The best budget pickleball paddles
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If you’re looking to dive into pickleball without overspending, we’ve got a few recommendations for you, featuring paddles that combine value with performance.
Since everybody’s definition of “value” is a little different, we’re considering paddles under $150 for this guide. In many cases, using code “KITCHEN” at checkout will get you an added discount — using our code also helps us continue to produce this type of content.
So whether you’re a seasoned player looking for a backup paddle or a new player looking to upgrade from an entry-level option, we’re confident you’ll find something to elevate your game.
This page will be updated regularly as new paddles hit the market.
Last updated: August 2026
Check out our other “best of” lists
– The best pickleball paddles on the market right now
– The best shoes for pickleball players
– The best pickleball paddles for power players
– The best pickleball paddles for control players
– The best pickleball paddles for spin
– The best pickleball paddles under $200
– The best pickleball paddles for beginners
– The best women’s signature pickleball paddles, from a female perspective
– The best bags designed specifically for pickleball
The MPP Turbo uses a full floating foam core with an MPP foam center and an EVA foam ring around the perimeter. MPP is a softer foam, which creates a more springy and smooth feel than the EPP Turbo models and many other full-foam paddles on the market. The MPP/EVA construction is very similar to the Luzz Pro 4 Inferno.
“The Turbo line focuses on one thing: maximum performance at an accessible price,” according to Enhance. “Instead of chasing experimental manufacturing processes, we optimized construction to create a paddle that competes with premium models without the premium cost.”
Check out our in-depth review of the Enhance Turbo MPP here.
The all-new Luzz Glider comes in a hybrid shape that has a very low swingweight, making it extremely maneuverable in hands battles at the kitchen line. It's competitive in terms of performance with several paddles that are twice the price or more.
The Aura is probably the softest feeling foam paddle we have played with to this point, which fills a need in a market dominated by stiff and overly powerful foam paddles. It was a refreshing change of pace — it’s easy to move through the ball confidently without fear of popping it up too high and we had total control over where we were placing the ball.
The Warping Point Neon is a control-leaning “Gen 3” paddle with a forgiving sweet spot. It's a good fit for a variety of players — high level players who prefer a more plush feel will like the softer feedback the paddle provides, while beginners and intermediate players get the benefit of added forgiveness. The Neon was the paddle of choice for pro player Wyatt Stone for more than a year.
Featuring a full-foam core with an EVA foam perimeter, Vatic's latest release delivers big baseline power when you want it while maintaining feel and consistency in the transition zone and at the kitchen line.
Our testing process
Our paddle reviewers (all 5.0+ players) work with other high-level players in their area to test paddles on a variety of shots. This testing involves several hours of drills and games in an effort to determine how the paddle impacts performance in real-world scenarios.
We use the Life Time LT Pro 48 pickleball for our testing.
