The best pickleball paddles for resets
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Resets are among the hardest shots in pickleball to execute. They require great touch and control, as well as the experience to know when to reset and when to attack.
And it’s a shot that has huge implications at every level.
In 3.5 and 4.0 games, it’s more likely that players will need to hit multiple resets from the transition zone before they can advance safely to the kitchen line.
In 4.5+ games, a good reset can bail you out of trouble and completely turn the point back in your favor.
So why not use a pickleball paddle that makes things a little easier on this difficult shot?
Below you will find the paddles that stand out in our testing when it comes to resets in the transition zone.
We’ve separated these paddles into three tiers:
Best in class: If resets are the No. 1 priority, this is the paddle we’d go for.
Elite: All of these paddles are excellent on resets. Maybe you’re looking for a certain brand or price point. We bet there’s something in here that fits your needs.
Very good: While these paddles didn’t make the elite tier, they still perform very well on resets. We’re talking Top 15-ish out of hundreds and hundreds of paddles that we’ve tested.
So if resets are something you want to put an emphasis on, you can’t go wrong with any of the options below.
Last updated: September 2026
Check out our other “best of” lists
– Our 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 for dinks and drops
– The best pickleball paddles for drives and serves
– The best pickleball paddles for pop
– The best pickleball paddles under $200
– The best pickleball paddles under $150
– The best pickleball paddles for beginners
– The best pickleball paddles for intermediate players
– The best pickleball paddles for advanced players
– The best bags designed specifically for pickleball
BEST IN CLASS
11SIX24 Jelly Bean 2 Series
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ELITE
JOOLA Pro V Series
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RPM Friction Pro
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Friday Aura
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Six Zero Coral Pro
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Selkirk Omni
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Paddletek Honeyfoam ESQ
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VERY GOOD
Honolulu J2CR
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RPM Friction Pro V2
Use code “KITCHEN” for 15% off at checkout.
JOOLA Pro IV Series
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Enhance DUO
Use code “KITCHEN” at checkout for $20 off.
Luzz Glider
Use code “KITCHEN” for 15% off!
Franklin C45 Series
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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.
