Best pickleball paddles for advanced players in 2025 - top 5 compared

Buy if:

• You want the best all-court paddle:

  this Engage paddle has huge power and spin, and amazing control and forgiveness.

• You struggle with pickleball injuries:

  this is also the best paddle for tennis elbow thanks to Engage's vibration-dampening tech.

• You have a big budget:

  the Engage isn't the most expensive paddle on this list, but it does cost $260 (take 10% off with our exclusive discount).

Pass if:

• You want a cheaper alternative:

  the Six Zero DBD Control almost matches the Engage's all-court performance, and is almost $100 cheaper.

• You want a pure power paddle:

  the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C hits even harder, and is the top choice for advanced bangers.

• You're all about spin:

  the Proton Series One has a smooth nanotech face that generates huge spin that won't degrade over time.

Buy if:

• Your budget is under $200:

  this is the best pickleball paddle under $200, and one of the best values ever offered in the game.

• You want an all-court paddle:

  the DBD nails that rare balance of power, spin, control, and forgiveness—it's almost as good as the Engage Pursuit Pro1.

• You want a fast paddle:

  the hybrid shape helps the DBD cut through the air, really helping your speed.

Pass if:

• You prefer elongated paddles:

  all other paddles on this list have elongated models if you need extra reach.

• You have a bigger budget:

  with our exclusive 10% discount, you can get the Engage Pursuit Pro1 for $233.99—it's like the DBD but with a little more power.

• You're a pure banger:

  if you want the most powerful paddle for advanced players, check out the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C.

Buy if:

• You're a banger:

  if you're all about power and spin, no paddle will excite you more than the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C.

• You still want control and forgiveness:

  this non-thermoformed paddle is softer than many elongated power paddles so you maintain a lot of accuracy.

• You want a tournament-ready power paddle:

  other advanced power paddles like the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated and JOOLA Perseus 3 were banned by USA Pickleball.

Pass if:

• You want a faster control paddle:

  if control and speed are your main priorities, try the original JOOLA Perseus on this list.

• You're on a budget:

  the Six Zero DBD offers 9/10 power and costs $162 with our exclusive 10% discount.

• You want a square-shaped paddle:

  the Proton Series One (best for spin) comes in both elongated and standard (square) models.

Buy if:

• You want the most control and speed:

  this is one of the only paddles I've ever scored 10/10 for control (it also scores 9/10 for aerodynamics alongside the Six Zero DBD).

• You found the JOOLA Hyperion too heavy:

  the Perseus is a full 0.5 oz lighter than Ben Johns' original paddle, and it plays much better in fast kitchen exchanges.

• You're a JOOLA or Ben Johns fan:

  if you were let down by the recent JOOLA paddle bans, you can't go wrong with the original model.

Pass if:

• You're a pure banger:

  if you want the hardest-hitting paddle, check out the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C.

• You want to save a little money:

  the Six Zero DBD Control offers a similar all-court performance for around $20 less.

• You want the best all-court paddle:

  the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 might have slightly less control than the Perseus, but it gives you the best all-court performance.

Buy if:

• Spin is your priority:

  the Proton Series One is the best spin paddle of 2025.

• You're tired of your paddle surface degrading:

  the Proton's smooth nanotech face won't wear down—even after years.

• You want an all-court paddle:

  the Series One is an all-rounder skewing on the power side, with lots of forgiveness and good control.

Pass if:

• You're on a budget:

  you can save up to $100 by going with the Six Zero DBD Control.

• You want more control:

  I find enough control here, despite this paddle's poppiness, but control-oriented players will prefer the JOOLA Perseus.

• You want the most powerful paddle:

  nothing beats the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C right now when it comes to raw power.