
With so many competing brands producing amazing paddles right now, there's more choice than ever before. Personally, I've never seen better options at the $100 price point. From all-court gems to spin wizards, the paddles I've listed here give some of the most expensive offerings a run for their money.
Read on for my list of the best paddles under $100 and see the incredible value available right now.
Best paddles under $100 at a glance
Note: our discount codes may be subject to change when products are on sale. Check the final price at checkout.
Best overall

Our Rating:
1. 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean
Best for beginners

Our Rating:
2. Friday Original
Best for power

Our Rating:
3. Engage Encore Pro V2.0
Best for control

Our Rating:
4. Vatic Pro PRISM Flash
Best for spin

Our Rating:
5. Vatic Pro PRISM V7
Which paddle is best for you?
Before buying a paddle, it’s important to make sure it fits your game. That's why I created a 30-second quiz that recommends the best paddles for your play style and budget.
Give it a try and see if any of these paddles under $100 make the list:

Find the perfect paddle
I've personally tested over 80 paddles. Take the quiz to see which ones fit your game best.
Best paddles under $100 in 2025
That's the list. Now let's dive into why I chose them as my favorites this year.
1. 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean
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Power
Control
Spin
Forgiveness
Buy if:
You're a beginner to intermediate:
the combination of spin and control is so good, which will help newer players advance their game.
You want a long-lasting paddle:
this is built to last with raw Toray T700 carbon fiber and a layer of fiberglass.
You want a forgiving paddle:
the high twist weight and foam-injected edges make this paddle very consistent, with a large sweet spot that makes mishits rare.
Pass if:
You want an elongated paddle:
this has a standard shape, so try the Friday Original or Vatic Pro PRISM V7 for more reach.
You want even more control:
the PRISM Flash has even higher levels of control, scoring 10/10.
You want a paddle set:
the Friday Original makes for a high-quality starter set for beginners with their 2-for-$98 deal.
Paddle Weight
8-8.3 oz
Paddle Length
15.82"
Paddle Width
8.04"
Handle Length
5.75"
Grip Circumference
4.125"
Paddle Face Material
CFC surface (Toray T700 raw carbon fiber and fiberglass)
Core Material
Honeycomb polymer core
Core Thickness
16 mm (0.63")
Sweet Spot
Large
Who it's for
Features
Design and feel
Performance
Value for money
Today’s best deal
2. Friday Original
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Power
Control
Spin
Forgiveness
Buy if:
You're tired of poor-quality beginner paddles:
the Friday Original is a thermoformed carbon fiber paddle for only $50-70.
You want to play with a friend or partner:
Friday's 2-for-$98 deal makes this an incredible-value beginner set.
You want to learn power and spin:
unlike most beginner paddles, the Friday focuses on bringing power and spin to your game.
Pass if:
You want a more control-focused paddle:
check out the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash for 10/10 control.
You want the most forgiving paddle:
the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean has a large sweet spot for even more forgiveness.
You want a lot of spin:
try the Vatic Pro PRISM V7 for the best spin paddle under $100.
Paddle Weight
8.3 oz
Paddle Length
16.5"
Paddle Width
7.5"
Handle Length
5.5"
Grip Circumference
4.25"
Paddle Face Material
Carbon fiber
Core Material
Polypropylene honeycomb
Core Thickness
16 mm (0.63")
Sweet Spot
Small-medium
Who it's for
Features
Design and feel
Performance
Value for money
Today’s best deals
3. Engage Encore Pro V2.0
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Power
Control
Spin
Forgiveness
Buy if:
You prioritize power:
this paddle shines most on power with nice pop off the fiberglass face, especially on the thinner 12.7 mm model.
You want a quick paddle:
this is a light-feeling paddle with a nice hybrid shape—it helps you to be fast in hand battles at the kitchen.
You're a beginner or early intermediate:
this is a great paddle to kickstart your pickleball journey, or a great step-up paddle for intermediates.
Pass if:
You want more spin:
the Vatic Pro PRISM V7 has a lot more spin thanks to its raw carbon fiber face.
You want a soft paddle:
it takes a little time to adjust to the fiberglass face, so try the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash if you want a plush feel right away.
You want a forgiving paddle:
the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean is one of the most forgiving paddles on the market.
Paddle Weight
7.8-8.2 oz
Paddle Length
16.25"
Paddle Width
7.75"
Handle Length
5.375"
Grip Circumference
4.25"
Paddle Face Material
Fiberglass
Core Material
Polymer
Core Thickness
12.7 mm (0.5") or 15.2 mm (0.59")
Sweet Spot
Small-medium
Who it's for
Features
Design and feel
Performance
Value for money
Today’s best deals
4. Vatic Pro PRISM Flash
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Power
Control
Spin
Forgiveness
Buy if:
Control is your priority:
