Paddle Buying Guide

SELECTING THE RIGHT PICKLEBALL PADDLE

Don't make the mistake so many new players of pickleball make by selecting any cheap paddle. Educate yourself on the nuances of the different features of  pickleball paddles and why it's important to understand the differences. 

Lots of brands, lots of choices, but how exactly does one go about choosing the best pickleball paddle to play the game? Depending on how you play, different paddles will accentuate your playing style. This Paddle Buyer's Guide will guide you through the process of education, selection and caring for your new pickleball paddle. 

There are many details to consider when buying a new pickleball paddle. One must consider the paddle's face material, core material, paddle shape, weight of the paddle, length of the paddle, grip size and even your own skill level. 

To select the right paddle for you, you should determine the following in this order:

1. Grip Size
2. Weight of Paddle
3. Shape of Paddle
4. Core Material
5. Face Material (hitting surface)

PICKLEBALL PADDLE GRIP SIZE

The average grip size is 4" to 4.5" and it is important to have the correct grip size that best fits your hand. There are some with very small hands, who may need a sub 4" grip. There are a couple options for estimating the size of your grip. 

Option 1: Measure - The more common method is to measure from the middle crease in your palm to the tip of your ring finger. First use your dominant hand and hold it with palm facing up. Then locate the three creases in your hand. There should be two creases more in the center of your palm and very close to being horizontal. Using the middle crease closest to your wrist, measure from the crease to the tip of your ring finger as show below. If the measurement is in between, choose the smaller of the two sizes. 

Option 2: Height - This is a less accurate, but effective way to estimate your grip size by simply using the player's height. 

PICKLEBALL PADDLE WEIGHT

There are no restrictions on the weight of a pickleball paddle. It is considered one of the top criteria when selecting a paddle. Depending on where you look, you will see differences in the weights that some classify as Lightweight, Midweight and Heavyweight. In general, the following classifications apply:

Now lets break down some of the paddle "feels" based on different weights, as they will produce different advantages. 

Lightweight paddles

• More Maneuverability
• Quick response
• Great for dinks and drop shots
• Increased Swing Speed
• More Control
• CON: not as much power in shots, more arm vibrations

Midweight paddles

• Power and maneuverability balance
• Power
• Control
• Stability
• Best for those all-around players

Heavyweight paddles

• Power
• Stability
• Plow Through 
• CONS: Less control and maneuverability

SHAPE OF PADDLE (Handle Length)

When determining the length of the handle for your paddle a few rules apply, especially if you plan to play tournaments. According to USA Pickleball, the national governing body for pickleball, the combined length and width including edge guard and butt cap, cannot exceed 24 inches. The paddle length cannot exceed 17 inches. There is no restriction on paddle thickness. 

Therefore, if a paddle is 17" long, it can me no more than 7 inches wide for a total of 24" (17"L + 7"W = 24"). These produces a dilemma for some. A longer paddle will allow the player to hit the ball harder, while the wider paddle will give you more surface which increases your chance of hitting the ball. 

A longer paddle length will be more narrow and place the sweet spot higher on the paddle. This higher sweet spot will provide greater leverage as it is further from your hand. This provides more power when striking the ball.

On the other hand, a wider paddle will provide more opportunity to hit the ball and provide a larger sweet spot to give more spin. 

CORE MATERIAL

 The "Core". Sounds ominous doesn't it? Typically a pickleball paddle core is made of polypropylene (polymer), nomex or aluminum. Usually made with a honeycomb pattern, which has incredible strength and is also lightweight. Honeycomb pattern was used in the first composite pickleball paddles in 1984 by an industrial engineer who had worked for Boeing. See History of Pickleball to learn more. 

The most popular core material is Polymer. The majority of paddles will have this core. Polymer paddles are strong and durable, yet light and flexible. They are also quite when hitting the ball. 

Nomex cores are hard, which creates power. These paddles are the loudest when striking the ball. Also, they are the hardest core material. Durability and power is what you get with nomex. 

The last core material that you typically will find, not as much as polymer and nomex is aluminum. Aluminum cores are newer to the market and provide very lightweight option. However, this lightweight core material reduces power, which may be good for some players who overshoot.

Paddle Face Material (hitting surface)

When deciding on a face material for you paddle, you need to recognize that the face material determines characteristics centered on power or control. This criteria determines the paddles performance. 

Typically, the hitting surface material is typically either graphite, carbon fiber,  fiberglass, or a hybrid of these (composite). 

Fiberglass paddle faces are a softer material. Fiberglass is made from fibers that are pressed together with a large amount of pressure and very high heat. They are then soaked in resin to produce a glass-like texture, hence fiberglass. These are very durable paddles but have smaller sweet spots and they provide power.

Graphite paddles surfaces are harder than fiberglass. These paddles typically are lighter and have a very soft touch. They are typically the more expensive option, yet they provide great control. 

Carbon fiber is a newer material and is also harder than fiberglass. It is very similar to graphite in that it is light, yet stiff. It will give you more control and power while being lightweight, yet still has stiffness. The stiffness of the paddle adds to its power ability. 

Graphite and Carbon Fiber are very similar in nature because of their construction. Graphite is tightly packed carbon layers. Carbon fiber is layered in ribbons and woven together to form fibers. 

Composite paddles fall in an in-between area. They provide a balance between the performance of the paddle and its price. They typically will have a textured surface which aides in spinning the ball. These paddle surfaces have become more popular as they provide the player with control, power and durability. 

What Type Of Player Are You?

Do you play with power or control? This is important because as you have now read, paddles are manufactured with different materials to either add control or power to your game play. Knowing how you play and what your strengths are will determine paddle type needed. Below is a summary of some of the aspects of these two elements of the game. 

If you are a Power player, you may want to gravitate towards these aspects of a paddle:

• Heavyweight
• Longer handle
• Fiberglass hitting surface
• Elongated shape

If you are a Control player, your choice may be a paddle with:

• Lighter weight
• Short to traditional length handle
• Graphite or Carbon fiber hitting surface
• Rounded, wider shape