Top 5 Pickleball Paddles and Brands Used By The Pros
Everyone has their favorite paddles, even the pros. If you’re curious about which pickleball paddle brands are considered the best by professional players, we’ll take a look at 5 of the best pickleball paddle brands, the pros that endorse them, and some of the best paddles in their lineups.
1) Joola
Joola was established in Germany in 1952 and has dominated the table tennis scene in the US for over 15 years. In 2022, JOOLA launched JOOLA Pickleball and immediately took the sport by storm with its quality paddles. They also sponsor the #1 pickleball player in the world, Ben Johns.
JOOLA paddles are USAPA approved for tournament play and have pickleball gear and paddles for beginners, intermediate and advanced players.
Sponsored Pros
Key players sponsored by JOOLA include:
Allyce Jones
Ben Johns
Chuck Taylor
Eric White
Rachel Rettger
Top Pickleball Paddles
#1 - Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16
A dynamic combination of control, power, and spin, the Hyperion CFS 16 is considered the top-of-the-line in JOOLA pickleball paddles. The rest of the Ben Johns Hyperion line is high quality and worth the extra price point, according to customer reviews.
Outside the flagship line bearing the name of the #1 player in the world is the Radius CGS 16. It utilizes a durable, long-lasting Carbon-Flex 3 textured surface that grips the ball to create more spin and features stellar online reviews from players across the country.
If you’re not quite ready to commit a decent chunk of change to your pickleball equipment but still want the quality brought by JOOLA, the middle-weight Essentials line is the way to go.
It features a fiberglass surface for a great all-around balance of power, control, and spin and is good for players of all skill levels. It is manufactured using a multi-layer process for responsive feedback, and the honeycomb core creates a large sweet spot with reduced vibration.
2) Franklin
Franklin Sports has been around the sports scene for a long time and has become one of the best-known pickleball brands. It started in 1946 as a regional sporting goods brand centered around one athlete–former NY Jets quarterback Joe Namath. In the years since it has expanded to become a name synonymous with quality gear and is recognizable worldwide.
Sponsored Pros
Key players sponsored by Franklin include:
Aspen Kern
Christine McGrath
Jorja Johnson
JW Johnson
Zane Navratil
Top Pickleball Paddles
#1 - Aspen Kern Centre Carbon Fiber
Franklin’s new Aspen Kern Centre Pickleball Paddle features a MaxGrit™ textured surface technology designed for maximum spin and reduced vibration. The MaxGrit surface material is USA Pickleball approved and is designed to provide greater traction on the ball's surface to increase spin rate for optimal control. It also features a lightweight 13mm polymer core for effortless swings.
#2 - Franklin Signature
The premium quality Franklin Signature Paddle also features MaxGrit™ textured surface technology designed to enhance spin and reduce vibration. The polypropylene core and fiberglass surface layer ensure a strong, durable base with an oversized sweet spot for dependable, effortless contact shot after shot. This paddle also comes in several color options.
3) Selkirk
Selkirk Sport is the leading high-performance pickleball paddle brand backed by the pros. They pride themselves on advancing technology within the sport and feature paddles designed by Selkirk Labs–an independent research & development division of Selkirk Sport.
Sponsored Pros
Key players sponsored by Selkirk include:
Dave Fleming
Kaitlyn Christian
Mary and Maggie Brascia
Morgan Evans
Tyson McGuffin
Wesley Gabrielsen
Top Pickleball Paddles
#1 - Vanguard 2.0 S2
Engineered for optimal performance, the advanced Pro-Spin textured surface of the Vanguard 2.0 S2 provides more spin than ever before. It also features a Quantum-Carbon Fiber face, thick honeycomb poly core, and VANGUARD Geo Grip™.
#2 - Amped S2
The Amped S2 is a lightweight composite paddle with a low profile and has one of the largest surface areas on the market. It features durable edge guard technology and is known for having a huge sweet spot. It also features FiberFlex™ technology to produce more spin and enhanced control.
4) Onix
The leading manufacturer of performance pickleball paddles, balls, and accessories, ONIX equips players with technologically advanced equipment that is proven to make the sport faster, more precise, and more strategic. Since its founding in 2005, ONIX Pickleball has dedicated its mission to growing and supporting the sport at a professional level.
Sponsored Pros
Key players sponsored by Onix include:
Altaf Merchant
Callie Jo Smith
Dylan Frazier
KaSandra Gehrke
Lucy Kovalova
Matt Wright
Top Pickleball Paddles
#1 - Evoke Premier
The Evoke Premier Pickleball Paddle was designed by pro players and Pickleball National Champions Matt Wright and Lucy Kovalova for power and precision. It has Atomic13 Edge technology to reduce shock vibrations and protect this customizable paddle.
#2 - Outbreak Pickleball Paddle
The Outbreak offers a graphite face reinforced by TeXtreme® Technology that increases stiffness and strength, giving pickleball players pinpoint control. The paddle provides the perfect weight and balance for maximum control and spin.
#3 - Z5 Mod Series
The graphite Z5 is the most popular pickleball paddle in the Onix line and comes in at an impressively low price point. It is a wide-body paddle with a Nomex core and offers excellent touch for superior ball control.
5) CRBN
Created by Garrett Gosselin and his doubles partner Ryan, CRBN has grown almost as fast as the fastest-growing sport in America. They design their paddles for maximum control and power, and their motto is to “Let your play do the talking.”
Sponsored Pros
Key players sponsored by CRBN include:
Ben Newell
DJ Young
Erik Rosner
Jason Bock
Matt Chou
Michelle Esquivel
Yana Grechkina
Top Pickleball Paddles
The Crbn¹ Pickleball Paddle is an elongated paddle that features a raw T700 carbon fiber face with a honeycomb polypropylene core. Not only does it produce incredible spin, but it also provides a massive sweet spot for the perfect balance between power and control.
The Crbn² Pickleball Paddle features the same T700 carbon fiber face as the Crbn¹ with a honeycomb polypropylene core. It is a standard-sized paddle with a weight between 8 and 8.3 ounces and is easy to maneuver. The textured surface helps players put spin on the ball, and the sweet spot is just as prodigious as the Crbn¹.
Whether you’re looking for a paddle to help you take your game to the next level or want to have fun with new equipment, you can’t go wrong by choosing gear from trusted pickleball brands. Other quality pickleball brands that make high-quality paddles and pickleball balls include Gearbox, Electrum, Adidas, Wilson, Prokennex, Paddletek, Gamma, Babolat, and Vulcan.
What is your favorite pickleball brand? Let us know in the comments below!
