The Kitchen’s top pickleball paddles on the market right now
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Welcome to your one-stop shop for comparing options and deciding on your next pickleball paddle.
We’ve tested the best paddles from the top brands in the game for hours on the court, sought feedback from pros and put together a comprehensive list to help you find the perfect paddle for your game. Below you’ll find what we believe to be the best paddles available right now.
Because there are so many good paddles in the modern landscape, in early 2026 we expanded the list to 13 spots — a baker’s dozen — to be able to showcase more great options. We also included a few honorable mentions.
This page will be updated monthly as new paddles are released and we get our hands on the latest and greatest technology in the sport. 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: October 2026
OUR “BEST OF” LISTS
Best overall
– Our Top 13 paddles on the market + in-depth reviews for each oneBest by category
– Best power paddles
– Best control paddles
– Best all-court paddles
– Best full-foam paddlesBest by shot type
– Best paddles for dinks and drops
– Best paddles for drives and serves
– Best paddles for pop
– Best paddles for resets
– Best paddles for spinBest by price
– Best paddles under $200
– Best paddles under $150Best by skill level
– Best paddles for beginners
– Best paddles for intermediate players
– Best paddles for advanced playersGear
– Best pickleball bags
– Best pickleball shoes
– Best shoes for men
– Best shoes for women
– Best pickleball accessories
– Best pickleball training aids
– Best nets for every setting/price point
How we came up with our rankings
Below you will find our current Top 13 paddles.
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.
Note: We use the Life Time LT Pro 48 pickleball for our testing.
The best pickleball paddles right now, ranked by The Kitchen’s reviewers
JOOLA Pro V Series
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JOOLA introduced a new “KineticFrame” in its 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 while the paddle head moves 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.
Find our in-depth review of the JOOLA Pro V Kosmos here.
Learn more about the development of the JOOLA Pro V series here.
The Jade is RPM’s first paddle built with an MPP floating foam core, and it delivers elite spin thanks to the brand’s new SICmatrix silicon carbide surface, a durable grit that is touted to hold up even after several months of heavy play. The predictable response off the face lets you be extremely precise with the pace and shape of your shots, and in our early time with it we’ve been extremely impressed.
The RPM Friction Pro V2 is an updated version that offers more power and pop than the original Friction Pro while maintaining the Gen 3 feel that many high-level players prefer.
In an interview with The Kitchen, RPM Founder and pro player James Ignatowich said he has moved to China to be at the factory where RPM paddles are made, which has allowed him to be very hands-on and make small tweaks that ultimately impact performance. He compared the RPM Friction Pro V2 to an iPhone update — it’s not a complete overhaul, rather a 5-10% improvement from the original.
“With me in China I was able to really dial in the materials,” he said.
The Friction Pro V2 comes in three shapes — elongated, hybrid and widebody — as well as 14mm and 16mm options in each shape.
This paddle features an intricate core design with multiple layers and cutouts that allows the paddle to absorb and transfer energy to the ball in a more controlled way.
It has more of a “pocketing” effect on contact compared to many other foam paddles, which makes it a breeze to shape the ball on shots from the baseline and flicks out of the air at the kitchen line. It also maintains the top-end power that full foam paddles have become known for over the past year.
11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 Series
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The Jelly Bean 2 features a softer, denser EMA foam core with sneaky power, wrapped in the brand’s popular “HexGrit” surface. The Jelly Bean 2 comes in four shapes and three incredible colorways that set this paddle apart from almost everything else on the market.
Check out our full review of the 11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 Series here.
The Proton Project Coyote was released this summer and has generated a lot of buzz among paddle reviewers and players in the weeks since. It’s a “Gen 3” build that delivers great power and a predictable response off the paddle face, making it a good option for a wide variety of play styles.
It has a relatively low swingweight compared to other elongated paddles on the market, so it’s very maneuverable in fast exchanges, and Proton also introduced a slightly different throat taper with the Project Coyote, which is something a lot of Proton players had been asking for. We think this is the best Proton paddle yet and could still move up our list as we spend more time with it.
Check out our full review of the Proton Project Coyote here.
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The original Bread & Butter Loco was one of the most popular paddles of the past several years, and the Loco 2 keeps the same core construction while adding the brand’s durable Space Dust Grit for serious spin that lasts. If you were a fan of the original, we think you’ll like this one even more.
The Six Zero Coral Pro took everything that made the original Six Zero Coral an extremely popular paddle and made it even better. The Coral Pro features Six Zero’s new “Double Diamond Tough” surface, a gritty 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.
Volair took a unique approach with the CMD HYB. Instead of trying to develop its own durable grit solution, it licensed 11SIX24’s proven HexGrit and paired it with its own full floating foam core. The result is a paddle that delivers the exceptional spin HexGrit is known for with an all-court playing profile. It’s currently pro player Dylan Frazier’s signature paddle.
Over the past two years Friday Pickleball has transformed from a company known for its viral videos to a legitimate player in the performance paddle market.
The brand took the next step on that journey in early 2026 with the launch of their Aura and Aura Pro paddles.
The Aura Pro is a full-foam paddle that delivers great pop in hands battles and big power on full swings like drives and overheads. It features a rubber ring around the core that gives the paddle a slightly more plush/less harsh feel than a lot of other full-foam paddles, which helped us get a good feel for the ball on shots that require more touch. In that sense it is an upgrade from a lot of the foam options we saw in 2025.
With the release of the Power 2 Series, 11SIX24 introduced a new grit technology called “HexGrit.” The paddle face is very gritty to the touch, and the brand claims the HexGrit is more durable than raw carbon fiber and other grit technologies on the market.
So if you’re a player who likes the feel of full-foam paddles and want something with longer lasting grit (why wouldn’t you want that?), then this is a great option.
Check out our in-depth review of the new Ultre Power 2 here.
Selkirk Omni
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The Omni prioritizes feel and controllability over raw power and features removable/repositionable weights that let you customize swing weight, stability and power in seconds without tungsten tape or tools. Combined with Selkirk’s Infinigrit Surface and new core construction, this feels like a very different direction from the Boomstik, and honestly one that we think will fit most players better.
The RPM Q2 was designed in collaboration with popular paddle reviewer John Kew. It delivers everything we’ve come to expect from full-foam paddles: Big power, a consistent sweet spot and a firm feel on contact.
HONORABLE MENTION
JOOLA Pro IV: It’s more than a year old at this point, but we still think this is a great paddle. Plus, JOOLA has been offering some seriously good deals on the Pro IV Series. Shop here ($149.95).
JOOLA POWER FX: JOOLA’s first full-foam paddle delivers great pop in hands battles at the kitchen line. If that’s a focus for you, this is a good option. Shop here ($179.95).
Thrive Ignite: This paddle features Thrive’s new Clear Fusion Grit Technology, which delivers great spin with long-lasting durability that won’t wear down after extended play. Shop here ($219.99)
Proton Peacock: Proton developed a unique foam core in the Peacock, giving it a softer and more responsive feel without sacrificing good power. Shop here ($180).
Paddletek Honeyfoam TKO-X: The 14mm version of this paddle delivers great power and pop, while the 16mm version offers a more consistent and stable feel. Shop here ($199.99).
Luzz Inferno2 M1: The new Luzz Inferno 2 M1 features an upgraded core from the original Pro 4 Inferno, delivering a more uniform feel and added consistency. Shop here ($239).
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit: 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. Shop here ($119.99) — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for $20 off!
Engage X2: The X2 features a “Quad Density” foam core and a new approach to the carbon fiber face, a combination that delivered great feel and elite spin in our testing. Shop here ($259.99) — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for 10% off!
