The Ultimate Pickleball Paddle Database
Compare pickleball paddles like never before! More filters, more data, all in an easy to use interface.
Attention, fellow paddle nerds! This database was created to share the nitty-gritty details of paddle measurements and information, from swingweight to twistweight to paddle type and beyond. Now, you can compare them all side by side and find the perfect paddle to fit your needs. Easily filter, compare, and narrow down the paddles that meet your criteria.
The Database
The database can be filtered and sorted on desktop but not on mobile. If you’re on a desktop then click on the “Filter” option in the top bar of the database and select “Add condition” to pick which column you’d like to apply filter criteria. You can also sort the database by any column.
We included discount codes on the far right column. Please use those to support our review efforts! All codes give you some sort of discount other than the Selkirk and SLK codes, those give you a digital gift card 7-10 days after you make a purchase.
Click on any tile below to see the detailed information about that paddle. To see paddle information displayed side by side you’ll need use a desktop and not a mobile device.
We included discount codes at the bottom of each paddle’s descriptive box. Please use those to support our review efforts! All codes give you some sort of discount other than the Selkirk and SLK codes, those give you a digital gift card 7-10 days after you make a purchase.
If you like spreadsheets then here’s the same data in Google Sheets that you can view and/or make a copy of so you can do any sort of analysis that suits you.
Paddle Database Methodology and Glossary
All paddle measurements were collected by us and not sourced from anywhere else. The database is updated on an as needed basis which usually ends up being once every one to two weeks as new paddles come through the door.
The swingweight and twistweight measurements were collected using the Briffidi SW1 machine with the 5cm pickleball adapter. The balance point was found using the Briffidi paddle balance device. You can learn more about Briffidi and their products here.
The power, pop, and spin measurements were collected using the Stalker Pro S3 radar gun in an indoor court location with regulated temperatures and using Franklin X-40 balls. All measurements are taken from Braydon performing the tests. We realize our methodology isn’t perfect for power, pop, and spin since Braydon is human and not a robot but we control what we can and the data gives you a pretty good idea of where the paddle stands compared to others.
We’ve categorized paddles into three categories. Control, All-Court, and Power. Paddle categories are determined by Braydon after he hits or reviews the paddle.
- Control paddles offer a softer feel and better absorbs pace off the ball but doesn’t give you as much power.
- All-Court paddles give you a blend of power and control and does well at everything though it doesn’t excel at anything.
- Power paddles often have a firmer feel and will return more power but are harder to control.
A paddle’s weight represents the inherent mass of the paddle as measured on a scale. However, relying solely on this static weight measurement can be misleading when assessing the true perceived heaviness of the paddle. Even if two paddles both clock in at 8 oz, their actual heft in your hand can markedly differ due to variations in weight distribution within the paddle. This is why the static weight should be considered with the swingweight of the paddle. See the definition of swingweight below.
The weight value listed in the database corresponds to the paddle’s weight that I used to gather the swingweight and twistweight measurement. It’s possible that if your paddle has a different static weight than then the swingweight and twistweight may be slightly different.
There are three primary shapes a paddle can have which consists of the length and width of the paddle. These three shapes are:
- Elongated: The dimensions for an elongated paddle are 16.5″ x 7.5″.
- Standard: A standard shaped paddle has dimensions of 16″ x 8″.
- Hybrid: A hybrid shaped paddle falls somewhere in between the standard and elongated shapes, with approximate dimensions of 16.25″ x 7.5″-7.7″.
Then there are two less common shapes you’ll see. These are:
- Extra-Elongated: This shape is 17″ x 7″
- Widebody: This any paddle shorter than 16″ long.
When considering the advantages and trade-offs of paddle shapes, it’s important to understand the characteristics of each shape.
- Elongated Paddle: An elongated paddle offers increased reach, spin, and power. However, this additional reach comes at the expense of forgiveness, particularly from side-to-side.
- Standard Paddle: In contrast, a standard-shaped paddle provides less reach and a little less power & spin but offers greater overall forgiveness. This means that while you may not have the same extended reach as an elongated paddle, you gain better control and stability.
- Hybrid Paddle: The hybrid shape serves as a middle ground between the elongated and standard shapes. It provides a balance between reach and forgiveness, offering players a versatile option that combines aspects of both shapes.
It’s interesting to note that advanced players often prefer elongated shapes. On the other hand, players at lower skill levels typically opt for the extra forgiveness offered by standard shaped paddles.
Ultimately, the choice of paddle shape depends on an individual’s playing style, preferences, and skill level. Whether your focus is on reach or forgiveness, understanding the unique benefits and trade-offs of each shape can assist you in selecting the paddle that best suits your game.
There are three primary facing materials you’ll see, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and kevlar. These materials all play a little different and depending on how you mix them can produce different performance metrics. Here’s a brief description of each one’s characteristics.
