How To Choose A Pickleball Paddle
This guide is intended for anyone looking to find a pickleball paddle that is more suitable for them, whether it be one with a smaller grip or one that is not designed for power shots. In addition to improving your pickleball game, investing in a paddle that is the right fit for you can also help to prevent injury and increase your overall comfort while playing.
The Importance of Paddle Weight
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a pickleball paddle is weight. A lighter paddle will be easier to maneuver, but may not have as much power behind it. On the other hand, a heavier paddle will have more power, but may be more difficult to control. Therefore, it is important to find a balance that works for you.
Control vs Power
Another important factor to consider is the balance between control and power. Some paddles are designed for control, while others are designed for power. If you are a beginner, you may want to start with a paddle that has a good balance of control and power, so you can learn the basics of the sport. As you become more advanced, you may want to focus more on power or control, depending on your play style.
Paddle Materials
The materials that a paddle is made of can also have an impact on its performance. Paddles can be made of wood, graphite, or composite materials. Wood paddles are the most traditional and can be quite heavy, while graphite and composite paddles are lighter and more modern. Graphite paddles are generally the most expensive, but they are also the most durable and have the most power. Composite paddles are a good balance between wood and graphite, as they offer a good balance of control and power.
Pickleball Paddle Materials to Choose
When it comes to choosing a pickleball paddle, there are a variety of options available to suit different preferences and playing styles.
- One of the most popular options for beginners is a wood paddle. Despite being one of the heaviest options, wood paddles are generally more affordable and are a good choice for occasional players. This type of paddle was the original material used for pickleball and requires more effort to play with. Another option to consider is a polymer paddle, which is made with a polypropylene blend and is more durable for frequent players.
- Nomex paddles are a newer material that is made with heat-resistant material and a honeycomb core design. This type of paddle offers a comfortable playing experience, particularly for female players who may find it light and easy to handle.
- Lastly, aluminum paddles are also popular and feature a honeycomb core design. Though strong, aluminum paddles are lightweight and comfortable to play with. However, they do make a distinct "pop" sound when hit across the court, which may not be suitable for all locations.
When choosing your pickleball paddle, it is important to consider your playing frequency, skill level, and personal preferences. Whether you're looking for a traditional wood paddle or a more modern material like Nomex or aluminum, you're sure to find a paddle that fits your needs and makes pickleball an even more enjoyable game.
Taking Into Account The Edge Guard
The edge guard is an often overlooked aspect of pickleball paddles, but it plays a crucial role in determining the overall durability of the paddle. A well-crafted edge guard can help prevent chipping and damage to the paddle, ensuring that it lasts longer and performs better on the court.
When shopping for a paddle, it's important to pay attention to the edge guard and make sure it's made of a durable material that will stand up to regular use. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, investing in a paddle with a sturdy edge guard is a smart choice to ensure your pickleball paddle lasts for a long time.
Pickleball Paddles: Top Picks for Women
Here are some of the best pickleball paddles for women. We've compiled a list of top-performing paddles that are designed specifically to fit the needs of female players, with options for all skill levels and budgets.
Best Overall: Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro Pickleball Paddle
When it comes to pickleball paddles, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro stands out as a top choice for players looking for the perfect balance of control and power. With its traditional shape and large sweet spot, this paddle provides exceptional response and precision for a wide range of shots.
The Tempest Wave Pro's unique design allows players to execute a softer, more controlled and strategic game, while still having the ability to hit powerful, baseline drives when needed. The result is a paddle that can adapt to any playing style, making it an ideal choice for both beginners and advanced players.
The paddle's grip is available in two sizes, 4 1/8" and 4 3/8", with a choice of thin or cushioned grip styles. The weight of the paddle ranges from 7.6 to 8.0 ounces, providing a comfortable and well-balanced feel.
In addition to its impressive performance capabilities, the Tempest Wave Pro is also highly customizable. It comes in five different color variants, and players can choose from a variety of customization options to make the paddle their own. Whether you're looking for a unique design or simply want to add your name or team logo to the paddle, the Tempest Wave Pro can be tailored to your preferences.
One of the key aspects that sets the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro apart from other pickleball paddles is its durability. Made of high-quality materials, this paddle is built to withstand the rigors of regular use, making it a great investment for any pickleball player.
Technical features:
Thin Grip:
- Weight: 7.6-8 oz.
- Total length: 15 7/8 inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Grip length: 5 ¼ inches
- Edge shock guard: ⅛ inch
Standard Grip:
- Grip circumference: 4 3/8 inches
- Grip length: 5 1/4 inches
- Total length: 15 7/8 inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Weight: 7.6-8 oz.
