Many of us were introduced to pickleball by friends, family, or by accident, only to become hopelessly addicted. We start with borrowed paddles and soon can't wait to buy our own. Then, when we move on to purchase, we are simply overwhelmed by the vast selection. So how do you choose your very first pickleball paddle?
To start, there are a few basic questions. Have you played any racquet sports in the past? Have you played another sport? Or is this your first foray into the world of exercise? To all of you, we say, "Welcome to the wonderful world of pickleball!"
New to pickleball - look for a good beginner paddle, such as our own brand Impact Pro Composite Paddle. There are many paddles that are inexpensive and make the game easier than the old wooden paddles. Also check out our starter bundles.
Tennis players - look for a paddle from a well-known name in tennis (HEAD, Prince, ProKennex, Babolat, Wilson or Diadem), the handles will feel very familiar. Or use our one of our oversized pickleball paddles such as the Selkirk AMPED Hybrid Invikta or the Selkirk Vanguard Hybrid Invikta. These paddles are slightly elongated and the sweet spot is further from your hand, similar to a tennis racket. You can also look at the handle length if you prefer two-handed strokes, in this case we recommend for example the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 Graphite Paddle.
Badminton/Squash players - look for a paddle with a long handle and heavy head such as the Selkirk Vanguard Hybrid Mach6 or the AvaLee by Selkirk Vanguard Hybrid Mach6 and with the right handle size.
The secret is to start with a paddle that gives you the opportunity to find out what kind of player you are. An all-court paddle combines power for long strokes and touch for the short game. As you progress, you can decide if you need more power (in case their shots go into the net or their serve isn't getting long enough) or more control (they keep hitting the ball out or their dinks aren't going where they want them to). Like most of us, you'll find that you'll try a few racquets as your skills improve and you learn more about how different paddle characteristics affect your game.
A great place to start your research is also our Pickleball Paddle Guide.
