Frequently Asked Questions

There are three main differences.

(1) Warranty: Genuine products are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Gray-market products may not be eligible for warranty service in Japan.
(2) Quality assurance: Because genuine products are imported through authorized channels, proper storage conditions and the authenticity of serial numbers and included accessories are guaranteed.
(3) Counterfeit risk: Counterfeit products have been reported on overseas shopping sites. We carry only genuine products obtained through authorized channels, so we never sell counterfeits.

Yes. Pickleball Lab (Experanza LLC) is the only partner in Japan that has signed an authorized distributor agreement with Engage Pickleball. You can also confirm this on Engage's official website.

No. A missing logo is not, by itself, evidence that a paddle is fake.

Whether the end cap is stamped with a logo varies by brand and model. For example, the Engage Evolution Aero comes with a plain end cap that has no stamp. Selkirk's SLK series also includes models with plain end caps, and units of the same model may come with or without the stamp.

Articles from outside Japan sometimes say that “an unmarked end cap may mean the paddle is fake.” That is meant as a general, brand-agnostic rule of thumb, and it doesn't apply to every model.

The reliable way to check is to verify that the barcode (UPC) on the outer box matches the official code issued by the manufacturer. Send us the number through our contact form or on LINE, and we'll verify it and get back to you.

We also carry only genuine products obtained through authorized channels and never source through other stores or marketplaces, so there's no way for a counterfeit to find its way into our stock.

It depends on the brand and model. Engage Pickleball products come with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty from the date of purchase (covering manufacturing defects). For Six Zero, please contact us to confirm. Wear and tear from normal use is not covered by the warranty.

We accept credit cards (Visa / Mastercard / JCB / American Express), convenience store payment (konbini), bank transfer, Apple Pay / Google Pay, Shop Pay, and pay later (Paidy).

Yes, we can. Using the details in your order confirmation email, please send us the name to appear on the document through our contact form. We'll send you a PDF receipt that includes our registration number and meets the requirements of Japan's Qualified Invoice System.

Orders can be canceled while they're still being prepared for shipment. Please contact us through our contact form or on LINE as soon as possible after ordering (ideally within 30 minutes). Once we've started the shipping process, the order can no longer be canceled, but if the item is unopened, we can accept it as a return (shipping costs paid by the customer).

We don't offer gift wrapping at this time. However, we don't include a packing slip in our packages, so you can still send items as gifts.

Shipping costs ¥450–¥650 (tax incl.), with the same rates anywhere in Japan. We offer free shipping on orders of ¥3,980 or more.

Orders confirmed by 2:00 p.m. (Japan time) on a weekday ship the same day; orders confirmed after that ship the next business day. For convenience store payment (konbini) and bank transfer, the clock starts once we've confirmed your payment. Delivery typically takes 1–2 days from the ship date (excluding remote islands and some areas). We'll email you a tracking number once your order ships. Note that items labeled “Backorder” or “Pre-order” are not eligible for same-day shipping; please refer to the estimated delivery time shown on the product page. If you order them together with in-stock items, we'll ship everything together once they arrive (you pay shipping only once).

If you'd like, we can split your order into separate shipments. If we don't hear from you, we'll ship everything together once all items are available (you pay shipping only once).
• If the items we send first total ¥3,980 or more (tax incl.): we'll split the shipment at no additional shipping cost.
• If they total less than ¥3,980: we'll split the shipment if you cover the cost of the one additional shipment (¥650 for standard-size items / ¥450 for small items).
To request this, contact us through our contact form or on LINE and include your order number. We can accommodate your request at any time before the items awaiting restock ship.

Not at this time. We currently ship only to addresses within Japan. We plan to offer international shipping in the future, so if you're interested, please contact us and we'll consider your request on a case-by-case basis.

We ship with Japan Post (Yu-Pack / Yu-Packet). The email we send after your order ships includes a tracking number, which you can use to check the delivery status on the Japan Post website.

You can choose either reshipment or cancellation. In either case, you'll be responsible for the actual shipping costs incurred.
• Reshipment: You'll pay the shipping cost of the return to us plus the shipping cost of the reshipment (in effect, the cost of one round trip). We'll let you know the amount and how to pay, and we'll ship your order once you've confirmed.
• Cancellation: We'll refund the amount you paid, minus the actual round-trip shipping costs.
Note: Even for orders of ¥3,980 or more (free shipping), you'll be responsible for the actual round-trip shipping costs if the package is returned to us.
Packages are held for 7 days starting the day after the missed-delivery notice is left. Please request redelivery within that period.
Note: Once we confirm that your package has been returned to us, we'll contact you at the email address you used to place your order. If we don't hear back from you within 14 days of our message, we'll treat the order as canceled and refund the amount you paid, minus the actual round-trip shipping costs. The item will remain with us.

We accept returns within 7 days of delivery for items that are unused and unopened. For returns made for personal reasons, the customer is responsible for shipping costs. For details, please see our Return & Exchange Policy.

