The pickleball paddle market has gotten incredibly competitive in recent years, with the manufacturing technology evolving as fast as the sport is growing, if not faster. Paddle makers both new and old are making advancements, each with their own innovations in mind. As an intermediate to advanced player, it can be difficult to decide on which paddles to get, so we've narrowed things down to our best picks for the year. Aggressive net hitters, baseline controllers, and everyone in-between should find a paddle that suits them in our list of the best pickleball paddles.
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Wave
The TruFoam Wave series represents CRBN's 4th generation of TruFoam technology, a revolution in foam core design. Compared to traditional polypropylene cores, foam cores are less prone to "core crush" and withstand rigorous use better. The elasticity improves dwell time on hit, acting like a string bed that allows players to hit with more spin.
Wilson Vesper Power
Wilson is no stranger to the racquet sports world, and their
Vesper pickleball paddles represent the culmination of their expertise brought to the pickleball world. The open-throat shaft design takes inspiration from modern tennis racquet engineering, creating an aerodynamic and flexible paddle. Players with tennis experience should find the Vesper familiar to handle, thanks in part to the familiar grip.
Joola Ben Johns Hyperion Pro IV Duel
Ben Johns is a top player, and Joola is a leader in paddle making, so naturally their longstanding collab represents the peak of pickleball paddle design.
Joola's Ben John Hyperion Pro IV emphasizes a balanced design, capable of hitting hard without sacrificing a generous sweet spot, and the gritty carbon surface lets you impart spin as well.
Gearbox Pro Power Ultimate Hyper
Gearbox's offering lives up to its name. The
Pro Power Series Ultimate Hyper utilizes its signature SST Core to improve energy transfer on hits, creating unmatched explosive power. Power hitters know that unwieldy power is no good when you're hitting out of bounds. Thankfully the paddle's ability to increase dwell time and grip the ball allows players to impart spin to course-correct shots. As an added bonus, Smart Dampen noise reduction makes the paddle great for both competitive and recreational play.
Diadem Edge BluCore Pro
Like CRBN, Diadem is another leader in foam core design with their
BluCore Pro. Silicone inserts on the edges add additional shock absorption, which not only makes for a comfortable hitting experience but also gives better control on dinks and other soft hits.
Selkirk Luxx Control Air Invikta
Most of the paddles we've discussed so far have been geared toward power, but we haven't forgotten about the finesse players. The
Luxx Invikta stands out because of its exceptionally thick core, which has a plush sensation but makes hitting the sweet spot feel extra rewarding. Its aerodynamic design also allows for swift maneuvering, making it easier to return each shot.
Engage Alpha Pro
Engage's Alpha Pro achieves its performance using superior materials and manufacturing techniques. Part of this engineering involves the placement of a specialized layer between the hitting surface and core, which gives a more connected feel, allowing the paddle to hit harder than it normally would. Aggressive players will appreciate the power they can generate using this paddle.
Holbrook Arma X Metallic
While other paddle makers experimented using foam cores or inserts, Holbrook's approach to innovating core technology with the
Arma X Metallic was to use a dual-density system. By strategically using both low-density and high-density materials within the structure, the Arma X is able to achieve a wider sweet spot. Internal weights improve the twist weight so the paddle feels very stable to hit with.
Diadem Hush
While the Diadem Hush may not be approved for USAPA competition, it's a fun paddle to have casual fun with. Its foam core has a plush feel that dampens noise and other vibrations on contact, which makes for a more comfortable hitting experience. Your neighbors might appreciate the noise reduction even more than you!
Paddletek Bantam GTO-C
The
Paddletek Bantam GTO-C is another paddle geared towards hard hitters. Its tapered head shape creates to a higher balance point, leading to more powerful shots when hit close to the tip. Aggressive players who like to hit unreactable shots from the net will appreciate having this paddle in their hands.
Hopefully this narrows down your search for a paddle that best suits your play style. If you're a beginner player, or know a beginner who needs help choosing their first paddle, we highly recommend they check out our list of
best pickleball paddles for beginners.
