PIKKL pickleball gear review - how they might change the game

Are you tired of spending over $200 on a paddle only to have the grit wear off after 6 months? PIKKL has come up with a solution, and it's one of the coolest innovations I've come across yet. Their new paddle technology might actually change the way we buy and use paddles.

In this article, I'm highlighting one of my favorite new brands in pickleball, PIKKL. I'll share why their paddles are unique and how they can help your game. I'll also show you their innovative skins, and explain why they can save you hundreds of dollars on a wasted paddle purchase.

Let's get into it.

PIKKL might be a newcomer to the pickleball scene but don't mistake them for just another paddle company. They caught my attention with their paddle skin technology, a replaceable grit surface that adheres to your paddle.

It's like a sticker you peel and stick to your paddle face. The skin is loaded with grit, so you can refresh your paddle every few months. When the grit wears down (like it does with all paddles), you simply peel it off and replace it with another skin.

This means that, instead of buying a new expensive paddle every six months, you're only buying a $19.99 skin. That's a huge saving. It's no gimmick, either. The skins are USA Pickleball-approved for both rec and tournament play.

Think of it like a screen protector for your phone. You'd be nuts not to spend $20 to protect an expensive investment, so why not do the same for paddles instead of tossing them away every six months? This is why I think PIKKL could change the way we buy and care for our paddles.

As well as skins, PIKKL makes performance paddles too. They have two models: the Hurricane Pro and the Vantage Pro. I've tested both extensively and like how they perform on the court. See below for my deep-dive review of both paddles.

Check out my initial thoughts on their paddles:

The Hurricane Pro in particular is one of my favorite pickleball paddles I've tested in 2024. It has a plush, responsive feel and is one of the few paddles that makes drops easy. It's the paddle of choice of top pro player, "Hurricane" Tyra Black, one of my favorites to watch.

One thing I love about PIKKL paddles is their price point. At $140-160, these are real performance paddles at an entry-level price. PIKKL's founder told me their mission is to make top paddles that are affordable to rec players. So far, I think they're doing a good job of that.

It's not often I find a paddle company doing something truly unique, but the PIKKL Pro Skins are one of the coolest innovations I've seen in a while.

My biggest frustration with pickleball paddles is they play great for a few months before the grit surface starts to wear down. You then have two options: play with less spin or replace your paddle. Neither is ideal.

That's why the PIKKL Pro Skins are a potential game-changer—they promise to solve that pain point for me and millions of other players.

Watch me test out the PIKKL Pro Skins:

PIKKL claims most paddles drop by 50% in ball spin after just two months of use. I can't verify that exactly, but it's generally true from my experience. Even some $250 paddles I've tested wore over a few months of consistent use.

Think of a tennis racket. You wouldn't throw it away once the strings break, so why do we toss expensive pickleball paddles after just 6 months?

I caught up with PIKKL CMO Phillip Lee recently and he explained there's a sustainability angle to it too. All those paddles that end up in the trash after six months have a big environmental impact. If tech like the PIKKL Pro Skins can keep paddles out of landfills, it's good for the planet. This is a huge bonus.

The Pro Skins are cool, but make no mistake—PIKKL also makes really good paddles. They have two currently: the Hurricane Pro and the Vantage Pro.

Both are made with all the same top tech we're used to seeing in new-generation paddles, including raw carbon fiber, thermoforming, and foam injection in the walls.

Check out my reviews after two weeks on the court:

The Hurricane Pro is easily my favorite of the two. I like this paddle for any players struggling with their touch game, especially the dreaded third-shot drop.

Read on for my full review of the PIKKL Hurricane Pro:

Given its light weight and standard shape, this isn't a power paddle and it doesn't pretend to be one. However, if you're like me and can generate decent power, I think you'll be pleased with how hard you can hit this paddle.

I can easily turn offensive with drives and put away overheads. Just don't expect the same power you'd get from power-oriented thermoformed paddles.

This is one of the best paddles I've ever tested for control. It has a soft, plush, and responsive feel. I connected with it very quickly and could land drops from my very first shot (that's rare).

The Hurricane Pro helps me play accurate, high-percentage pickleball, and I find myself winning a lot of games with it.

The Hurricane Pro has really good spin—more than almost any rec players like myself would ever need. I can load up big topspin on serves and drives, and even add topspin to my dinks and drops to keep my opponents on the defensive.

This paddle has a huge, generous sweet spot. It's much bigger than I'm used to seeing on performance paddles. I can hardly recall having a single mishit so far, which will boost any player's confidence.

I like this paddle for any rising beginner or intermediate who needs help with their drop shots or touch game (almost every player at those levels). This is a perfect step-up paddle, and at $159.99, it has a player-friendly price too.

The Vantage Pro is another solid paddle, and I've enjoyed testing it almost as much as the Hurricane Pro. Compared to the Hurricane, this one is elongated, has more power, and comes at a cheaper price point ($140 vs $160 for the Hurricane).

Read on for my full review of the PIKKL Vantage Pro:

The Vantage Pro has a touch more power than the Hurricane Pro, but less than you'd expect given the elongated shape. While I can drive when I need to, I'd still put this paddle on the control side.

If you can generate good power, I think you'll have all the power you need to work with, and will benefit from the Vantage Pro's control.

This is where the Vantage Pro shines. I find it has much more control than I expected for an elongated paddle on the heavier side (8.3 oz).

It has the same plush feel as the Hurricane and is very accurate on my dinks and drop shots.

Spin is great here—more than I need for my game. I can hit big topspin drives and serves and generally play an aggressive game. This paddle has even better spin than some $250 paddles I've tested.

Forgiveness is also surprisingly good, especially for an elongated paddle (though not quite as forgiving as the Hurricane). I haven't had a single mishit testing this paddle, which helped me play confidently from the get-go.

Like the Hurricane Pro, I like this paddle for any rising beginner or intermediate who wants to play a better soft game.

If you find the Hurricane a bit too soft, or you need more reach at the kitchen, the Vantage Pro is a great option to consider. It's $20 cheaper than the Hurricane too.

I always like to meet the founders behind any paddle company I buy from, and I enjoyed meeting the PIKKL team.

PIKKL was founded by Dan Martinson and Mike Strommen (Dan is actually the modern-day inventor responsible for many of the innovations I've mentioned in this article). PIKKL's mission to bring pro paddles to a rec player price point really resonates with me.

I've also spoken with David Dutrieuille, PIKKL's head of development. A great guy with a big passion for pickleball, David is the former National Pickleball Director of Life Time, as well as a U.S. Open Silver Medalist at the 5.0 level.

It's clear the team cares a lot about the future of our sport and I'm excited to see what they come up with next.

The most notable pro is women's world #12 "Hurricane" Tyra Black who plays with—you guessed it—the PIKKL Hurricane Pro. She's one of my favorite up-and-coming players and is very fun to watch.

Meanwhile, pro Gabe Tardio plays with the Vantage Pro. He's another up-and-coming player to watch and is 2-0 against the Johns brothers in his last two matches.

That wraps up my spotlight on PIKKL, a brand to watch in this fast-moving world of pickleball.

If you're frustrated with your pricey paddles losing their grit, I can't recommend their custom skins enough. Also, if you need help in your touch game, I think you'll get a lot out of their Hurricane Pro and Vantage Pro paddles.