Pros:
- Provides a perfect balance of control and power.
- The large sweet spot for exceptional response and precision.
- Unique design allows for a softer, more controlled, and strategic game, while still having the ability to hit powerful, baseline drives.
- Suitable for both beginners and advanced players.
- Available in two sizes of grip and two styles of grip.
- Highly customizable, with five different color variants and a variety of customization options.
- Durable and built to withstand regular use.
Cons:
- The cost is quite high.
Great Control: Head Extreme Tour Pickleball Paddle
The Extreme Tour Lite, part of the Extreme Series by HEAD, is a top-performing women's pickleball paddle. At just 7.2 ounces, it is the lightest paddle in the Extreme Series, making it easy to handle and maneuver on the court. The handle is also compact at 4 ⅛ inches, making it ideal for players with smaller hands.
Designed for optimal performance, the Extreme Tour Lite features an Optimized Tubular Core and a super spinny graphite face, allowing for plenty of snap and power on your shots. One of the advanced technologies it uses is Control Stabilizer technology, a feature that is typically only found on HEAD's most advanced paddles. This technology helps to keep the paddle stable and reduces twisting, resulting in precise shots every time.
In addition to its exceptional performance capabilities, the Extreme Tour Lite is also a visually stunning paddle. Available in yellow or silver color options, it will not only help you perform your best on the court but also make you look great while doing it. All in all, the Extreme Tour Lite is the best pickleball paddle for women, in my opinion, with its lightweight, small handle, powerful performance, and beautiful design.
Technical features:
- Materials: PP+CF
- Thickness: 11.0 mm / 7/16 inches
- Weight: 215 g / 7.6 oz
- Length: 408 mm / 16 inches
- Width: 199 mm / 7 7/8 inches
- Core material: Optimized Tubular Core (polypropylene honeycomb)
- Shape: Slightly elongated
- Paddle dimensions: 16 inches x 7 ⅞ inches
- Grip circumference: 4 ⅛ inches
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to handle, making it ideal for players with smaller hands.
- Optimized Tubular Core and super spinny graphite face provide plenty of snap and power on shots.
- Control Stabilizer technology keeps the paddle stable and reduces twisting, resulting in precise shots.
- Available in yellow and silver color options, visually stunning paddle.
- Suitable for women.
- The small handle size and optimized tubular core are great for precision and control.
Cons:
- Not suitable for players who prefer a different type of paddle.
Great Value: Rally Tyro 2 Pro Pickleball Paddle
The Rally Tyro 2 Pro is an excellent choice for women or beginners looking for a paddle that offers a consistent and controlled touch. It's big sweet spot is its biggest selling point, making it perfect for players who want to be able to execute a variety of shots with ease.
The paddle is mid-weight, with a medium-size grip, making it comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver. The grip size is not adjustable, but the paddle has a good balance which makes it feel comfortable in your hand.
The Rally Tyro 2 Pro is a great value paddle that offers good control, thanks to its polymer core which absorbs much of the shock from powerful shots. This allows you to hit hard slams as well as soft drop shots or dinks with ease. The face of the paddle is made of a poly-carbonate composite, which makes it durable and resistant to wear and tear.
Technical features:
Core:
- Polypropylene honeycomb core
- Vibration-dampening technology offers both power and control while providing excellent ball strike feedback and comfort
Facing:
- Polycarbonate facing
- The durable velvet texture face protects the paddle and further enhances the sweet spot
Grip:
- Perforated moisture-wicking cushion grip
Size:
- Full-size face: 15.57 inches x 7.875 inches
- Perfect Weight: 7.7 - 8.0 oz
- One Size Fits All Grip: 4.25 inches circumference/4.375 inches length
Pros:
- Consistent and controlled touch.
- The big sweet spot, perfect for a variety of shots.
- Mid-weight and medium-size grip for comfort and easy maneuverability.
- Good balance for a comfortable hold.
- Good value paddle.
- Polymer core absorbs shock from powerful shots, allowing for control and versatility in shots.
- The poly-carbonate composite face is durable and resistant to wear and tear.
- Vibration-dampening technology for power and control.
- The durable velvet texture face protects the paddle and enhances the sweet spot.
- Perforated moisture-wicking cushion grip.
Cons:
- The grip size is not adjustable.
