How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle

Pickleball enthusiasts state that the game is addictive and require skill, fitness, precision and more. Over the past five years, Pickleball has been growing in popularity in countries such as the United States & Canada. There are thousands of people who enjoy the game of Pickleball every day. It’s a game that is filled with fun and can also be played indoors or outdoors by people of all ages. If you want to play your best on the Pickleball court, it is essential to that you have the right Pickleball equipment. Firstly you will need to purchase a high-quality pickleball paddle. When you choose a Pickleball paddle that suits you play level and style, the Pickleball paddle will immensely improve your results and it will also enhance the overall enjoyment of your game.

Choosing the right Pickleball paddle can be a bit of a challenge. There are many Pickleball paddle manufacturers and hundreds of pickleball paddles for sale. If it is your first time purchasing a Pickleball paddle, you can be overwhelmed by all the choices available. This is because each Pickleball paddle has a unique combination of weight, size, materials, and overall construction. This article is intended to help you understand what you need to know before purchasing a Pickleball paddle. The information below includes some of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a Pickleball paddle.

Pickleball Paddle Weight & Materials When choosing a pickleball paddle, weight needs to be one of your primary considerations. The weight of a paddle affects the performance of your game and also it will affect how comfortable you feel when swinging it. The weight of the paddle is dependent on how thick the blade is and the materials that are used to make it. Some of the materials that are used to make pickleball paddles include graphite, polymer(plastic), carbon fiber and wood. Most of the modern pickleball paddles are now made from materials such as aluminum, polymer or Nomex.

A lightweight paddle is a paddle that is between 6.5 and 7.2 ounces. A medium weight paddle ranges between 7.2 and 8.2 ounces and a heavyweight paddle ranges between 8.2 and 9.5 ounces. When using a heavier Pickleball paddle without enough strength to swing it, you may find yourself at a disadvantage when you try to play against players that have a lightweight Pickleball paddle. Paddles that are easier to handle tend to be lighter Pickleball paddles. These paddles give you increased control. A heavy paddle is ideal if you want to make more powerful shots and helps you hit greater distances while using less effort.

Pickleball Paddle Sizes and Shapes

Pickleball Paddles come in a variety of shapes and sizes but the combined length and width including any edge guard and butt cap cannot exceed 24 square inches (60.96 cm). The Pickleball Paddle length can also not exceed 17 inches (43.18 cm). There is no restriction on paddle thickness. Longer Pickleball paddles are often preferred for singles play due to the additional reach. Shorter and wider paddles are usually used for doubles and feature a larger sweet spot. The extra court coverage in doubles play negates the need for a longer paddle but players benefit from the extra width.