Best pickleball paddle for tennis elbow in 2024 - top 5 compared

Buy if:

• You want an elongated handle:

  with the longest handle of any paddle on this list, this gives plenty of room for two-handed backhands to reduce wrist strain.

• You want a powerful all-court paddle:

  raw power and amazing spin combine with a unique, soft, non-thermoformed feel for control.

• You want the most injury-prevention tech:

  Engage added vibration-dampening tech into the edge guard, outer cells, and handle.

Pass if:

• You're on a budget:

  this doesn't come cheap at $260, so check out the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash or see if the ProKennex Black Ace Pro is on deal (often as low as $140).

• You want the best control paddle:

  if your touch game is your priority, try the Grüvn RAW-16S for a less poppy paddle.

• You want a square-shaped paddle:

  the Engage Pursuit EX 6.0 is a powerful standard-shaped paddle with the same unique feel.

Buy if:

• You want the best deal:

  at just $99.99, the PRISM Flash was already the cheapest paddle on this list—take another $10 off with our exclusive discount.

• You're focused on your touch game:

  this is one of the best control paddles in all of pickleball.

• You play with lots of spin:

  this paddle can generate higher levels of spin than almost any paddle below $100.

Pass if:

• You want the most protection for your elbows:

  the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0, my top pick, comes at a premium price but offers the best vibration dampening.

• You're a power player:

  skip to the ProKennex Black Ace Pro—made for bangers with built-in shock-absorbing tech.

• You're worried about head heaviness:

  if you want a lighter paddle so you don't have to swing that hard, check out the ProKennex or the LITE models of the Engage paddles.

Buy if:

• You want special tech to prevent injuries:

  ProKennex's signature kinetic tech absorbs shocks and vibrations, and many injury-prone players swear by their paddles.

• You're a power player:

  the ball pops off this paddle face, generating some of the best power I've ever seen.

• You don't want to swing hard:

  thanks to the really low swing weight (100), I can swing all day without tiring out.

Pass if:

• You need lots of spin:

  spin is fine but not at the high levels of the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0.

• You want the best value:

  for one of the best bargains in pickleball, try the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash for only $89.99 with our exclusive discount.

• You're a control player:

  check out the Grüvn RAW-16S, a light paddle with an elite combo of control and spin.

Buy if:

• You're a control player:

  the unique shape (15.7" x 8.1") gives you a large playing surface for extra control and forgiveness.

• You want a low swing weight:

  you can swing fast with this light paddle, putting less strain on your arms.

• Your budget is below $150:

  at $139, this is great value for a T700 raw carbon fiber paddle.

Pass if:

• You want an even cheaper alternative:

  the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash is just $89.99 with our exclusive discount, and offers a similar performance across the board.

• Money is no issue for you:

  if you've got cash to spend, the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 offers the most complete performance and the best protection for your wrists, arms, and elbows.

• You're a power player:

  try the lightning-fast ProKennex Black Ace Pro, which is often on sale for $140-150.

Buy if:

• You want a powerful square-shaped paddle:

  this has aggressive pop and great finishing power and plow-through—surprising for a standard-shaped, non-thermoformed paddle.

• You need elite levels of spin:

  as a former tennis player, I love ripping topspin with this—it's right up there with the best spin paddles.

• You've got a high budget:

  this doesn't come cheap at $259.99, but it's worth it if you want to protect your elbows and arms from injuries.

Pass if:

• You want a long handle:

  this paddle's handle is short (5"), so check out the other Engage paddle on my list: the Pursuit Pro1 6.0.

• You want the best control paddle:

  while control is good here, I'd recommend the Grüvn RAW-16S instead if you don't want a poppy paddle.

• You want to avoid any head heaviness:

  while the EX 6.0 isn't super heavy (115 swing weight), the ProKennex Black Ace Pro has a really low swing weight (100).