Guides

Pickleball paddle buying guides

The questions that come before "which paddle should I buy" — weight, grip size, core thickness, shape and construction. Every guide is answered from the measured data in our paddle database, not from a spec sheet.

• What pickleball paddle weight should I use?Most players are best served by a paddle between 7.8 and 8.3 oz — but static weight matters far less than swing weight, which is what your arm actually feels. Under 110 kg·cm² plays fast, 110–118 is balanced, and over 118 is a power build that punishes slow hands.6 min read · 4 questions answered
• Pickleball paddle grip size chartMost adults need a 4 1/4 in grip circumference. Measure from the middle crease of your palm to the tip of your ring finger — that measurement in inches is your grip size. When you are between sizes, always size down and build up with an overgrip.5 min read · 4 questions answered
• 16mm vs 14mm pickleball paddleA 16 mm core gives you more control, a bigger effective sweet spot and softer resets. A 14 mm core gives you more pop and quicker hands. Most players — and almost all beginners and intermediate doubles players — should choose 16 mm.6 min read · 4 questions answered
• Elongated vs widebody pickleball paddleElongated paddles (16.5 in long, ~7.4 in wide) buy reach, leverage and power at the cost of a narrower sweet spot. Widebody paddles (16 in long, ~8 in wide) are far more forgiving and quicker at the line. Hybrids split the difference and are the fastest-growing shape in the sport.6 min read · 4 questions answered
• What is a thermoformed pickleball paddle?A thermoformed paddle is pressed and heat-cured as a single unit — face, core and edge walls fused together — instead of gluing a carbon face onto a honeycomb core. The result is a stiffer perimeter, higher twist weight and significantly more power, which is why most 2026 flagships are built this way.5 min read · 4 questions answered
• How to choose a pickleball paddleChoose in this order: set a budget, pick a core thickness (16 mm for most players), pick a shape that matches your game, check the swing weight against your hand speed, and only then compare brands. Specs decide fit; brand decides almost nothing.7 min read · 4 questions answered
• Choosing a pickleball paddle as a tennis playerComing from tennis, choose an elongated 16 mm paddle with a 5.5 in handle and a swing weight above 115. It preserves the leverage, topspin mechanics and two-handed backhand you already own — while the 16 mm core forces you to develop the soft game that decides pickleball points.6 min read · 4 questions answered
• When should you replace your pickleball paddle?Most paddles played three to four times a week last 9–15 months. Replace yours when the face stops gripping the ball on topspin, the sound turns hollow, shots start flying long, or you can hear or feel a rattle — all four are signs the surface or core has broken down.4 min read · 4 questions answered