Walk into any shop — or scroll any store — and you hit a wall of paddles that all look about the same. They’re not. Here’s how to cut through the noise and pick the one that actually fits your game.
Weight: Your First Big Decision
Weight changes everything — power, control, and how your arm feels after three games. Most paddles land between 7.3 and 8.5 ounces, and small differences are easy to feel in your hand.
Lighter paddles (under 7.8 oz) mean faster hands at the net and less strain on your elbow — great if you’re starting out or you play a soft, dink-heavy game. Heavier paddles (8.0 oz+) drive more power with less effort, but they wear you out faster and react slower up top.
Not sure? Start in the middle. An 8.0 oz standard is the most forgiving place to learn what you actually like.
Core Thickness: Control Or Power
The honeycomb core is the engine. Thickness is measured in millimeters, and the two numbers you’ll see most are 16mm and 13mm.
A 16mm core is thicker, softer, and more forgiving — it absorbs pace and gives you a bigger sweet spot. That’s control. A 13mm core is thinner and punchier — the ball comes off hotter for put-aways and drives. That’s power.
Beginners almost always overrate power. Control wins more games at the kitchen line — every time.
Grip Size: Get This Right
Grip size is the most ignored spec and the one most likely to wreck your elbow. Too big and you can’t snap your wrist; too small and you’ll squeeze too hard to hold on.
Quick test: hold the paddle and slide your other index finger into the gap between your fingertips and your palm. One finger fits snug? That’s your size. No gap means go smaller. Loose means go up — or just add an overgrip.
Surface & Spin
Raw carbon-fiber faces grip the ball and generate serious spin — they’ve taken over the pro game for a reason. Fiberglass faces are a little poppier and more budget-friendly. For most players starting out, a textured carbon face is the upgrade you’ll feel the fastest.
Not sure? Start in the middle. An 8.0 oz standard is the most forgiving place to learn what you actually like.
Our Pick For Beginners
If you want one paddle that grows with you, go 16mm core, 8.0 oz, standard grip, textured carbon face. Forgiving enough to learn on, good enough to keep once you’re winning. That’s the RAD Pro 2.0 in a nutshell — USA Pickleball approved, hand-painted, built different.
Not sure? Start in the middle. An 8.0 oz standard is the most forgiving place to learn what you actually like.
The Final Word
There’s no single best paddle — there’s the best paddle for your game. Start in the middle, play a few weeks, and let your hands tell you what to change. Then come find us. Play RAD.
Walk into any shop — or scroll any store — and you hit a wall of paddles that all look about the same. They’re not. Here’s how to cut through the noise and pick the one that actually fits your game.
Weight: Your First Big Decision
Weight changes everything — power, control, and how your arm feels after three games. Most paddles land between 7.3 and 8.5 ounces, and small differences are easy to feel in your hand.
Lighter paddles (under 7.8 oz) mean faster hands at the net and less strain on your elbow — great if you’re starting out or you play a soft, dink-heavy game. Heavier paddles (8.0 oz+) drive more power with less effort, but they wear you out faster and react slower up top.
Not sure? Start in the middle. An 8.0 oz standard is the most forgiving place to learn what you actually like.
Written by
RADadmin
Newport Beach local, 4.5-rated, and RAD's resident gear nerd. He's tested more paddles than he'll admit — and still can't beat his teammate's lob.
ON THIS PAGE