Best Pickleball Paddles for 2025, According to Our Resident Pickleball Player

The Quartz paddle by Six Zero is my favorite Quartz paddle for beginners due to its balance of control, power and affordability. It's also the lightest I’ve tested from Six Zero, coming in at 7.9 ounces, which reduces arm fatigue while new players develop wrist strength. A lighter paddle allows for quicker reaction times and easier control -- this helps beginners focus on improving their technique. I also found the handle to be comfortable and provide excellent maneuverability.

The core of the Quartz paddle also has a pretty forgiving sweet spot, which increases the player’s chances of making solid contact with the ball. This is a great paddle for players who are just starting out, as it provides a solid foundation for building technique without being overwhelmed with too much power or weight.

During my weeks of testing, the Double Black Diamond paddle became my favorite for control due to its design and quality materials. This paddle has a raw carbon face with a Japanese Toray 700K carbon textured surface, which allows for excellent control and feedback. The paddle's design suits players who want to focus on finesse rather than power. This paddle features a textured carbon fiber face, which helps generate spin while also maintaining control over shot direction.

Another great feature is the paddle's polymer honeycomb core, which reduces rebound force and vibrations on impact and can slightly slow down the ball’s speed. This can be a huge advantage for players who prioritize controlled games.

I consider the Black Infinity Diamond paddle one of the best all-around pickleball paddles because of its control and power versatility, which makes it suitable for a wide range of players with different skill levels. Unlike the Double Black Diamond, this paddle allows you to generate power while maintaining control during softer shots. This paddle also has a honeycomb core, making shots feel stable upon impact. At the same time, the core provides enough rebound, making it easier to execute hard-hitting shots without feeling too rigid or soft.

The Black Infinity Diamond is also well-balanced in terms of weight distribution. I found it easy to maneuver while offering enough stability for precise shots.

The Ruby paddle from Six Zero is the best for spin due to its engineered design, which features a 100% Aramid fiber face. This material is widely known for its high strength, toughness and thermal stability (a paddle's durability, performance and shape retention under different temperatures). The face also has a cross-weave cloth pattern that enhances spin and grip, providing players with precision.

Another reason the Ruby paddle is excellent for spin is the paddle’s responsiveness. The Aramid fiber face and the polymer honeycomb core create the perfect balance for responsiveness. Responsiveness is crucial for spin, as it allows players to better control the angle and timing of their shots. The core absorbs enough of the ball’s energy to create a softer feel, which in turn aids in generating spin. Overall, I found the Ruby lightweight and easily maneuverable, which is excellent for both forehand and backhand shots without sacrificing precision or power.

This paddle was hands down one of my favorite paddles to test and play on the court with. The Luxx Control Air has a unique blend of control and performance that is unmatched due to its design that was made for precise shots without sacrificing power. The face of the paddle is made of a proprietary blend of carbon fiber, which the brand coined as Florek carbon fiber, that offers an incredible balance between control and power. The surface also has a subtle grainy texture that I found helped with having better control over the ball’s placement.

One of the Luxx’s standout features is its construction. The paddle is lightweight, which allows for quicker reactions and faster swings. Despite being light, the paddle still offers great stability upon impact. This combination of excellent construction and performance makes the Luxx Control Air a versatile paddle that meets the needs of both recreational and competitive players.

This paddle is one of my favorites for moving fast. From the moment I picked it up, I could feel the solid, balanced weight that is crucial for powerful swings. I’m the type of player who doesn’t have a whole lot of arm power, so I appreciate when a paddle is super responsive, like this one.

The paddle’s face and responsive core give it incredible pop, so it always feels as if the ball is rocketing off with each shot, even in those fast-paced rallies. The paddle doesn’t just deliver on speed but also offers great control to keep shots precise at top power. At a convenient price, this paddle provides a great combination of speed and control, similar to more expensive options.

The Selkirk Halo Pro Max is my pick for players seeking a good balance of power and control. The paddle’s design features a premium carbon fiber face that enhances precision, which allows for consistently controlled shots, while the polymer core delivers a powerful punch. This paddle has a more prominent sweet spot, which is great for those off-center hits, making it forgiving for players of all skill levels. 

Beyond its performance features, this paddle has a comfortable handle and optimized weight distribution, which makes it incredibly stable during fast-paced play.

The Diadem Warrior pickleball paddle is my choice for the most stable paddle. Its superb stability is mainly attributed to its 19mm core, which gave me a solid and consistent feel during play. This paddle’s core has three layers: two polymer honeycomb layers sandwiching a Nomex honeycomb layer.

The paddle’s design ensures that even off-center shots feel comfortable, thanks to its expansive sweet spot and solid feedback. However, the extra thickness does make this paddle feel heavier than other ones, which may affect some players' speed. If you value stability and control, the weight may be worth the trade-off.

The name says it all. The Diadem hush is the quietest paddle I’ve ever tested. This paddle is engineered specifically for noise-sensitive environments. And guess what? It doesn’t compromise its performance. The Hush has an eTPU foam face, which is widely known for its elasticity and resilience. The foam construction works to dampen impact noise. Despite being extremely quiet, the surface's cushioned feel enhances control and ample power. I did notice that even though the paddle is super quiet, on more powerful shots (more specifically on serves), it does make a subtle clicking noise.

The Hush is USAP Quiet-certified, which is great for playing in places where noise is restricted. However, it’s important to keep in mind that if you often play in tournaments, this paddle is not approved for official tournament play. However, I do find it to be an excellent paddle for recreational play.

The Diadem Edge 18k is the best paddle for touch and feel. It was designed for players who rely on finesse, delicate shot placement and superior ball feedback. The paddle has an 18k carbon fiber face and polypropylene honeycomb core, which provides an ultra-responsive feel, allowing players to execute precise dinks (a soft, controlled shot that is hit from the kitchen -- non-volley zone), resets and drop shots. I noticed that the soft yet reactive touch ensures you can control the pace of play. 

I liked the longer handle (at 5.7 inches) because it allowed me to make more smooth and controlled strokes while maintaining stability, but many reviewers on the site expressed that they wished it had a shorter handle.

The Tyson McGuffin CAS paddle from Joola is an excellent choice for advanced players seeking a blend of power, control and spin. Its elongated 16.5-inch face design enhances reach and provides a larger hitting surface, while the 14mm polypropylene core balances power and touch. The Carbon Abrasion Surface technology delivers a textured face, so you can add significant spin to your shots. 

Additionally, the edgeless design, achieved through double-frame carbon fiber construction, modernizes the paddle’s appearance, increases durability and expands the sweet spot for more consistent play. These features make the Magnus paddle an excellent tool for more advanced players who want to elevate their game.

This is the most potent Joola paddle I’ve tested. It was designed for aggressive players who want maximum speed. The Charged Carbon Surface gives it a crisp, responsive feel that translates to power on drives and put-away shots (a shot that's intended to be point-winning). 

This paddle incorporates Joola's Propulsion Core technology, which allows you to generate high-speed shots with less effort. What’s great about this technology is that while it excels in power, it doesn’t neglect control.