What should you look for in a pickleball paddle?  Your paddle is your partner on the court, so choosing a paddle that is right for your game is highly personal.  Unfortunately, lots of the marketing information out there is of limited use when picking a paddle.

When looking for a pickleball paddle, there are three important considerations:

1. Weight. You want a paddle that you can swing for 2-3 hours at a time without causing injury. You also want a paddle that you can get to the ball with reasonable ease – pickleball is more a game of reaction than brute force.

Generally, you will want a pickleball paddle that feels lighter in your hand. The key here is “in your hand.” A paddle’s scale weight can help you get an idea, but it is not the final answer on weight. How the paddle feels when you swing it (called “swing weight”) should be the final answer on whether a paddle is right for you.

You are looking for a paddle with a scale weight of around 8 ounces. But even then, check to see how the paddle feels when you swing it loosely through the air. Before making your final decision, try out the variety of paddles you see your friends playing with.  If you are unsure about the weight of the paddle, it is best to choose a lighter-weight paddle as it is easier to add weight if you need it than to learn to live with a paddle that is just too heavy for your style of play.

Pro Tip: An elongated paddle will have a higher swing weight than the standard size of the same paddle with the same scale weight. Longer = heavier all else being the same.

2. Grip. A grip circumference that is too small or too large will cause you to overexert the small muscles in your forearm, which is not ideal. The standard method used to determine your optimum grip size is to hold your paddle and place the index finger of your other hand in the space between your ring finger and the palm. You should be able to grip the paddle comfortably and have around a finger width between your ring finger and your palm.

Pro Tip: If you have a 2-handed backhand, you may want a longer grip length to accommodate both hands (5 ¼”+).

3. Playability. Other than weight and grip, you want a pickleball paddle that fits you.  There is no one-size-fits-all paddle – use a paddle that fits your style of play and delivers the shots you want.  You should sense the paddle work for you and feel confident when hitting the ball.

Pro Tip: You can use the paddle’s core width as a proxy for feedback from a paddle. The thicker the paddle, the more the paddle will absorb the interaction with the ball, and the less feedback you will receive – all things being equal.

Here are five considerations that you can safely ignore when looking for a pickleball paddle:

1. Power vs Control. These terms are marketing words. Manufacturers know that players want power. So, they contrast it with “control.” Did you know that about 80% of the paddles sold are “power?” Ignore those terms.
2. Materials. The details about the materials that make up your paddle is not particularly relevant to your decision. Avoid chasing the latest fad that hits the market. Unless the materials translate to better playability for you (See 3 above), ignore them.
3. Pro Usage. No offense to the pro players, but the paddle that they use is not relevant to the paddle that is right for most of us. Let pros be pros, and us be us.
4. Spin. Most paddles nowadays impart a level of spin that will work fine for the majority of play. Plus, a paddle that is too gritty has downsides. Focus instead on the paddle’s playability.
5. Marketing lingo. With hundreds of new paddles each year, manufacturers are always trying to find ways to differentiate theirs by using terms that may be good for marketing but do not help in the decision-making process. Stick to the paddle characteristics that matter.

Final Pro Tip:
Looking for suggested paddles based on the criteria in this article?  Check out this article in US News & World Report.  Once you are in a range of paddles that fit the bill, pick the paddle that puts a smile on your face. We play pickleball to get exercise, have fun, and compete a little. Having a paddle that makes you happy will make your day more enjoyable and help you play better because of the smile on your face. Looking for a pickleball paddle with a flower design on it (and it meets the 3 criteria above)? Then go for it.

Source: Roig, T. (2024, July 30). What to look for in a pickleball paddle. Better Pickleball. https://betterpickleball.com/what-to-look-for-in-a-pickleball-paddle/