How does the Shall We Pickle weather app work?

We check your location's live weather and look at a few things in order: rain probability first, then wind speed, temperature and humidity and UV index. Each factor is assessed against our playability thresholds and we give you a verdict on whether it's a good idea to be playing pickleball outdoors at your chosen time. We provide hourly data for up to 10 days ahead (240 hours) so you can plan the best playing window for your week, or prepare yourself for that outdoor tournament you signed up for next week. Type your city or suburb into the search bar above and we'll handle the rest.

What are your playability threshold verdicts and what do these mean?

These are the three verdicts our weather app gives you, to indicate if it's a good time to play some outdoor pickleball, or not. A green Heck Yeah (GO) means conditions are excellent, get on court immediately. An orange Manageable (MAYBE) means conditions are borderline; playable, but expect to adjust your game. A pink Hard Pass (NO) means conditions are against you, either unsafe or you'll have a rubbish time. On a Hard Pass day, the court finder can help you track down an indoor court option nearby.

Which locations does Shall We Pickle cover?

Currently covering Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, and expanding to Vietnam, Philippines, USA and beyond sooner than you can get to that third shot drop. Type your city or suburb into the search and the weather app finds live and forecast conditions and nearby courts for indoor or outdoor play. Have a court to add? Get in touch.

What wind speed makes pickleball unplayable?

We rate 0-19 km/h as GO, 20-29 km/h as MAYBE, and 30 km/h or above as NO. You can certainly still play in 25 km/h winds, but lobs become a lottery and third-shot drops need extra care. Above 30 km/h the ball behaves so unpredictably that it stops being sport and starts being chaos; you'll quickly lose patience trying to keep it in play.

Is 25 km/h wind too much for pickleball?

25 km/h sits in our MAYBE zone; playable, but not pretty. Serve into the wind where you can, flatten your drives, and leave the lobs at home. If gusts are spiking above 30 km/h intermittently, we recommend looking for an indoor court using our court finder.

Should I move to an indoor court when it's windy?

If wind is in MAYBE territory (20-29 km/h), it's worth considering, particularly if you loathe chasing down rogue balls. If it's a NO (30+ km/h), indoor is the right call. Use our court finder to spot indoor options near you.

Can I play pickleball in light rain?

Whilst technically playable, even lightly wet hard courts get slippery fast and the risk of ankle rolls goes up significantly. Our weather app flags 30-59% precipitation probability as MAYBE and 60%+ as NO. When in doubt, a wet court isn't worth the injury risk. Use our court finder to track down an indoor option near you.

Is it safe to play pickleball on a wet court?

We give wet courts a hard NO. Hard court surfaces quickly become slippery when wet, and the combination of lateral movement and wet ground is a proper hazard. And remember, if it's rained recently and the court hasn't been dried properly, treat it as a NO regardless of what the current forecast says.

Can I play pickleball during a thunderstorm?

Absolutely not! Thunder means lightning risk, and an open court is the last place you want to be. Clear the court immediately if you hear thunder, even if it isn't raining hard yet.

What temperature is best for playing pickleball?

Our sweet spot is 15-27 degrees C, where you can play hard without a serious heat risk. Consider 28-37 degrees C a MAYBE, and dependent on humidity (remember that high humidity makes the temps feel extra spicy). Above 38 degrees C is a hard NO; heat exhaustion risk is real and not worth it.

Is 38 degrees C too hot to play pickleball?

Yes, 38 degrees C is a flat NO. At that temperature the risk of heat stress, cramps and heat exhaustion climbs quickly, especially with the lateral intensity of pickleball. Early morning or evening sessions, or a climate-controlled indoor court, are your only sensible options.

How does humidity affect whether I can play pickleball?

Humidity matters most when it combines with heat. We rate 28-32 degrees C with humidity above 70% as MAYBE, and 33 degrees C or above in high humidity pushes toward a hard NO. Beyond conditions, high humidity also affects your grip; sweaty hands and a slippery paddle handle are an underrated hazard at any level.

What's the best time of day to play pickleball in summer?

In general, before 10am or after 4pm is the window where temperature, UV and humidity are all most manageable. In hotter or more tropical climates, midday outdoor play during peak summer can become extremely challenging. Our weather app checks live conditions for up to 10 days in advance, so you can confirm your specific window each day. Playing an outdoor tournament soon? Get yourself mentally prepared on the lead up and check our app for the forecast.

Do I need special balls for windy conditions?

Standard outdoor pickleballs (40-hole) are your best bet in wind as they're heavier than indoor balls and designed for outdoor conditions. Avoid indoor balls (26-hole) outside; in any meaningful wind they become near-uncontrollable. Some players keep a heavier-weight outdoor ball specifically for blustery days.

How do I stop my paddle slipping in hot or humid conditions?

Overgrip tape is the simplest and cheapest fix. A fresh layer makes a significant difference in humid conditions and takes about a minute to apply. Sweat-absorbent replacement grips (similar to tennis overgrips) work well too. Change your grip wrap more often than you think you need to in summer.

What is a court finder, and how does it work?

Pop in your location to get your pickleball-ready weather report and to see our court finder. Our court finder gives you a list of available pickleball courts in your local area. We pull court listings from publicly available sources across the web, and organise them into indoor and outdoor lists for you. We rely on you to verify this data for accuracy. If you have feedback, or a court that hasn't been included in the list, get in touch.

I saw an outdoor court in the indoor list. Why?

While we have built in some smarts to tell us if the courts are indoor or outdoor, our app validates thousands of courts and we don't always get it right. If you spot an error, click on the verified or unverified link in each listing to report and update a court or venue for accuracy. Thank you for being our eyes on the ground!

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