What paddle do most pro pickleball players use?
Most pros will be using paddles from the bigger brands or brands with deeper pockets that sponsor them like Joola, Selkirk, Paddletek/ProXR (same company), Franklin, Proton, then there are those sponsored by Six Zero, Vatic, Gamma, Babolat, Adidas, Pikkl, Onix, Engage. Yes – there is a profound difference between pickleball paddles. Hundreds of attributes create significant differences between paddles, from tangible factors like materials, weight, and shape, to intangible factors like craftsmanship, innovation, and sourcing.Paying $200 for a pickleball paddle will not make you a better pickleball player. It only makes them poorer. The truth is, good players are just as good on $20. Marketing has driven up the price of pickleball paddles over the past few years.Find the perfect pickleball paddle based on your player type. Beginner paddles should be comfortable to hold and easy to swing. Key features include light to medium weight, comfortable grip, large sweet spot and balance of power and control. Power paddles tend to have tighter sweet spots and provide greater feedback.Expensive paddles often feature higher quality materials, advanced technology, and superior craftsmanship, resulting in better performance, durability, and control compared to cheaper alternatives. However, the right paddle depends on individual preferences and skill levels.
How do you pick a good pickleball paddle?
Find the perfect pickleball paddle based on your player type. Beginner paddles should be comfortable to hold and easy to swing. Key features include light to medium weight, comfortable grip, large sweet spot and balance of power and control. Power paddles tend to have tighter sweet spots and provide greater feedback. Picking the best pickleball paddle requires pairing the most important elements of a paddle with a player’s skill and style. The key to finding the best pickleball paddle is to find the proper balance of core material and thickness, surface material, paddle weights, and grip size for an individual player.Coming in at number one among our best pickleball paddles for beginners is the Vatic Pro Prism Flash. The Vatic Pro Prism Flash is a paddle that you’re going to see topping lists of all different types. The best paddle under $100, the best paddle for beginners, the best control paddle, and more. This one does it all.It’s true that not all pickleball paddles are created equal. Higher-end paddles often feature advanced materials like carbon fiber, raw carbon, and fiberglass, which can provide more control, power, or spin. However, you don’t necessarily need the priciest paddle to perform well on the court.If your ball feels soft, cracked, or doesn’t bounce like it used to, it’s time for a fresh one. You might also notice it sounds dull off the paddle — another clear sign it’s worn out. Fresh pickleballs give you better bounce, truer flight, and a more consistent game.
Are expensive pickleball paddles really better?
If your swing has major flaws, expensive clubs won’t help you at all, but if your swing is fundamentally sound, cheap clubs will hold you back. Pickleball is similar in my opinion. Paddles matter just like a bat or a proper football or cleats or shoes or a racquet. It can elevate your game a bit. Elongated paddle shapes, generally, are for a more experienced player. Due to their longer length and slimmer width, a player just getting into the sport of pickleball may have more mishits. On the other hand, an experienced player is going to love the performance and reach on an elongated paddle shape.There are three distinct models of Pickleball paddles: Elongated, Classic and Widebody. In this post we break down what differentiates each type of paddle and what kind of players each are ideal for. Elongated paddles are longer than most paddles, allowing them to have greater reach, power and spin.Elongated: An elongated paddle offers increased reach, spin, and power. However, this additional reach comes at the expense of forgiveness, particularly from side-to-side. Standard: In contrast, a standard-shaped paddle provides less reach and a little less power & spin but offers greater overall forgiveness.Pickleball is a lower-impact sport with shorter rallies, making it accessible for older players or those looking for a casual game. Padel is more physically demanding due to its larger court, longer rallies, and movement around walls.
What’s the lifespan of a pickleball paddle?
From the impact of materials like carbon fiber and graphite to the influence of playing style and maintenance habits, every factor shapes your paddle’s lifespan. While weekend warriors might enjoy their paddles for 1 to 5 years, more intense players may need to replace them every 3-6 months for peak performance. Essential Takeaways. An elongated pickleball paddle’s shape, length, weight, and surface texture influence aerodynamics and physics. These paddles can provide a greater moment arm, a larger sweet spot, and a different aerodynamic profile, resulting in increased speed, reach, power, control, and precision.For players seeking stability and comfort, a 20mm pickleball paddle is the go-to option. The thicker core is excellent at absorbing shock, reducing vibrations during intense rallies, and providing a consistent hit.Although the lifespan of the average pickleball paddle is 1-3 years, the specific lifespan of a particular paddle will depend on many variables, including the materials it is made of, the frequency and intensity of play, and how well it is maintained and cared for.It’s true that not all pickleball paddles are created equal. Higher-end paddles often feature advanced materials like carbon fiber, raw carbon, and fiberglass, which can provide more control, power, or spin. However, you don’t necessarily need the priciest paddle to perform well on the court.
