The best pickleball paddles for power players

1. JOOLA Perseus Mod TA-15 Pro Player Edition

The Mod pushed the limits of power and spin in 2024, so much so that USA Pickleball is “sunsetting” this paddle and a few other power paddles on July 1, 2025. It is still legal in USAP-sanctioned play until then, however, and is truly a paddle for players who demand high performing equipment.

2. Gearbox Pro Power Elongated

If power is what you’re looking for above all else, look no further. The Gearbox Pro Power Elongated lets bangers have a field day and gives a boost to players who need that extra bit of putaway power. It also generates good spin with Gearbox’s patented SST Core and carbon fiber paddle face. As with the Mod TA-15, this paddle is on the USAP list of paddles that will be "sunset" on July 1.

3. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 12.7mm

Designed in conjunction with top men’s pro Christian Alshon, the Bantam TKO-C 12.7mm gives players max power from the baseline and great pop in hands battles at the kitchen line. It also gets great spin, so those powerful third-shot drives will have enough dip to stay in the court. 

4. JOOLA Tyson McGuffin Magnus 3S

As the name suggests, this is the paddle of choice for OG pickleball pro Tyson McGuffin and his “Ferrari forehand.” The longer body of this model allows the face and core to flex more toward the top end of the paddle, returning more energy to the ball as a result.

5. Proton Series Three - Project Flamingo

The updated Series Three model from Proton features a more powerful core and a very gritty hitting surface for maximum pop and spin. The Flamingo, released in January 2025, has already been adopted by several pros on the PPA Tour and the 15mm “Velocity Core” is quickly earning this paddle a reputation as one of the most aggressive on the market.

Check out our in-depth review here.