I scored this 10/10 for control as it excels on dinks, drops, serves, and drives.
You want an all-court paddle:
not just a control paddle, the PRISM Flash has plenty of spin and power too.
You want a long-lasting budget paddle:
made from high-quality Toray T700 raw carbon fiber with foam edge walls and a unibody design, this is built to last.
Pass if:
You want two paddles:
check out the Friday Original's 2-for-$98 deal if you want a set of paddles.
You want the elongated version:
the Vatic Pro PRISM V7 is the elongated model, while the Flash has a hybrid shape.
You want a quicker paddle:
the PRISM Flash does feel a bit head-heavy, so try the 11SIX24 or the Encore for better aerodynamics.
Paddle Weight
7.7-7.9 oz (14 mm paddle) / 7.9-8.2 oz (16 mm paddle)
Paddle Length
16.33"
Paddle Width
7.66"
Handle Length
5.33"
Grip Circumference
4.125"
Paddle Face Material
Raw Toray T700 carbon fiber
Core Material
Polymer honeycomb
Core Thickness
14 mm or 16 mm (0.55" or 0.63")
Sweet Spot
Medium
Who it's for
Features
Design and feel
Performance
Value for money
Today’s best deals
5. Vatic Pro PRISM V7
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Power
Control
Spin
Forgiveness
Buy if:
You like to play with spin:
the spin generation from the raw carbon fiber face is up there with expensive paddles like the $250 Selkirk LUXX Control.
You want an elongated paddle with control:
it's very rare to find an elongated paddle with such amazing control.
You're tired of paddles breaking:
with a unibody design and anti-abrasion edge guard, this is going to last a lot longer than most budget paddles.
Pass if:
You want a faster paddle:
these Vatic Pro PRISM paddles are not the most aerodynamic, so try the Encore or 11SIX24 paddles.
You're more focused on adding power to your game:
check out the Engage Encore Pro V2.0 instead.
You don't want an elongated paddle:
try the hybrid-shaped PRISM Flash if you don't need the reach of the V7 model.
Paddle Weight
8.1-8.5 oz
Paddle Length
16.5"
Paddle Width
7.5"
Handle Length
5.33"
Grip Circumference
4.125"
Paddle Face Material
Raw Toray T700 carbon fiber
Core Material
Polymer honeycomb
Core Thickness
16 mm (0.63")
Sweet Spot
Medium
Who it's for
Features
Design and feel
Performance
Value for money
Today’s best deals
My criteria for choosing the best pickleball paddle under $100
In making this list, I didn't just rely on my own reviews of the many paddles I tested this year. I also read tons of reviews from Pickleball Central and Amazon. I tried to figure out what people are looking for most in a budget paddle before scoring them on these criteria:
- Features: are there any features that make a cheaper paddle stand out? If a paddle that costs less than $100 is using high-end tech that's something to shout about (e.g. unibody design, raw carbon fiber face, foam edge walls, a textured surface, or a premium grip). These all help the paddle paddle to perform better and last longer.
- Design and feel: while I do consider how a paddle looks, it's not as important to me as the feel. Along with the materials used in the build, I can tell if a paddle plays well from how it feels in my hands. A stable, premium, plush feel in a budget paddle is a sign that something extra was put into its construction.
- Performance: this is the most important category and is based on my own multiple testing sessions with each paddle. I score each paddle on power, control, spin, and forgiveness. I also consider weighting, aerodynamics, and grip in my overall verdict.
- Value for money: I always say value for money is very important, but it's especially important in this list. Not all paddles are equal and there are plenty of cheaper paddles that are poorly made. You don't want to spend $100 on a paddle that doesn't hold up on the court. I break down each paddle's value in my reviews so you can make an informed decision before buying.

Bottom line
It's an exciting time to be a pickleball player. A couple of years ago, the vast majority of budget paddles were budget quality. If you wanted anything that played at a higher level, you had to fork out a lot of money.
Now, we're seeing some of the revolutionary tech used in expensive brands being used in cheaper paddles. Lots of new brands are appearing with affordable paddles that play at a really high standard.
You can now buy a variety of paddles around the $100 price mark that will boost your game. You can easily keep advancing your level without having to spend $200 every year on a new paddle.
Here's a recap of my top five pickleball paddles for under $100:
- 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean - Best overall
- Friday Original - Best for beginners
- Engage Encore Pro V2.0 - Best for power
- Vatic Pro PRISM Flash - Best for control
- Vatic Pro PRISM V7 - Best for spin
Recent updates
February 2025
With so many great new budget paddles released in the past year, I've almost completely overhauled my picks for this update. The only paddle to stay on my list is the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash, now the best for control. The new 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean takes the top spot for best overall paddle under $100.