Great Grip: GAMMA Sports 2.0 Neutron Pickleball Paddle
The GAMMA Neutron 2.0 is a unique pickleball paddle that stands out from the rest with its use of Nomex for the core instead of the more commonly used polypropylene. This material gives the paddle lightweight, but it can also be quite loud when playing, making it less suitable for outdoor use near neighbors.
One of the standout features of the GAMMA Neutron 2.0 is its weight, clocking in at just 7 oz, making it the lightest racket on the market. This makes it perfect for women and players with a smaller stature who want a paddle that offers speed and maneuverability without weighing them down.
The textured fiberglass face of the paddle provides excellent feedback and lively play without dead spots. Additionally, the grip size is 4 inches, making it the smallest pickleball paddle grip available.
Technical features:
- Aramid honeycomb core: offers a blend of power and control, suitable for both beginners and experienced players.
- 4” honeycomb cushion grip: designed for a soft, sweat-absorbing grip for added confidence during play.
- Meets USAPA specifications: compliant with official USAPA guidelines.
- Face material: Textured graphite for excellent feedback and lively play without dead spots.
- Core material: Nomex honeycomb for a lightweight and hard feel.
- Shape: A wide-body design for a larger sweet spot and more surface area.
- Paddle dimensions: 15 ⅜” x 8 ⅛”, providing a full-size face for maximum coverage and control.
Pros:
- A unique core material (Nomex honeycomb) offers a blend of power and control, suitable for both beginners and experienced players.
- The lightweight design (7 oz) makes it perfect for women and players with a smaller stature who want a paddle that offers speed and maneuverability without weighing them down.
- Textured fiberglass face provides excellent feedback and lively play without dead spots.
- The 4" honeycomb cushion grip is designed for a soft, sweat-absorbing grip for added confidence during play.
- Meets USAPA specifications, compliant with official USAPA guidelines.
- Wide-body design for a larger sweet spot and more surface area.
- Paddle dimensions: 15 ⅜” x 8 ⅛”, providing a full-size face for maximum coverage and control.
Cons:
- Nomex core material can be quite loud when playing, making it less suitable for outdoor use near neighbors.
Professional Choice: Selkirk Amped Pickleball Paddle
The Selkirk Amped Epic paddle is the most premium pickleball paddle in our list, with a sleek and stylish design available in three bold colors. It's one of the best looking paddles on the market.
The core of the paddle is made from advanced polypropylene honeycomb, called the "X5 Honeycomb core," it is thicker than most other models, which helps give it a sweet spot size advantage while minimizing vibrations for a superior feel.
While a lot of high-end paddles have thick polypropylene cores, the Amped Epic paddle stands out with its handle. The handle has a thin 4 ¼” circumference and is 5 ¼” long, allowing players to comfortably hit two-handed shots. This feature is great for players who lack power on their backhand side. However, the cost of the paddle is on the high side, so you'll want to consider if the price is within your budget.
Technical features:
- FiberFlex Fiberglass face: state-of-the-art technology for unmatched ball spin.
- Polypropylene X5 honeycomb core: provides optimal ball cushioning and thicker than most other models.
- Wide-body shape: for a larger sweet spot and more surface area.
- Paddle dimensions: 15 ¾” x 8”.
- Grip circumference: 4 ¼”.
- Grip Length: 5 ¼”.
- Weight: 7.3-7.7 oz or 7.8-8.4 oz (depending on the option chosen).
- Designed to comfortably hit two-handed shots.
Pros:
- Sleek and stylish design available in three bold colors.
- The core of the paddle is made from an advanced polypropylene honeycomb, called the "X5. Honeycomb core," it is thicker than most other models, which helps give it a sweet spot size advantage while minimizing vibrations for a superior feel.
- The handle has a thin 4 ¼” circumference and is 5 ¼” long, allowing players to comfortably hit two-handed shots. This feature is great for players who lack power on their backhand side.
- FiberFlex Fiberglass face: state-of-the-art technology for unmatched ball spin.
- Wide-body shape: for a larger sweet spot and more surface area.
- Paddle dimensions: 15 ¾” x 8”.
- Weight: 7.3-7.7 oz or 7.8-8.4 oz (depending on the option chosen).
Cons:
- High cost, so you'll want to consider if the price is within your budget.
Best Elongated Option: A. Anbrose Pickleball Paddle, Capitan Pro Series
This Pickleball paddle features a polymer honeycomb structure that provides durability and lightness. With an average weight of 7.8 ounces, the paddle strikes the perfect balance between touch, power, and control. It is an excellent choice for intermediate and advanced players of all ages looking for optimal performance.
