10 Best Pickleball Paddles

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I have a personality that likes to tinker and learn how things work, so when I started playing pickleball almost daily, I started a quest that led me to test around 75 pickleball paddles to find the best pickleball paddle.

I’ve tested $5 paddles, and I’ve also tested some of the most expensive pickleball paddles to form my best paddles list. Here’s the list of a few of the paddles I’ve tested.

I also know that I may have missed ones on this list, so if you can comment below your favorites, I’ll add them to my list to try out.

First, I’ll cover the top 3 paddles overall than best by categories:

Best Overall Paddles

1) JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm ~ $160

I may lose some friends over this choice (haha) as this is a Gen 2 paddle, but hear me out.

I like to compete my paddles against each other, so I competed this Gen 2 vs the new Gen 4. I believe that the Gen 2 had better control, but the Gen 4 had more power and some control. In addition, I saw a post that Ben Johns actually played with the Gen 2 Perseus during a single match despite having the Gen 4.

Overall, it was close, but here’s what I love about this paddle:

1. Control: Massive sweet spot. Super forgiving and consistent.
2. Spin: CFS texture grips well. I was hitting sharp slices and topspin.
3. Grip: Long handle works great for two-handers.
4. Comfort: Still feels good in long rallies—balanced and stable.
5. Value: Not as flashy as newer models, but honestly, better value than most $200+ paddles I’ve tested.

Check out this paddle:

2) Honolulu J2K Pickleball Paddle ~ $140 (After Discount Code)

After testing many paddles, I wrote a short post about my experience, and I got a lot of feedback that I needed to try the Honolulu J2k paddle that won the best pickleball paddle of 2024. There are a few versions of this paddle, including the J2K+ and then the NF paddles that are released in 2025, but I wanted to see if the J2K was what people said it was.

And, the resounding answer is that this is definitely one of the best pickleball paddles you can buy. I have hit shots that I don’t normally get, and the control and spin on this paddle is insane. Plus, I did not see any issues with power.

1. Power: Huge pop on serves and I have been getting a lot of compliments on my serve using this paddle.
2. Control: Very soft feel, nice pop similar to the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion 16mm CFS
3. Spin: Unreal grip. My serves were on points twisting the ball what felt like 1-2 feet on the ground.
4. Unboxing: Probably the nicest paddle cover I have among around 40-50 paddle covers.

Check out this paddle:

3) JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus Pro IV paddle ~ $280

I tried the Perseus 3s and I just didn’t make the switch from my Joola Ben Johns Gen 2 as I didn’t love the feel. That all changed with the Pro IV. This paddle has unreal touch, and my opponent I play with regularly mentioned just how my dink game was much better the first time I used this paddle.

That said, I was just playing with this paddle in a tournament and went down 1-2 because I really felt that I lost control against the #1 pick.

That said, it’s still an insanely good paddle, and here are the qualities that stood out:

1. Power: Huge pop on serves and putaways even with the 16mm version.
2. Control: Surprisingly soft for a power paddle. Dinks felt buttery.
3. Spin: Unreal bite. Opponents struggled with my topspin drops.
4. Feel: Premium unboxing. Came with grip tape and stickers.
5. Price: Expensive, but I bought it on Amazon and never looked back.

Check out this paddle:

Best By Category

Best Budget and Beginner Pickleball Paddle: Fanovae 3D Carbon Fiber ~$25

My favorite budget paddle often changes because the price changes for decent paddles and some paddles go out of stock. Right now, I love the Fanovae 3D paddle because it’s a solid carbon fiber paddle for an insane price of $25. This is also a great beginner paddle because the price is better than most cheap fiberglass and cheap wooden paddles from Target, Walmart, Amazon.

1. Control: It’s a 16mm paddle with T300 Carbon Fiber. It’s not T700, but it’s a budget option.
2. Spin: Plenty of grit, side spin serves were nasty.
3. Power: Not a bomber, but had enough pop to finish points.
4. Feel: I tried many of the Fanovae paddles, and this had the best feel for the value.
5. Accessories: I appreciate that not only is this paddle $25, it also comes with grip tape, a paddle cover and a carbon fiber eraser.

Check out this paddle:

Best Paddle Under $50: Srikel Aura Series Under $50 with coupon

This paddle looks sharp and comes in a premium silver box that feels like opening a MacBook. The paddle has great control and solid power. It includes great accessories too: cover, grip tape, and a carbon fiber eraser.

1. Control: Big sweet spot and 3K carbon fiber surface made dinks and drops super precise.
2. Spin: Excellent grip on the ball—backhand topspin was smooth and effective.
3. Power: Surprising pop for a 16mm paddle. Serves and drives felt fast but still controlled.
4. Feel: Comparable to Vatic Prism Flash, but slightly softer touch. 