Carbon fiber: This is the most common material you’ll see. It’s known for producing a consistent & more plush feel, enhanced sweet spot, and has more control characteristics than the other facing materials.
Fiberglass: This material is known for giving you more power but comes at a drop in forgiveness and offers a stiffer feel.
Kevlar: This material plays in-between fiberglass and carbon fiber and gives you more of mix of power and control It’s often mixed with the other facing materials.
It’s important to note that each of these materials are often mixed and layered together. For example, a paddle may have two layers of carbon fiber and then a kevlar facing layer on top while another has a fiberglass layer and then a kevlar layer. These two configurations will play different even though the top layer is kevlar. I say this because if a paddle is listed as a carbon fiber or a kevlar paddle it’s only talking about the top layer and it doesn’t tell the whole story.
New paddle technologies have been introduced overtime, and there are three main categories of paddle technology that you can classify paddles under, which are described below.
Gen 1: Paddles belonging to this category use a construction method called cold pressing, in which the facing layers of the paddle are glued to the polymer core, and then an edge guard is wrapped around it. Although this construction is acknowledged for providing a plush feel and a control-style paddle, it’s not always the case.
Gen 1.5: This is a unique category that describes paddles that are built like a Gen 1, cold pressed paddles but also have foam injected around the perimeter of the paddle. These paddles are aslo known for being control style paddles.
Gen 2: Paddles classified under this category utilize a construction method called thermoforming. Instead of just gluing the facing layers onto each side of the paddle, a layer of carbon fiber is placed around the perimeter. The two facing layers are then bound together by applying heat to create a unified piece. Thermoformed paddles will almost always have foam injected around the perimeter as well like a Gen 1.5 paddle. Paddles adhering to this construction method are noted for providing more power and stability than Gen 1 paddles. Typically, these paddles fall into the all-court category, although that’s not always the case.
Gen 3: Paddles built under this category are similar to Gen 2 paddles in that they use thermoforming but incorporate foam into the core. Although not every Gen 3 paddle is constructed similarly, if a paddle has foam incorporated in the core, it’s considered a Gen 3 paddle. Paddles of this style are known for delivering more power and generally categorized as power paddles.
Swingweight is a measure of the paddle’s resistance to swinging about the end of the handle. The higher the swingweight number the heavier it will feel in your hands. A higher swingweight has more power but is harder to swing, lower swingweight is easier to swing but has less power. Sometimes a faster swing with a lower swingweight can make up for power lost in swingweight. The price paid for that is greater impact shock. Stock swingweights will vary between 100 – 140.
Twistweight is the resistance to rotating around the long axis through the middle of the paddle from butt to tip. The higher the twistweight the more resistance the paddle has to rotating on off center hits. This measurement is closely related to the amount of forgiveness or the size of the sweet spot of the paddle. A higher twistweight indicates a bigger sweet spot. Twistweight numbers range from 5 – 8.
Balance point is the distance of the paddles center of gravity from the butt of the handle. The bigger the number the further the balance point is from the butt of the handle. Paddles with higher balance points will carry through the ball better but aren’t as easy to maneuver because the weight of the paddle is further way from your hand. Paddles with smaller balance points are easier to maneuver and often easier to control.
Measuring the revolutions per minute (RPMs) off of a serve you get a number that shows the spin potential of a paddle. Using these RPM measurements I’ve created five buckets that a paddle will fall into indicating its overall spin potential. The five buckets are:
1950 or Higher = Very High
1900-1950 = High
1850-1899 = Medium
1849 or less = Low
You can tell a big difference in the amount of spin a paddle generates when you compare a Very High paddle to a low paddle. But the gains from Medium to High to Very High are marginal. We’ve found that having at least a medium rating is often enough if you’re looking for a good spin paddle. However, if you’re a big hitter then you will benefit more from a high spin paddle to help you keep the ball in play more often.
The power level of a paddle is shown in miles per hour (MPH) after taking ten measurements with a speed gun of hitting a serve as hard as I can. This measurement gives you an idea of how hard you can hit the ball when given the chance to take a full swing. So shots like serves, drives and overheads. The higher the MPH reading the more power you can generate with the paddle.
I also show the percentile ranking of the measurement to give you an idea of how it stacks up against the rest of the paddles in my database.
The pop level of a paddle is shown in miles per hour (MPH) after taking the average of ten speed gun measurements of hitting a punch volley as hard as I can. This measurement gives you an idea of how hard you can hit the ball on shorter swings and gives you an idea of how quickly a ball comes off the face when you apply less force on the ball. So shots volleys, dinks, counters, and resets are all affected by the pop measurement. The higher the pop measurement the stronger your counters will be but it takes more skill to keep the ball from floating or popping up on you when resetting a hard hit ball or when dinking.
I also show the percentile ranking of the measurement to give you an idea of how it stacks up against the rest of the paddles in my database.
