Pickleball Paddles & Rackets
Pickleball Paddles: Success starts with your paddle
If you’re one of the many new pickleball players the USA gains each year, welcome to the sport! The size, shape, weight and material of a paddle all have an impact on the way you can play the game. It’s important to keep these aspects in line with where your growth is at. These differences can change the force behind your shots, the spin of the ball, and the control you have with each shot.
Finding the right paddle for your skillset can be all it takes to make you a true force to be reckoned with on the courts. All of the Pickleball Rackets we offer here at PickleBallersHub will set you up for success, especially for the new players, as we carry a full selection of pickleball paddles for beginners.
We know that when you hear someone say my new "Pickleball Paddle" you think, that sounds expensive. But, that isn't there case, as we carry pickleball paddles starting at $29.99 and they come with everything you need to have success at the court. For the players who are more serious and looking for that competitive edge, we carry the latest high end pickleball rackets. We know that every player is different, which is why we carry a variety of paddles, such as womens pickleball paddles, mens pickleball paddles, but regardless of what you pick, they are all designed to set you up for that feel good performance.
Shopping For The Best Pickleball Paddles
First things first, you won’t get very far in pickleball without a paddle. Pickleball paddles are unique compared to other racket sports, such as tennis or squash. They come in 3 general classifications: control paddles, power paddles and all-court/hybrid paddles.
Control Pickleball Paddles: What is a control pickleball paddle? A control paddle is exactly what you would think, a paddle that specializes in more control on the court. The thickness ranges but usually it has a thicker core, around 16mm. A thicker core will absorb the pressure of the ball and create an effortless stroke, and contact. A control pickleball rackets is perfect for the players looking to have accuracy and control during their games.
Power Pickleball Paddles: Power Pickleball Paddles are designed for power, which if you guessed, is correct. In order to get more power in your shots, the core is thinner around 14mm, and this will allow for the ball to leave the paddle quicker. With a power paddle, you usually lose some control but the power behind your shots is increased. Power Paddles are usually used by more skilled players who have the ability to control and place their shots with accuracy.
All-Court and Hybrid Pickleball Paddles: A hybrid pickleball paddle is a mix between control and power paddle. This brings you power and control on your shots and is a pickleball player favorite. Hybrid Paddles are weighed evenly and bring to life the best of both worlds for pickleball players.
The reason for pickleball rackets having different classifications is because every player has a different style of play, and this will complement your style, allowing you to reach your potential. Pickleball rackets also come in a variety of shapes, each with its own benefits. Take a look below to see which style or shape may be best for you. If you would like to keep your paddle safe, we suggest using a Pickleball Bags.
Is There A Difference Between Pickleball Rackets and Pickleball Paddles?
When shopping for a pickleball paddle, you may hear the word "pickleball racket" and be confused if there is a difference between a paddle and racket. This is a very common question, especially since pickleball is a shrunk down version of tennis and in tennis the word racket is used, and is the most common term used. As for pickleball, it's the opposite, as the most common term used is paddle.
With that being said, is there a different between a racket and a paddle when talking about pickleball? When specifically talking about pickleball, there is no difference between a pickleball racket and a pickleball paddle. They are the same things and the only issue with this, is that in the game of pickleball, it is more acceptable to say paddle.
Although these terms are fairly universal, when it comes to actually playing tennis or pickleball, the equipment you need does differ. You can't use pickleball rackets to play tennis and you can't use a tennis racket to play pickleball. That is why here at PickleBallersHub.com we consider the term paddle to be associated with pickleball and a racket to be associated with tennis. This will allow you to differentiate between the two sports.
Mens Pickleball Paddles, Womens, Beginners, and Kids
If you know a child that is interested in getting into pickleball, there are specific paddles meant for them. These kids paddles will have smaller grip circumference and lighter weight, making them much easier to handle at a young age. You can even find kids paddles with fun designs that can excite and motivate a child to invest time in the sport.
We get asked all the time, is there a difference between mens and womens pickleball paddles? We will dig in and explain the difference between the two.
Mens Pickleball Paddles: A Pickleball Paddle for Men is designed for a mens hands, which is usually larger that a womens hand. With that being said, the technology is the same, but it's the grip that could be larger. If the paddle doesn't come with a larger grip, you can always get a different grip to add.
Womens Pickleball Paddles: A Pickleball Paddle for Womens come with the same technology in a male paddle, but have more styles, colors, and designs that a lady player would like. There are certain paddles with smaller grips that female players like, since women generally speaking have smaller hands than a male.
