Pickleball Paddle Buying Guide
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PICKLEBALL PADDLE
Pickleball paddles are a key piece to this exciting game. From beginners to pros alike, play style influences the type of paddle you choose for the court. In tandem with performance, differing materials, shape, core, face, and handle can influence your right pick.
Knowing these factors from the beginning can help you better understand how to choose the right pickleball paddle for your game. All pickleball paddles are gender-neutral and can be used for indoor/outdoor use.
PICKLEBALL PADDLE ANATOMY
Paddle Shape: This includes the length of the paddle. The width must be no more than 24"
Paddle Core:This Includes the material type, density, and thickness
Paddle Face:This includes material type, number of layers, finish, and texture
Paddle Handle: Handlesranges from 4″ to 6.25,″ including the length and circumference
Paddle Weight: Weights of the paddleranges from light, medium to heavy
Paddle Grip:Grips are available in thin, standard, and thick grips ranging from3 5/8" to 4.5"+
When choosing a pickleball paddle, there are key factors to consider when choosing the best paddle.
Pickleball paddles utilize a variety of materials and technologies that enhance specific play characteristics on the court. Other important factors to consider include:
Paddle shape
Core material
Face material
Length of the handle
Paddle weight
Grip that fits your hand size
Play style
PICKLEBALL PADDLE SHAPE
The standard shape is the original pickleball size to see on court and is a suitable option for any athlete that plays a balanced game. Any skill level is applicable to this shape. Common grip lengths typically range between 4 ½” and 5 ¼” for standard shaped paddles.
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Great for single players, an elongated paddle possesses a narrow body with a length of 16” or longer. These paddles are best equipped for athletes who are searching to add more reach and power to their play style. The extended, narrow shape raises the positioning of the sweet spot slightly. An elongated paddle will provide more reach, power, and spin during the game. On the other hand, this paddle has a smaller sweet spot.
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Best suited for beginner athletes, wide-body paddles become a reasonable choice because these paddles offer more area for ball contact, high maneuverability, and a wide, generous sweet spot. The width allows more grace for beginners since they have the width of the paddle for making errors and more learning as they play. Usually, the paddle measures between 8'' or greater in width.
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PICKLEBALL PADDLE CORE MATERIAL
The core consists of material and thickness. The thicker a core is, the more energy is absorbed. This allows for better control. The more energy is returned to the ball if the core is thinner. This allows for increased power.
WOOD
Weighing the most as a paddle, wood as a core material is also the cheapest and provides plenty of durability. Among the other core materials, it is the least technologically advanced for the court.
GRAPHITE/FIBERGLASS
Usually the most expensive paddle option, graphite/fiberglass core materials are lightweight, easy to control and provide elite performance.
COMPOSITE
A mixture between wood and graphite/fiberglass, a composite core material is available in a variety of weights and fluctuating prices. These typically consist of a fiberglass or carbon fiber surface with a composite core for the paddle.
ALUMINUM
Providing strength while remaining lightweight in performance, aluminum material becomes a wise, standard choice in flexible maneuverability and control, especially when playing near the net on the court.
NOMEX
The hardest and toughest paddle made from cardboard-like material, Nomex provides plenty of durability. The material is dipped in a special resin and created in a honeycomb pattern, allowing for increased speed and power. On the other hand, it makes the loudest sound when playing. It is considered the most popular among single athletes as it redirects the ball back quicker and faster.
POLYPROPYLENE
The most popular core made from a soft and flexible blend of plastic, polypropylene is a quiet paddle that creates a big impact on performance. A polymer core absorbs part of the power and is the best, versatile option for all types of play.
PICKLEBALL PADDLE FACE MATERIALS
Face material determines the amount of energy absorbed or returned to the ball. The material goes a long way in determining paddle performance since the face is the largest part of the paddle. The paddle's face material is also important in enhancing its spin. The majority of spin on a ball is generated by the athlete and the path of their stroke. A paddle accentuates spin one of two ways that includes friction or adhesion.
COMPOSITE
The most common and popular paddles, composite paddles are made of two or more materials, usually containing fiberglass. These are great for all levels, power, and spin athletes. These are also popular paddles for performance because they average in weight.
FIBERGLASS
Fiberglass is a popular face material because it provides the most power and consists of a textured surface, which can help any athlete with more spin and flexibility.
CARBON FIBER
Carbon fiber is the most current face material for paddles and provides massive power control on the ball for a large sweet spot. This is great for power athletes searching for a mid-weight paddle.
