Pickleball rackets, also called paddles, are the primary equipment used in the game of pickleball. They are similar to badminton rackets in size and shape but have a solid, flat face instead of strings.
The face of the paddle is typically made of composite materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aluminum, while the core is often made of foam or honeycomb material for lightweight strength.
Pickleball paddles can range in price from around $20 to $200 or more. It is important to find a paddle that fits your budget and your needs.
Panel Sound Pickleball Paddles
Price: $40 at Amazon and $39.09 at Ultra Pickleball
About The Product
- Size: One Size
- Brand: Panel Sound
- Grip Size: 4.8 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Fiberglass
- Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate
- Frame Material: Fiberglass
- Shaft Material: Fiberglass
- Item Weight: 8 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
If you've never played pickleball before, this paddle rackets is a wonderful place to start because you can acquire a feel for the game without investing too much money.
For $40, you get two paddles, a few balls, and, oddly, two cooling towels as it is one of the best pickleball paddles for beginners.
Engage Pickleball Omega Evolution Extreme X
Price: $170 at Amazon and $170 at Walmart
About The Product
- Size: One Size
- Brand: Engage Pickleball
- Grip Size: 4 3/8 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Item Weight: 8.1 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 16.5"L x 16.5" W
SLK Evo Power XL 2.0
Price: $100 at Amazon and $100 at Dick's Sporting Goods
About The Product
- Size: XL (Elongated Shape)
- Brand: Selkirk Sport
- Grip Size: 4 1/4 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Item Weight: 0.66 Pounds
- Age Range (Description): Adult
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro V3
Price: $210 at Amazon and $200 at Dick's Sporting Goods
About The Product
- Size: Standard Grip
- Brand: Paddletek
- Sport: Pickleball
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Color: PLATINUM
- Manufacturer: Paddletek
- Size: Standard Grip
- Sport Type: Pickleball
- Skill Level: All
As you progress in pickleball and observe other players, you'll realize that the finest confrontations are determined by a succession of gentle dinks struck from a squatting position right behind the kitchen line. Professionals frequently serve softer than players on an average suburban court.
Mastering "the soft game" is the key to competing with better players, and the Tempest Wave Pro V3 is our recommendation for reaching that level.
Pro XR T700 Raw Carbon
Price: $210 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 14mm Core
- Brand: ProXR Pickleball
- Grip Size: 4 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Product Dimensions: 16.5"L x 7.5"W
A tightly packed rough carbon weave creates a surface with maximum friction for top-tier spin that will not wear away like other grit apps.
Whether you select the traditional continental grip or the more aggressive eastern grip, this proprietary slanted grip helps your hands get to the right spot every time as it is one of the best pickleball rackets.
Joola Ben Johns Persus 14 mm
Price: $250 at Amazon and Walmart
About The Product
- Size: One Size
- Brand: JOOLA
- Grip Size: 5.5 in x 4.125 in
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Skill Level: Professional
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Shaft Material: Carbon Fiber
- Item Weight: 7.8 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
Joola is a relative newcomer to the pickleball game, having begun as a table tennis brand.
When examined a half-dozen paddles from the Maryland-based startup, including a unique circular frame paddle more closely modeled like a tennis racket and three from the series designed for pro pickleballer Ben Johns, the world's top-ranked player.
Joola Journey Pickleball Paddle
Price: $24.00 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 4"
- Brand: JOOLA
- Grip Size: 4 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Fiberglass
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Frame Material: Graphite
- Item Weight: 7.8 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 15.8"L x 7.8" W
Recess Pickleball Paddle
Price: $86 at Amazon and Anthropologie
About The Product
- Size: One Size
- Brand: Recess Pickleball
- Grip Size: 4.25 IN
- Sport: Tennis
- Material: Foam
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Silicone
- Item Weight: 226.8 Grams
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 15.67"L x 7.8"W
Recess pickleball paddles are noted for their unique style—they are the most beautiful paddles in the game. They come in a wide range of bright patterns and have excellent grips with plenty of padding made of faux leather. They also include an embroidered canvas cover.
Paddletek New Era Bantam EX-L
Price: $99.99 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: Medium
- Brand: Paddletek
- Material: Polycarbonate
- Skill Level: All
- Shaft Material: Carbon Fiber
- Item Weight: 0.57 Pounds
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 15.75"L x 7.75"W
Head Cyber Elite Pickleball Paddle
Price: $52.08 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 408*199 millimeters
- Brand: HEAD
- Grip Size: 4 1/8 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Polypropylene
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Graphite
- Shaft Material: Graphite
- Item Weight: 230 Grams
- Age Range (Description): Adult
On Holiday Pickleball Paddle
Price: $60.00 at Amazon
About The Product
- Brand: On Holiday Pickleball
- Grip Size: 4 1/2 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Fiberglass
- Skill Level: All
- Item Weight: 0.51 Pounds
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- GRIP: Made with condensed foam to help with sweaty hands and enhance performance
Joola Vision Pickleball Paddle
Price: $142.49 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 16mm
- Brand: JOOLA
- Grip Size: 4 1/4 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Carbon Grip Surface & Polypropylene Honeycomb Core
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Item Weight: 0.49 Pounds
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 21.9"L x 7.3"W
Helium Atmos Pickleball Paddles
Price: $129.95 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 13mm Honeycomb Core
- Brand: Helium
- Grip Size: 4 1/2 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Skill Level: Intermediate, Expert
- Frame Material: Polymer Honeycomb Core
- Item Weight: 8 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 16.5"L x 7.38"W
According to Amazon reviews, the paddles do not seem cheap, despite their low price: "The paddles have a nice weight to them, not too heavy or flimsy, and the grip feels comfortable in my hand," writes one customer.