Is it better to have a heavier or lighter pickleball paddle?
Your style of play should significantly influence your choice of paddle weight. Heavier paddles, which can impart more pace to shots, might be suitable for players who prefer a powerful game. However, a heavier paddle can also slow a player’s speed at the net and make precision shots more challenging. Heavyweight paddles create power by getting more mass behind your shots. This extra weight can make paddles harder to maneuver quickly when you’re hitting volleys at the net, but if you want more power for your drives, serves and slams, using a heavier paddle will help with that.The four corners are considered the spots where the paddle curves. Putting a weight strip on each of these adds a balanced amount of weight to the paddle’s top and bottom. It also adds power and increases your sweet spot the most. Some pickleball paddles are naturally heavier toward the head or the handle.For players who want more control, opt for a 16mm paddle whereas if you are looking for something with more power, choose a 13mm pickleball paddle.Find the perfect pickleball paddle based on your player type. Beginner paddles should be comfortable to hold and easy to swing. Key features include light to medium weight, comfortable grip, large sweet spot and balance of power and control. Power paddles tend to have tighter sweet spots and provide greater feedback.But one crucial aspect that defines a paddle’s performance is often overlooked: The sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area on a pickleball paddle where players experience optimal contact, resulting in enhanced, more accurate shots and better overall gameplay.
Is there really a difference in pickleball paddles?
Thinner paddles offer more pop and power and are typically lighter than their thicker counterparts, which helps with paddle agility. Thicker paddles, on the other hand, provide more control and consistency on each shot. Thinner paddles generate more power. Because the paddle core is more compact, the ball rebounds faster to give you more explosive shots. On the other hand, thicker paddles offer better touch and precision. They help you place your shots exactly where you want.The wider surface means they have a larger sweet spot. A sweet spot in a paddle refers to the middle surface, which gives out maximum power, control and accuracy of hits. The larger the sweet spot, the more accurate your strikes, even if you don’t strike the ball with the paddle’s sweet spot.The 14mm paddles are oftentimes lighter and not as cumbersome as the 16mm paddles. Therefore, these paddles are generally easier to maneuver and can be beneficial for those who are just starting to play pickleball.Your style of play should significantly influence your choice of paddle weight. Heavier paddles, which can impart more pace to shots, might be suitable for players who prefer a powerful game. However, a heavier paddle can also slow a player’s speed at the net and make precision shots more challenging.The increased mass of 16mm paddles gives them more power on big swings, however, this extra mass also absorbs more pace off the ball during resets and dinks when you’re not swinging as hard which gives them less pop. Compared to their 16mm counterparts, 14mm paddles have lower power and higher pop profiles.
Do I want a 14 or 16 mm pickleball paddle?
Pickleball Paddle Weight The 14mm paddles are oftentimes lighter and not as cumbersome as the 16mm paddles. Therefore, these paddles are generally easier to maneuver and can be beneficial for those who are just starting to play pickleball. Elongated paddle shapes, generally, are for a more experienced player. Due to their longer length and slimmer width, a player just getting into the sport of pickleball may have more mishits. On the other hand, an experienced player is going to love the performance and reach on an elongated paddle shape.Pickleball paddles wear out over time due to use, affecting performance and appearance. Factors like storage, type, level and style of play, and treatment impact longevity.Paddle between $20 and $50 and don’t want to invest a lot. However, if you plan to play pickleball more often (eg, once or twice a week), consider investing in a pickleball racket. Play on the pickleball court.The 14mm paddles are oftentimes lighter and not as cumbersome as the 16mm paddles. Therefore, these paddles are generally easier to maneuver and can be beneficial for those who are just starting to play pickleball.Beginning July 1, 2025, USA Pickleball will not allow the Joola Perseus Mod TA-15 (14mm and 16mm), Gearbox Pro Power Elongated, and ProKennex Black Ace paddles to be used in their sanctioned tournaments. Why? USA Pickleball has determined these paddles are too powerful and give players an unfair advantage.