Choosing a pickleball paddle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this guide, we break down the factors that actually matter — from budget and paddle type to shape, core and weight — so you can confidently choose the right paddle for your game.

Whether you’re buying your very first paddle or upgrading from a beginner paddle, this video will help you avoid common mistakes and make the best choice for your playing style.

The Kitchen Pickleball Discounts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You do not need the perfect paddle to become a good pickleball player. Don’t get stuck endlessly researching paddles instead of getting out on the court. Find a paddle that feels comfortable in your hands, fits your style of play, and gives you confidence. Then go play pickleball.

Paddles featured in this video include:

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.