The importance of a Paddle is paramount, and you can’t choose pickleball paddles randomly because it highly affects your performance. Moreover, the right choice would help you get good results.
Although certain factors affect your buying decision, whenever you choose pickleball paddles, make sure it has certain qualities.
So, let’s find them together.
How to Choose Pickleball Paddles:
There are a lot of Paddles in the market, and it’s your choice to choose which type of pickleball Paddles you will use in-game journey.
To select the best pickleball paddle, you need to check its quality, design structure, price, features, performance, and benefits which they offer us. But how will you check all these factors when you are a beginner? Well, don’t worry; here we will explain each of them so that you can make well-informed buying decisions.
So, buckle up, and let’s get a straight dive into it.
1- Price:
Before making any decision regarding the Pickleball Paddle, take a look at the price of the Paddle. If its price is in your range, think about more details.
Generally, the Graphite Paddle is the most expensive pedal. Graphite Paddle’s advantage is that they are durable, robust, and easy to use. These are ultra-light and ultra-stiff.
Other than these paddles are not that expensive, you still need to consider your budget, especially if you are budget-oriented.
2- Material:
The first factor you need to consider to choose the best pickleball paddles is the material from which they are made.
So, pickleball paddles are made up of 3 kinds of materials.
- Composite (fiberglass) gives more power, and their material is not stiff.
- Carbon fiber is better than fiberglass in many aspects. Moreover, they are very stiff but durable.
- Graphite – a type of carbon fiber.
- Hybrid – a combination of the 3 materials as mentioned above.
Graphite Paddles are expensive but better in quality and durable. If you are looking for the cheapest Paddle, then buy a wooden Paddle. As they are heavy, they won’t give you more comfort.
3-Shape:
When searching for the best pickleball paddle, you need to focus on the core and the shape where the shape has its measurement and standards.
- Elongated shapes give you more reach, power, and spin but with smaller sweet spots. Ultimately they came up with 16.5 inches in length and 7.5 inches wide.
- With a Widebody shape, you will get the largest sweet spot, but you must sacrifice your reach and power. Ultimately it would be around 8.5 inches in length.
- The classic shape is a perfect balance, a mix of spin and power. Ultimately they are 16 inches long and 8 inches wide.
You have all kinds of shapes you can find in the market, but which one you choose will depend on your choice and needs.
4- Bags:
Most of the time, people wouldn’t consider the bag essential when buying pickleball paddles. But it would help if you remembered that pickleball bags keep them safe from dust, and it’s fantastic to secure your stuff.
A pickleball paddle bag includes shoes, a water bottle, electrolytes, a hat or sunscreen, eyewear or a towel, extra pickleball, a backup Paddle, and much more.
So, it’s up to you whether you purchase a complete set. If you are a beginner, you can purchase it separately, but if you are a professional, you can buy a complete set; it’s your choice.
5- Handle and Grip:
The paddle handle, grip sizes, and quality also play a key role because your hand grip on the Paddle is essential.
While choosing pickleball paddles, you need to check whether it has a corded grip. The corded grip will make a pickleball paddle more efficient and easy to use. It will also reduce slip and improve game comfort.
Moreover, the pickleball handle can be 4.5 to 6 inches – depending on your need. But, on a general note, it’s often said that the longer the Paddle, the more power and spin you will get.
6- Weight:
Peddle’s weight plays an important role when deciding on the Paddle. Its weight can give you comfort in-game or discomfort. Also, the power and control depend on the Pickle Paddle weight.
It’s all about making the right choices. You can use lightweight, mid-weight, and heavy-weight paddles or buy them according to your skill or comfort level.
- If you want control over power, you can use a 16mm polymer core.
- If your choice is in the middle, you should choose a polymer core Paddle that is 14mm thick.
Good to know: If it is between 7 – 7.6 oz, it’s considered lightweight; if it is between 7.6 – 8.2 oz, then we will call it midweight; and if greater than 8.2 oz is called heavy-weight.
6- Reviews:
Don’t forget to check the company reviews where you will purchase, as most users decide to buy a product or not from product reviews.
It will give you more confidence and awareness about the product.
7- Pros and Cons:
Suppose you focused on the details and quality of the product. Then, maybe you’ll get a better Paddle. But, there are also pros and cons in every product; to make your purchase more effective, you need to check them out.
And here, considering the pros and cons means considering what kind of benefit a certain paddle will give you. It might be possible that if a paddle is good for someone, it might not be good for you.
So, you need to check out whether it is helpful for you or not.
FAQ:
What type of Pickleball paddle is best for beginners?
A beginner can prefer a pickleball paddle with a wider hitting surface and a thicker handle.
With that, you should only prefer a pickleball paddle that you can use easily and comfortably, as it will make your game more enjoyable. Moreover, how you play the game would also affect your decision.
Why are pickleball paddles essential?
It’s a matter of the game, and the best pickleball Paddle choice gives comfort.
The lighter Paddle will give more or less drive, but conversely, the heavy paddles give less control but much better drive and power. That’s why not only is the Paddle essential in the game, but the right pick also matters.
How long does a pickleball paddle last?
Well, it completely depends on how often you use it. If you use it more frequently, the lifespan will be shorter regardless of how often you use it.
In general, a graphite paddle is made for regular use, for professionals who want to use it more often, and for practice sessions. So, you can expect a lifespan of 1 year from them. Some companies also provide a warranty with them, but it will be given if there is any technical flaw; otherwise, if they broke off or got damaged by your fault, the guarantee doesn’t matter.
Final Thoughts – How to Choose Pickleball Paddles?
To conclude the whole discussion, we must say to choose pickleball paddles, remember for what purpose you will purchase it, what outcome you want from it, and whether it is worth purchasing.
Moreover, choosing it by focusing on the pickleball’s weight, size, and shape will save you lots of trouble. As it’s not easy, you need to aim for a paddle that will comfort your hand while swinging.
Take your time and make a well-informed choice.
