Best Pickleball Paddles of 2024 for ALL Players

‍Selecting a pickleball paddle can be slightly intimidating. There’s a lot of choice out there with quite a wide range of price ranges. Should you spend $40, $100, or $250? Well… it depends.

I (Pat) have been playing pickleball for several years now. Starting with a paddle from a basic Amazon set to progressing to my first intermediate paddle, before falling in love with my top of the line paddle, I’ve tested several paddles across various price ranges.

My hope is that this guide serves as the guide I wish I had when I first started dabbling in the sport.

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Even before looking at paddles, if you you're overwhelmed by how many pickleball paddle brands there are, Ranking Pickleball Paddle Brands (Best to Worst) may help give you context.

• What are the best pickleball brands?
• What are the worst?
• What pickleball brands do recreational players use?
• Which pickleball brands do the pros use?

The paddle brand guide will help provide that level of information as opposed to this guide which is about more specific paddle recommendations based on the type of player you are.

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If you don’t care to do much reading, we’ve got you covered with these quick links.

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Top 5 Pickleball Paddles (for all players)

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Best for Beginners (non set) - Selkirk Sport SLK Latitude

Best for Intermediate - Tempest Wave II Graphite Paddle

Best for Advanced Players - JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16

Best Under $100 - Onix Graphite Z5

Best Value Set - Gonex 2 Paddle Set

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Best Pickleball Paddle for Beginners

Selkirk Sport SLK Latitude

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The SLK Graphite Latitude Widebody Paddle is a well-rounded pick for beginner players who want quality, balance and comfort. It has an oversized, 8 1/4" wide face which offers a big sweet spot players can use to defend slams and put away points. The graphite surface provides a sensitive touch that helps players stay connected to their paddle while the polymer PowerCore ensures a tough construction that will last for many games.

The SLK Graphite Latitude Widebody Paddle weighs 7.7 - 8.4 oz, resulting in a light feel that can still offer extra "pop" when needed. A 5 1/4" long handle can be adapted for double-handed backhands or simply allow for more maneuvering during play. The grip has a medium circumference with a cushioned feel that provides extra padding for the hand. This paddle lives up to Selkirk's demanding standards but is accessible at a great price.

Features

Core Material: Polymer PowerCoree

Average Weight: 8 oz

Paddle Length: 15 1/2 in

Paddle Width: 8 1/4 in

Grip Type: Ulta Comfort Grip

Grip Length: 5 1/4 in

Grip Circumference: 4 1/4 in

USAPA Approved: Yes

Pros

• Great value paddle
• Affordable
• Superior beginner paddle compared to other overpriced beginner paddles

Cons

• Lacking power compared to more premium paddles

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Best Pickleball Paddle for Intermediate Players

Tempest Wave II Graphite Paddle

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A true player’s paddle, the Tempest Wave II offers you incredible control for strategic short games. The carbon fiber surface makes it easy to place the ball exactly where you want it, and the graphite in the Tempest PolyCore dampens vibrations and reduces weight while still providing enough power for a put-away shot.

Features

Surface: Carbon Fiber

Core: Tempest PolyCore

Core Material: High Grade Carbon Fiber Polymer Composite Honeycomb

Average Weight: 7.4 - 7.8 oz

Paddle Length: 15 7/8 in

Paddle Width: 8 in

Grip Type: Ultra Cushion High Tack Performance Grip

Grip Length: 5 1/4 in

Grip Circumference: 4 1/4 in

USAPA Approved: Yes

Pros

• Great for control and spin
• Light weight
• For the price, a significant jump up from most beginner paddles
• Large sweet spot

Cons

• Not super cost effective
• Noted by reviewers that has some dead spots around the edges
• Note: this is the intermediate paddle I jumped to and while I can attest to this, most paddles have at least some lighter spots around the edges. This really is a fantastic control paddle.

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Best Pickleball Paddle for Advanced Players

JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16

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If you’ve ever wondered what paddle Ben Johns uses, this is it! If you don’t know who Ben Johns is, he has been the #1 player in all three divisions for most of the last three years on the PPA Tour. Most consider him to be the greatest pickleball player of all time.

The JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16MM is World #1 Ben Johns’ signature pickleball paddle! Designed in partnership with and trusted by Ben Johns in competition, get ready to experience a paddle designed to perform at the highest levels in all categories. USAPA-approved.

Features

Surface: Carbon Friction

Core: Reactive Honeycomb

Average Weight: 8.4 oz

Paddle Length: 16.5 in

Paddle Width: 7.5 in

Grip Type: Ridge

Grip Length: 5.5 in

Grip Circumference: ~4.25 in

USAPA Approved: Yes

Pros

• Premium paddle
• Weight balance (resets and dinks feel effortless)
• Used by many pros (including Ben Johns)

Cons

• Expensive

Checkout Joola's release video here.

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Best Pickleball Paddle Under $100

Onix Graphite Z5

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The Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle is the most popular paddle coming from ONIX. With its spectacular touch and control, it is the ultimate pickleball racket for every stage of pickleball player from beginner through advanced. The Z5 paddle offers light weight characteristics for support and added speed, pop, and maneuverability.

