Guide to Most Expensive Pickleball Paddle
Choosing the right pickleball paddle can be difficult. As so many options are on the market, deciding which is best is hard.
In the pickleball market, there is a myth that the more expensive the paddle, the better, but that is not true. The quality of a paddle is not determined by its price. Its value is determined by its quality and the features it provides. You may find a less expensive paddle that works even better.
To find the right paddle, consider your skill level and style of play. Think about features like weight, size, and materials.
To narrow down your pickleball research, we analyzed 14 paddles and selected the top 5 among the most expensive pickleball categories. You can get a detailed understanding of paddles by reading the whole review.
If you are in a hurry and need a quick solution, choose the Selkirk amped.
Guide to Most Expensive Pickleball Paddle
Let’s start our review.
1. Joola Vision – Best For Advanced Players
Average Weight | 7.8 ounces |
Paddle Length | 16.4 in |
Paddle Width | 7.3in |
Grip Type | Ridge |
Grip Length | 5.5 in |
Grip Circumference | 4.25 in |
Core (mm) | 16 |
Surface | Carbon Grip |
Core | Response Honeycomb |
This Joola Vision is the top choice for serious players. It has a carbon composite face and honeycomb core that provide excellent control while generating heavy topspins.
The Vision is more suitable for intermediate and advanced players rather than beginners. Its lightweight construction and small sweet spot take some adjustment. Skilled players will excel on its spin-friendly textured face and balanced feel.
Joola is not preferred for Beginners. Entry-level paddles can better serve them with larger sweet spots and heavier weights that offer more power and forgiveness on off-center hits. The Vision excels when players have developed proper stroke techniques.
Made of durable composite materials, the Vision weighs 7.8 ounces. Due to its elongated shape, it can reach a greater distance. The face has textured facets that contact softly for a spin and stabilizing control.
This paddle glides through the air. Its friction face and honeycomb interior feel responsive without vibrating. Vibrations are minimal, reducing hand fatigue compared to some lignum frames. My arm moves naturally with the Vision as it extends from my hand.
Advanced players have commented on how the Vision enhances their games. I generate heavy topspins to manipulate opponents. My consistency improves as the carbon face feels consistent across its length for accurate dinks and placements.
Despite its high price, the Vision rewards experienced players looking for an intense competitive edge, which is why I ranked it at the top.
For committed players, it proves a sound investment in developing one’s potential. More basic paddles may offer better value for beginners.
What’s The Reason Behind My Recommendation?
This paddle is very lightweight, which I find very enjoyable when playing. It is not tiring to use even after playing for a long time. The grip is very comfortable and does not cause pain or discomfort in the hand.
I can easily add lots of spin when hitting the ball, which helps me control it better during games.
What Distinguishes It From Others?
This paddle has a unique texture on its surface, providing better grip and spin than smooth plastic paddles. The ridges on the surface allow me to brush against the ball to add spin gently. This helps gameplay techniques like dinking and drop shots.
Most other paddles have a plain, flat plastic surface that does not allow precise spin control.
Pros
- The paddle generates heavy topspins, helping manipulate opponents.
- It feels responsive without vibrating, reducing fatigue compared to wood frames.
- The elongated shape allows reaching a greater distance.
- The friction face improves control and allows soft contact for spin.
Cons
- The high price may provide little value for beginning players.
2. Selkirk Amped – Editors Choice
Average Lightweight | 7.2oz – 7.7oz |
Average Midweight | 7.8oz – 8.4oz |
Height | 15.75″ |
Width | 8.0″ |
Core Thickness | 16mm |
Grip Length | 5.25 |
Grip Circumference | 4.25 |
Sweetspot size | 9 |
Handle Length | Long Handle (5.25″) |
This is considered one of the most expensive pickleball paddles, but it lives up to the hype. However, this is the second best in the expensive category. The first one is still the Joola Vision.
The Selkirk Amped stands out from other leading paddles due to its superior quality and performance. It is made of durable fiberglass, providing a large sweet spot and good power and control. The comfortable handle length and short length make it easy to use.
This would be a suitable paddle for players of all skill levels. Beginners will find it forgiving on off-center shots, while more advanced players can generate a lot of spin and power. Intermediate players, in particular, benefit from its more prominent sweet spot, which helps their game development.
It is lightweight at 7.5 ounces but well-balanced. The short length of 15 inches and grip size make it easy to use for most adults. Its premium construction ensures minimal vibration on hard hits.
