PickPal
A ball collection + storage system designed for wheelchair pickleball players.
Product Design
Spring 2025
Context
Wheelchair pickleball is a young but fast-growing sport. It brings together people with different mobility levels on the same court and is now appearing in official tournaments and community programs.
Pain Points
Existing ball retrieval tools are designed for standing players and are hard to use from a wheelchair.
Bending forward or sideways to pick up balls breaks the rhythm of play and can feel unsafe.
There is currently no solution tailored to the needs and motions of wheelchair pickleball athletes.
Process
Early sketches explored different ways to integrate the picker with the wheelchair: front-foot rollers, rear tubes, and side-mounted arms. I focused on how the player’s natural motions—rolling forward, turning, backing up—could become the main “input” instead of asking them to bend down.
As the concept narrowed, I refined the roller and tube mechanisms, ball path, and storage volume. These sketches study parting lines, surface breaks, and how the units can be assembled, maintained, and replaced after heavy court use.
Mock-up user testing highlighted three main improvements:
Make the wire grip softer and grippier so balls don’t slip away.
Add adjustable clamps so the system can fit different wheelchair sizes.
Introduce an angle-adjustable support, making it easier for players to lift the picker and take balls out.
CMF Inspiration
This CMF board explores a balance between precise hardware and approachable sport gear. Soft grey and charcoal bases suggest durability and neutrality, while the vivid orange accent brings energy and visibility on court.
During practice, when balls scatter across the court, the player simply rolls over them and lets the foot rollers collect everything. After a few passes, they open or tilt the storage area, take the balls by hand, and immediately restart drills or a new rally.
Solution
PickPal is a foot-mounted ball picker for wheelchair pickleball. A set of rollers under the player’s feet collects balls as they roll forward, guiding them into a dedicated storage area on the chair. This reduces bending, keeps the court clear, and makes the picker feel like a natural part of the sports wheelchair.