Features

Surface: Carbon Fiber

Core: Reactive Honeycomb

Average Weight: 8.4 oz

Paddle Length: 16.5 in

Paddle Width: 7.5 in

Grip Type: Ridge

Grip Length: 5.5 in

Grip Circumference: ~4.25 in

USAPA Approved: Yes

Pros

• Incredible paddle for the price
• Offers control without sacrificing pop and power
• Large sweet spot
• Over 3,800 reviews on Amazon (4.6)
• Tennis handle shape (according to Onix)

Cons

• Less durable than other premium-priced paddles
• Not used by advanced players
• Loud paddle

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Best Pickleball Set

Gonex 2 Paddle Set

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Features

Surface: Carbon Fiber

Core: Honeycomb Composition

Average Weight: 7.9 oz

Paddle Length: 15.3 in

Paddle Width: 7.8 in

Grip Type: Ultra Cushion & Comfortable Grip

Grip Length: 4.9 in

Grip Circumference: ~4.25 in

USAPA Approved: Yes

Pros

• Includes 2 paddles, 4 balls, and a carrying bag for under $75
• Great for beginners & families looking to get out there
• Amazon Choice

Cons

• Shorter handle
• The balls are iffy and may crack earlier than other brands
• Fortunately it’s not expensive to pick up a more premium pack

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Thinks to Consider when Buying a Paddle

Weight

One of the first things I noticed when progressing from my beginner set paddle to my first intermediate paddle was the weight. Holy cow what a difference at the net this makes!

Typically, pickleball paddles weight between 4 and 14 ounces (~113 to 396 grams), with most medium to higher priced paddles floating around 8 ounces.

For reference, a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup is 435 grams (so no more than that).

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Material

Carbon Fiber and fiberglass composites are the two most common materials used in high-quality paddles, with graphite being an additional material found.

You can’t go wrong with either material, honestly as both deliver good speed and spin on the ball. What you’re looking for out of the material is something that won’t have dead spots on the surface, to which when you hit the ball it falls flat. This is something you’ll notice when jumping from a beginner paddle to an intermediate one.

Fiberglass - Most power

Carbon Fiber - Greater control and shot precision

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Shape/Dimension

Generally speaking there’s 2 options when it comes to the shape of the pickleball paddle - elongated paddles vs. wide-body paddles.

Which shape of paddle you use is honestly totally subjective. Neither is really better than the other, but rather offer slightly different benefits.

Wide-body pickleball paddles provide a wider hitting surface, making it easier for the beginner. They are typically 7-8 inches wide and around 16 inches long.

Elongated paddles, on the other hand are typically 6-7 inches wide and anywhere from 17-24 inches long. Outside of offering extended reach, elongated paddles have. tighter sweet spot, which can provide more jump off the paddle when hitting the ball. For this reason, the elongated style has become much more common amongst the pros.

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How Much Should You Spend on a Pickleball Paddle?

It’s tough to answer this question as everyone has various budgets and plays at varying occurrences. If you’re looking for a beginner to intermediate paddle, expect to pay anywhere from $40 → $100. If you’re looking for a premium paddle, you can spend up to $250 for top of the line.

I’ll share my personal experience and that may assist you in your decision. I’ve been an athlete my entire life and played high school tennis. Even still, when I went out to play pickelball for the first time a few years ago, I was using a paddle I purchased from a set off Amazon.

I wanted to make sure this was a hobby I was going to do more than a few times before splurging on what I would call an intermediate paddle. Even so, this was still a paddle under $100.

I didn’t splurge into the premium space until playing several times a week and talking with folks at my local courts.

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When should you get a new pickleball paddle?

There’s a few reasons why you might get a new pickleball paddle. Skill and wear and tear.

Skill

As mentioned previously, I started off with a pickleball paddle from a set, progressed to one under $100, and after almost 2 years of consistent play and splurged on what I would call an expensive paddle.

A good rule of thumb is that if you are playing more than two times a month, it’s time to upgrade to atleast an intermediate paddle.

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Wear and Tear

Most people will tell you paddles range anywhere from 1-3 years, depending on how much you play. Regular players will refer to a “dead paddle”. It takes several years of consistent play before you may even be able to tell if your paddle is dead. I’ve been playing for several years now and am not even sure if I can tell.

Pay attention to the sound of the ball off the paddle? Does it have a nice and clear pop or do you notice it sounding flat?

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Pickleball Buying Guide Recap

Feel free to do more browsing. These are the pickleball paddles we recommend. You can't go wrong with any of these paddles depending on where you're at in your pickelball journey. I hope this list offers something for everybody.

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Best for Beginners (non set) - Selkirk Sport SLK Latitude

Best for Intermediate - Tempest Wave II Graphite Paddle

Best for Advanced Players - JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16

Best Under $100 - Onix Graphite Z5

Best Value Set - Gonex 2 Paddle Set

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If this was helpful but you're still curious about all the other paddle brands out there, Ranking Pickleball Paddle Brands (Best to Worst) may help you out. When I first started playing pickleball, this is the guide I wish I had seen to get a better lay of the land when it comes to pickleball paddle brands.

This article contains affiliate links from which we receive a small commission from sales of certain items. This helps us create more content for you.

Thanks. - Pat