The Top 10 pickleball paddles right now, voted on by The Kitchen community (September 2026)

This has been among the most-used paddles at the amateur level since its release a year ago.

Players described it as explosive without feeling uncontrollable, powerful but forgiving, surprisingly stable and easy to generate pace with. The sweet spot drew constant praise, and several players noted how much more balanced it feels compared to older-generation power paddles.

This paddle has been rising in our community polls all year.

Players said they loved the feel of the J6CR, huge sweet spot, plush response, spin generation and kitchen control. This paddle truly has it all, and that’s why it’s been in our reviewers’ Top 5 since the spring.

The JOOLA Pro V Series earned huge support from players who prefer more of an all-court paddle.

The most common feedback: Buttery feel, easy access to power, better forgiveness than previous JOOLA generations, stable resets, and a cleaner feel in hands battles.

A lot of players described it as “power when you want it” rather than overwhelming pop on every shot. That balance is exactly what the market seems to be asking for right now.

This paddle wasn’t out yet the last time we did one of these community polls. The fact that it’s No. 4 on the list means that it’s quickly being adopted by a huge number of players, and for good reason — our reviewers think it’s a better fit for most players than the Boomstik because it prioritizes feel and controllability over raw power.

It also features removable/repositionable weights that let you customize swing weight, stability and power in seconds without tungsten tape or tools.

This is another paddle that has seen a steady rise since its release earlier this year. Players compared the Aura Pro to paddles costing 2x the price, while highlighting its excellent spin, big sweet spot, and balanced performance.

The most common takeaway: people genuinely feel like the Aura Pro overdelivers for the price.

The last time we did one of these community lists, the original Friction Pro was rated highly. This time around it was the V2 getting the most attention for RPM. It’s an updated version that offers more power and pop than the original Friction Pro while maintaining the Gen 3 feel that many players still prefer.

The Friction Pro V2 comes in three shapes — elongated, hybrid and widebody — as well as 14mm and 16mm options in each shape.

The RPM Q2 was designed in collaboration with popular paddle reviewer John Kew. Players loved the big power and pop it produces, as well as its forgiving sweet spot and stable feel on contact.

The Coral Pro took everything that made the original Coral an extremely popular paddle and made it even better. The Coral Pro features Six Zero’s “Double Diamond Tough” surface, a UPA-approved texture that delivers exceptional spin and long-lasting durability. It also maintains the plush feel, stability and all-court control that made the Coral a favorite for many players.

Players consistently praised the Loco for its firm but controlled feel, good pop without being too hot, performance on resets and low swingweight for fast exchanges at the kitchen line. A few commenters also pointed out the value compared to bigger brands.

Even more than a year after its release, players are still loving this paddle. And right now you can get a great deal on the Pro IV — certain models have been marked down to $149.95 for a limited time.