Proton pickleball: Your guide to each of the brand's popular paddles

Proton Series One: The pioneers of spin

Proton’s Series One paddles feature the cutting-edge Nanotac surface, an ultra-tacky and smooth material that grabs the ball with maximum grip.

Unlike traditional textured paddles that lose their grit, the Nanotac surface stays grippy for the long haul.

Top players like Megan Dizon and Andrei Daescu reportedly used the same paddle throughout entire tournament seasons, while others were constantly switching out for a fresh one.

With a lifetime warranty on the Nanotac surface, Proton shows they’re serious about durability.

11mm or 15mm?

The 11mm model is lighter, giving you quick hand speed and added pop, perfect for fast exchanges at the kitchen line.

Meanwhile, the 15mm version provides extra forgiveness and more power on drives from the baseline and overheads, ideal for players who can manage the additional weight.

The Series 1 paddles also come in two shapes — square and elongated — to cater to your style.

The square shape offers a larger sweet spot, while the elongated version gives you more reach and power.

Series Two: For the precision players

The Series Two paddle is tailored for players who crave precision.

With an edgeless design and a 360-degree molded build, the paddle feels like an extension of your arm.

While the Series Two doesn’t feature the Nanotac surface, its gritty face still offers excellent spin and control. Plus, the sweet spot on this paddle actually expands with use, ensuring consistent performance over time.

Proton Series Three - Project Flamingo

The updated Series Three model from Proton features a more powerful core and a slightly more textured hitting surface for maximum pop and spin.

The Flamingo, released in January 2025, was quickly adopted by several pros on the PPA Tour and the 15mm “Velocity Core” has earned this paddle a reputation as one of the most aggressive on the market.

The original Series Three is slightly softer and favors a more control-focused game.

Proton Series Four

Nicknamed Project Roadrunner, Proton incorporated tons of new tech into this paddle.

The hybrid core gives it more power and pop than traditional polypropylene core paddles, while the high-quality carbon fiber face and exposed Kevlar fibers mean the grit won’t wear down as fast as traditional carbon fiber paddles.

And the edgeless design makes it feel fast in the hand.