Best pickleball paddles in July 2026

Buy if:

• You want the best spin with grit that actually lasts:

  the Crystal Blue Endurance Surface grabs the ball to generate crazy spin and shows zero wear after 10+ hours.

• You want a paddle that saves you money long-term:

  most paddles lose their grit within weeks of heavy play, so you're buying a replacement every few months – not this one.

• You want a fast, aggressive paddle:

  the expertly balanced design and hybrid shape makes it fly through the air, and there's effortless power to attack your opponents.

Pass if:

• You want elite control:

  control is good but it's not at the level of the Holbrook Fuze or Bread & Butter Loco.

• You want a different shape:

  the J2CR model is a hybrid – check out the elongated J6CR Crystal Blue or widebody J3CR Crystal Blue.

• You're brand new to pickleball:

  beginners will want something easier to control like the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean.

Buy if:

• You want a fast paddle:

  this is extremely quick in the hand, one of the fastest paddles I've seen.

• You want a great spin paddle:

  you get insanely good topspin for a bargain paddle.

• You want a foam paddle at a budget price:

  this is the first foam paddle I’ve seen in the $100 range – this durable tech usually costs upwards of $150.

Pass if:

• You want a power paddle:

  you'll get more natural, effortless power out of the Holbrook Fuze.

• You need a bigger sweet spot:

  the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean has a more forgiving sweet spot with its distinct wider face.

• You're a more advanced player:

  once you move to a high level, upgrade to a more advanced paddle like the CRBN TruFoam Barrage or JOOLA Pro V.

Buy if:

• You want a 10 on power and control:

  very few paddles have ever scored full points on power plus control – this is a super-exciting paddle that's aggressive and controlled.

• You play with fast hands:

  insanely quick for an elongated 16 mm paddle – we scored it 10 for aerodynamics in our full review.

• You want a forgiving paddle:

  thanks to the foam core and big sweet spot, even when you hit a tame shot the ball goes over the net.

Pass if:

• You want the paddle with the most spin:

  while spin is definitely not lacking here, it's not as impressive as the RPM Friction Pro V2.

• You want a beginner paddle:

  the Vatic Pro and 11SIX24 Pegasus are excellent budget paddles for half the price of the Fuze, especially if you're a beginner.

• You want a paddle made for pros:

  the JOOLA Pro V is a $300 pro paddle made for Ben Johns, Tyson McGuffin, Anna Bright, and more of the top professionals.

Buy if:

• You want an all-court paddle:

  if you need to put the ball away, the Loco has that power; if you need to control the point, it’s excellent on dinks and resets.

• You want a paddle with awesome spin:

  the grit on the paddle face is so good, ideal for putting spin on my backhand rolls and deep serves.

• You want a super-fast paddle:

  the Loco is lightning-fast in hands battles – especially the standard and hybrid models.

Pass if:

• You want a pure power paddle:

  if you want a raw power paddle (that's also controlled), check out the Holbrook Fuze.

• You want the craziest spin:

  the RPM Friction Pro V2 has the most impressive spin generation of any paddle on the market.

• You want a cheap paddle:

  try the 11SIX24 Pegasus or Vatic Pro – two of the best paddles ever in the $100 range.

Buy if:

• You want an easy all-court paddle:

  drives, counters, dinks, and speed-ups work right out of the box – it does everything well.

• You like paddles with dwell and touch:

  the ball sits on the face longer, making resets and dinks feel natural.

• You want one of the best values in pickleball:

  this $120 paddle performs closer to paddles in the $180 to $200 range.

Pass if:

• You want elite power and pop:

  there's respectable pace but it won't overwhelm opponents the way the Holbrook Fuze can.

• You want maximum spin generation:

  spin is solid but standard for a carbon fiber paddle – go next level with the RPM Friction Pro V2.

• You want the longest-lasting grit:

  the Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue tops this list not only for its performance – its super-durable surface outlasts the competition.

Buy if:

• You play aggressively:

  this paddle rewards competitive, hard-hitting players with a combination of power, speed, spin, and accuracy.

• You prefer dwell-based power:

  this differs from a pop-based paddle – the power you get comes from the ball sinking into the paddle face before launching off.

• You want the best durability:

  CRBN is known for quality and they use a denser, more durable foam in their cores – you're investing in a paddle made by experts.

Pass if:

• You're a beginner:

  I'd recommend the 11SIX24 and Vatic Pro paddles before spending over $250 on an advanced paddle.

• You want a mid-range option:

  there are excellent alternatives under $200 like the B&B Loco, Honolulu J2CR, and Holbrook Fuze.

• You want long-lasting grit at a cheaper price:

  CRBN’s surface grit is super premium but check out the Honolulu J2CR also – it has incredibly durable grit for under $200.

Buy if:

• You want the most spin:

  RPM's CarbonBite grit is so good at grabbing the ball for aggressive drops and dip.

