What Is The Most Expensive Pickleball Paddle

What Is The Most Expensive Pickleball Paddle? Top pickleball paddles now cost over $300, a big jump from the $30 beginner sets.  This might seem surprising, but let’s explore why.

High-end paddles offer exceptional quality and innovation, crucial for serious players.  For a quick overview, you can check out the top paddles on Amazon, but let’s get more in-depth now.

In pickleball sports, where precision and power are key, these pickleball paddles stand out for their craftsmanship and innovation, justifying their high prices.

This blog will guide you through the high-end pickleball paddles, highlighting the features, materials, and designs that make them special.  Whether you’re a seasoned player ready to invest in the best or a curious enthusiast, we’ll reveal what sets these paddles apart.

While spending more doesn’t guarantee you’ll play better, many top-tier paddles offer intriguing features worth considering.

While pricey paddles don’t always guarantee they’re better, some brands use advanced polymers for enhanced durability and a consistent feel.  This leads to more accurate shots, which is crucial for serious players.  So, if you’re looking for longevity and top-notch performance, investing in a high-end paddle can be a smart choice.

Choosing the right pickleball paddle involves several factors.  Prices range from $50 to $350, but keep in mind that quality paddles can last for years.  In my experience, paddles under $50 are suitable only for absolute beginners who play infrequently.

When checking out different brands and models, consider the weight. Heavier paddles are more durable and provide a better grip, while lighter ones are easier to maneuver but might not be as sturdy.  Also, consider the type of ball you’ll use, as most paddles are designed for either rubber or composite balls.

In a big moment, Ben Johns, the world’s top pickleball player, won his 100th gold medal on the PPA tour at just 24 years old. This amazing achievement shows how skilled he is. To celebrate, Joola released a special, signed paddle. You probably won’t see anyone using it during games, but you’ll find it on eBay for 10x the original price. I’m not really into this.

This paddle is limited edition and is memorable, if you like to collect, maybe you will want to get it.

Specs:

Thickness: 14mm

Core: Carbon fiber (SST)

Face: Raw carbon fiber

Shape:

Elongated (16.5×7.4”)

Fusion: (16.0×7.4”)

Handle: 5.5”

Grip: 4.0”

Weight: 8.0oz

Swing weight:

Power Elongated: 119

Control elongated: 120

Power Fusion: 110

Control Fusion: 112

Twist weight: 5-5.1 (low)

Spin RPM: ~2000 RPM across all models

Warranty: 1 year

Price: $274.99 from Gearbox

Bottom Line：

The paddle is comfortable in the hand and has a light feel. It feels light and easy to move.  The hand speed is pretty good, but not the best.  The swing weight makes it a bit slow. The sweet spot is very small and if you hit outside of it, you’ll feel a lot of vibration and lose power. Adding lead tape can help make the sweet spot bigger.

You can hit powerful serves as long as you keep the ball low. If the ball goes high, it will go out.

For low and hard serves, just place the paddle in the path of the ball. For high serves you have to be careful and control the shot or it will go out. Looping returns are a bit tricky. When you counter or hit, the ball travels so fast that it usually catches your opponent off guard.

The speed of your shot is hard to predict. With the other paddle, if you use A power to get B speed, then you use 2A power to get 2B speed. But with this paddle, if you use 2A power, you’ll get much more than 2B speed. So you have to be careful how much power you use and close the racket face more to keep the ball. But if you hit it the right way, it can be very effective. The spin isn’t great compared to other good spin paddles.

About the resets: These are hard to control.  Most of mine went high and out of the kitchen.

On dinks and drop shots: These are surprisingly easy and accurate. If the shot is slow and gentle, the paddle feels really soft. Dinks are very accurate, with about 95% of my drops on target.

Overall, I like this paddle. No paddle is perfect, but the pros outweigh the cons with this one. However, it’s not worth $275 plus tax.

Specs:

Surface: Charged Carbon Surface

Core: Propulsion Core

Core (mm): 16

Control: 97

Power: 97

Spin: 98

Average Weight: 8oz / 8.1oz

Paddle Length: 16in / 16.5in

Paddle Width: 8in / 7.5in

Grip Type: Gray Feel-Tec Pure Grip

Grip Length: 5in/ 5.25in / 5.5in

Grip Circumference: 4.25in

Price：$279.95 from JOOLA

Bottom Line：

Joola released his latest gen 3 paddle in April. First of all, I have to say that I really like the design and color scheme of this series of paddles.

