Table of Contents
Brand Overview
Brand Overview & History: PIKKL was founded in 2023 in Minnesota, US with the goal of creating high-performance paddles at a more affordable price point. They initially contacted me during their brand launch, but I didn’t prioritize a review for them at the time because they were launching with one paddle that was constructed very similar to existing products on the market and though their pricing was good, they weren’t the first brand to come to market with that type of paddle and at that low of a price. However, in 2024, PIKKL caught my attention by signing top pro players Gabe Tardio and Hurricane Tyra Black, expanded their paddle shapes and introduced an innovative new paddle concept called Skins so I decided to delve deeper into their products.
Market Presence & Perception: PIKKL is a midsize brand that is on the rise. They have attracted and sponsor some well-known professional players, which enhances the credibility of their company and shows they are more than just a garage brand operation. Their development of the paddle skins is noteworthy too since that level of innovation is not commonly seen for midsize brands and shows they are actively working on improving and adding to their product lines. Despite not being a household name in the pickleball community yet, they have established a good reputation and you can feel confident using one of their paddles on the court.
Signed Players:PIKKL has enlisted a team of five signed players with their main two being Gabe Tardio and Hurricane Tyra Black. They are both young, well known and respected players. Gabe plays with the Vantage Pro 16mm and Hurricane plays her signature Hurricane Pro paddle in the 14mm.
Paddle Pricing: $70-$160. Their performance paddles range from $140-$160, play well and are reasonably priced. The typical performance level paddle will cost $180-$250.
Discounts: Use code PBEFFECT to get 10% off PIKKL paddles from their website or from Pickleball Central. Shop PIKKL >>
Warranty: 6 month limited warranty. Learn more >>
Return Policy:10 day return policy from date of purchase. Paddle must be “like new” condition which means you can hit it a little to test it out and see if you like it. Learn more >>
Paddle Products and Lines:
PIKKL has two performance lines and one entry level line. The Vantage Pro and Hurricane Pro are their performance lines and the Sport Series is their entry level line. They also offer their paddles in multiple colors which is nice as the majority of brands only have one colorway.
- Vantage Pro ($140 or $126 with code PBEFFECT): Control style paddles with a hybrid length. Good for players who want control mixed in with some extra paddle length for added reach. Main differences compared to the Hurricane Pro paddles are its extra reach, a touch more power, and not as big of a sweet spot. Available in 16mm and 14mm options.
- Hurricane Pro ($160 or $144 with code PBEFFECT): Control style paddles with a shorter design, extra large sweet spot and lighter swingweight. Good for players just starting out, want a light weight paddle, or players with a control style game play. Offers less power and reach compared to the Vantage Pro series but gives you a bigger sweet spot and improved maneuverability. Available in a 16mm and 14mm option.
- Sports Series ($70 or $62 with code PBEFFECT): An all-court style beginner paddle that utilizes PIKKL’s skins for the facing material. Inexpensive but gives up some forgiveness and spin compared to their performance lines. Only available as a 13mm option.
- Skins ($20): A replaceable facing layer that you can put on your paddle to refresh the grit and spin potential of the paddle. Think of a sticker that you put on the face that you can apply and take off easily. Paddle surface grit is usually the part of the paddle that wears out the fastest so these increase the performance life of PIKKL’s paddles.
My Favorite PIKKL Paddle: Hurricane Pro 14mm. The widebody nature of the paddle makes it forgiving despite its thinner core and then the thinner core gives me a little more offense over the pure control 16mm option. Additionally, compared to other 14mm paddles out there this one has a softer, more plush feel to it when the average 14mm has a more harsh feel so it was more pleasant at impact and felt good.
Who is this Brand For? If you’re seeking a reliable control type paddle with big spin then PIKKL has good options. Players who value control, softer feel, and good spin should consider PIKKL paddles.
PIKKL Paddle Performance Reviews
Hurricane Pro Review
The Hurricane Pro paddles are built the same as the Vantage Pro series with its raw carbon fiber face, thermoformed construction, and perimeter foam injection. The difference is that it features a standard shaped paddle that is 16” long and 8” wide that’s paired with an extended 5.5” handle though there is close to 6” of usable handle length because of the way the neck tapers. The paddle is available in a 16mm and 14mm option.
Until this year there weren’t many options of standard shaped paddles with extended handle lengths so I’m glad we are seeing more of them this year because I think these shorter and wider shapes benefit from the added leverage of the extended handle and it gives players with two handed backhands more paddle shape options to choose from.
16mm Version
- Weight: 7.9 avg
- Swingweight: 111 (low)
- Twistweight: 6.95 (high)
- Length: 16″
- Width: 8″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5.5″
- Core: 16mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $160 ($144 with code PBEFFECT)
This is a control paddle through and through. The sweet spot is big, it’s light, and it has a very pleasant feel to it. It has an even softer feel to it compared to similar paddles like the Volair Mach 2 Forza or the Apollo Spartus. It has lower power from the baseline but decent pop at the net to finish points. It has a light swingweight around 111 but the paddle’s static weight is under 8 ounces on average which makes it feel even lighter than the 111 suggests. This makes it a really attractive option for players looking for a lightweight control paddle.
