The best pickleball paddles for beginners
Last Edited
Jan 10 2025
Category
Gear
If you’ve just played pickleball for the first few times and are looking to start playing more regularly, you’re going to need a better paddle than whatever cheapo option you found at Target or Walmart or Amazon.
We know you don’t think you need something fancy, but just trust us on this.
Most new players experience a vicious cycle that goes something like this:
- I’m not going to buy a paddle. I’ll just borrow someone else’s.
- Damn, that was fun. Guess Amazon gets my $20 after all.
- *Plays a few more times* This paddle sucks. Guess Amazon gets $60 more.
Now you have two paddles and you’ve dropped about $80.
Eventually, you end up wishing you’d just spent a little more in the first place to get something that lasts and is good quality.
So we recommend you (or the person you’re convincing to play) skip all the steps up to this point and spend the money on a good paddle at a low price point.
We’re here to help you with that.
These are the best pickleball paddles on the market today for beginning players. We’ve kept it to paddles under $100 and will update this list regularly as new paddles are released or if we see a good sale on something that usually costs more than that.
Last updated: January 2025
1. Six Zero Quartz
The Six Zero Quartz combines a lightweight design with a high-performing raw carbon fiber face, allowing beginners to really feel the ball on the paddle face. Its unibody construction makes it more durable and stable than many paddles in this price range. With a polypropylene honeycomb core, this paddle provides the ideal mix of control and manageable power.
Weight: 7.9 ounces
Handle length: 5 inches
Paddle length: 16 inches
Paddle width: 7.9 inches
Paddle face: Raw carbon fiber
Core material: Polypropylene honeycomb
Core thickness: 15mm
2. Franklin Signature
The Signature paddle from Franklin plays to the standards of a high-level player but at a price that most beginners can afford. It has an extra textured surface that creates incredible traction so that balls spin more easily. Vibration is reduced thanks to the polypropylene core, which also creates a large, versatile sweet spot. The long handle provides plenty of room for two-handed backhands, which many players coming over from tennis will find useful.
Weight: 7.7 ounces (13mm) or 8.1 ounces (16mm)
Handle length: 5.6 inches
Paddle length: 16.5 inches
Paddle width: 7.3 inches
Core thickness: 13mm or 16mm
Paddle face: Fiberglass with MaxGrit
Core material: Polypropylene honeycomb
3. Engage Encore Pro V2.0
The Engage Encore Pro V2.0 is a perfect beginner-level paddle that will keep up with players as they progress. Its unique FiberFlex Fiberglass Skin hitting surface offers players plenty of forgiveness and the ability to "feel" their shots. Although the 15.2mm version is the thicker and more controllable iteration of the Encore Pro V2.0, the polymer core still packs a punch on putaways. Lightweight yet high-performing, it’s a go-to for new players working on their soft game.
Weight: 8.0 ounces
Handle length: 5.3 inches
Paddle length: 16.25 inches
Paddle width: 7.75 inches
Paddle face: Fiberflex fiberglass skin
Core material: E1+ polymer core
Core thickness: 15.2mm
4. Paddletek Bantam TS-5
The Bantam TS-5 is a lighter version of the popular EX-L. Its reduced weight combines with a Bantam PolyCore interior for all the power you expect from the Bantam series, plus increased speed, control and maneuverability. The result is a high-performance paddle unmatched in its weight class.
Weight: 7.3 ounces
Handle length: 5 inches
Paddle length: 15.5 inches
Paddle width: 7.8 inches
Paddle face: Fiberglass
Core material: Polymer honeycomb
Core thickness: 12.7mm
5. Pickleball bundles
The most economical way for families or couples to "try out pickleball" as a beginner is to buy a bundle:
- The Franklin X-1000 2-Paddle Bundle comes with two paddles manufactured by a trustworthy brand in sporting goods; plus two of their reliable X-40 pickleballs; all for $63.59.
- For more paddle/ball bundles in larger quantities and different price ranges, check out Pickleball Central's bundles page to find the one that fits your family's needs.
Join Pickleball’s Greatest Community
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter to be the most well-informed pickleball fan on the court, featuring news, giveaways, and much more!