The paddle's elongated shape extends the sweet spot zone to cover a larger vertical length of the surface while lowering the center of the sweet spot to the paddle's geometric center. This design allows for the hitting zone to be closer to the player's body, leading to exceptional increases in return rate and hitting force.
With a polypropylene honeycomb core and fiberglass surface, this paddle offers excellent power and control. Additionally, its frosted face texture provides an ideal balance between spin and pop.
Technical Features:
- This Pickleball paddle from A Anbrose features an elongated and extended size that provides an expanded sweet spot zone and lowers the center of the sweet spot to the geometric center of the paddle.
- The grip size of the paddle is 4 3/4 inches, making it comfortable to hold for players of all ages.
- Made with a polymer honeycomb core and a fiberglass surface, this paddle delivers an excellent combination of power and control on the court.
- The frosted face texture of the paddle offers a well-balanced performance between spin and pop.
- Suitable for players of all ages, this paddle is a great choice for intermediate and professional Pickleball players.
Pros:
- The durable and lightweight polymer honeycomb structure.
- Balanced weight for optimal touch, power, and control.
- The elongated shape and sweet spot design for exceptional return rate and hitting force.
- Polypropylene honeycomb core and fiberglass surface for excellent power and control.
- Frosted face texture for a perfect balance between spin and pop.
Cons:
- It is unclear how the paddle compares to other Pickleball paddles in terms of performance and durability.
For Advanced Users: JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion Pickleball Paddle
The paddle's 16mm Response polymer core ensures reduced vibration and increased control, while its honeycomb structure compresses for better feel. The cell shape and material of the honeycombs also prolong the life of the racket.
To improve grip, the JOOLA paddle features Sure Grip specialty with a perforated anti-slip ridge grip that reduces moisture from the surface of the handle. This excellent shock absorption makes it perfect for long and intense Pickleball matches. With its unique combination of features, this paddle is an excellent choice for players of all skill levels.
Technical Features:
- The surface of the paddle is made of carbon material, which provides a high grit and spins for excellent control during gameplay.
- The paddle has an elongated handle that allows players to grip comfortably and achieve better control during gameplay.
- The paddle is USAPA approved for use in tournaments and games.
- The 2022 Ben Johns Paddle is designed for professional-level play and is a great choice for intermediate and advanced players.
- The paddle is available with a Pickle Ball Paddle Cover for added protection and convenience during transport.
Pros:
- Combines different materials to offer optimal control and feel, making it a great choice for players of all skill levels.
- The top layer of the paddle is designed for improved dinking and blocking, while the bottom layers provide more powerful drives, giving players versatility during gameplay.
- The USAPA-approved CAS technology used in the paddle's surface creates a unique, textured surface for an increased spin, making it a great choice for players who rely on spin shots.
- The 16mm Response polymer core reduces vibration and increases control, while the honeycomb structure compresses for a better feel and durability, making it a reliable choice for long-term use.
- The Sure-Grip technology with a perforated anti-slip ridge grip reduces moisture from the surface of the handle, providing a comfortable and secure grip during gameplay.
- The paddle's carbon surface provides high grit and spins for excellent control during gameplay.
Cons:
- Not for beginners.
Best Pickleball Paddle for Women: Our Conclusions
In conclusion, there are many options available for pickleball paddles that are suitable for women. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, there is a paddle that will suit your needs.
The Rally Tyro 2 Pro is an excellent choice for women or beginners looking for a paddle that offers a consistent and controlled touch. The paddle is mid-weight, with a medium-size grip, making it comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver.
The Gamma Neutron 2.0 is a great choice for women with a smaller stature who want a paddle that offers speed and maneuverability without weighing them down.
The Selkirk Amped Epic paddle is the most premium pickleball paddle in our list, with a sleek and stylish design available in three bold colors. The core of the paddle is made from an advanced polypropylene honeycomb, called the "X5 Honeycomb core," it is thicker than most other models, which helps give it a sweet spot size advantage while minimizing vibrations for a superior feel.
When choosing a paddle, it is important to consider your skill level, playing style, and physical characteristics. For example, if you are a beginner, you may want to choose a paddle with a larger sweet spot and more control. If you are an experienced player, you may want a paddle with a smaller sweet spot and more power.
The weight of the paddle is also an important factor to consider, as a lighter paddle will be easier to maneuver, while a heavier paddle will provide more power. Additionally, the grip size is also an important factor to consider, as a smaller grip size will be more comfortable for women with smaller hands.
Ultimately, the best paddle for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. It is important to try out different paddles before making a final decision to ensure that you choose the one that is right for you.
