How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle
Picking a paddle gets a lot easier once you know what you want help with. Maybe you want more pop on drives. Maybe you want better touch around the kitchen. Maybe your current paddle just feels slow. Start there, then use the specs to narrow things down.
What would help your game most?
- More control and forgiveness: Try a softer, thicker core with a generous sweet spot. This is a comfortable setup for newer players, doubles players who reset a lot, and anyone who already creates plenty of pace.
- More power: Look at livelier faces, thinner cores, and power-focused builds. These can add speed to serves, drives, counters, and overheads. You'll need a relaxed grip when the game slows down at the kitchen.
- A little of everything: An all-court paddle gives you useful pop along with enough touch for drops and resets.
Pick a shape
Standard and widebody paddles give you more hitting area across the face. They tend to feel steady, forgiving, and quick in hand battles. Elongated paddles give you more reach and leverage, which appeals to aggressive players and a lot of former tennis players. Hybrid paddles land somewhere in the middle.
The paddles in our lineup give you some good side-by-side examples. The JOOLA Magnus 3S Dual has an elongated face with a shorter handle for reach and one-handed attacking play. Paddletek's Tempest Wave Pro-C has a standard shape, and the Tempest TKO-C stretches that idea into an elongated version. Engage offers the Pursuit Pro1 in elongated, hybrid, and widebody shapes.
Choose a core thickness
Core thickness affects the feel, along with the face material, construction, balance, and weight distribution.
- About 12 to 14mm: Usually feels quicker and more direct, with easier pop and power.
- About 15 to 16mm: Usually feels softer and more forgiving on drops, blocks, and resets.
A 15 to 16mm all-court paddle is a comfortable first stop if you're unsure. Players looking for faster offense will probably feel more at home with a 12 to 14mm power paddle.
Check the weight, balance, and grip
The number on the scale only tells part of the story. A head-heavy paddle can feel slower than another paddle at the same weight. Quick-handed players usually prefer something easier to move. Extra mass can feel great when you want stability through contact.
The grip should feel secure without making you stretch your hand. Handle length matters too. A longer handle leaves room for a two-handed backhand. A shorter handle can give the paddle a larger hitting surface.
A few families worth comparing
| What you want | Families to compare |
|---|---|
| Power and aggressive reach | JOOLA Magnus 3S Dual, Paddletek Bantam TKO-C or TKO-CX, Engage Pursuit Pro1 Elongated |
| Balanced all-court play | JOOLA Perseus Pro IV, Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C or TKO-C, Engage Pursuit V2.0 or Pursuit Pro1 Hybrid |
| Forgiveness and fast hands | Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C, Engage Pursuit Pro1 Widebody or X2 Widebody |
| Good value for a developing player | Paddletek Bantam EX-L, Bantam TS-5, Phoenix G6, or Engage enthusiast-level models |
Our quick shopping checklist
- Choose control, power, or all-court.
- Pick a standard, hybrid, or elongated shape.
- Decide whether you like a softer thick core or a faster thin core.
- Check the handle length and grip size.
- Look up the current approval status if you play sanctioned events.
- Go with the paddle that helps the shots you actually hit.
Take a closer look at paddle shapes and thickness, or browse all available gear.