While it has a very soft feel to it that I think many players would like, it could be too soft for some. If you like a lively feeling paddle that gives you some feedback then you would think this is too soft.
Like all the other paddles from PIKKL, the spin is really good. Though the paddle doesn’t have much offensive ability power wise, its higher spin rating adds ways to put pressure on your opponents with angles and aggressive swings from the kitchen.
Who is it good for? If you struggle with your soft game and frequently hit around the sweet spot, this paddle can assist in enhancing your soft game and consistency. Its large sweet spot and capability to take pace off the ball can be beneficial for you. However, if you need help generating power, this particular paddle may not be suitable for you, and you should explore the 14mm option.
(Get 10% off with code PBEFFECT from PIKKL or Pickleball Central)
14mm Version
- Weight: 7.8 avg
- Swingweight: 108 (low)
- Twistweight: 6.67 (moderately high)
- Length: 16″
- Width: 8″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5.5″
- Core: 14mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $160 ($144 with code 10EFFECT)
This is the signature paddle of Hurricane Tyra Black and is the paddle she uses. The Hurricane Pro 14mm is good and is the one that stuck out the most to me in PIKKL’s paddle lineup. Its standard shape gives it good forgiveness despite it being 14mm and it has a softer feel to it akin to many 16mm paddles out there.
You get a boost in pop, power, and maneuverability over the 16mm version and only give up a small amount in sweet spot size and control. It retains a softer feel to it though it’s firmer in comparison to the 16mm. It’s certainly softer compared to paddles with similar specs from other brands and is part of the reason I think this paddle is unique and good. Out of the box the paddle is really light with a 108 swingweight and an average static weight of 7.8. Despite it having more pop and power than the 16mm it wasn’t overwhelmingly more and wasn’t really any harder to control. I could still reset the ball well and I wasn’t popping up any more shots than I was with the 16mm but you get the benefits of the added offense and paddle speed it offers.
It needs some added weight to improve the paddle’s plowthrough, otherwise it gets pushed around by the ball a little because it’s so light. Once you get some weight on there it brings the paddle to life and it’s nice. Without the weight it’s a control paddle though once you add the weight it’s flirting with the all-court category.
Overall it has a nice combo of speed and pop for offense at the net that’s paired with really good spin and forgiveness to help with consistency and placement.
Who is it good for? If you’re currently using a pure control paddle and are looking for some added offense without giving up too much control and feel then you should consider this one. It bridges a nice gap between the control and all-court categories.
(Get 10% off with code PBEFFECT from PIKKL or Pickleball Central)
Vantage Pro Review
The Vantage Pro paddles are built the same as the Hurricane Pro series with its raw carbon fiber face, thermoformed construction, and perimeter foam injection. The difference is that this series features a hybrid shaped paddle that is 16.25” long and 7.5” wide that’s paired with a 5.3” handle length. It’s also available in a 16mm and 14mm option.
16mm Version
- Weight: 8.3oz avg
- Swingweight: 121 (high)
- Twistweight: 6.69 (moderately high)
- Length: 16.25″
- Width: 7.5″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5.3″
- Core: 16mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $140 ($126 with code 10EFFECT)
This is the paddle that their pro player, Gabe Tardio, plays with and has used to beat many of the top players in the world.
Two things stand out with this paddle. It’s very spinny and has a soft or plush feel at impact. While most thermoformed style paddles fall into the all-court category, this one falls more into the control category though it’s flirting with the all-court category. It’s not as lively off the face as other thermoformed paddles but it has a more pleasant feel to it and is easier to control compared to them as well. It has a swingweight around 121 so it’s heavy for a hybrid paddle and while the extra weight adds some stability and plowthrough, it slows your hands down at the kitchen so there is some give and take there. While the heavier swingweight gave you more weight behind the ball on bigger swings, the paddle didn’t return as much power as you’d expect it should. This meant you had to give more effort to smash higher balls but it also enabled you to be more precise when finding angles and placing shots.
The spin on this paddle and every other PIKKL paddle is very good. My average RPMs for these were near 2000 while the majority of paddles I measure are in the 1900-1950 RPM range. You can tell they are spinny paddles when you play with them too.
One drawback of the paddle is its average sized sweet spot for how heavy it is. With it being a hybrid shape and a heavier swingweight you’d expect a little more forgiveness but it was just average and I think there are other hybrid shaped paddles out there that are lighter and offer more forgiveness.
Who is it good for? Of the four performance paddles PIKKL offers, this one stood out the least to me. All of PIKKL’s other paddles offer a nice combo of control, speed, and feel but this one is slower and not as forgiving as I think it should be. In most cases I would recommend looking at other hybrid paddles but if you like heavier paddles and want the control and feel this one offers then this would be a good choice. It’s common for heavier paddles to have more power so the fact that this one has more weight to carry through the ball well without generating too much power could be attractive to some players.
