Ranking the Top 5 paddles of 2026 (so far)
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Every year in the spring, seemingly every pickleball paddle brand under the sun comes out with new models.
This year was no different, with a flood of new releases in February, March and April that have shaken up the market and put new brands on the map as serious contenders in the “best paddle” discussion.
Our paddle reviewers (both 5.0+ players) recently put their heads together to rank the Top 5 new releases that have hit the market in 2026. Here’s what they decided on:
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It’s hard to beat the combination of feel and power that JOOLA’s latest model delivers. It’s why you see several pro players who aren’t sponsored by JOOLA — like Catherine Parenteau and Rafa Hewett — switching to the Pro V when they have their choice of paddle.
This paddle has been getting a lot of buzz in the industry lately, and for good reason. The V2 is an updated model that offers more power and pop than the original Friction Pro while maintaining the Gen 3 feel that many high-level players prefer.
We think the Honolulu J6CR is the best “full foam” paddle on the market right now. The paddle features an intricate core design with multiple layers and cutouts that allows the paddle to absorb and transfer energy to the ball in a more controlled way.
Friday has transformed from a company known for its viral videos to a legitimate player in the performance paddle market. The new Aura Pro delivers great pop in hands battles and big power on full swings like drives and overheads.
The biggest talking point around the Vapor Power 2 is the new grit technology it uses, which the brand calls “HexGrit.” The paddle face is very gritty, which produces great spin, and the grit is also more durable than raw carbon fiber — meaning that high spin potential lasts longer.
Read next: The Kitchen’s top 13 pickleball paddles on the market right now + in-depth reviews for each one
Our testing process
Team Kitchen is our team of expert paddle reviewers, all 5.0+ players. They test every paddle with other high-level players in their area, on every kind of shot, in drills and real games, to see how it performs in real-world play.
Every paddle is also measured on the same scale: power, spin, swing weight and twist weight, so any two paddles compare fairly.
We use the Life Time LT Pro 48 pickleball for our testing.
