Methodology

How we score every paddle

130 paddles, one scoring protocol, 15 traits each. Here's exactly what goes into a Pickleball Lookup score, what evidence each verdict rests on — and what never touches the data.

Three evidence levels

We do not claim court time we have not put in. Every paddle page carries exactly one of these badges, and the badge tells you precisely what the verdict is built on.

• Personally tested

  Alex Zubarev or a named Pickleball Lookup tester has physically played with the paddle in real recreational play. Hands-on notes on those pages are written by hand and labelled as such.

• Research-based review

  Built from published specifications, independent measurements, manufacturer data, third-party testing where it exists, and Paddle DNA™ analysis. No personal court time is claimed on these pages.

• Community verified

  Spec-derived analysis plus cited owner and player reports from public sources. Community opinion is attributed to its source, never restated as our own finding.

How a paddle gets scored

1. Step 1

   Structured intake

   Every paddle enters the database as an object: brand, specs, sourced swing weight and twist weight, retailer pricing. Nothing is free text.

2. Step 2

   DNA normalisation

   Specifications and any available test data are normalised to a 0-100 scale per trait, so a 2026 flagship and a $79 starter are directly comparable on the same axis.

3. Step 3

   Evidence labelling

   Each paddle page is stamped with one of the three evidence levels below, so you always know whether a verdict rests on court time, on measurements, or on cited player reports.

4. Step 4

   IQ score

   The IQ score is a weighted blend of DNA traits, biased toward the traits that decide points at the kitchen line: control, forgiveness and spin, then power.

The 15 Paddle DNA traits

• Power
• Control
• Spin
• Forgiveness
• Sweet spot
• Stability
• Maneuverability
• Pop
• Touch
• Consistency
• Swing weight
• Twist weight
• Launch angle
• Plow through
• Softness

Independence

Brands cannot buy a score, a placement or a review. Retailer links may earn us a commission, and that commission never touches the testing data — the score is computed from the DNA profile before any pricing is attached to the record.