Best Pickleball Paddles
Because a good pickler needs a good paddle
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
If you’re one of the 3.5 million casual pickleball players in the U.S., you might be thinking about upgrading your paddle. Or maybe you’re a total newbie, helping to make pickleball—a mix of tennis, badminton, and table tennis—the fastest-growing sport in the nation. In either case, the right paddle can make a huge difference in your competitive edge and enjoyment of the game—whatever your reason for playing.
To help you find your next pickleball paddle, we purchased popular and widely available beginner-to-intermediate paddles and had a few seasoned players try them out on the court and weigh in with their expert feedback. Our evaluators—Eric Ho, Ray Xiong, and Jean Xiong—are the founders of NYC Pickleball, an online resource and local community of players. Ho is also a certified pickleball instructor.
Eric says that finding the right paddle mostly comes down to budget and personal preferences, but there are a handful of other factors to consider.
- Thickness: A thicker core (at least 16 millimeters) offers more control, a bigger sweet spot (the paddle’s bull’s-eye), and more potential for spins, which make it more difficult for your opponent to return the ball. A thinner core (13 millimeters or less) offers more power, a smaller sweet spot, and less control.
- Weight: A heavier paddle (8 ounces and up) adds power and stability but at the cost of hand speed. A lighter paddle is easiest for beginners to wield.
- Shape: An elongated paddle offers more leverage for power, but a wider one (square-shaped) has a bigger sweet spot and more control.
- Handle length: A shorter handle is good for table tennis players who like to choke up on the handle. A longer handle (at least 5¼ inches) sacrifices some hand speed but is more comfortable for tennis players and those with a two-handed backhand.
- Surface material: Most paddles for beginner and intermediate players have fiberglass surfaces, which offer power. Carbon fiber and graphite surfaces give you more control and juicy spins.
How We Evaluated Pickleball Paddles
We had three players play pickleball with each paddle, evaluating:
- How the paddle feels in the hand—including grip, weight, and balance.
- How the paddle plays—testing its swing speed, power, and ability to spin a ball.
- How comfortable the paddle is—including factors such as vibration, sound, and pressure points.
