Are you just joining the pickleball community and looking for a perfect pickleball paddle for a perfect start? Or, are you an intermediate player or even an ace in the sport and searching for a new paddle to up your gaming experience?
Either way, the paddle you choose can significantly impact your gaming experience. That’s why you can’t afford to just walk into any sports gear store and grab the first paddle that meets your eye.
Not at all!
Instead, you must carefully inspect the options available, assessing several key aspects to determine the one that perfectly suits your needs.
So, what exactly should you look for when buying a pickleball paddle?
Well, that’s what this blog post is all about. Here, we examine the essential aspects that you must factor in when shopping for a pickleball paddle, so keep reading.
When shopping for the ideal pickleball paddle, there are several elements that you need to consider. Brands like Velocity Paddle provide a range of high-quality paddles tailored to different playing styles, making finding the perfect fit for your game easier.
The first essential element that you must factor in is the weight of the paddle. The weight of the paddle can dictate crucial aspects of paddle performance, such as the level of control, power, and speed of reaction it gives you.
There are three categories of pickleball paddles to choose from in this case:
A paddle is typically considered lightweight if it weighs under 7.3 ounces. The midweight range is usually between 7.3 and 8.5 ounces, while heavy paddles weigh over 8.5 ounces.
For beginners, it’s best to work with the midweight option. This type provides a balance of control and power without leaning more on any of these aspects.
But if you’re an intermediate or experienced player, you can buy either a lightweight or heavy paddle, depending on what you’re looking for.
If getting more powerful shots is your priority, or you have a slower swing speed, the heavy type is your go-to option. However, if you prioritize control and touch over power, a lightweight paddle will serve you the best of the three.
The next thing you must assess when buying a pickleball paddle is the size of the handle. The size you choose affects how you handle the equipment and your control level on shots.
Plus, with the wrong handle size, your hands won’t get the feel they need for the enhanced pickleball performance you’re targeting.
When assessing the grip size, there are two dimensions you need to consider:
The handle or grip length is basically the dimensions of the handle running from the jewel to the neck of the paddle. You can either choose a longer handle (5.5 inches or more) or a shorter one (4 to 4.75 inches).
Go for the longer one if you want more reach and power. However, keep in mind that the additional length can make the paddle feel less integrated with your hand, giving you less precision in your shots.
But if you want a more centered sweet spot or minimal mishits, then you should target a paddle with a shorter grip.
Grip circumference, on the other hand, refers to the handle's thickness. Most grip sizes fall between 3.875" and 4.375", with sizes coming at intervals of 1/16 inches throughout that range.
When determining what grip circumference is ideal for your needs, hold the paddle and determine how it feels. You should be able to tell whether or not the grip is the ideal size for you by the feel it gives your hands.
But in case you’re having difficulty determining whether the grip size is ideal for you, there’s a simple trick you can use:
Begin by holding the paddle in your dominant hand using an Eastern grip. Then, slide the index finger of the other hand between your ring finger and palm. If it fits snugly into the gap, that’s the ideal grip circumference. If it leaves some gap, say big enough to fit two fingers, then the handle thickness is bigger than you need.
The paddle shape you choose also matters a lot. You can go for either the traditional shape or the elongated version.
The traditional option measures somewhere between 7.0 to 8.25 inches wide. It is ideal if you’re looking for a paddle with a larger sweet spot and more power and control.
Conversely, the elongated variety brings you a greater reach, but that comes at the expense of a smaller sweet spot and less precision and control.
The core of a paddle is the part wedged between its two faces. Usually, this part is formed as a sheet of honeycomb shapes, with Nomex and Polymer being the commonly used materials.
Each of the materials has its pros and cons, and your ideal option will, therefore, depend on what you want to prioritize in your play.
Nomex core material has smaller but more numerous honeycomb structures. This gives the core the hardness required to generate more power in every hit. But then, this material is also the loudest, so choose it if you want more power without minding the noise level it brings into your play.
Polymer core, sometimes known as Polycore or Polypropylene, also makes a nice material for paddle cores. It’s the most popular, probably because it’s highly flexible, light, durable, and quiet. Choose it if you want to prioritize any of these elements. It, however, doesn’t deliver an equal degree of power as the Nomex counterpart.
When considering the material used in the paddle, don’t stop at the core. Also check the construction used in the face. Paying attention to it is just as important as the core material.
There are four common materials here:
Fiberglass, also known as composite, offers the most power. It used to be the most ubiquitous, but carbon has slowly phased out its dominance.
Unlike all other materials, fibreglass isn’t stiff. That means it absorbs energy from the ball before bouncing it back, generating more power in hits. So, if you’re after more power in your shots, choose this material. But on the negative side, fiberglass offers a more limited sweet spot, and that’s because of its flexible nature.
Carbon fiber material has a better feel, but that comes with less power. Unlike fiberglass, carbon is stiff, giving the paddle a more expansive sweet spot. That means you’re more likely to get precision with this paddle featuring this material.
The third material, graphite, is a type of carbon material only that it’s more cost-effective. It provides the same precision and feel as the carbon material; sometimes, you may not even tell the difference. It’s also lightweight, so your arms won’t fatigue when using it.
The last option, wood, comes as an even more cost-effective option with impressive durability and power. It’s especially ideal for beginners who want power and durability without the need to dig deep into their pockets.
If you intend to use the paddle for regulation games or competitions, you will also need to check whether the equipment you plan to buy has been assessed against industry standards and approved for use.
Ensure the paddle has United States of America Pickleball Association (USAPA) approval if you’re in the United States. This body has a rulebook that dictates how pickleball paddles designed for professional competitions should be made.
Any paddle that violates any of the stated design specifications can’t be used for professional competition, so check for this approval before you make a purchase.
Finding the perfect pickleball paddle is simple if you know what elements to factor in. Focus on the construction used and the dimensions of the paddle. These factors determine whether or not the paddle will give you the user experience you anticipate.
And remember, if you intend to use the equipment for professional competitions, you must also check whether it has USAPA approval.
With the perfect paddle, pickleball can be enjoyable for beginners, experts, and intermediate players.
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