Are you looking for a perfect pickleball paddle to up your game? Here are a few things that you should consider before buying!
Choosing a pickleball paddle may seem like a daunting task. It might be challenging to know what to look for because there are so many options to pick from. Fortunately, we did the research for you. We have put up a guide on how to pick a pickleball paddle in this blog.
There are around 20–30 well-known paddle brands out there, and they offer hundreds of different paddle options. Additionally, it appears that every paddle manufacturer follows the same marketing script when claiming that their products are the ideal balance of power and control. Making it very challenging to distinguish how each paddle differs from the others. This guide explains the differences between each paddle so you can cut through the marketing speak and choose the paddle that’s best for you.
Finding the Perfect Pickleball Paddle:
There are crucial decisions to be made before purchasing a pickleball paddle, whether it’s your first or next one. Finding the ideal paddle for you can significantly improve your performance. We’ll go over the various qualities you should take into account while choosing the best pickleball paddle for you. Don’t forget to spend money on a quality pair of pickleball shoes to advance your skills. When choosing what paddle to purchase, here is what you must consider.
- Core material
- The surface/facing substance
- The form
- The weight
- The handle’s size
Each component contributes to the power, control, forgiveness, and spin of the paddle. Each one of them impacts the performance of the paddle. Let’s begin by examining the center.
Core Material
When picking the best paddle for you, the core material is crucial. Pickleball paddle cores are typically made of one of three materials:
Aluminum
Frequently, the most well-liked pickleball rackets have aluminum cores. They get stronger while remaining lightweight as a result. If you value control and maneuverability, a paddle with an aluminum core is a great investment. Paddles with aluminum cores, on the other hand, could not have enough strength. You shouldn’t anticipate having the same driving force as someone employing a heavier core type as a result.
Nomex
Pickleball rackets with Nomex honeycomb cores are also quite popular and made to last. These paddles are constructed of something that resembles cardboard. The material is organized in a honeycomb design and coated with a specific resin for durability. The first material to be utilized for composite paddles was Nomex. Professional and amateur pickleball players alike favor the feel of paddles with a Nomex core. These cores are particularly well-liked by individuals who desire strength and accuracy. This paddle will also be the loudest and most powerful on the market. You will hear a loud noise each time you make contact with the ball. One of the other choices is better if you prefer quiet paddles.
Polymer
A unique plastic mixture is used to create polymer cores, which are becoming increasingly popular. The newest of the three core kinds are polymer cores. A polymer core paddle is silent because of its soft nature. If you’re tired of hearing a loud noise whenever you make contact with the ball, this is a wise pick. They are perfect for people who reside in gated communities because of their reduced sound. There are a few drawbacks to poly cores, with the main one being that they are less powerful than Nomex cores. A polymer core lessens the force of your shots because it is softer. If you favor control over power, a polymer paddle might be your best bet.
Facing Material
Although it doesn’t have as big of an impact as the core has on the performance of the paddle, the facing does make a difference. You should be mindful of the sort of face used in conjunction with the core’s thickness.
Fiberglass:
The most popular material before carbon fiber was fiberglass. Fiberglass functions as a kind of trampoline that absorbs the energy from the ball and sends it immediately back since it is less rigid than carbon fiber and graphite. Compared to carbon fiber and graphite, the material’s lack of stiffness will also reduce the size of the sweet spot.
Carbon Fiber:
Although it has a bit less power than fiberglass, carbon fiber is recognized for having a superior feel. It is made of a strong, sturdy substance. This improves feel and expands the sweet spot, but it also reduces power since less energy is returned to the ball.
Graphite:
While playing extremely similarly to carbon fiber, graphite is a form of carbon fiber that is slightly more affordable for manufacturers. It is also renowned for producing power that is comparable to a carbon fiber face and has a superior feel to a fiberglass face.
Hybrids:
You’ll see that some companies combine the three components mentioned above, producing performance dependent on the qualities of the materials combined.
Paddle Shape:
The size of the paddle, power, and maneuverability will all be impacted by the paddle’s design. The length of the paddle cannot be more than 17 inches, and the total length and width, including any edge guards and butt caps, cannot be greater than 24 inches. So these are the constraints that the brands must work within when considering paddle forms.
Elongated Shapes:
This lengthier shape typically measures 16.5 inches long by 7.5 inches wide. In comparison to other shapes, an elongated shape has a smaller sweet spot and is less maneuverable, but it will provide you more reach, power, and spin.
Wide Body Shapes:
These are paddles with a face width of approximately 8.5 inches and a length of approximately 15.5 inches. The widest sweet spot and best maneuverability are provided by this design at the expense of reach and power.
Classic Shapes:
This shape, which is typically 16 inches long and 8 inches wide, was the original paddle shape. This form, which falls in between an elongated and a wide body shape, offers a well-balanced combination of power, spin, forgiveness, and maneuverability.
The Weight:
Pickleball Paddles are usually 7 to 8.5 ounces in weight. Anything between 7 and 7.6 oz is regarded as lightweight, 7.6 and 8.2 oz. as mid-weight and anything beyond 8.2 oz as a heavyweight. Although certain companies may utilize somewhat different ranges for each weight class, you may get a broad concept from these classifications.
When you’re at the net and engaging in quick exchanges with your opponents, the lighter the paddle, the easier it is to manage. A lighter paddle has the drawback of requiring more effort to swing to generate more power. You don’t need to swing as forcefully to generate power while using heavier paddles because the ball is supported by the additional weight. Shorter swings offer you more time to quickly hit back and decrease the room for error, which is beneficial when dinking. When you strike the ball by the closer edge of the paddle, heavier paddles are less likely to wobble and are also a little bit more stable at impact. This improves consistency and lowers mistakes. If you get a lighter pickleball paddle and wish it were heavier, you can always add some lead tape because it’s pretty uncommon for players to put lead tape to the edge guard of their paddles.
The handle’s size:
The more power and spin you can produce, the longer the handle. More force and spin come with longer paddles. As it is difficult to strike the ball by the middle of the paddle for newbie pickleball players, they can generate more power on average with shorter, wider paddles. If you always use two hands, you’ll need a handle length of at least 5.25 inches but ideally more. If you never use two hands, a regular handle length of 5 inches should be sufficient. You’ll need a shorter handle if you prefer to hold the paddle face with your finger like a ping-pong paddle.
Picking a pickleball paddle that works for you is crucial because it can significantly improve your performance. Your play is directly impacted by the paddle’s weight. While heavier pickleball paddles are better for power, lighter paddles are ideal for touch players who place a higher priority on ball control.
