The best pickleball paddles for control players
Last Edited
Mar 07 2026
Category
Gear
While the game has trended toward power in recent years, we still think there’s room for the grinders out there – the players who love a long dinking rally and prioritize shot placement to keep their opponents off balance.
If that describes your game, we think you’ll love one of these control-oriented paddles. Below you'll find what we believe to be the best control paddles available right now.
How we came up with our rankings: Our paddle reviewers (both 5.0+ players) worked with other high-level players in their area to test the paddle on a variety of shots. This testing involved several hours of drills and 5.0+ games in an effort to determine how the paddle impacts performance in real-world scenarios.
This page will be updated regularly as new paddles hit the market. In many cases, using code "KITCHEN" at checkout will get you a discount -- using our code also helps us continue to produce this type of content.
Last updated: March 2026
Check out our other "best of" lists
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- The best pickleball paddles for control players
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- The best pickleball paddles under $200
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1. RPM Friction Pro 16mm widebody
This might be a bit of a controversial pick because all of the RPM paddles test quite high in terms of power and pop, but arguably the biggest attribute of this paddle is its consistency in the transition zone. Resets feel effortless and it's also easy to control spin and pace on dinks at the kitchen line.
Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for 15% off.
2. Franklin C45 Tempo 16mm
This is a great paddle for players who prefer to play a patient style and rely on resets and moving dinks around to win points. We felt like we would rarely miss a third-shot drop or reset in the transition zone with this paddle, but it still provided good pop in hands battles and enough putaway power to end a point when there was a good opportunity.
You can find our complete breakdown of the different C45 shapes here.
Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for 15% off.
3. Friday Aura
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.
Check out our full review of the Aura and Aura Pro here.
Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for $10 off.
4. JOOLA Kosmos Pro V
JOOLA has introduced a new "KineticFrame" in its new Pro V models, which was inspired by kick-point engineering in hockey sticks and golf clubs.
The KineticFrame is built to flex and recover during impact, and unlike prior paddles with a "diving board" neck flex, the KineticFrame uses a proprietary flex-point architecture that allows the paddle head to move parallel to its original position.
The dual-pivot design produces a motion that JOOLA engineers say delivers:
- Predictable & repeatable exit trajectory.
- Precise power (ie. the more you put in, the more you get out).
- Reduced launch-angle deviation.
- Faster snapback for rapid exchanges.
- Improved energy transfer efficiency.
JOOLA has also added a new hybrid shape to their paddle lineup called the Kosmos, which is now the signature shape of JOOLA pros Federico Staksrud and Tyson McGuffin.
Find our in-depth review of the Kosmos here.
Learn more about the development of the JOOLA Pro V series here.
5. Engage Pursuit Alpha 16mm
In a world of power paddles, Engage specifically built this model to excel in the control and spin categories. It still has enough juice to end a point when you have a good opportunity, but its gritty surface and responsive feel make it a breeze to put the ball exactly where you want it for those who value placement over power.
Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for 10% off.
HONORABLE MENTION
JOOLA Collin Johns Scorpeus Pro IV
Who’s a better example of a control player than Collin Johns? His signature paddle comes in at No. 4 on this list because it’s quite poppy for a “control” paddle. However, the 16mm core and wide-body shape still profile as control focused, while the power is there when you need it.
Check out our breakdown of the entire Pro IV line here.
Proton Project Peacock
Proton developed a 100% foam core in its latest paddle, giving it a much softer and more responsive feel without sacrificing top-end power. It also features the same gritty carbon fiber surface that made the Project Flamingo a popular choice for many players in 2025, so it's easy to add a lot of shape on all kinds of shots. Proton says third-party testing has also shown that the foam core is more resistant to breakdown over time than traditional honeycomb cores and other similar paddles, so this paddle should play consistently throughout its lifespan.
Check out our in-depth review of the Proton Project Peacock here.
Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for 10% off.
CRBN 4 TruFoam Genesis
CRBN was the first company to release a 100% foam core in early 2025, and then released the hybrid version a few months later. This paddle delivers top-tier dwell time and spin, which gives player tons of control over the direction and shape of their shots. In other words: The ball goes where you want it to.
Use code "KITCHEN" at checkout for 10% off.
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