Bringing the Fun to Pickleball: A Chat with Recess Pickleball's Founders

Pickleball has been winning hearts across the globe, and few brands capture the spirit of fun and community like Recess Pickleball. Known for their vibrant and playful designs, Recess Pickleball paddles are more than just sports equipment—they’re a statement of style and joy on the court. As we welcome their paddles to PickleballCentral, we sat down with the founders to learn more about the brand’s origins, design philosophy, and their vision for the future of pickleball. Here’s what they had to say.

What inspired you to start Recess Pickleball, and how did you come up with the name?

Recess Pickleball was born from our love for the game and a desire to bring more fun and creativity to the sport. We were inspired by the laid-back, social atmosphere that pickleball fosters — something that anyone can enjoy, no matter their skill level. The name "Recess" felt like the perfect fit because it evokes that feeling of being on the playground as kids, where the emphasis was on having fun and enjoying yourself rather than competing. Fun fact: we actually met on the playground in elementary school in Lubbock, Texas so the name felt very fitting! We wanted to carry that same carefree spirit into the brand and make pickleball accessible and inviting for everyone.

Recess Pickleball paddles have such a vibrant and unique aesthetic. Can you tell us more about the design philosophy and how you choose your paddle themes?

Before launching Recess, we were playing pickleball recreationally and loved that the game brought our family and friends together. However, we weren’t able to find paddles that matched our lifestyle and aesthetic.

Our paddle designs are meant to be as fun and approachable as the game itself. We draw inspiration from different facets of life – from fashion to nature to travel to interior design. We love collaborating with artists who bring fresh perspectives to our designs. Each paddle theme is thoughtfully curated, ensuring that players feel a sense of joy and individuality when they step on the court.

Shop all Recess Pickleball Paddles

As a brand that emphasizes fun and play, how do you balance this with creating paddles that perform well on the court?

At Recess Pickleball, we are committed to bringing quality, well-designed paddles to the market. We believe that design and performance can go hand in hand. While our paddles are designed to be visually appealing, we also put a lot of care into making sure they perform to a high standard. We use quality materials and work closely with manufacturers to ensure our paddles are durable and provide a great feel on the court. By focusing on both style and function, we make sure that our customers can enjoy the game in a way that’s fun, but also competitive and satisfying.

We see you collaborating with brands and artists big and small! Can you talk about that process? How do you choose the brands to align with? What goes into designing and sharing the creativity?

A Recess Pickleball paddle is a perfect blank canvas for collaborations. We love working with brands and artists that share our values of creativity, inclusivity, and fun. We focus on brands and creators who bring something fresh to the table, and who have a unique perspective that aligns with the spirit of Recess. The design process is always collaborative—we bring our ideas, they bring theirs, and together we create something new and exciting that pushes the boundaries of what a pickleball paddle can look like.

How do you see the pickleball community evolving, and what role does Recess Pickleball hope to play in that growth?

The pickleball community is growing rapidly, and it’s exciting to see so many people from different backgrounds and walks of life embracing the sport. We see the community becoming more inclusive, more social, and more creative as the game evolves. At Recess, we hope to be a driving force in that growth by promoting a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable playing, no matter their skill level. We want to keep pushing the boundaries of what Recess can be—more than just a game, but a lifestyle that brings people together.

With this new collaboration with PickleballCentral, what excites you most about bringing Recess Pickleball to a wider audience?

We’re thrilled to partner with PickleballCentral because it gives us an opportunity to share our brand with an even larger community of pickleball enthusiasts. We’re excited to introduce Recess to players who might not have seen a paddle quite like ours before – aesthetic and design-forward. This collaboration allows us to bring our unique approach to pickleball to a wider audience, and we can’t wait to see how players respond to the creativity and fun that we bring to the sport!

As Recess Pickleball continues to bring a splash of color and creativity to courts everywhere, we’re thrilled to be part of their journey. Their commitment to fun, quality, and community aligns perfectly with our mission at PickleballCentral.com. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player, Recess Pickleball paddles are designed to bring out the best in your game while keeping the fun in every rally. Explore their collection now and experience the joy of playing with paddles that are as unique as you are.