The best pickleball paddles with summer vibes (2026)

The best pickleball paddles with summer vibes.

Most pickleball paddles still look pretty similar. Black carbon fiber. Dark graphics. Serious branding. But summer is the perfect excuse for brands to loosen up and get creative. From popsicles and peaches to flamingos and patriotic graphics, these are our favorite pickleball paddles bringing summer vibes to the courts in 2026. Final thoughts Most paddle […]

Holbrook Pickleball: Building a community of players chasing better

Michael Loyd hits a shot with the new Holbrook Fuze pickleball paddle.

When Breygan and Kasen Holbrook started Holbrook Pickleball from a small college apartment in Northern Utah, they weren’t trying to build just another paddle company. They were trying to build a brand for a specific type of player. The player who loves to compete. The player who is always looking to improve. The player who […]

The best pickleball paddles under $200, voted on by The Kitchen community

A few weeks ago, we asked The Kitchen Facebook Group (which has more than 190,000 members) one simple question: “What is your favorite pickleball paddle right now?” The response was massive. Across three community polls and hundreds of comments, a clear group of paddles separated themselves from the pack. We compiled the full results into this […]

The Top 10 pickleball paddles right now, voted on by The Kitchen community

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: […]

The best pickleball paddles under $200, ranked by The Kitchen

Best pickleball paddles under $200 graphic.

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 […]

The best women’s signature pickleball paddles, from a female perspective

Anna Leigh Waters holds her signature Franklin C45 Aurelius pickleball paddle.

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 […]