The Best Pickleball Paddles of 2024

Looking for the ideal pickleball paddle? We can help! Our playtesting team consists of several avid and experienced pickleball players who spend countless hours testing most every paddle we feature on the site. With so many choices to consider, the aim for us is to narrow down the number of paddles to the ones we feel perform the best in the following eight categories: Best all-around, value, control, spin, power, feel, plus an honorable mention. We have also included new category for best customizable paddle.

The Best Pickleball Paddles

Honorable Mention:

The Double Black Diamond is extremely popular and for good reason! Intermediate to advanced players who appreciate the power and durability of a thermo-formed paddle, along with the precision and excellent spin potential of a raw carbon fiber face, will want to consider the Six Zero Double Black Diamond!

What makes it great: Australian-based company Six Zero takes its paddle IQ to another level with the Double Black Diamond 16. This paddle delivers top tier paddle comfort, feel, torsional stability and power come thanks to Six Zero's Fusion Edge Technology, which is its take on thermo-formed construction. Taming the Double Black Diamond's power with precision is the use of T700 Raw Carbon fiber, which issues long-term and easy access to developing spin on the ball. At an average weight of 8.1 ounces, the Double Black Diamond is predictably stable and surprisingly nimble. Aside from a premium 16mm polymer core, other standout traits are its 16.25-inch overall length, along with a paddle shape that tapers from 7.7 to 7.5 inches. This broader shape the toward the tip opens up the sweetspot where players need it most. Six Zero finishes the all-court capability of the Double Black Diamond with a 5.5-inch handle length paired with a 4 1/4 grip.

Don't let the friendly price and fiberglass face fool you! The ROKNE Curved Classic offers easy turnkey performance, incredible spin potential, along with predictable power via its textured fiberglass face and elongated shape.

What makes it great: Forget about the economics, the ROKNE Curved Classic delivers the goods in terms of quality, performance and easy access to point-controlling levels of spin. Add in the price, and you will understand why this paddle receives top billing in this category. Powering this paddle is a thinner 13mm premium polymer core, a low- to mid-8-ounce average weight and elongated shape. Defining these paddles even more, ROKNE offers the Curved Classic in several different colors, ranging from bright to understated. Along with the versatility of the longer paddle shape is a 5.5-inch handle, matched with a middle of the road 4 1/4 grip.

Selkirk introduces a paddle that is ideal for players who can generate their own power. The LUXX Control Invikta leans toward precision, easily absorbs ball pace and affords free-swinging baseline confidence. It also displays incredible obedience near the kitchen.

What makes it great: The LUXX Control Air Invikta, at around 7.9-8.1 ounces, is the lightest of the LUXX Control Airs. The 20mm Thikset Honeycomb Core is the thickest on the market and adds an apex-level of control along with incredible comfort. A proprietary Florek Carbon material along with ProSpin+NextGen Textured surface maximizes the size of the sweetspot and also delivers edge-to-edge easy access to spin. Combined with a 5.25-inch handle, which is long enough to control play using one or two hands on the paddle, the Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta provides all-court prowess and versatility.

Although not the first to use a raw carbon surface, CRBN is renown in terms of producing high quality paddles that push the envelope of their spin potential.

What makes it great: The elongated 16.5-inch length and thermo-formed design of the CRBN 3X Power 16 delivers both length-based power (leverage), and extra reach. A 7.5-inch span across the face and incredible spin potential of the T700 Raw Carbon fiber face make rolling and/or speed-up volleys easy to execute. The overall performance profile of the 3X Power 16 is middle of the road. Compared to a Gearbox Pro Power or Selkirk Power Air, the CRBN 3X Power 16 offers a higher degree of precision, more akin to a Volair Mach 1 Forza or Pursuit Pro MX 6.0. And did we mention spin?!

Ninja quiet, with all the power of a tactical weapon, Gearbox's Pro Power Elongated is one of the most powerful paddles we have tested, but it also features enough control to end points on your own terms.

What makes it great: If imposing paddle power along with industry-leading technology is your thing, Gearbox has the ideal paddle for your game. The Pro Power Elongated is powerful for sure and does not require much effort to really get the ball moving. In addition, the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated has a quieter response. This effect keeps the peace in the neighborhood, and this lower decibel level complements the Pro Power's ability to blast shots through and sneak shots past an opponent's radar.

The Gamma RCF Airbender is an amazing pickleball paddle in stock form. The option to easily customize the Airbender with Gamma's aftermarket weight kits makes it one of the most versatile and fun to play with paddles available.

