Part of the beauty of pickleball and what makes it such a popular game is that you can virtually play it anywhere since you won’t need too much space to play and are only required to bring along the basic equipment including the paddles, a ball, the net, and of course, the chalk line.
While it may not initially seem as important as the rest of the equipment, having a chalk line is vital when it comes to playing a fair game of pickleball.
After all, you’re going to need to know where the kitchen space of the court is so that you don’t have players constantly smashing the ball and making the game far less fun to play.
Product Reviews
Today, we’ll be looking at 6 of the easiest-to-use and most efficient chalk lines on the market which are perfect for quickly highlighting the boundaries of a pickleball court.
With that being said, if you’re a little unsure about what kinds of chalk lines are worth your money, keep reading as we go through why these chalk lines work so well, and which might be the best for you.
The truth is, once the net has been set up and someone starts bouncing the ball with their paddle, you will want to join in on the fun as soon as possible, and this chalk line allows you to do just that, being incredibly easy to use and very visible, producing a bright blue chalk line across the court which you can’t miss while playing.
The wide door makes it very easy to fill up, and with a string measuring 100 feet long, you can easily outline the court in just a few minutes.
Additionally, the robust steel handle and large center hub make it easy to keep steady as you snap the chalk with the string, making it very accurate so you won’t have to go back and make any lines a little more straight which can end up using up more time than it needs to.
On top of this, the reel is also made out of aluminum housing making it very durable and extremely resistant to any impact, so if it does jump out of your pocket while playing, you won’t need to worry about it being unusable for the future.
While it is definitely on the heavier side, if you want a tool that is going to give you bright and accurate chalk lines in a quick and efficient manner so that you can get on with your game, you won’t want to miss out on the IRWIN STRAIT-LINE.
Pros
Bright blue chalk can be seen easily while playing
Very durable and damage-resistant aluminum material
This is an extremely lightweight and comfortable chalk line that will have you laying down thin dark blue lines quickly and easily, and a lot of this is thanks to the rubber molded grips which make it easy to measure the line around the entire court without your hand ever getting tired.
The strengthened line itself stretches 100 feet and won’t fade away if a few people step on it during the match.
The strong steel handle makes it very easy to aim while also adding a lot of durability and resistance to any potential damage, and because of how small it is, you can easily slip it into your back pocket, allowing you to have an extra hand to carry any of the other equipment.
The inserted chalk does last a long time although it is still very simple to refill, giving it a lot of longevity despite the price being so cheap, so if you did want to have a little bit of fun in a casual game and make the court a little larger, using more chalk is always so easy.
Accurate, lightweight, and very cheap for its quality, this is a handy little chalk line device that you can easily slip into your pocket when it’s time for a game.
If you don’t mind spending a little more for a state-of-the-art chalk line which is equipped with numerous different features and additions that can make your life so much easier, this product by CE TOOLS is just what you need, featuring a high-strength precision cord and a precise plumb bob indicator which makes lines extremely precise and accurate.
The stainless steel belt clip makes it easy to carry around, and while it is a little on the bulkier side, this is due to the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene material which is incredibly sturdy and will be able to take an extreme amount of punishment before it starts to pick up any visible damage.
It even features a stainless steel hook with precisely cut “fangs” which grants it even more durability than many of its competitors.
The only real downside is that this device only reaches 50 feet in length, meaning you’ll just about have enough string to stretch across the length of a standard pickleball court, so you won’t get many opportunities to make it a little bigger if you did want to experiment.
With that being said, because of the accuracy of this device, it can also be used for construction and DIY purposes, so if you did want a product that is very versatile and that you can use in other ways rather than just for pickleball, this might be just what you need.
Pros
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene material is incredibly high-end and durable
High-strength precision cord and precise plumb bob for incredible accuracy
Not too expensive for the quality
Can easily be used for construction and DIY which makes it very versatile and a long-lasting purchase
While this chalk line might look small on the outside, it actually has several built-in features which make it incredibly handy and incredibly easy to use, making it ideal if you’re someone who doesn’t want to play around with all the high-end capabilities and just wants an old-fashioned chalk line that works well.
The big mouth chalk port right at the front means you can fill it up easily with barely any mess while the flush handle makes it very comfortable and easy to place the string exactly where you need it so you won’t have any wobbly or faded lines that can end up being very annoying once you come to play.
This chalk line features a 3x rewind, meaning as soon as the chalk line has been made, you can zip the string straight back to you, making for quick and easy placement.
While it is definitely small in stature, this product is actually covered in a metal ABS case which makes it very resistant to damage.
The 3:1 gear ratio ensures that the string never whips around too fast or ends up getting tangled while you use it.
The line itself can definitely feel a little heavy, but considering just how portable this product is, it still makes it one of the niftiest and handiest chalk lines on the market.
