

Maximizing Your Apple Watch for Pickleball

While the Apple Watch does a good job tracking pickleball basics out of the box, there are some tips to get the most accurate and useful data from your wearable:

Get the right fit – Make sure your Apple Watch band is sized properly and snug enough on your wrist to optimize heart rate tracking but not too tight to restrict movement.
Mind the water – Apple Watch models are sweat resistant but not fully waterproof. Avoid submerging it and dry off any excess sweat after intense play.
Consider a screen protector – A screen protector helps prevent scratching if you tend to hit the watch against paddles.
Use workout autopause – This feature pauses tracking when you stop moving, great for breaks. Enable it in the Watch app.
Track serve speed – Download a third-party app like Pickleball Serve Tracker to use the accelerometer to estimate your serve speed.
Analyze your metrics – Review your heart rate, calorie burn, and recovery time trends over time to optimize your training.

The Benefits of Tracking Pickleball on Apple Watch

Here are some of the top benefits you’ll get from using your Apple Watch for pickleball:

Motivation to move – Closing your Activity rings gives you extra motivation to play more pickleball.
Heart health insights – Seeing your heart rate spikes and recovery during play lets you gauge exercise intensity.
Calorie burn tracking – Get credit toward your daily calorie goals based on your active play sessions.
Performance feedback – Analyzing metrics over time provides feedback on how your fitness is progressing.
Share your stats – You can share workout summaries and achievements with other Apple Watch wearing pickleballers.
Sleep analysis – Tracking sleep alongside exercise can reveal how pickleball impacts your sleep quality.

While Apple Watch excels at all-day activity tracking, other wearables like Garmin or Fitbit trackers have more pickleball-optimized features like stroke type detection. But for most casual and enthusiast players, the Apple Watch has more than enough to take your pickleball game to the next level!

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Watch and Pickleball

Can you use Apple Watch without your phone for pickleball?

Yes, you can start pickleball workouts directly from your Apple Watch without needing your phone nearby. Your workout data will sync to your iPhone when back in Bluetooth range.

Is the Apple Watch waterproof enough for pickleball?

Apple Watch models are water resistant but not fully waterproof. It’s fine for sweat but best to avoid submersion that could happen if you dive for a shot.

Does the Apple Watch offer pickleball-specific features?

Beyond tracking duration, heart rate and calories, there are no specialized pickleball features like shot tracking. Some apps like Gear.Club provide more pickleball metrics.

Can Apple Watch detect pickleball automatically?

No, unlike tennis or walking, you have to manually start pickleball workouts for now. Automatic detection would be a useful future enhancement.

How accurate is the Apple Watch for tracking pickleball?

For casual players, it provides good enough duration, heart rate, and calorie accuracy. Serious competitors may prefer more precise sensors of sports-specific wearables.

Do I have to unlock or upgrade my Apple Watch for pickleball?

No unlocking required! Pickleball tracking is available on all generations of Apple Watch as long as you have updated to watchOS 7 or later.

What smartwatch is best for pickleball – Apple or other brands?

For hardcore pickleball athletes, brands like Garmin or Fitbit offer more advanced sport-specific tracking. But Apple Watch provides great casual pickleball tracking in a stylish everyday package.

Should I buy an Apple Watch just for pickleball?

Apple Watch is fantastic for overall fitness and health tracking, so great for pickleball but also walking, running, workouts, sleep, and more. Get one for the whole picture!

The Bottom Line

While the Apple Watch may not have every bell and whistle that hardcore pickleball athletes demand, it packs some impressive pickleball tracking capabilities considering its stylish design and everyday versatility.

For most enthusiastic amateurs, the Apple Watch is more than up to the task for capturing pickleball activity. And the metrics it provides, like heart rate trends and calorie burn, can give helpful fitness feedback.

So if you’re an Apple Watch owner who’s caught the pickleball bug like millions of others, go ahead and start tracking your new favorite sport. Before long, those Activity rings will be closing faster than you can say “pickleball!” What are you waiting for? Grab your paddle, strap on your Apple Watch, and hit the courts. Game on!

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