Best pickleball paddles 2025

Buying a new pickleball paddle is a tough decision, with literally hundreds of models to choose from. Some are amazing, some are not.

The Pickleheads team has tested over 200 paddles, and we play with new ones every day. That helps us keep this guide fresh and accurate, so you don't waste time with a paddle that's not right for you.

Our top recommendation for most players is the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control. It's a high-level paddle without the high-level price. It offers the best value for the performance of any paddle I've tested.

Some players will get more out of a different paddle, though, so we've included picks for every budget, skill level, and play style. These include a $100 standout and a top-tier pro upgrade if you're willing to splash out for the best of the best.

Our top picks cover most players, but there's no one-size-fits-all paddle. If you're just starting out, you might want a lighter, more forgiving paddle. If you're a big hitter, you need spin, pop, and a paddle that can keep up.

That's why we built a 30-second quiz to match you with the paddle that fits your game.

Let's take a look at how each of these paddles plays and who they're best for. If you want a comprehensive breakdown of specs, on-court performance from our play testing, and side-by-side comparisons, you'll be able to click through to our full reviews of each paddle.

If you're curious about how we review our paddles, read about how we test and review gear at Pickleheads. Let's get into it.

At Pickleheads, we pride ourselves on our hands-on testing of all the paddles and gear we review. Every paddle you see recommended above was put through rigorous on-court sessions by myself, Stephen Mijangos (our pro paddle tester), or other members of the Pickleheads team. This includes a minimum play time of five hours per paddle, across at least two play sessions.

When we're ranking our favorite paddles, we consider overall performance (power, spin, etc.) but also important factors like price, value for money, and what type of player the paddle appeals to.

We have heated debates before we come to a general consensus for our best-of paddle guides. Often, the top paddles stand out from the rest, and it's sometimes the case that we all agree quickly on what the best paddle is.

The Six Zero DBD is one of those paddles – for all of us, it offers the best all-court performance at the best price to help the largest number of players improve their game.

We also reached out to pickleball pros and top coaches to get their opinions on the best pickleball paddles. Here's what they said:

Wayne is the Publisher of Pickleball Magazine, Director of LevelUp Pickleball Camps, a 5.0 US Open Gold Medalist, and USA Pickleball National Champion. His LevelUp Pickleball Camps have taught over 25,000 beginner, intermediate, and advanced players since 2017.

What paddles would you recommend to someone looking for their first paddle, and why?

What paddles would you recommend to someone looking for their first "investment" or upgrade paddle, and why?

Are there any other paddles you strongly recommend, and why?

Jackie is 5.0 player and founder of the women-led tournament and event organizer PickleballChicks.

What paddles would you recommend to someone looking for their first paddle, and why?

What paddles would you recommend to someone looking for their first "investment" or upgrade paddle, and why?

Are there any other paddles you strongly recommend, and why?

Choosing the right paddle depends on how you actually play, not just your budget or what's trending. New players can sometimes make the mistake of buying the latest hot paddle, only to find it's not right for them.

Here are some things to consider when deciding on a pickleball paddle:

Some paddles are better for new players, others work best for pros, and there are many in between. Let's break down the skill levels so you can see what each group should prioritize in a paddle:

Newer players should focus first on building up their accuracy, getting the ball to stay in the court. You'll want a paddle that's not too explosive when it comes to power and pop.

That's why softer paddles that prioritize control are recommended. If they have a larger sweet spot, the paddle is more forgiving – even if you hit the ball away from the center of the paddle face, you should still get a consistent bounce.

Intermediate players have got used to touch shots like drops and dinks. Now they want a bit more power and spin, without sacrificing too much softness and forgiveness just yet. This is where all-court paddles shine.

Look for a paddle that's well-rounded and offers a consistent performance across power, control, spin, and forgiveness.

More competitive players want to keep up in fast-paced games. They usually like paddles with a lot of power and spin. Many advanced players, who have mastered touch shots, don't need softer paddles but want something that has precision when a controlled, accurate shot is called for.

Different players have different styles of play. Let's look at three main types of play style and how they affect what paddle you should get:

Your game is more about strategic shot placement rather than overwhelming your opponent with power. You rely on accuracy to win points. You like to play as the defensive partner in doubles games. If that's you, you'll want a paddle that scores high on control.

Spin is often important too, as it lets you shape your touch shots to vary them and catch your opponent out. You might also like paddles with larger sweet spots because you get a more consistent response across the paddle face, with less dead zones where the ball falls flat.

You're what we call a "banger" – someone who likes to put their opponent on the backfoot. You're the aggressor, and you like paddles that lead with power. Spin is super important for you too, combining with your power shots to give you a competitive edge.

For a while, a lot of power paddles focused so much on pop to the point where they were downright explosive, and lacked in control. Many of these were eventually deemed to be "illegal" and banned by USA Pickleball.

Newer paddles are replacing them, finding a way to give you almost the same level of explosiveness while maintaining a lot more control for a better-rounded performance.

You're a player who wants a strong blend of power and control. Ideally, you'll get a paddle with lots of spin, good forgiveness, and a balanced weight distribution too. Beware, though: tons of brands claim that their paddles are all-court paddles.

In truth, finding a paddle with a truly impressive balance of the top attributes is rarer than you might think. That's why reading real reviews from on-court testing is so important.

The shape of your paddle also affects how it plays. Here are some things to know about the three shapes of a pickleball paddle:

An elongated paddle is longer in length and narrower. The most common dimensions are 16.5x7.5 inches but I've seen paddles (like the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy) that are 17 inches long.

Elongated paddles naturally offer the most reach, and they're usually the most powerful too. They tend to be a bit slower than hybrid and standard-shaped paddles, though some offset this with well-designed weight distribution.

A hybrid paddle lies between an elongated and a standard-shaped paddle – that is, it's a little shorter and wider than an elongated paddle. They're known for having curved tops, which make them move through the air faster than elongated paddles.

A good hybrid paddle gives you the best of both worlds – some of the power of an elongated paddle matched with some of the forgiveness and speed of a standard-shaped paddle.

Also known as widebody or square-shaped paddles, a standard-shaped paddle is shorter in length and wider. The typical dimensions of the paddle face are 16x8 inches, with some variation. Standard paddles are often faster and more forgiving, due to having a wider playing surface that enlarges the sweet spot.

You can also read my full guidelines on how to choose a pickleball paddle.

In this update, I've tried to simplify my picks, cutting the main list down to just three paddles: the Six Zero DBD Control (our top pick), the 11SIX24 Pegagus Jelly Bean (budget option), and the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV (upgrade paddle).

These three paddles will suit the majority of players. However, you can find even more options later on, sorted by skill level, play style, and paddle shape.