When comparing a womens pickleball paddle and mens, the both have technology that is designed for success on the court. The biggest difference between the two, would be the grip size of the paddle. If you know you have small or larger hands, read the products descriptions to know if that paddle is going to be a good fit for you.
Pickleball Paddles for Beginners: A beginner pickleball paddle should set you up for success, comfort, and help you when on the court. If you are a beginner, there no need to purchase a high end paddle, as a paddle priced around $40 will do the trick. We consider a beginner pickleball paddle to be something that is priced under $50 dollars.
The design of the paddle may be more important to some than others. If you prefer something with “pizzaz,” you can find tons of designer paddles perfect for you. Match it to your bag or cover, your favorite color or simply any design that attracts you. Pickleball Paddle Covers are a great way to keep your paddle from any dings.
Selecting Pickleball Paddles Based on Skill Level
Beginners, intermediate and competitive players all get categorized based on their “Pickleball Player Skill Rating.” These ratings are done on a scale of 1 – 5.5+, made based on mastery of control, consistency, and flexibility, with many other details falling into each of those sections. Take a look at this chart to see what generally dictates each skill level rating. You can find the details of every paddle we offer in the product description page, as each paddle is different.
Rating |
Pickleball Rating System |
|
1.0-2.0 |
A rating of 1.0 - 2.0 is given if you are just starting to play pickleball & just starting to understand the |
|
2.5 |
A rating of 2.5 is given if you have limited experience playing pickleball. You can keep a short rally on |
|
3.0 |
A rating of 3.0 is given if you (A) can generally hit forehands, volleys, serves and returns with medium pace, |
|
3.5 |
A rating of 3.5 is given if (A) you can hit forehands, volleys, serves and returns with pace and moderate |
|
4.0 |
A rating of 4.0 is given if (A) you generally hit forehands and serves consistently with depth and control. You |
|
4.5 |
A rating of 4.5 is given if (A) you generally hit both forehand and backhand drives, serves, returns, dinks, drop shots, |
|
5.0 |
A rating of 5.0 is given if (A) you have mastered both forehand and backhand drives, serves, and returns with pace, |
|
5.5 |
A rating of 5.5+ is given if (A) you have mastered all shots and strategy on the court in |
With that being said, if you are a beginner player, we carry beginner pickleball paddles, as there is no need to break the bank on a high end item. On the opposite, we have competitive pickleball paddles that are designed for you to reach your potential. Regardless of where you currently stand on your pickleball journey, we have pickleball rackets for all players.
The different sizes for Mens Pickleball Paddles and Womens
There are various sizes of pickleball paddles, which is amazing for finding a paddle that feels comfortable for your needs. The standard pickleball paddle size for width is 7.75 inches and the width ranges from 7 inches to 8.3 inches. The length is 15 to 16 inches long.
Pickleball Paddle Core Size: It's also common to pickleball paddles sized in a variety of sizing from 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, and 16mm.
- Standard Core Size: The standard core size for pickleball paddles ranges from 14mm and 16mm. Any paddle between this is a standard paddle is used by majority of players out there.
- Thick Core Size: A thick core pickleball paddle is anything 16mm and larger. Thick cores are for control and allow you to place your shots easier on the court. This is very common to see when playing pickleball.
- Thin Core Size: A thin pickleball core is a more challenging paddle to use and when we say thin, anything with 12mm or less is considered to be the smallest sized paddle on the market and they are not only the lightest but they are also the thinnest.
With that being said, there are a variety of pickleball paddle sizes out there and they are designed for different skill levels and preferences. The 14mm are a happy medium between not being too thin but not extremely thick, which is amazing for players looking to build that nice technique. 16mm paddles are known to be the largest sized paddle and are built for power, technique, precise shots, and are a great choice.
What materials are Pickleball Paddles made out of
Back when pickleball was invented in 1965, the paddles that were used were made out of wood. This was common as these pickleball paddles were cheap to make, served their purpose, and the technology in paddles isn't where it is today. If you played pickleball in gym class, there's a good chance you used wood or cheaper carbon paddles, as these are cost efficient, and are durable.
In today's picklebll game, there are a variety of materials used in paddles, with wood, plastic, carbon fiber, honeycomb, and more. Finding a paddle that fits what you are looking for, is all about feel, and price point. There is no wrong or right material used to make pickleball paddles, it's all about preference. Here at PickleBallersHub.com we are the experts in pickleball, and we guarantee all of our mens pickleball paddles will lead you to success on your big match.
What Styles and Designs are available for Pickleball Rackets
With a variety of paddles out there, we have a variety of styles, designs, colors, and even cute pickleball paddles. The reason for this is, we see that if a player can select gear that they love, it will continue to spark their interested and willingness to play pickleball.