Pickleball Paddles Guide

Materials:

Cores:

Aluminium - used for its lightweight and strong properties, aluminium cores offer great control and maneuverability and favour touch over power

Polymers - Polymers such as polypropylene offer a softer and quieter option. While they are still good for generating power, the softer core dampens the shot a bit offering you some more control

Nomex - A type of aramid, it is highly durable and offers outstanding power and speed. Nomex cores play very loud!

Faces:

Fibre glass - used for its lightweight properties

Graphite - A carbon allotrope used for its good strength to weight ratio, it is also more reactive and allows for more powerful play as its rigidity reduces energy lossed to flex

Carbon and fibre glass faces are usually textured allowing for good ball grip on the paddle, making it easier to control your shots

Aluminium - aluminium offers a lightweight and soft touch surface

Shapes:

Wide body - the tradtional shape

Oversize - these paddles have longer playing surfaces but with shorter handles

Elongated - these have a narrower face but with longer length, increasing their reach and swing velocity. This shape, however, has a reduced sweet spot due to the long shape so is more recommendable to more experienced players

Weight:

Light: 170-207g or 6-7.3oz

Medium: 207-238g or 7.3-8.4oz

Heavy: 238-397g or 8.4-14oz

Lighter paddles offer better maneuverability and improved control allowing you to swing with more speed, however due to the reduced weight they have less angular momentum meaning they have less natural power. Heavier paddles generate more power in each shot for less effort but require more control and effort to use.