Pickleball. You’ve probably heard of this social sport before. It has been gaining fame in recent years and according to studies, in the US alone, the sport has 4.2 million players. Whether you’ve tried it or not, any kind of racket sports requires two necessary equipment: A racket (or a Pickleball paddle) and a ball.
Over the years, there has been a broad range of racket designs available in the market. It can be hard to choose one from the many options and it can also be tempting to choose based on how it looks or its design. Designs are a plus but if you want to choose the best pickleball racket, you have to consider these three factors: Material, Weight, and Grip Size.
Another way of finding the best pickleball racket is to test it out yourself. Give it a swing and see if it suits you. You can also do crowdsourcing and ask your friends who play pickleball for advice.
If you’re still unsure, don’t worry! We’ve come up with a guide to help you narrow down your choices in choosing the best pickleball racket.
Pickleball Racket Material
Picking the right racket material is essential because it can affect how you play the game. Its core and surface heavily influence the performance of the racket. The main pickleball racket materials you can choose from are wood, composite, graphite, and fiberglass.
Wood Rackets
Wooden pickleball rackets are usually heavier and cheaper ($10 - $25) compared to other materials but it’s also more durable. If you’re a beginner and just want an affordable racket, this one’s for you. Original pickleball rackets are actually made out of wood. Besides that, manufacturers have also come up with improved versions of wooden pickleball paddles (lighter ones with grips and safety straps). Wooden rackets are also known to be the quietest among other materials.
Composite Rackets
Composite Rackets are made with composite core and come with a variety of paddle face textures- commonly graphite or fiberglass. This type is popular due to the fact that some pickleball players have preferences when it comes to the paddle surface texture. If you don’t mind paying a little bit more on a quality pickleball racket and you’re a beginner, composite rackets are also a good choice for a beginner’s racket.
Graphite Rackets
Graphite pickleball rackets are some of the best-selling rackets in the market- and rightly so. These rackets weigh from 6 to 9 ounces and they are known for being durable and lightweight at the same time. They provide better control and it’s the most expensive among other materials. If you’re considering playing pickleball competitively and don’t mind the price, graphite pickleball rackets would be the best choice for you.
Fiberglass Rackets
Fiberglass rackets are also recommended to beginners. They are not so cheap and not so expensive either. You can find good fiberglass rackets for $50 to $150. If you’re fond of the satisfying “pop” that rackets make, a paddle made out of fiberglass is perfect for you! This material also focuses more on precision rather than power.
Pickleball Racket Weight
Racket weight plays an important role in your game and comfort when playing pickleball. Actually, it should be the top priority when choosing the best pickleball racket as it will determine the feel of your racket. Its weight ranges from 6 to 14 ounces (lightweight rackets weigh below 7.3 oz, mid-weight rackets are from 7.3 to 8.4 oz, and heavy rackets weigh 8.5 oz and above).
Heavy rackets provide more power but less control and lightweight rackets provide more control with less power. Also, heavy rackets can cause “tennis elbow” or pain around the outside of the elbow and they can be exhausting to use since they require more effort. Ultimately, it is up to your personal preference whether you want a lightweight, mid-weight, or heavy racket.
Pickleball Racket Grip Size
Another factor to consider when choosing the best pickleball racket is the grip size. You want to make sure that the racket grip size is comfortable and it lets you move freely. Grip size can be small (4” grip circumference), medium (4 - 1/8” and 4 - 1/4” grip circumference) and large (4 - 1/2” grip circumference). The safest way to choose a racket grip size is to go for the smaller ones since you can just adjust it with an overgrip tape to make it larger.