Their previous core was flexible and elastic, and they also added extra layers of foam around the core, this allows it to generate more power, especially when combined with the existing foam used in the edge guard, which now extends from the bottom edge over the surface of the paddle all the way to the top of the paddle, but the handle still maintaining a direct connection to the polymer core material, which allows for more precise feedback and feel for the player compared to previous generation models, these paddles will offer superior power but with greater feel and control.

Another feature of the Gen 3 series is the addition of an embedded NFC chip inside the paddle, this not only helps to verify that your paddle is indeed a genuine Joola paddle and not a fake, you can also register your paddle directly which is a neat feature.

Having said that, we have some familiar shapes from the Gen 3 series, with the Hyperion and Perseus models with core thicknesses of 14mm and 16mm.  Very similar in specs, the Hyperion remains unchanged from its predecessor

just has a head shape with curved arrows to improve maneuverability, while the Perseus is more square and has a bit more reach and stability.

There is also the Scorpeus model, which is popular with doubles players because of its wide body shape and large sweet spot.  Hyperion, Perseus and Scorpeus all have handles from 5 1/2 inches to 5 1/2 inches long to fit the back of either hand.

Joola has also introduced a new model called Magnus, which is available in 14mm and 16mm core thicknesses.  Magnus was designed specifically for Tyson McGuffin, who has now signed with Joola.

It is an elongated shape with a 5″ handle, the grip size of the 16mm paddle is about 4″ 1/4″.   If you want a smaller grip size, the 14mm paddle has a grip size of 4 1/8″.

Let’s take a look at my rating of them in terms of power control, rotation, and maneuverability as we deal with them.

Two different core thicknesses (14mm and 16mm) I will rate these based on the shape of the model, the 14mm paddle will be a little lighter, with about a 2 ounce difference between the two, and the 14mm will have more power.

The ability, while the 16mm will have more control over the rotation potential will be the same as their maneuverability, and the only variable for maneuverability between the two thickness variants will be grip size, which is just a matter of personal preference.

The Magnus paddle ranks first in power and the Hyperion feels second in power, followed by the Perseus paddle.  Scorpeus gives you easy to use wide body shapes for turning.

Maneuverability is tied between Hyperion and Scorpeus, followed by Perseus and then Magnus, with Hyperion’s arrowhead curved head shape allowing it to swing through the air more easily than Scorpeus.

The paddles are shorter, which makes their balance feel more nimble, and while they differ slightly in how they are played, they all feel equally maneuverable.  Perseus still has good maneuverability, Magnus just has more head weight, so you have to anticipate your shots more.

Overall, Joola’s research and development of new advanced core technologies, you can feel the difference between them.

I feel better in each model than in previous generations, both in terms of power and control.  The changes they made to the core design were a significant improvement.

Specs:

Core: 16mm Polypropylene

Length: 16”

Width: 7.5”

Face: Carbon Fiber

Grip Circumference: 4.25”

Grip Model: Octagonal

Handle Length: 5.75”

Weight Range: 8.3-8.7oz (average weight range is 8.3-8.5oz)

Edge: Molded then Edged

Country of Origin: Made in the USA

Price：$333 from Selkirk

Bottom Line：

The Selkirk Labs Project 006 pickleball paddle is great for tour and tennis players who want a bigger sweet spot, a solid feel, and more spin in their games.

The 006 paddle is also part of Selkirk’s upcoming Tour Line. The Tour Line is designed for tennis players and professional pickleball players. These paddles have an aerodynamic shape and a longer handle for two-handed backhands. They are heavier and have special technology for advanced players.

With a balanced weight of 8.3-8.7 ounces, the 006 paddle offers a perfect mix of stability, control, and power.

