Price
Price is not always correlated to quality or performance. There are plenty of paddles that are priced between $50-100 that perform perfectly well enough for the best players in the world. The Vatic Pro Prism Flash and V7 are both $89.99 when you use the discount code “DTRAN.” At the same time, there's nothing wrong with paying a higher price for a paddle. You should feel good about your equipment.
Paddle Shape
Wider paddles have larger hitting areas and swing faster, but have less reach and shorter handles. Longer paddles have a narrower hitting area and tend to swing slower, but provide more reach.
The four common paddle shapes are wide body, standard, hybrid, and elongated. Many players benefit from the standard shape, hence the name. However, the hybrid shape (use discount code KGRAM10) is rapidly growing in popularity.
Weight
Weight selection is not always an option when purchasing paddles from manufacturers. When possible, our pros recommend opting for a lighter paddle. Paddle weight can be manually increased by adding lead tape if a heavier weight is desired.
There are three types of weight classes for paddles: lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight. The average (midweight) for paddles is considered to be between 7.7 and 8.3 ounces.
Handle
There are several different handle shapes and lengths available to choose from. Common handle shapes include oval, square(ish), and octagon. Our pros recommend opting for an octagon shape when starting out, as the design allows new players to more easily find and adjust their grip. When it comes to handle length, think about your style of play. If you favor a two-handed backhand, a longer handle (at least 5.25” or longer) will be best.
core Thickness
Thinner cores (10-14mm) will be lighter (faster) with a slightly smaller sweet spot, and the ball will jump off the face a little bit faster. Thicker cores (16mm+) will be slightly heavier with a larger sweet spot, and absorb the ball a little more. Feel can also determine which thickness you prefer. Some players may opt for a more firm, predictable feel, while others may want something softer. The most popular core thickness is generally 16mm.
Technologies
As of now, there are three basic categories to consider in terms of paddle technology: Generation 1 (Gen 1), Generation 2 (Gen 2) and Generation 3 (Gen 3). Our pros generally don’t recommend buying any earlier technologies than Gen 1 if your budget permits.
A Gen 1 paddle offers a basic honeycomb core with a raw carbon fiber face (not to be confused with carbon fiber). Gen 1 paddles typically offer the most control and softest feel. The raw carbon fiber surface enables players to generate spin that keeps up with the latest paddles.
Gen 2 paddles take the Gen 1 design and add a thermoforming process that provides a unibody construction. This will generally increase the sweet spot, helping to provide a bit more power and make the overall structure of the power more durable.
Gen 3 paddles feature floating cores, which provide a longer dwell time resulting in higher potential for power and spin. However, a few Gen 3 paddles have been delisted from USA Pickleball’s approved paddle list, so the future of Gen 3 technology is a bit uncertain at the moment.
Ultimately, the most reliable way to determine your ideal pickleball paddle is by testing the paddles out for yourself. Use these key factors to narrow down your options and then get your hands on the paddles! You may find that your personal preferences will outweigh all of the generally accepted advice. If in doubt, you can always pick the one that looks the best.
