Pickleball is a very simple and interesting sport played in the same way as tennis, badminton, or any other racket game. For playing pickleball, all you need is the pickleball paddle and a ball. The light perforated ball used to play pickleball is unique and has about 26 to 40 holes in it.
Likewise, the pickleball paddle is also an essential piece of equipment to play this game. These paddles are similar to other rackets but are rather smaller in size. Also, these paddles are composed of different materials like wood, composite, and graphite. Choosing the right pickleball paddle bears a great impression on your game. But before searching for a good pickleball paddle you must look upon some important things including weight, grip size, and the material of the pickleball paddle. Also, check the ONIX Graphite Z5 Pickleball Paddle.
Weight:
The most important factor while choosing the pickleball paddle is weight. To play the game with maintained balance, you should select the perfect weight of the paddles. The paddles are categorized into the following types according to their weight.
Types of Pickleball Paddles:
These paddles weigh from 6.5 to 7 ounces
- Mediumweight Paddles
These paddles weigh from 7 to 8 ounces
- Heavyweight Paddles
These paddles weigh 8 ounces and more.
Lightweight Pickleball Paddle:
At first lightweight paddles are suitable for beginners and for those players who are switching from ping pong or racquetball because these are easy to swing. The most common material to make lightweight paddles is fiberglass. Moreover, these paddles are fairly affordable. Also, one of the plus points about these paddles is that their lightweight and won’t make you tired as well as provide a fast response while playing. Although, it also has some drawbacks such as you cannot perform hard shots with it and it reduces the power of your shots as well.
Mediumweight Pickleball Paddles:
The medium-weight paddles are an ideal pick for every type of player including those who are confused to pick weight accordingly as these are easy to control and can be used comfortably during any shoulder injury or elbow injury. Moreover, these paddles are made of different combinations of materials like wood, plastic, aluminum, and fiberglass.
Heavyweight Pickleball Paddles:
Most Likely wood is used to make these paddles which is why they are heavier in weight. In older days these paddles were well known amongst the players as there was no concept of any other paddles but with time people manufactured the lighter and medium weight paddles for their ease. Also, read the What Is Padel Tennis?
Nonetheless, the heavyweight makes swinging the paddle a bit difficult and requires more force to swing much faster than the others. Although as compared to others it provides more power to the shots. But on the other hand, it can be tiresome to play for a long time with these paddles. For good control, you must not go for the paddles which weigh more than 8 ounces. Also, for the safer side, you should use the heavy paddles with care otherwise these can badly injure you. Likewise, you may feel cramps in your arms due to their heavy weight. Also, check the What is the Non-Volley Zone in Pickleball?
How to Pick a Pickleball Paddle:
The following factors can help you find out how to pick the right pickleball paddle according to your requirements. This pickleball guide has all the important considerations, discussed in detail.
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Grip size:
The second most important factor to choose the best paddles for you is its grip size. It has been observed that mostly the pickleball paddles’ grip size lies between 4 to 4.5 inches. One should choose the paddles to the size of your hands’ size accordingly. The best pickleball paddle is the one that fits in your hand perfectly. The grip of your paddle must not be much smaller or larger as it will not make sense to grip it perfectly. Most likely smaller grips and larger grips are used for more stability. But one common question which arises here is how to choose the perfect grip for yourself? There are several ways to measure the size of the grip such as :
- Measure the grip size according to height.
- You can do an index finger test for finding the perfect size of the grip
- The hand measure test can also tell your grip size.
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Height test for grip size:
It is considered to be the more convenient way to measure the grip size. The people who are under 5’2’’ height can use the grip size of 4 inches, while those with a height between 5’3’’ to 5’8’’ preferably use 4 ¼’’ size. Also, people with 5’9’’ or above height are suited to use the grip size of 4’2’’.
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Index Finger test method:
For this method, take a paddle and hold the grip naturally with the opposite hand. Now put your index finger on your other hand between your fingertips and the thumb of your hand. If your index finger fits in the gap then it’s the perfect grip size for you. If the finger does not fit in the gap then the grip size is smaller for you and if the finger fits in the gap with some space left, the grip is large for you.
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Hand measure test:
All you need is a tape measure or a ruler for this method. The measurement between your ring fingertip to the middle crease of your hand is the actual measurement for your grip size. You can easily measure the gap by using a measuring tape or ruler.
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Material:
After selecting the weight and grip size for your pickleball paddle another thing to be considered is the material. The best pickleball material is light in weight but has a high strength to confront the smashes of the shots. Different types of materials are used to make the pickleball paddles such as wood, graphite, and composite. However, the core of the paddles is generally made up of aluminum, Nomex, and polymer.
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Wood:
Wood is the most common material that is used to make pickleball paddles. The wooden paddles are heavier in weight but they are not expensive as other paddles. It is the best option for those who are beginners and don’t want to invest their money at first.
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Composite:
After wood composite is another material that is used to make pickleball paddles. As compared to the wooden paddles these are quite lighter. The surface of these paddles is made up of carbon fiber or fiberglass with a composite core. Most of the time polymer, aluminum, or Nomex is used to make the core which spins your ball more efficiently and takes your game to another level.
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Graphite:
These paddles have graphite on both sides of the surface. The constructed core under the graphite surface is generally made up of aluminum, polymer, or Nomex honeycomb. Moreover, the maximum weight of graphite paddles is almost 6 to 9 ounces. Anyhow, as these are the most expensive paddles, professional players tend to use them more often.
FAQs
1. Does Pickleball Affect your Knees?
Usually, people get injuries on the knees in racket sports as well as in pickleball games. These injuries may be acute sprains of the knee.
2. Where can you buy the Pickleball Paddles?
If you are in search of the best and genuine pickleball paddles, you can go to any nearby sports store which has a special variety of rackets and tennis equipment. Otherwise, these are also available online or in many other local stores.
3. What is the Actual Lifespan of the Pickleball Paddles?
The lifespan of the pickleball paddles depends upon their usage. Those paddles which are used in training have less lifetime. However, the paddles which are used by professionals last for about a year and so on.
4. What is the Best Pickleball Paddle for Beginners?
The beginners should make a start with the paddles which are not much expensive, easy to hold and have a large space hitting area.
