The best pickleball paddles for intermediate players
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As you level up in pickleball, the paddle you use will have a more noticeable impact on your performance.
And if you’ve reached the 3.5-4.0+ level, you’re probably becoming more in-tune with your play style and what kind of paddle will fit with your game.
For intermediate players, we recommend a paddle that is a good middle ground between power and control, with a high-enough ceiling to stay competitive against good players, but enough consistency to keep your mishits in play.
You might think you want the same paddle you see the pros or your local 5.0 players using, but it’s important to keep in mind that those players are hitting the center of the paddle almost every time, so they can afford to sacrifice some consistency if it means higher performance on their really good shots.
Below you will find what we believe to be the best paddles for intermediate players. We’ve tried to keep this list to paddles between $100-$200, because there are a lot of quality paddles in that price range that will fit a wide variety of players.
These are great options if you’re somebody who is starting to play more regularly and are buying your second or third paddle.
This page will be updated regularly as new paddles are released and we get our hands on the latest and greatest technology in the sport. In most 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: July 2026
Check out our other “best of” lists
– The Kitchen’s Top 13 paddles on the market + in-depth reviews for each one
– 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 under $150
– 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 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.
Enhance Pickleball got started as a company making training aids and producing instructional content.
Over the years they have dabbled in manufacturing paddles, but their main focus was their Dink Master training board and several other products meant to help players work on their game. That all changed in 2025, first with the release of the Enhance Gen 4.5 paddle and then the launch of the Enhance DUO elongated and widebody models late in the year.
The DUO is a 100% foam core paddle that has turned heads in the industry, proving that Enhance is capable of producing paddles that perform at or near the top of the market.
The latest release from Honolulu one of the best “full foam” paddles on the market right now. The J2CR 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 attacks out of the air at the kitchen line. It also maintains good power and has a low swingweight, making it very maneuverable in fast exchanges at the net.
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 latest paddle from Six Zero is sturdy, reliable and consistent. It's a great fit for a wide range of players because it strikes a good balance between power and control. If you're a player who tries to play good, fundamental pickleball rather than relying on raw power, the Coral is one of the best options out there.
One of the most popular paddles among pros and amateurs of the past 2 years — the JOOLA 3S Series — has now been re-released with new colorways and the stamp of approval from both USA Pickleball and the United Pickleball Association of America. The 3S paddles previously were not USAP certified. The dual-certification means that amateur players can now use the 3S paddles in any tournament setting, whether that's a PPA Tour/MLP event or a USAP sanctioned event. Even though the tech featured in the 3S Series has been around for more than a year, it is still the paddle of choice for several JOOLA signed pros and many unsponsored pros — which is how you know a paddle is very good.
This Engage model was designed as a power paddle that is still controllable for most players, compared to many other modern paddles that have prioritized power above all else. That means you can end a point when you have a good opportunity to do so, but you're also not going to spray the ball all over the park.
Bread & Butter Loco
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The Bread & Butter Loco series was one of the best paddles released in 2025, and the hybrid shape allows for a touch more control while maintaining high-end power. It feels very consistent and stable with a generous sweet spot, but doesn’t quite have the same “pocketing” effect as some of the other foam paddles we have rated higher.
This paddle is designed for ultimate control and is a great option for players who are starting to move up in level and take the game more seriously. The Vapor shape combines a great sweet spot with good reach and maneuverability.
Gearbox GBX Power Hybrid
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As the name suggests, the Gearbox GBX Power Hybrid offers good power on aggressive shots like overheads and third-shot drives, but it's also a very forgiving and stable paddle. That combination is well-suited to players who are moving up to the 4.0+ level and want a paddle that can grow with their game.