Check out this paddle:

Best Paddle Under $75: Roore Coronado Solana ~ $75

This paddle looks great, and plays even better. The brand is based in San Diego, and the paddle has the design of a topographic map of the ocean. Super fun.

1. Control: Super consistent. I’ve gone undefeated using it so far.
2. Spin: Carbon weave face grips the ball nicely.
3. Power: Solid drive potential. Serves and forehands felt strong.
4. Feel: Slightly heavier than others, but never felt clunky.

Check out this paddle:

Best Paddle Under $100: Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16mm ~ $89–$99

I have been competing the Joola Agassi 16mm Edge against this paddle, and I believe I may like the Agassi Edge above this paddle, so I may update this, but the Vatic Pro has been in the top spot for a while as it’s a solid choice.

1. Control: 16mm gives that soft touch for resets and dinks.
2. Spin: 14mm wins here—insane grip on the ball.
3. Power: 14mm pops; 16mm is more steady and controlled.
4. Feel: Feels premium for this price point. Paddle cover included.
5. Value: Tested against $200+ paddles and still held its own.

Check out this paddle:

Best Intermediate Paddle: JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm ~$160

Yep, the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm shows up again, and for good reason, this paddle has insane control that is perfect for intermediate players.

1. Control: 16mm core makes dinks and resets super reliable.
2. Spin: CFS face adds just enough grit without being too much.
3. Power: More than enough for passing shots and drives.
4. Feel: Balanced and soft in hand. Great grip and comfort.
5. Verdict: If you’re leveling up from beginner gear, this is the one I’d recommend first.

Check out this paddle:

Best Control Paddle: Warping Point Grasp Control – ~$99

I went 5-0 with this paddle the first time I used it, and I just felt that I could control anywhere I put the ball. I really love the value of this paddle and the fact that it has a 20mm thickness and edgeless design.

1. Control: 20mm core gives ridiculous touch and accuracy.
2. Spin: T700 face plus gritty coating adds plenty of bite.
3. Power: Not a banger, but still held up on drives.
4. Feel: Great for long rallies. Handle grip is money.
5. Price: Easily one of the best values in the control category.

Check out this paddle:

Best Power Paddle: JOOLA Ben Johns Pro IV ~ $280

This thing hits hard. My buddy was playing with another ~$200 paddle and then switched to this paddle, and I could tell right away just how powerful this paddle was. He liked the paddle so much that he purchased one about a week after he played with mine.

1. Power: Absolute rocket launcher. Serves and putaways felt unfair.
2. Spin: Solid bite, especially helpful on drives and roll shots.
3. Control: Surprisingly good for a power paddle. I dinked the best with this paddle than any other paddle.
4. Feel: Best of JOOLA’s newest tech. Built for high-level offense.
5. Verdict: The most fun I’ve had crushing the ball. Easily my favorite power paddle.

Check out this paddle:

Best Spin Paddle: Volair Mach 2 Forza ~ $179 (with Discount Code: BePickleballer)

I went 4-0 with this paddle the day I unboxed it, and spin was the difference. It’s got the wide body which is great for spin, and it was really fun to see how insane you can spin the ball with this paddle.

1. Spin: Off the charts. My forehand serve was curving like crazy.
2. Control: Surprisingly accurate. Helped me clean up unforced errors.
3. Power: Just enough to finish points when needed.
4. Feel: Widebody shape gives great surface area for spin.
5. Unboxing: One of my favorite unboxing experiences. Premium box, fun opening it.

Check out this paddle:

Best Paddle Set: Selkirk Latitude 2.0 Set ~ Under $75

Used to be a Costco exclusive, now cheaper on Amazon. Side note: I like the Latitude 2.0 much more than the new paddle set at Costco as the new version is fiberglass, so I felt that they had some “paddleflation” because they went from carbon fiber last year to fiber glass this year. Meh.

1. Control: Easy to use right away. Felt consistent on drops.
2. Spin: Has texture for spin, though still dialing mine in.
3. Power: More than expected for an entry-level set.
4. Feel: Lightweight and forgiving. A fun, no-stress paddle.
5. Verdict: At this price for two paddles and accessories? Honestly a great gift or starter set.

Check out this paddle:

Which Best Pickleball Paddle Should You Choose?

It feels like there are thousands of paddles to choose from which can make things confusing. In addition, each paddle has unique qualities that stand out. Overall, I believe JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm paddle is the best pickleball paddle regardless of price, but there are many other solid options to choose from.