"I played a few matches with a friend, and the paddles held up well, giving us good control and power on the court." Overall, a good kit for pickleball players."
Helium Versus Pickleball Paddles
Price: $55.00 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 12mm Honeycomb Core
- Brand: Helium
- Grip Size: 4 1/2 inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Graphite Fiberglass
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Honeycomb
- Shaft Material: Honeycomb
- Item Weight: 7.7 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
Helium once again takes the cake when it comes to price, with yet another low-cost four-pack of paddles.
Reviewers characterize the paddles as the ideal beginner kit for engaging the entire family in pickleball: "These paddles are fantastic, and they are less expensive than comparable goods.
This is a basic set. However, the pricing makes it easy to upgrade later if you become addicted to pickleball, as my family and I have."
Selkirk AMPED Epic Lightweight Pickleball Paddle
Price: $150.00 at Selkirk
About The Product
- Material: Polypropylene core and fiberglass frame
- Average Lightweight: 7.2oz - 7.7oz
- Average Midweight: 7.8oz - 8.4oz
- Height: 15.75"
- Width: 8.0"
- Core Thickness: 16mm
- Grip Length: 5.25"
- Grip Circumference: 4.25"
- Sweetspot size: 9
- Surface Area: Largest
- Handle Length: Long Handle (5.25")
Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS Paddle
Price: $185 at Amazon
About The Product
- Size: 16mm
- Brand: JOOLA
- Grip Size: 5.5 x 4.25 Inches
- Sport: Pickleball
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Skill Level: All
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
- Item Weight: 8.4 Ounces
- Age Range (Description): Adult
- Product Dimensions: 17.24"L x 10.08"W
Not all pickleball paddles are designed to be picked up and played with by casual pickleball enthusiasts. Instead, some, such as Joola Ben John's Hyperion, are intentionally more difficult to play with.
An Amazon reviewer describes the Ben John's (endorsed and named after top pickleball player Ben Johns) as "more challenging to use if you're a beginner," but a paddle with "good touch and control if you are an intermediate or advanced player."
HEAD Radical Tour RAW Pickleball Paddle
Price: $169.95 Total Pickleball and $169.95 in Amazon
About The Product
- Weight: 7.9 oz.
- Core: 15mm. Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Hitting Surface: Raw Carbon Fiber
- Grip Size: 3.85 in. or 4.25 in.
- Grip Length: 5 in.
- Grip Shape: Octagonal
- Paddle Width: 7.85 in.
- Paddle Length: 16 in.
- Factory Grip: HEAD HydroSorb Pro
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Frame Material: Carbon Fiber
The Radical Tour Raw has a classic form with a shorter handle for easier maneuverability and a Raw Carbon Hitting Surface for optimal ball grip.
Ektelon Inferno Paddles 13mm
Price: $119.95 at Total Pickleball and $99.00 at Amazon
About The Product
- Average Weight: 7.75 oz.
- Core: Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Hitting Surface: Fiberglass
- Grip Size: 4.25 in.
- Grip Length: 5.5 in.
- Paddle Length: 16.5 in.
- Paddle Width: 7.4 in.
- Paddle Thickness: 13 mm.
- Factory Grip: Ektelon Comfort Grip
This lengthened paddle provides excellent reach and performance for a very low price. A textured fiberglass face gives the ideal blend of power and control, as well as increased spin, allowing you to dominate the court. The core is made of 13mm.
Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta
Price: $249.99 at Total Pickleball
About The Product
- Average Weight: 7.8-8.1 oz.
- Core: Thikset Honeycomb
- Hitting Surface: Florek Carbon Fiber
- Grip Size: 4.25 in.
- Grip Length: 5.25 in.
- Paddle Length: 16.45 in.
- Paddle Width: 7.5 in.
- Paddle Thickness: 20 mm. (0.43 in.)
- Factory Grip: Selkirk Geo-Grip
CRBN 3X Power Series 14mm
Price: $229.99 at Total Pickleball and Tennis Ware House
About The Product
- Average Weight: 8.0 oz.
- Core: Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Hitting Surface: T700 Raw Carbon Fiber
- Grip Size: 4.25 in.
- Grip Length: 5.25 in.
- Paddle Length: 16.5 in.
- Paddle Width: 7.5 in.
- Paddle Thickness: 14mm.
- Factory Grip: CRBN Perforated Grip