Specs:

Game type: Attack

Level: Pro

Sweet spot: Adjustable

Surface: C18 Carbon Fiber

Material Core: PMI Foam

Frame: Monocoque Carbon Fiber

Reinforcement: Carbon Fiber

Spin blade: Spin Blade MAX

Grip Material: Extra Power Grip

Grip Length: 5 1/2″

Grip Circumference : 4 1/4″

Weight: 7.8oz – 8.2oz

Thickness: 13mm

Dimensions: 16 1/2 ” x 7 1/2 “

Price: $259.99 from ADIDAS

Bottom Line：

The Adidas Metalbone Pickleball Paddle has a special PMI foam core, giving players a great mix of power and control. It’s strong but light, making your shots powerful and accurate. You can also adjust the paddle’s weight to suit your preferences.

Here are the main features of the Adidas Metalbone Pickleball Paddle:

• 13mm PMI foam core for a firm, lightweight performance
• Customizable weight and balance system
• Carbon fibers around the edge for stability and a smooth design
• Textured C18 carbon fiber face for great spin
• Standard size with a 16.5″ length and 7.5″ width

If you want to improve your pickleball game, the Adidas Metalbone Paddle is a great choice to consider.

Specs:

Paddle Face Material: Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber / with Next Generation Inner Application Layer

Paddle Core Material: MachPro Polymer / Control Pro Black Polymer Core

Paddle Shape: Elongated / Standard

Core Thickness: 12.7 mm / 15.875 mm

Paddle Length: 16 1/2”.  / 16”

Paddle Width: 7 1/2”.  / 8”

Grip Thickness: Standard – 4 1/4″.  / 4 3/8″

Handle Length: Long – 5 7/8” / Standard – 5”

Paddle Weight: Middleweight – 7.9 – 8.3 oz / 8.0 – 8.3 oz / 8.1 – 8.5 oz

Paddle Weight: Lightweight – 7.6 – 7.9 oz / 7.7 – 8.0 oz / 7.5- 7.8 oz

Price: $259.99 from Justpaddles

Bottom Line：

The paddle is super powerful, making overheads and counters so strong they don’t come back after I hit them. My serves and drives have a lot of speed, and I can get good spin with the carbon fiber face. The handle length is great, especially for my two-handed backhand. I was surprised by how well I could control my shots around the net. Plus, the paddle has nice graphics and looks great.

But the handle is bulky, which is fine for me but could be a problem for players with smaller hands. If you’re a lower-level player, you might need to practice touch shots with this 14mm paddle. Once you do, it’s perfect! The curved head can be tricky if you’re used to a box-shaped paddle, so it might take some time to get used to it.

Specs:

Paddle Face Material: T800 Raw Carbon Surface

Paddle Core Material: Polypropylene Honeycomb

Paddle Shape: Elongated

Core Thickness: 16 mm

Paddle Length: 16 3/8”

Paddle Width: 7 1/2”

Grip Thickness: Thin – 4 1/8”

Handle Length: Long – 5 1/2”

Paddle Weight: 8.2 – 8.6 oz

Price: $259.99 from Vulcan

Bottom Line：

This paddle was also released in April 2024, It has not been officially used, so I will conclude with the official benefits of the paddle.

The Vulcan V1200 16mm carbon fiber pickleball paddle is designed to showcase the natural power and soft touch of pro player Tyler Loong on today’s fast-paced pro tour.  This paddle can add as much speed to the ball as needed while maintaining accuracy and touch.

It excels on the crucial 3rd shot drop, giving you the consistency and confidence to place perfect drop shots and then hit a fast-paced 5th shot between your opponents.  It delivers maximum power without the added weight and has a generous sweet spot for easy resets and smooth play.

Tyler Loong, one of the most exciting players in pickleball, chooses this paddle.  The elongated hybrid thick-core design combines power and feel, perfect for top-level play.  Made from T800 Raw Carbon Fiber, it has lots of grain for natural spin and ultimate control.

This paddle is ideal for players looking for more accuracy and the ability to surprise opponents with fast shots. It has a long handle for extra reach and meets the standards of today’s top pros!

For pickleball enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of performance and luxury, the most expensive pickleball paddle currently available is the Selkirk PROJECT Series Paddle. This paddle is crafted with cutting-edge technology and top-tier materials, offering unmatched power, control, and spin. The most expensive paddles available for conventional use belong to the Joola GEN 3 COLLECTION Paddle.

If you’re intrigued by the gear used by top athletes, be sure to check out our detailed post on What paddles are the top professional pickleball players using. This comprehensive guide explores the choices of elite players and provides insights into why they prefer certain paddles over others. Don’t miss it!