Best Pickleball Paddles 2026: 5 Compared

Which one is right for you?

1★ Best PickA+Best Overall PremiumSelkirk Vanguard Power Air Pickleball Paddle

Hybrid fiberglass/carbon face, 13 mm polymer honeycomb core, 7.7–8.1 oz, 4 1/4 in grip, Epic, Invikta or S2 shape. Premium power-leaning paddle for intermediate and advanced players who play several times a week.

The Vanguard Power Air pairs a hybrid fiberglass-and-carbon face with a 13 mm polymer honeycomb core, so it leans toward pop and spin rather than the softest touch. The open Air Dynamic Throat is designed, according to Selkirk, to improve airflow and swing speed, and three shapes (Epic, Invikta, S2) let you choose between a wide face and an elongated reach. At 7.7–8.1 oz it sits mid-range on weight. It is a premium-priced paddle, and casual players are unlikely to need it.

Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Pickleball Paddle

$250.00Reference price

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Specifications▼

Face material

Hybrid fiberglass + carbon fiber

Core

Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm

Weight

7.7–8.1 oz

Grip circumference

4 1/4 in

Handle length

4 3/8 in (S2) / 5 1/4 in (Invikta)

Shape / size

Epic, Invikta or S2 (S2: 15 3/4 × 8 in)

Face material

Hybrid fiberglass + carbon fiber

Core

Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm

Weight

7.7–8.1 oz

Grip circumference

4 1/4 in

Handle length

4 3/8 in (S2) / 5 1/4 in (Invikta)

Shape / size

Epic, Invikta or S2 (S2: 15 3/4 × 8 in)

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2ABest for Spin PlayersJoola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 Pickleball Paddle

Carbon Friction Surface face, 16 mm core, about 8.4 oz, elongated 16.5 × 7.5 in, 5.5 in grip. Ben Johns' signature paddle — a control-oriented, spin-friendly premium pick.

Ben Johns' signature Hyperion CFS 16 combines Joola's Carbon Friction Surface face with a 16 mm honeycomb core and an elongated 16.5 × 7.5 in shape. At about 8.4 oz it is the heaviest paddle here, which favors stability on blocks and resets. The trade-off: the elongated shape typically has a narrower face than a standard paddle, so off-center hits toward the edges are less forgiving, and the weight is a lot for players who want fast hands.

Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 Pickleball Paddle

$219.95Reference price

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Specifications▼

Face material

Carbon Friction Surface (carbon)

Core

Honeycomb, 16 mm

Weight

8.4 oz (average)

Grip circumference

4 1/4 in

Handle length

5.5 in

Shape / size

Elongated, 16.5 × 7.5 in

Face material

Carbon Friction Surface (carbon)

Core

Honeycomb, 16 mm

Weight

8.4 oz (average)

Grip circumference

4 1/4 in

Handle length

5.5 in

Shape / size

Elongated, 16.5 × 7.5 in

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4BBest for Tennis PlayersHead Extreme Tour Pickleball Paddle

Graphite face, 11 mm polymer honeycomb core, about 7.6 oz, 4 1/8 in grip. Light, small-grip option suited to tennis players and smaller hands.

The Head Extreme Tour is the lightest paddle here at about 7.6 oz, with a graphite face over an 11 mm polymer honeycomb core and a 4 1/8 in grip, the smallest in this group. The light weight and small grip suit tennis players and players with smaller hands who want a quick, maneuverable paddle. The trade-off is a graphite face with less spin potential than the carbon-faced options, and a thin core that feels firm rather than soft.

Head Extreme Tour Pickleball Paddle

$99.95Reference price

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Specifications▼

Face material

Graphite

Core

Polymer honeycomb, 11 mm

Weight

7.6 oz (215 g)

Grip circumference

4 1/8 in

Handle length

5 in

Shape / size

Diamond, 16 × 7 7/8 in

Face material

Graphite

Core

Polymer honeycomb, 11 mm

Weight

7.6 oz (215 g)

Grip circumference

4 1/8 in

Handle length

5 in

Shape / size

Diamond, 16 × 7 7/8 in

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5B+Best Mid-Tier All-RounderPaddletek Tempest Wave Pro Pickleball Paddle

Current Pro-C version: raw carbon fiber face, 14.3 mm polymer core, 7.8–8.2 oz, 16 × 8 in, 5.25 in handle. Mid-to-upper all-rounder for regular players moving to a carbon face.

Paddletek's current Tempest Wave Pro-C puts a raw carbon fiber face on a 14.3 mm polymer core in a standard 16 × 8 in shape, which gives a wide face and a core between the thin Selkirk and thick Joola. The static weight is 7.8–8.2 oz with a 5.25 in handle. It suits players who play regularly and want a carbon face without an elongated shape. Older Tempest Wave Pro listings describe a fiberglass face, so check which version you are buying.

Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro Pickleball Paddle

$149.99Reference price

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Specifications▼

Face material

Raw carbon fiber (Pro-C)

Core

Polymer, 14.3 mm

Weight

7.8–8.2 oz

Grip circumference

—

Handle length

5.25 in

Shape / size

Standard, 16 × 8 in

Face material

Raw carbon fiber (Pro-C)

Core

Polymer, 14.3 mm

Weight

7.8–8.2 oz

Grip circumference

—

Handle length

5.25 in

Shape / size

Standard, 16 × 8 in

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Side-by-side on the same scale

How to read this table: values come from each maker's official product pages and spec sheets (the Head figures from a major retailer's copy of the maker's specs), checked in October 2026. Weights are the maker's listed range or average for the paddle without an overgrip. Where a model comes in several shapes, the table names them and gives the value for each. “—” means the value could not be confirmed from those sources. Pickly did not test these products.

