What is the Difference Between a Cheap and Expensive Pickleball Paddle?
You've probably looked around for paddles and noticed the price difference between them. There is a wide range of prices from cheap pickleball paddles to some being over $300. You're probably thinking to yourself, what is the difference between these? Being able to answer that question will make your purchase decision that much easier.
Materials Matter
Materials used is the most significant factor that affects the price of a pickleball paddle. A cheap pickleball paddle would always use low end materials such as wood and composites. If the paddle is made of more advanced materials than your average paddles, it would definitely cost more as these materials provide better playing experience, thus more expensive.
Wooden Paddles: A wooden paddle is the cheapest type of paddle. They are heavier than plastic which means they are heavier and have a poorer feel. For this reason, serious players try to avoid the sluggish feel of a wooden paddle if possible.
Graphite Paddles: These surfaces are often used on more expensive paddles. They are lighter, stronger and give a greater touch to the game, which is good for players as they are able to control the placement of the ball much better.
Carbon Fiber: by far the most expensive of these materials, but ideal for both strength and lightness. Carbon fibre paddles give the maximum amount of control, spin and power when playing competitively. These are the paddles used by high level players.
Core Construction
The next key distinction worth mentioning is the core material of pickleball paddle. Different types of cores will make a huge impact on how a paddle plays (powerful, control and feel). The commonly available three types of cores are wood, polymer core and Nomex.
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core: Polypropylene honeycomb is now the standard high-end core in modern paddles. It’s light, well-balanced and has the best combination of power and control for most players. However, it’s not as durable as some other materials.
Nomex Core: You’ll find this material premium paddle and possibly in the shaft. This combination is strong and powerful, so your ball snaps off at impact. Do to the fact that it creates more power, your ball control may take a hit. You'll need to adjust to the pop off the paddle.
Design and Technology
The closer you get to the hundreds-of-dollars-plus end of the paddle spectrum, you’re rewarded with more thoughtful design work and technologies aimed toward improved performance, including more exact centres of mass, better ergonomic grips, and vibration-dampening technologies. Overall, the end result is a more comfortable and less skittish feel to what you’re doing, which we believe is more crucial in a long pickleball match.
Durability and Longevity
A pickleball paddle core made with a plastic material honeycomb called polypropylene or liners made of with carbon fibre or graphite, will have a much better lift and much more longevity than cheaper models that might go soft or lose their pop after a period of time.
Here are our top picks from cheapest to more expensive paddles:
Conclusion
In summary, materials vary, the fundamental composition of the paddle varies, the surface-level technology varies, and athletic durability and function has a helpful price relationship. With this in mind, a budget paddle still will hit the ball to where you want it to go just in a less enjoyable manner, and the trajectory of the ball and lethality of the shot are limited. If you’re giving pickleball a try, start off with a less expensive paddle to get the feel for the game, then as you start to grow, upgrade to a carbon fiber paddle as this will allow better and more dangerous shot making.
