Pickleball Paddle Buying Guide

At ONIX Pickleball, we offer pickleball paddles for every level of player from our top-of-the-line tournament paddles to our aspiring performance player paddles, to starting out recreational paddles. Each paddle is unique and different, and we’ll break down each type, core, face, size, and weight in an easy to follow guide so you can make the best pickleball paddle decision proven to produce results.

Best Pickleball Paddle for Feel and Head Speed:

  • The Malice DB and Malice pickleball paddles provide the best feel, touch, and head speed of any paddle in the ONIX lineup. The Malice paddles are preferred for reducing vibration.

Best Pickleball Paddle for Power:

  • New to ONIX is the Evoke Premier Raw Carbon pickleball paddle, known for its raw carbon face giving it both a blend of pure power and control
  • The Evoke Premier has long been a flagship of the ONIX Pickleball lineup as one of the most precise and powerful pickleball paddle. A new Premier version is our Evoke Premier CT-16, featuring a 16mm core for even more power than the original Premiers. 
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Best Pickleball Paddle Under $100

  • The ONIX Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle, which retails for $99.99, is the most popular paddle in the ONIX line because of its outstanding touch and control. The Z5 is the best pickleball paddle for intermediate and beginner players.

Best Pickleball Paddles for Control:

  • Newest and most advanced paddle, the Evoke Premier Pro Raw Carbon Paddles and Mayhem will give you maximum control with patented technology from ONIX
  • The ONIX Outbreak features an elongated shape for extended reach and a larger sweet spot for improved accuracy.

Best Pickleball Paddle for Kids:

  • The Z Junior paddle is perfect for young players learning the game or junior players entering the sport for the first time. 
  • The Z1 Pickleball Starter Kit is perfect for players that want to kickstart their pickleball journey with a friend or family member

Types of Pickleball Paddles:

  • Wooden paddles are more for entry level, they are heavier and less expensive.
  • Composite paddles are lighter and tend to have more control.

Types of Cores:

  • Nomex Honeycomb Core: balanced, strong and durable.
  • Aluminum Honeycomb: easier touch, ability to soften shots made at the net
  • Polypropylene Core: Quieter, has a balanced blend of touch and power.

Paddle Faces:

  • Graphite: strong, lighter surface, has more touch and control
  • Composite: harder, tends to be more powerful, less control
  • Raw Carbon Fiber: The raw carbon fiber surface provides a naturally textured paddle surface to increase spin and control for professional shot making

Graphite Paddles:

Composite Paddles:

Raw Carbon Paddles:

Aluminum paddles:

  • Recruit 3.0

Wide body paddles:

Oversized body:

Teardrop body:

Standard body:

  • Graphite Slammer
  • Composite Slammer
  • Malice
  • Malice DB
  • Mayhem

Blocker body:

Elongated:

Impact Paddle Shape:

Paddle Shapes:

  • Wide Body — this is the most popular pickleball paddle shape and has a generous sweet spot.
  • Oversized — Smaller, but has a more powerful sweet spot
  • Tear Drop — balanced, and comparable to racquet sport paddles
  • Standard — longer handle, more torque
  • Impact — increases reach and maximizes baseline power
  • Elongated — gives players much longer reach

Paddle Weights:

  • Light weight — (<7.4oz)
  • Medium weight — (7.4- 8.2oz)
  • Heavy weight — (>8.2)

Light weight paddles:

Medium weight paddles:

Heavy Weight:

Do you still need help learning which is the best pickleball paddle for you? Take our paddle selector quiz here!

 

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