• You like a lively, poppier Gen 3 feel:

  some players prefer stiffer Gen 3 paddles over the muted dwell of Gen 4 foam cores, and this is peak Gen 3 performance.

• You want a strong all-court paddle:

  not just great on spin, this is a forgiving touch paddle with plenty of pop behind it.

Pass if:

• You want maximum raw power:

  if you want to hit ferocious baseline shots, try the Holbrook Fuze.

• You want a Gen 4 foam paddle:

  most of the paddles on this list have foam cores – in fact, everything else but the 11SIX24 Pegasus and JOOLA.

• You're on a budget:

  the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean can get you 80% of the spin and pop of the RPM for just $100.

Buy if:

• You're tired of your grit wearing down:

  the HexGrit surface rivals the Honolulu Crystal Blue Grit as the strongest, most long-lasting I've seen.

• You want elite spin with easy pop:

  topspin drives dip hard, serves jump off the bounce, and the ball explodes off the face with minimal effort.

• You want a premium paddle with a big sweet spot:

  off-center hits still feel consistent and predictable.

Pass if:

• You prefer softer paddles with more dwell:

  the face is firm and lively, not plush – try the Holbrook Fuze instead.

• You prefer Gen 3 paddles:

  soft resets and drops are a little hard to control – the RPM Friction Pro V2 is great if you want pop plus responsiveness.

• You're on a tight budget:

  11SIX24's budget Pegasus Jelly Bean gives you great durability for under $100.

Buy if:

• You want a foam paddle without the $200+ price tag:

  at just $160 with our discount code, this is substantially cheaper than most advanced foam paddles.

• You like a balanced all-court paddle:

  the Aura Pro scores 9 out of 10 across every category – I'm not sure that's ever happened before.

• You like paddles with good dwell time:

  I like the muted feel and how long the ball dwells on the paddle face, letting you control your shots with pace and spin.

Pass if:

• You want a specialist paddle:

  some players want a paddle that's a master of power (Holbrook Fuze) or spin (RPM V2).

• You prefer pop-based power:

  the Bread & Butter Loco has a poppier feel than this dwell-based paddle.

• You have the budget for a premium paddle:

  you'll notice a jump in quality and performance with a premium paddle like the CRBN TruFoam Barrage.

Buy if:

• You want a forgiving paddle with fewer mishits:

  with its large sweet spot, mishits are way less punishing – even when you hit off-center shots, you can stay in the point.

• You prefer a softer paddle:

  while not quite as plush as some paddles, this is still a soft, responsive paddle that helps your accuracy.

• You want to start your pickleball journey with quality:

  skip the cheap Amazon paddles and get this one from a respected brand in the game – superior quality for $100.

Pass if:

• You want a power paddle:

  there's decent pop for beginners and intermediates, but it's not as powerful as many of the others on this list.

• You want the craziest spin:

  nothing whips up topspin like the RPM Friction Pro V2 – the spinniest paddle on the market.

• You're ready to invest in your long-term game:

  once you've progressed to the upper intermediate level, I'd recommend a higher-performing paddle like the Bread & Butter Loco.

Buy if:

• You want a premium-grade all-court power paddle:

  while the price is high, you're getting a plush-feeling paddle with amazing touch, forgiveness, and lots of power.

• You play aggressively but want to stay in control:

  when you're not ripping drives and topspin serves, you can reset with precision and roll lobs at the kitchen so effectively.

• You value dwell-based feel:

  the 16 mm model in particular has that connected feel where the ball sits into the paddle, letting you launch the ball confidently, not wildly.

Pass if:

• You'd rather spend under $200:

  you can get 80-90% of the performance from the Honolulu J2CR or the B&B Loco.

• You want a foam core paddle for better longevity:

  this doesn't have a Gen 4 foam core like most newer paddles, so check out the CRBN TruFoam Barrage instead.

• You're a first-time pickleball player:

  you can save money while you get used to the game with the $90 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean.

Buy if:

• You want total control over your paddle's weighting:

  the adjustable, removable MOI system means you can fine-tune the balance however you like.

• You love the Boomstik feel but want less power and more dwell:

  compared to Selkirk’s flagship Boomstik, the Omni has a softer foam core that absorbs the ball for a controlled, springy touch.

• You want a Selkirk all-court paddle with an edge guard:

  the Omni plays like a sturdier version of the edgeless Selkirk LUXX.

Pass if:

• You want the best all-court performance at this price:

  the CRBN TruFoam Barrage gives you more power, spin, and control for less money – it doesn't have the MOI weights though.

• You want raw power:

  this paddle absorbs rather than launches – try the Selkirk Boomstik or Holbrook Fuze instead.

• You don't care about customization:

  if you'd rather play stock, there are better-performing paddles for less money like the Honolulu J2CR and B&B Loco.