Pros
Incredibly small and portable
3:1 gear ratio is just right to avoid the string whipping or getting tangled
Not only is this chalk line from GreatNeck a fantastic product on its own, featuring one of the best tension strings on the market which stretches out 100 feet, but you also get a choice of what kind of chalk you would like to come with the product upon buying it, giving you plenty of options depending on how you want the court to look when you come to play.
When you buy one of the chalk bottles, you can easily use them to fill up the chalk line by simply opening up the flip-top cap near the bottom, making for simple refills.
Not only is the tension line very accurate and designed to be used on any surface, giving you plenty of choice on what sort of environment you want to play in, but it also has a built-in clear chalk receiver which you can use to easily see how much chalk is still available, rather than you having to guess while you go.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, this chalk line also features a removable back in case there’s ever a jam that you need to clear out quickly, and since chalk jams are a big reason for so many chalk lines failing after prolonged use down the line, this is a huge bonus.
For a reasonable price, a plethora of extra features, and a chalk color of your choice included with the purchase, there really aren’t many downsides to this product.
Pros
100 feet tension line suitable for any surface
6:1 gear ratio and speedy rewind
Clear chalk receiver lets you see how much chalk is still available to use
Whether you are simply planning to use a chalk line to measure out a temporary court for a game of pickleball, or you want to also use it for carpentry or other DIY projects, the grip is one of the most important features for keeping the line steady and accurate, and this chalk line excels in that area.
While it certainly looks unique in its appearance, this is because this chalk line uses a sure grip which features an ergonomic handle and shockproof bi-material case that fits around a handle like a glove, making it easy to line up the chalk without it ever feeling too heavy or uncomfortable to hold.
The string itself is break-resistant and powder absorbent, and since it also features a no-spill refill port, it means there is barely any clean-up when it comes to this chalk line, making it very versatile overall and good quality for its price point.
When purchasing this product, while you can simply buy the sure grip variant, there is also a classic, ergonomic, and zinc edition which are all different in size and shape, allowing you to freely choose the one you feel would be the most comfortable and suitable for what you intend to use it for.
Pros
Sure grip is extremely comfortable and makes it easy to produce thin and accurate lines
Can be effectively used for both sports and DIY projects
Different sizes available
Break-resistant and powder-absorbent string
No-spill refill port makes for easy clean-up
Cons
Plastic and rubber material can get damaged easily
String lock mechanism is cheap and not always responsive
While they all serve the same purpose, there are many different features and additions that can set chalk lines apart, so to make it easier for you to identify which will serve you the best in the long term, here are some of the main things you will want to look out for when buying one.
A Snappy String
There are unfortunately many chalk lines readily available on the market that are made using very cheap and weak materials, and if you end up picking up a chalk line with a weak string, it’s going to make it much harder to create clear and concise lines when you snap.
Therefore, it’s important to check that the string has a high amount of tension and that it doesn’t sag when in use since this can mean you will have to pull the string back more than once to create a line, and even then, it might not be fully accurate or clear once it’s placed.
Gear Ratio
When searching for a new chalk line, you’re going to see the term “gear ratio” pop up a lot, and it essentially refers to how fast your line is going to wind back in, and how much effort it’s going to take you.
The standard gear ratio is 1:1, and it essentially means the two cogs that are rewinding the string are the same size, so there will be no mechanical advantage.
If however the gear ratio is higher than this, it means it will be much easier to pull the line back in since one gear is much bigger than the other, so it’s always an added bonus if a chalk line has a good gear ratio.
Material
Many chalk lines are very small, and while this does mean most of them are lightweight and easy to carry around, depending on the material, it can end up making them a little bulkier which is always important to keep in mind, not only because this can make it a little more troublesome to carry, but because it can also mean that they pick up damage far easier.
Chalk lines that are made from some sort of metal or steel tend to be resistant to damage while being a little heavier, making it difficult for many of them to have belt clips.
On the other hand, chalk lines made from rubber or plastic will pick up damage much easier when dropped, but you can use them much more freely and are able to simply place them in your pocket, so it really depends on your own preference.
Final Thoughts
Buying a chalk line when you’re in the mood to play a casual game of pickleball might sound easy at first, especially compared to how complicated it can be to find the right paddles, balls, and especially the net.
However, you don’t want to just buy the first chalk line you see since it could be poor quality and cause some annoyance when you’re setting up for a game.
Instead, try out some of these excellent chalk lines which are some of the best on the market and are guaranteed to get you on the court in no time.
Hello, I’m Damien Dansel and I have been playing pickleball for almost six years now. It all began in my first year of college when I was drowning in coursework and finals. I needed a stress reliever, but none of the usual suspects were working.
That’s when I saw that the pickleball court was free. I had a paddle, a ball, and a dream, and plenty of stress to unload. I encouraged some of my friends to come and play with me, and eventually, we even started a pickleball club at our college.
I started this site to get more people clued in and excited about pickleball. Please, take a look around and get as excited about this underrated sport as we are!
