Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, combining an exciting mix of tennis, ping pong and badminton. Many players say it’s an easier sport to pick up for beginners than tennis, making it a perfect activity for those looking to get more active in a fun, social way.
As far as equipment goes, pickleball is a pretty easy sport to play. All you need is a paddle, a ball and ideally a pair of court shoes. Most cities have plenty of public courts in parks that you can play on weather permitting.
If you are looking to get into pickleball but don’t know where to start, here are five of the best pickleball paddles for beginners.
Best Beginner Pickleball Paddles Under $100
1.) Head Radical Elite
The Head Radical Elite is on Amazon for less than $70. It is a thin paddle that provides players a lot of power, but does not have great grit to generate spin. For beginners, the lack of spin should not be a huge issue, but more advanced players might be looking for something that has a little bit more texture on the face.
2.) Selkirk Evo Hybrid
The Selkirk Evo Hybrid is a control paddle with a fiberglass face. This means players are able to generate a little bit more spin than what the Head Radical Elite offers. Selkirk is one of the premier paddleball brands, with many of the top pros in the world using the company’s paddles. This is a good paddle for a beginner that plans on playing a decent amount and is trying to take the next step. The paddle is currently on sale on Amazon for around $80.
3.) ONIX Graphite Z5
The Onix Graphite Z5 has a larger face than most pickleball paddles, making it a perfect fit for beginners or senior players. The face is carbon fiber as opposed to fiberglass, giving more responsiveness for short shots and dinks. The paddle goes for around $90 on Amazon but should be pretty durable.
4.) JOOLA Essentials Performance Paddle
The JOOLA Essentials Performance Paddle is a great budget option for a beginner paddle. Currently you can get one on Amazon for less than $60. JOOLA is a well-known brand in the pickleball space. The top-ranked player in the world, Ben Johns, uses a JOOLA paddle. The performance paddle offers an attractive mix of control and power, and can help enhance a recreational player’s game.
5.) ROKNE Curve Classic Paddle
The ROKNE Curve Classic Paddle has a good-looking, unique design, as well as strong functionality as a paddle. The paddle comes with a longer grip than most pickleball paddles, making it a good choice for players transitioning from tennis that may want to use a two-hand backhand. It’s a solid paddle for beginners and intermediate players and is currently on Amazon for around $90.