Table checked 2026-10-31

Paddle core materials and how they affect play

Core thickness: almost every paddle here uses a polymer (polypropylene) honeycomb core, and the main difference is thickness. Thicker cores, around 16 mm like the Joola Hyperion CFS 16, generally give a softer, more muted response and are often described as control-oriented. Thinner cores, such as the 13 mm Selkirk Vanguard Power Air and the 11 mm Head Extreme Tour, generally feel livelier and add pop at the cost of some softness. The Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro's 14.3 mm core sits between the two. Many beginner and intermediate players find a thicker core easier to control, because unforced errors usually cost more points than a lack of power.

Carbon fiber faces: carbon faces such as Joola's Carbon Friction Surface and Paddletek's raw carbon fiber on the Tempest Wave Pro are generally associated with more grip on the ball and therefore more spin potential, which matters for topspin drives and third-shot drops. The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air uses a hybrid face that the maker describes as layers of fiberglass and carbon fiber. Carbon-faced paddles in this lineup sit in the upper price range.

Fiberglass and graphite faces: fiberglass faces, like the textured fiberglass on the Franklin set, are usually more flexible and lively, and are common on lower-priced paddles. Graphite faces, like the Head Extreme Tour's, are thin and stiff. Neither is a problem for learning the game and social play, but players who want maximum spin usually move toward carbon faces as their technique develops.

Selkirk, Joola, and the premium paddle category

The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air is Selkirk's premium power-leaning paddle and comes in three shapes: Epic, Invikta and S2. According to the maker, it pairs a 13 mm polymer honeycomb core with a hybrid face of fiberglass and carbon fiber layers, an edgeless design and an open Air Dynamic Throat intended to improve airflow and swing speed. The listed weight range is 7.7–8.1 oz with a 4 1/4 in grip. The shape matters: the S2 is a wide 15 3/4 × 8 in face with a short 4 3/8 in handle, while the Invikta is elongated (16 1/2 × 7.375 in) with a 5 1/4 in handle for players who use two-handed backhands or want more reach.

The Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 is the signature paddle of pro player Ben Johns. CFS stands for Carbon Friction Surface, Joola's textured carbon face, over a 16 mm honeycomb core. Joola lists an average weight of 8.4 oz, the heaviest in this comparison, an elongated 16.5 × 7.5 in shape, a 5.5 in grip length and a 4 1/4 in grip circumference. The thick core and extra weight favor a stable, control-oriented feel, while the elongated shape adds reach.

How to choose between the two premium picks: the Selkirk's thinner 13 mm core and lighter range lean toward pop and fast hands, and you can pick the shape that suits you. The Joola's 16 mm core and 8.4 oz weight lean toward control and stability on blocks and resets. If you are unsure, compare the weights: a difference of about 0.3–0.7 oz is noticeable over a long session.

Franklin, Head, and mid-tier paddles for recreational play

The Franklin Sports 2-player set is the beginner pick: two paddles plus four X-40 outdoor balls. On Franklin's page for the fiberglass version, each paddle has a textured fiberglass face over a polypropylene core, measures 16 × 8 in with a 5 in handle, and weighs 7.7–8.2 oz. Franklin lists the X-40 balls as USA Pickleball approved. Franklin sells several 2-player sets with different paddles (aluminum, wood, fiberglass and carbon), so check that the listing you buy is the fiberglass set.

The Head Extreme Tour is a mid-priced paddle from a racket brand. A major retailer's copy of Head's specs lists a graphite face over an 11 mm polymer honeycomb core, a weight of about 7.6 oz (215 g), a diamond-like 16 × 7 7/8 in shape, a 5 in grip and a 4 1/8 in grip circumference, the smallest grip in this group. The light weight and small grip suit players with smaller hands and tennis players who like a quick, wristy feel.

The Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is the mid-to-upper option. Paddletek's current version, the Tempest Wave Pro-C, uses a raw carbon fiber face over a 14.3 mm polymer core, a standard 16 × 8 in shape, a 5.25 in handle and a static weight of 7.8–8.2 oz. Older listings of the Tempest Wave Pro describe a textured fiberglass face, so check which version a listing is selling. It suits players who have been playing regularly and want a carbon face without moving to an elongated shape.

How to choose: weight, core thickness, grip size and shape

Start with your level and how often you play. If you are new or play socially, the Franklin 2-player set gets two people playing with approved outdoor balls, and paddle technology matters less than learning to dink, serve and hit a third-shot drop. If you play several times a week and want more spin, step up to a carbon face: the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro (14.3 mm), Joola Hyperion CFS 16 (16 mm) or Selkirk Vanguard Power Air (hybrid fiberglass/carbon, 13 mm).

Then pick a weight. In this table the paddles range from 7.6 oz (Head) to about 8.4 oz (Joola). Lighter paddles are quicker for hand battles at the kitchen line; heavier ones feel more stable on blocks and drives but tire the arm sooner. Many recreational players land between about 7.5 and 8.2 oz. If you have had elbow or shoulder discomfort, ask a coach or doctor before changing to a much heavier paddle, and avoid going much lighter just to swing faster, since some players compensate by swinging harder.

Match the grip and shape to your hand and game. Grip circumference here runs from 4 1/8 in (Head) to 4 1/4 in (Selkirk, Joola); if you are between sizes, the smaller grip can be built up with an overgrip. Handle length matters for two-handed backhands: the Joola (5.5 in) and Selkirk Invikta (5 1/4 in) have long handles, while the Selkirk S2 (4 3/8 in) is short. Who each pick is not for: the Joola is a poor fit if you want the lightest paddle, the Head is not for players who want a carbon spin face, and the Franklin set will feel limiting once you play several times a week.