The sleek blue and black design looks elegant. Its matte texture feels very comfortable in the hand. The carbon reinforcements add much-needed strength without compromising the feel. The fiber material is also very durable, showing no signs of wear after extensive usage.
On the court, this paddle shines. I can generate a good spin on my shots, which was previously a weakness.
Its large sweet spot and power make it more aggressive when required. Due to its defensive capabilities, I can retrieve shots with the paddle that I would have missed with my old paddle. As a result of its uniform sweet spot coverage and feel, my serve consistency has also improved while using this.
At its price point, the Selkirk Amped is worth the investment. It has significantly improved many aspects of my game. If Going for a cheaper option, remember that it lacks premium quality, tech, and refinement details.
More advanced players may prefer the added power of graphite options, but this is undoubtedly one of the best round paddles for most club-level players and would also be a good choice for league or tournament use.
Its price is justified by its excellent performance, craftsmanship, and durability. Overall, I would highly recommend this paddle after Joola.
Why Am I Backing This?
This is an excellent paddle that will suit players of many levels. Beginners will find it easy to use with its forgiving nature. It has a large sweet spot area that makes connecting with the ball feel good. This helps beginners enjoy the game more and improve their skills.
The sweet spot helps shots go in more, and the spin ability allows different shots to be tried.
Due to its performance and build quality, this paddle provides great value for money compared to cheaper options.
In What Aspect Is It Different From Others?
This paddle stands out in its design and unique features. It has a short length of 15 inches, which is handy for most users. Some other paddles can be too long for comfortable use.
The slim handle size also makes gripping and handling easy. These ergonomic qualities are specifically designed for different hand sizes.
Pros
- The carbon reinforcement adds durability without compromising the feel.
- The fiberglass face provides a large, forgiving sweet spot.
- Its premium construction ensures minimal vibration on hard hits.
Cons
- The matte texture won’t appeal to those who prefer a tacky feel.
3. Phoenix G6 – Best For All Skill Level Players
Core thickness | 14.3 mm |
Weight | 7.8 – 8.1 oz |
Grip Circumference | 4 ¼ |
Grip length | 5 |
Surface | Velvet textured Polycarbonate |
Total length | 15 ⅝ |
Core Material | Graphite Polymer Composite Honeycomb |
Paddle width | 7 ¾ |
Phoenix G6 compares well to other leading paddles. It gives excellent control, power, and maneuverability. While testing this, I hit soft shots as well as hard shots. It has a comfortable grip and balanced feel. The high-quality construction improves your performance.
This paddle is ideal for players of all skill levels, from beginners looking to learn the fundamentals comfortably to advanced players seeking power and control for solid offensive play.
The paddle uses premium graphite and feels sturdy in one’s hand due to its well-balanced construction. The 7.8-ounce weight makes swinging motions easy and energy-efficient. It has a textured face, which significantly improves grip on the ball for generating precise spins.
I could place balls in any part of the court with high accuracy in the testing. It is because of spin control that my drop shots and lobs go precisely where I intend them to go.
Priced reasonably, the Phoenix G6 gives excellent performance at a reasonable cost. It offers higher value for features and quality received compared to similar options. It makes an excellent option for players at different stages of the game.
The paddle has become popular in my friend circle due to its reliability and playing abilities.
I recommend this paddle if you haven’t selected from the top 2 and are still looking for one.
Why Do I Favor This?
I recommend the Phoenix G6 pickleball paddle because of its excellent performance for players across skill levels.
Its reasonable price makes it a viable option for those watching their budget but still wanting an option that performs well against higher-priced brands. Its stability and durability have impressed me during my month-long testing period.
What Makes It Stand Out From The Crowd?
The Phoenix G6 stands out from other pickleball paddle options on the market through its unique feel, playability, and construction combination.
It is lighter, 7.8 weight, and has a shorter handle size, allowing for improved agility when changing direction between forehands and backhands.
Unlike sluggish, heavy-headed brands, its development focuses on maneuverability.
Pros
- It provides excellent control of shots for winners from any part of the court.
- The carbon fiber face improves ball grip for precise spins while serving.
- Its US-origin construction meets high-quality standards for durability.
- The balanced head weight assists in generating pace with minimal fatigue.
Cons
- The denser core may take some time to adjust for maximum power generation.
- The narrower profile may take an adaptation period for players used to wider paddles.
