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:

Dave TSource