GRAPHITE
Consisting of light and soft material, graphite provides power and control on the court and is a top choice among competitive and professional athletes. It's a great solution for athletes searching for a light-weight paddle to assist with dinks and driving the ball down the court.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum is best utilized for beginners, junior or recreational athletes searching for an inexpensive option to play and wanting a lightweight paddle.
WOOD
As a suitable option for newcomer athletes, wood is the original paddle type and is also the heaviest.
HYBRID
Hybrid provides great power by combining graphite and fiberglass face materials. It is considered the least common face material, but the material is a great choice for all-around athletes on the court looking for light to medium-weight paddles.
PICKLEBALL PADDLE HANDLE LENGTHS
The length of the handle is vital in deciding how high the paddle face is and in determining how far the sweet spot lands. The longer the handle, the higher the sweet spot and varies between 4.5" to 6" in length. Because the total length, plus the width of the paddle cannot exceed 24," every inch added to the handle length takes away surface area of the paddle face. If playing by two hands, the athlete needs at least a 5 1/2"+ handle length.
The sweet spot is closer to the hand and provides a large surface area, creating a larger sweet spot. A short paddle is suitable for newcomers and others that like to have one finger on the paddle face.
Standard length becomes a wise choice for all athlete levels, especially for those that do not plan on using two hands on the paddle when playing.
Providing more reach on ground strokes, long length paddles have higher sweet spots, more leverage on serves and slightly more power over. It’s a valuable tool when playing with two hands.
PICKLEBALL PADDLE WEIGHT
When playing pickleball, weight is vital because it affects how much power and swing happens during a play. As a rule of thumb, the heavier a paddle, the more power it will deliver. The lighter a paddle, the quicker you can position it for your next shot. This yields an increase in shot control, and the optimal weight is different for each athlete.
Easy to maneuver light paddles can be a big advantage while playing at the net. One disadvantage is that the athlete has to swing harder to get more power. These are wise options for athletes that have preexisting arm, wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries.
Mid-weight paddles are going to weigh between 7.3 oz. and 8.4 oz. and will be the best option for the majority of athletes out there. Mid-weight paddles are a great choice for newcomers who are not sure of their play style yet, and they are also the best option for athletes that have pre-existing arm, wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries.
Matched for an athlete searching for power and getting hard shots from the baseline, heavy weight paddles weigh between 8.5+ oz. The heavy weight makes them the least attractive option for players with pre-existing arm, wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries.
PICKLEBALL PADDLE GRIP SIZE
Grip size is another vital consideration when choosing a pickleball paddle. Most pickleball paddle grips are between 3 5/8" to 4.5"+ in circumference. Choosing the right grip will works best for your hand size.
A thin grip size is perfect for small hands, but it provides a slightly less cushion for the paddle.
Popular for feel and comfort, the standard grip size is preferred by most athletes.
A thick grip size is perfect for larger hands, and it provides more cushion for the paddle.
DETERMINING GRIP SIZE FOR YOUR PICKLEBALL PADDLE
1. HEIGHT TEST
| YOUR HEIGHT | SUGGESTED PICKLEBALL GRIP SIZE |
| BELOW 5' 3" | 4" CIRCUMFERENCE |
| 5'3" TO 5'8" | 4.25" CIRCUMFERENCE |
| ABOVE 5'8" | 4.5 CIRCUMFERENCE |
2. FINGER TEST
Hold your dominant palm up. Notice your palm has three major creases. Take a ruler and measure from the middle crease of your palm, up to the tip of your ring finger. This measurement should reflect the perfect grip size. If you are unsure between two sizes, choose the smaller size.
3. INDEX FINGER TEST
1. Grip a paddle with your normal grip
2. Place your index finger of your free hand in the gap between your fingertips and thumb of your hand holding the pickleball paddle
3. If your index finger fits snug in the gap, then you will likely have the best pickleball grip size
4. If your index finger cannot fit in the space, then the pickleball grip size may be too small. If your index finder fits in the space with plenty of room on either side, then the pickleball grip may be too large.
PICKLEBALL PLAYER TYPE
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.
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Power paddles tend to have tighter sweet spots and provide greater feedback. Key features include elongated shape, thinner core, fiberglass face, longer handle and heavier weights.
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Touch paddles tend to have a larger and more consistent sweet spot and are forgiving of mis-hits. Key features include a more rounded shape, thicker core, graphite or carbon fiber face, traditional length or shorter handle and lighter weights.
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