We recently asked members of The Kitchen Facebook Group one simple question: “What’s your favorite pickleball paddle right now?” The response was massive. Across three community polls and hundreds of comments from rec players, 5.0 tournament grinders, coaches and gear junkies, a clear group of paddles separated themselves from the pack. And one thing became obvious: […]
Every year in the spring, seemingly every pickleball paddle brand under the sun comes out with new models. This year was no different, with a flood of new releases in February, March and April that have shaken up the market and put new brands on the map as serious contenders in the “best paddle” discussion. […]
Over the past few years there has been a lot of movement in the cost of pickleball paddles as different brands try to identify the sweet spot between performance and price. Many companies have come out with mid-to-high tier options in the $180-$200 range, while most top-tier paddles still hover between $250-$300 (or more). If […]
We’ve come a long way in the world of pickleball equipment in just a few short years. Prior to about 2022, there was no such thing as a pickleball shoe. We were all wearing tennis shoes, and when companies did start to market their shoes toward pickleball players, they often would just use an existing […]
We’ve come a long way in the world of pickleball equipment in just a few short years. Prior to about 2022, there was no such thing as a pickleball shoe. We were all wearing tennis shoes, and when companies did start to market their shoes toward pickleball players, they often would just use an existing […]
A lot of companies have started making pickleball shoes in recent years, which is no surprise given the sport’s incredible growth. But there are some red flags that consumers need to look out for before pulling the trigger on a new pair of “pickleball shoes.” In many cases, bigger brands have simply repurposed tennis shoes or […]
Over the years several pickleball paddle companies have made “signature” paddles for their top pros. I recently spent several weeks playing and practicing with the latest signature paddles that were designed in conjunction with some of the best women’s pro players. I’m not a pro and I’m not very close, but I’m always trying to […]
Most people who end up playing pickleball on a regular basis go through the same process when it comes to their bag choice. At first, you don’t need much — just a drawstring bag big enough to hold a paddle and a couple balls. But the more you play, the more you need to carry […]
While the game has trended toward power in recent years, we still think there’s room for the grinders out there – the players who love a long dinking rally and prioritize shot placement to keep their opponents off balance. If that describes your game, we think you’ll love one of these control-oriented paddles. Below you’ll […]
If you’ve just played pickleball for the first few times and are looking to start playing more regularly, you’re going to need a better paddle than whatever cheapo option you found at Target or Walmart or Amazon. We know you don’t think you need something fancy, but just trust us on this. Most new players […]