4. Pickletech Immersion
Weight | 8.3 Ounces |
Paddle length | 15.6 |
Paddle width | 7.8 |
Grip length | 4.9 |
Grip Circumference | 4.25 |
The PickletechImmersion is one of the market’s most high-performing and technically advanced paddles. With its thick honeycomb core made of durable carbon fibers and Kevlar reinforcements, the Immersion delivers unparalleled power, control, and forgiveness.
Its thick core gives shots a lot of depth and power without sacrificing precision or feel. As a result of the widebody design and rounded edges, the sweet spot is maximized, and missed shots are minimized.
The ergonomic grip feels smooth and offers security during dynamic strokes. The lightweight construction ensures excellent swing mechanics, even during long rallies, without causing hand or wrist fatigue.
However, its micro-textured playing surface truly sets the Immersion apart. The subtle pebbled pattern provides tremendous control over spin for executing delicate dinks, slices, and drops with pinpoint accuracy and deep penetrating topspin.
After testing the Immersion for some matches, I can confidently recommend it to any player rated 4.0 or higher seeking an authentic performance paddle. It has improved my game by facilitating more consistent and aggressive shot-making.
Although the Immersion paddle costs around $150, it easily competes with high-end paddles that cost twice as much or more. The quality craftsmanship and materials also ensure long-lasting durability session after session.
Why Do I Endorse This?
Its thick core design provides power, feel, and control that helps players improve their game. Having such a generous sweet spot and rounded edges minimizes missed shots, allowing you to focus on strategy instead.
How Does It Differ From The Others?
The Immersion stands out from similar high-end paddles due to its micro-textured surface. Combined with the lightweight carbon fiber construction, it absorbs way less vibration on impact than standard paddles to maintain better control.
Pros
- Its thick core allows for proper depth and power without losing precision.
- The widebody design maximizes the sweet spot area and minimizes misses.
- The micro-texture enables tremendous control over spin for different shots.
Cons
- Players who use doublehanded grips may find Immersion unsuitable since they have thick Grips.
5. Helium Pro Carbon
Grip Size | 4 ½ inches |
Core Thickness | 13 mm |
Core | Honeycomb |
Face | Carbon Fiber Strike Face |
Helium Pro Carbon uses high-quality carbon fiber material in its construction. The carbon fiber material makes this paddle very light in weight. This allows you to swing the paddle very fast. It also gives power to shots. Despite being light, the paddle is powerful.
The carbon fiber construction gives this paddle a large sweet spot. Even shots hitting outside the paddle’s center go over the net with speed and spin. This makes playing different shots like drops, drives, and lobs easy.
The texture on the paddle’s face is very good for generating spin on the ball. I was able to add topspin, backspin, or sidespin to my shots while testing it. This helped me control the ball better and play different shots during the game.
The grip on this paddle is very comfortable. It is neither too thick nor too thin. This allows you to hold the paddle securely for a long time without any hand pain or tiredness. The non-slip texture provides a firm grip, even when my hands are sweaty.
Due to its high-quality materials and construction, this paddle is more expensive than other options. However, it performs like a professional-level paddle. So, the higher price for expert-level players is worth it due to the paddle’s excellent performance, durability, and playability.
Meanwhile, beginner and intermediate players may find other reasonably priced options better suited to their current skill level.
What Makes Me Recommend This?
These paddles are lightweight and comfortable to use. The handles have a soft grip that feels good even after playing for a long time. Another good thing is the large hitting area on the paddle.
New players who don’t hit the ball perfectly can contact this larger space well.
What Sets It Apart From The Rest?
These paddles have a unique core inside made of honeycomb-shaped plastic. This makes them very strong but also very light.
Some other paddles might be heavier, which can make playing tiring. The grip is padded on both sides and the front and back, so it feels comfortable no matter how you hold it.
Pros
- The carbon fiber construction makes the paddle very light yet strong.
- It has a large sweet spot that makes hitting different shots easy.
- The comfortable grip can be held securely for long periods.
Cons
- The unique honeycomb core that makes it light also increases the cost.
Final Thoughts
While expensive, high-end options certainly provide advantages in feel, control, and performance, new brands are emerging that offer more affordable yet still-quality paddles.
Your play style and ability to think tactically on the court are more important than the paddle’s price.
Any player can reach a higher level in this enjoyable game with the right mindset, dedicated practice, and a paddle they feel comfortable using.
In all of these, the Selkirk Amped is my personal favorite.
Thanks for reading along. Have a nice day!