With so many options available nowadays, Pickleball players seem to find themselves stuck in a dilemma of balancing out power and control while choosing Pickleball Paddles.
On top of that, you also need to take into account your skillset dexterity, and budget constraints as well as align your playstyle that you follow in the court, otherwise, regardless of how expensive or premium tier Paddles you may buy, if it doesn’t match synergy, you are better of without it.
Luckily for you, today in this article, I will show you How To Choose Pickleball Paddles based on the key fundamentals mentioned above, so you can get your hands on Paddles specifically tailored to your needs.
Things To Keep In Mind While Choosing Pickleball Paddles
Just like human beings, Pickleball Paddles also come in different shapes and sizes, however, here are a couple of elements you need to keep in mind that will attain you a Paddle fit for your Profile.
1. Choosing The Material Type
The first and foremost thing you need to determine when picking a Pickleball Paddle is the type of material the Paddle is made from. In general, Pickleball Paddles are categorized into three distinctive types i.e. Graphite, Fiberglass, and Wooden Paddles.
Depending on your use cases and your budget, it is highly important that you make an assessment beforehand. Here is a brief description of the properties of each Paddle type.
Graphite Paddles
The finest of the bunch and is considered the top-tier choice among both Professionals and intermediate players. They usually offer more flexibility and less swing weight, allowing players to cover quick groundstrokes with minimal effort.
They are explicitly lightweight and don’t require much effort during swing or splicing, however, I would generally recommend it for players who are still learning the preliminaries as handling graphite Paddles requires hefty levels of skillset.
Fiberglass Paddles
Fiberglass Paddles generally hit the middle ground for these three distinctive material types, and cater to every play equally regardless of the skill level. They are considerably heavier and allow players to block counter shots with minimal effort and can also excel well in defensive stances.
If you are your teammate loves to Stack in duos format, you might want to invest in Paddles that are made from Fiberglass material due to their exceptional control and power output.
On the other hand, they are incredibly reliable and accurate in scenarios where you want to keep the ball as low as possible.
Wooden Paddles
These are the most basic variant of Paddles that don’t really break the bank, however, the apparent drawback is that not only are they bulky but also astoundingly inconsistent, requiring great finesse even for a professional grade player.
They are a great substitute for players who like to partake in solo drills where they want to train their muscle memory without worrying about ruining their gear in the process.
If you are an individual who likes to play Pickleball only for recreational purposes, you might want to opt for Wooden Paddles since they are budget-friendly and provide a tinker of nostalgia for those old-school players.
2. Figuring Out The Weight
If you reached this point of the article, you must be wondering, what does weight have to do with anything relating to pickleball?, isnt swinging a lightweight Pickleabll Paddle feasible for everyone?
Well, for starters, you may be correct to some extent that lightweight pickleball Paddles certainly do the magic since they cause a whiplash effect on your wrist allowing you to swing it easily for those quick Dink shots or Volleys.
However, you may not be able to generate momentum or longer Lobs, and that’s where you will see an apparent shortcoming in the court.
Henceforth, to become better in the court and gain an edge, you need to find the perfect balance in terms of weight.
Typically, there are three classifications of Pickleball Paddles such as,
Lightweight
As the name suggests, these are the Paddles that are designed for those individuals who are getting into the sports and want to play defense. These paddles usually weigh 6-8oz and have a lesser form of stability.
Midweight
Midweight Paddles weigh up to 9.5 oz and are perfect for both Professional and casual players who want to bust out power and show dominance on the court. However, they aren’t recommended for rookies since they will cause unnecessary arm fatigue.
Heavyweight
Only recommended for the most proficient players on the court who have higher levels of stamina and agility and can withstand soring pain in the wrist afterward.
These usually weigh 10oz and upwards, however, the power capabilities they produce will truly give an opponent a run for their money.
3. Paddle Shape Variant
Now comes the most pivotal attribute the size and shape of the Paddle, if you are looking to invest in a bigger and wider Paddle, you will have more surface area and a bigger sweet spot to hit, however, your swing arc will suffer from drag force or air resistance.
Meanwhile, if you are looking to invest in teardrop-shaped paddles, you will have plenty of agility and will be able to cover the flank in the court but will suffer from more dead zones.
If you are a player with a defensive playstyle, you might want to invest in Elongated Paddles, since drag force tamps Down the vibration effect a ball has on a Paddle. Meanwhile, if you are looking to put robust shots down the court, teardrop Paddles are the way to go.
Elongated Vs Standard Pickleball Paddle
Elongated Paddles were made to provide more reach, allowing you to achieve more length while timing your paddle for those last-minute Dinks Or Ernie Shots. It also helps you achieve a better form of spin since it has more surface to cover.
As for standard Paddles, they tend to have more refined controlling capabilities and maneuverability while achieving a balanced form of dead zones and sweet spot ratio. It also helps hit your shot more consistently as standard Paddles have less drag force, ensuring you excel effectively in both defensive and offensive stances.
What Type Of Pickleball Paddle Is Best? Graphite Vs Fiberglass
The answer to this query is downright a mixed bag, however, for an intermediate player or casual player, I would highly recommend Fiberglass blends, as they are more forgiving and easy to store, all while costing a fraction of Graphite Paddles.
Graphite paddles, on the other hand, have a hefty price tag even if they offer lighter swings without sacrificing control.
They are also extremely effective in volleys due to their flexibility and can come in handy in competitive plays where serves can turn the tides as they can generate snappy drives on serves
What Is The Best Material For A Pickleball Paddle?
If the budget does seem to be an issue and you want to flaunt among your Pickleball peers, I would highly suggest that you get your hands on graphite Paddles.
However, keep in mind they require higher levels of maintenance and can suffer from chip damage extremely easily.
Nevertheless, Graphite paddles also have more stable cores and don’t sacrifice swing control, making them the most sought-after choice for the top-ranked players in big leagues.
What Is The Best Weight For A Pickleball Paddle?
There is no hard and fast rule when choosing a Paddle based on its weight, in fact, as long you have the stamina and agility to handle a paddle, you would be off to a great start.
In fact, even if you are a beginner with prior experience in other similar sports like tennis or badminton, you would do an amazing job with heavier paddles without breaking a sweat.
What Pickleball Paddle Should I Buy?
Lastly, comes the most subjective factor as it varies from person to person, nonetheless shouldn’t be neglected. Matter of fact, just because a paddle is expensive doesn’t mean it would be your got to choice.
If you are a defensive player, I would highly advise you to pick an Elongated Paddle of heavier weight class, that way you could easily block counters and perform Dinks at will.
However, if you are more of a dasher and want to play dominantly, investing in teardrop paddles corresponding to midweight classes might be one of the feasible options for you.
Bottom Line
In Pickleball, even though a Paddle holds paramount importance, choosing amongst the vast variation of options available in the realm of the Pickleball world can be undoubtedly a daunting task.
However, I am fairly certain that my ultimate guide on How to choose pickleball paddles will certainly provide assistance in enhancing your performance on the court, so you can dominate it with confidence.
