One of the reasons for pickleball’s rapid growth is the relatively low barrier for entry. If you have access to a court, there is very little equipment needed, besides a ball and a paddle.
Of course, alongside the increased interest in the sport comes manufacturers trying to ensure their brands stand out in a crowded marketplace, which can make the process of buying the best equipment for you challenging, especially if you are new to the sport.
That’s where we come in. This short guide will explain the most important things to consider when purchasing the most important thing for any pickleball player, their paddle.
The weight of the paddle
Most pickleball players would agree that the most important consideration is the weight of the paddle. Paddles range from around 170g to upwards of 400g. While that may not sound like a huge difference, pickleball games can last for some time, and if you hope to play tournaments, you may find yourself swinging the bat for several hours across the course of a day, so it must be comfortable for you to play with for a long time.
If possible, find some paddles in a physical store to best get a feel for the different weights and judge for yourself what would suit you best.
If that is not possible, this comparison to other racquet sports may prove useful. The average tennis racket is roughly 300g, which would be on the heavier side for a pickleball paddle, whereas the average badminton racket is just 80g, less than half the weight of the lightest paddles.
The heavier the paddle, the more power you can generate, but this is countered by the increased control of a lightweight paddle. There are other pros and cons that roughly even themselves out across the full spectrum of paddle weights, so the best advice is simply to find what is most comfortable for you.
If you do not have the opportunity to test out a few paddles before committing to purchasing, we would advise you to begin with a mid-weight paddle. These are generally considered to be around 206g to 238g, which is a weight most people should be comfortable holding and swinging for extended periods of time, whilst also not sacrificing too much power or control.
The paddle grip
Players must also consider the grip size of the paddle, which of course would be best found out by holding a paddle and seeing how comfortable it is.
However, if buying online, there is a general rule which is based on the player’s height:
Those under 5’2’’ will generally prefer a 4’’ grip, whilst those over 5’9’’ should look into a 4 1/2’’ grip. Anyone in between those two heights will likely require a 4 1/8’’ or 4 1/4’’ grip.
The noise of the paddle
There have been issues surrounding the ‘popping’ noise some paddles create when striking the ball. If noise is likely to be an issue where you are playing, the general rule is that polymer paddles are best, whilst aluminium cores are next best.
Nomex core paddles are the worst for noise and are even banned at some facilities for this reason.
Many manufacturers have begun to add ‘Green Zone’ seals for their quietest paddles, so this is something to consider, depending on where you would be playing.
Paddles for beginners
For players looking to get involved without breaking the bank as they try out the sport for the first time, why not go for a cheap wooden paddle? The original pickleball paddles were all made of wood, so they are certainly usable, especially for beginners, and they can be bought for as little as £10.