What makes it great: The Gamma RCF Airbender paddle could have been listed in the Best Control category, as it rivals the precision and feel of the much thicker LUXX Controls. However, with the two weight kits available (sold separately), a player can dial up paddle power or agility depending on how much weight is added to the tail or throat. One kit includes three Shockbuster plugs at different weights that are easily inserted at the bottom of the paddle's face. This material enhances comfort and increases the weight-based power of the Airbender. A second kit features three weighted butt caps that are also easy to swap out. The butt cap and plug weights start at 3 grams, then graduate to 6 and 9 grams. The fine grit feel of the Airbender's Raw Carbon Fiber face supplies long-lasting and easy access to spin. Paired with an industry standard 16mm polymer core, the Gamma RCF Airbender is a great choice for players who prefer a soft feeling, spin-friendly paddle platform that is ripe for modification.

Already having expertise and a background in paddle sports, Master Athletics in a short time has caught on, and in some ways surpassed the current status quo for pickleball paddle design and construction.

Not only does the Master Athletics P3 display all-court capability, it is extremely durable and made to be easily customized. Other unique features are its combo of a 16.15-inch overall length, and instead of the typical 8-inch paddle face width, the P3 is narrowed down to 7.75 inches. This caters to a nimble feeling when speeding up volleys, and/or rolling shots from anywhere in the court. One of the P3's modifiable aspects are its removable plug in the throat area. Without the plug aerodynamics are improved. Playing with the plug installed adds a little extra power, along with a dampening quality. In addition, Master Athletics includes a customization kit, with the purchase of a P3, consisting of specific weight and dampening strips. This allows a player to shift the balance point, and go from its stock 8 oz weight, all the way to 9.6 oz, or anywhere in between. All in all, the Master Athletics P3 is a paddle that performs, and lasts in terms of durability, and spin potential along with room for skill improvement without having to switch paddles.

Selecting a suitable pickleball paddle is important, but having an ideal or the best paddle is optimal. And considering the ever-expanding menu of paddles to choose from, narrowing the process down can be a little tricky. To help new and experienced players make the most well-informed search and purchase, we list all aspects of paddle performance, in terms of where the sources of power, control and comfort are derived from. The result we aim to deliver is a paddle that is both fun and easy to swing right out of the box and also provides room for skill improvement.

In a general sense, and whether a player realizes this or not, the best paddle is one that is heavy enough to be stable, yet light enough to effectively swing over the period of time you most often play. We often refer to this as the Goldilocks effect, with the paddle being in a range of weight that is not excessively heavy or light for the player. Other aspects like paddle and handle length, degree of core liveliness, along with spin potential and grip diameter all play in to a paddle’s overall performance. Affordability and durability are also worth consideration.

Individual play-style, skill level and whether one plays more doubles, singles or a mix of both are other key factors as far as making the best paddle choice.

Beginners will benefit most a middle-of-the-road paddle type, which provides enough versatility to help players hone their style and skill. On the other end of the spectrum, an experienced individual who plays more singles and needs more back-court power may opt for a heavier paddle since there are fewer touch and finesse shots required in that discipline.

Paddle power comes in three basic forms: Weight, length and the level of power produced from the core versus surface materials. Weight and length are more closely related to each other than the are core and surface materials; you can feel paddle mass and length just by picking up a paddle. Heavier paddles feature better overall stability, vibration control, and inherently afford a larger sweetspot compared to lighter paddles, but that comes at the expense of maneuverability.

A longer paddle equals a longer lever, which translates to increased power, not to mention extra reach. As far as the core, when players refer to a paddle as having good "pop," that usually indicates a high degree of power from the paddle's core. Between two paddles that feature different core widths, but are the same in terms of attributes the one with the thinner core will be the more powerful.

Spin is primarily a function of swing path and is more of an aspect of paddle control than power. So if you exhibit the modern, loopy swing you will develop spin on a ball whether you are using your hand, a pickleball paddle or a tennis racquet. That said, there are equipment options that definitely enhance spin potential. Friction-based surface materials are probably the most effective and sought after way to improve access to spin, with raw carbon being the most popular these days. In addition, manufacturers are now figuring out ways to make fiberglass composite and carbon composite face materials that provide excellent access to spin.

Simply put, a paddle that delivers good performance, is reasonably priced and withstands regular use without compromising its quality can be considered the best paddle! With our vast selection of paddles to choose from, we are confident that we have a paddle that will suit any player's needs. And although players ultimately have to make their own decision, Total Pickleball can help minimize the search, and maximize the play.

Our "The Best Pickleball Paddles" list is based on playtester feedback. We begin, and repeat this process every few months, with approximately 30 paddles, and then test each one under similar play conditions. Our playtesters score each paddle based on a variety of criteria, including player experience level. The result is a list containing, what we feel are, the very best pickleball paddles in each of the six categories.