We sincerely apologize for the trouble. Within 14 days of delivery, please send us your order number, a description of the problem, and photos through our contact form or on LINE. We'll exchange the item, with shipping costs covered by us (if the same item is out of stock, we'll offer you a different color or the option to wait until it's back in stock).

Returns of used items are covered by the manufacturer's warranty only when a manufacturing defect is confirmed. It's difficult for us to accept returns for reasons such as “it didn't suit me as well as I expected,” but if you consult us on LINE before buying, you can choose a paddle based on our play-test impressions.

Pickleball Lab is an online shop specializing in pickleball. It's run by “Coach Yoshi,” a former international ski competitor and current tennis coach, and operates as Japan's exclusive authorized distributor of Engage Pickleball and an authorized dealer of Six Zero and Selkirk. To learn more, see About Pickleball Lab.

Coach Yoshi is a sports coach from Yokohama who lived in LA for 15 years and is now based in Tokyo. A former ski athlete with a best finish of 3rd place in international competition, he now works as a tennis coach. He discovered pickleball in 2026 and is a “gear pro” who has play-tested and evaluated more than 100 paddles. To learn more, see Coach Yoshi's profile.

We currently operate as an online shop only. Feel free to reach out on LINE if you'd like to try a product or need advice. If you're in or around Tokyo, we may be able to accommodate you on an individual basis, so please get in touch first.

Experanza LLC
Representative: Yoshinori Iketani
Address: 2-29-18 Doshida, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Business: Sales and import distribution of pickleball equipment
For details, please see our Legal Notice (Specified Commercial Transactions Act).

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Players use paddles to hit a plastic ball back and forth on a smaller court (about 1/4 the size of a tennis court). It was born in the United States in 1965 and is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Its biggest appeal is that it's easy on the body and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.

There are four main differences.

(1) A smaller court: About one-quarter the size of a tennis court.
(2) A different ball: A perforated plastic ball that travels slower than a tennis ball.
(3) Underhand serves: Overhand serves like those in tennis are not allowed.
(4) The kitchen (NVZ) rule: Volleying is not allowed in the area in front of the net (the non-volley zone). This strategic element is what makes pickleball so much fun.

Pickleball is usually played with 2 players (singles) or 4 players (doubles). Doubles is the most popular format, and four-player games are the norm in both competitive and recreational play.

Dedicated courts are on the rise in Japan, too, especially in urban areas. Because a tennis court can be used as a pickleball court by adding lines, play sessions are also held at some tennis clubs and gymnasiums. We recommend searching social media for pickleball communities in your area.

Pickleball was born in the United States and has plenty of its own jargon, so it's natural to feel a bit lost at first. Our Pickleball Glossary, overseen by Coach Yoshi, explains about 60 terms with illustrations such as court diagrams, shot paths, and score-calling charts.

In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: “serving team's score — receiving team's score — server number” (e.g., “3 — 2 — 1”). Every game starts at “0 — 0 — 2,” and the first team to serve starts with its second server (a rule that offsets the first-serve advantage). For an illustrated explanation, see the “Score Calling” entry in our glossary.

There are three main rules for serving.

(1) Underhand serves only: You must hit the ball below your waist, with the paddle head below your wrist. Overhead serves like those in tennis are not allowed.
(2) Serve diagonally (crosscourt): The serve must clear the net and land in the diagonally opposite service court, beyond the kitchen line.
(3) One attempt only: If your serve doesn't go in (a fault), you lose the serve (unlike tennis, you don't get a second serve).

The drop serve (dropping the ball and hitting it after it bounces) is also permitted. USA Pickleball introduced it as a provisional rule in 2021 and made it a permanent rule in 2022.

This rule requires the first two shots, starting with the serve, to bounce before they are hit.

Shot 1 (the serve): The receiving team must let it bounce before returning it.
Shot 2 (the return): The serving team must also let it bounce before hitting it.

Only after these two shots may either team volley (hit the ball before it bounces). Our glossary explains this in detail under “Two-Bounce Rule.”

Yes, we do. Pickleball Lab supplies products from each of the brands we carry at wholesale to tennis clubs, sports facilities, pro shops, and freelance coaches.

Our guiding principle is “growing the sport over making a profit,” so we especially welcome partners who care more about spreading pickleball than about business. For details, please see our Wholesale & Dealer Application page.

A sales track record is not required. What matters most is your passion for “spreading pickleball.” Feel free to reach out and talk with us first. For details, please see our Wholesale & Dealer Application page.

We provide details on minimum order quantities and wholesale pricing individually, based on your business size, sales channels, and the brands you'd like to carry. We also accept small trial orders (1–5 paddles), so please start by contacting us through the application form. Coach Yoshi will respond to you personally.

(1) Submit the application form (include your business description, sales channels, and the brands you're interested in)
(2) Coach Yoshi contacts you (usually within 3 business days)
(3) Online meeting (about 30 minutes, to go over your business and goals)
(4) Agreement and first order