(Get 10% off with code PBEFFECT from PIKKL’s website or Pickleball Central)
14mm Version
- Weight: 8.3oz avg
- Swingweight: 115 (moderate)
- Twistweight: 6.28 (moderate)
- Length: 16.25″
- Width: 7.5″
- Face: Raw T700 Carbon Fiber
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5.3″
- Core: 14mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $140 ($126 with code 10EFFECT)
Like the 16mm version, this paddle was surprisingly soft and is one of the softest 14mm paddles I’ve played to date along with the Hurricane Pro 14mm. It has a firmer, more dense feel to it compared to the 16mm version but is still softer at impact generally speaking. It gives you more power and pop than the 16mm at the sacrifice of a smaller sweet spot.
The 16mm version of the paddle had a smaller sweet spot compared to other 16mm hybrid paddles, whereas the 14mm version performed better than other 14mm hybrid paddles. The 14mm paddle exhibited a more subtle power and pop level than other 14mm paddles, but it did offer more compared to the Vantage Pro 16mm. Additionally, the thinner core of the 14mm version enhanced its maneuverability when compared to the 16mm version.
I’d still consider this a control paddle out of the box but adding some weight brings it into the all-court category and it plays well.
Who is it good for? Players who want the added maneuverability of a 14mm paddle but don’t want to give up the pleasant feel of a control paddle will like this one. Additionally, this paddle gives you more offense at the net with some added pop over the 16mm.
(Get 10% off with code PBEFFECT from PIKKL’s website or Pickleball Central)
Sports Series Review
- Weight: 8.3 oz avg
- Length: 15.75″
- Width: 7.75″
- Face: PIKKL Skins
- Grip Circumference: 4.25″
- Handle Length: 5″
- Core: 13mm Polypropylene Honeycomb
- Price: $70 ($63 with code 10EFFECT)
This is their latest edition to their paddle lines. Truthfully, I have not been sent these and haven’t hit them so I can’t speak to them well though based on my experience and looking at the spec sheet I would guess these have a stiffer feel to them, offer decent power, and are less forgiving than their performance paddles though for the price it seems like you’d get a decent level of performance. I do like that the paddles are built to use PIKKL’s Skins so that you can change up the design.
Who is it good for? If you are on the hunt for an entry level paddle and want something decent but care more about aesthetics then this is a good option. However, there are other paddles out there at this price point that I’ve played and I bet perform better like the Friday paddles.
(Get 10% off with code PBEFFECT from PIKKL’s website)
PIKKL Skins
PIKKL skins are replaceable face sheets that you can put on and take off the face of the paddle to keep the grit fresh and spin potential higher. It’s essentially a sticker. The grit on pickleball paddles will wear out overtime and slowly produce less and less spin. It’s typically around the 3 month mark when I start thinking I wish I had some fresh grit.
PIKKL is addressing this issue with their PIKKL Skins. Here’s my take on it. While the idea is very good and I’m all about it, it’s not quite to the point where I would use them yet.
Here’s why I don’t think they are perfect yet. 1) Adding them to your Hurricane Pro or Vantage Pro paddle makes them a half an ounce heavier and the paddle plays quite a bit differently as a result. And 2) the spin off the skin isn’t as good as the spin of the original paddle.
My main gripe with the skins is reason number one above. Talking about the spin, while the skin doesn’t produce what you get from their paddles when they are new, they do give you more spin from your paddle if your paddle is three months used. So you do get a bump up in spin though it doesn’t bring it back to its original form. Which I think is awesome, I just wish the weight and playability of the paddle didn’t change as much when you add a skin.
From my testing, the spin from the skins is a little more than 100 RPMs less than what the original paddle gives you. To put that in context, I get an average around 1990 RPMs on the original models and then about 1880 on average when the paddle has the skins applied. After about three months of use on most paddles I’m going to lose 200-300 RPMs. So, the paddle skins will give you a spin boost after the grit wears out but it comes at the cost of making your paddle much heavier and the spin isn’t top tier like they are out of the box.
For the paddle nerds out there, here’s how the swingweight numbers change with the skins.
PIKKL skins essentially give you a 10 point increase in swingweight, which is a lot. They will also give you a bump in twistweight to help with the forgiveness of the paddle but the ratio of swingweight increase to twistweight increases is heavily skewed to the swingweight.
Although I don’t think the skins are perfect yet, it’s great they have something in market and they will continue to iterate and improve them.
Final Thoughts
PIKKL may be a newer brand but they are here to stay. Their current line up provides control type paddles but they’ve already proven they are innovating and expanding their lineup so you know we’ll see more from them as time goes and I expect they will continue to grow.
Get 10% OFF PIKKL Paddles
If you think PIKKL has the right paddle for you, pick one up from PIKKL for 10% off using the code PBEFFECT.
Shop PIKKLBraydon competes at the 5.0 level and plays in 5-10 tournaments a year. He plays/drills 3 to 4 times a week and would play more if time allowed it.
