5 Best Cheap Pickleball Paddles – Get the Best for Less in 2024
Earlier, I thought that only expensive paddles could perform well on the court. Since trying some of the cheaper paddles, my opinion has changed.
If you are on a budget and searching for the Best Cheap Pickleball Paddles that work like the most expensive paddles in the market, then you are at the right place.
Recently, I tested 17 cheap paddles on the court and found the best 5 cheap paddles that perform close to the expensive ones.
I’ll highlight the standout qualities of each paddle in this article so you can choose the best one for your playing style.
My testing focused on factors like feel, power, sweet spot size, grip, and longevity.
Let’s begin with the list.
List of Best Cheap Pickleball Paddles
Here is the top 5 paddles list.
1. NEO Graphite By SLK – Editors Choice
First, let’s discuss some quick features of this paddle before we begin the review.
Surface Material | Graphite |
Core Material | Polymer |
Handle Length | 5.25 |
Grip Circumference | 4.25 |
This paddle has generated the best performance in the given areas.
Spin
As per my testing, I found that this paddle is excellent for every type of player who likes to spin in their shots, but I recommend this paddle to beginners who prioritize Spin over everything in their paddle.
The face of this paddle is made of graphite, considered the best surface material for spin. It grabs the ball perfectly, allowing you to start hitting topspin and backspin shots.
The lightweight design also makes it easy to move, which is needed to spin the ball.
If you want to gain confidence with spin shots, I highly recommend this affordable and high-performing Selkirk paddle.
Lightweight Comfort
Also, I was surprised to find that this paddle is just 7.6 oz, and if you think that’s because the build quality is low, you’re wrong, my friend. Since this paddle is lightweight, I can play games for a long time without my arms getting tired.
The Grip of the paddle is also very comfortable, and the manufacturers use the Ultra-Comfort Grip material specially designed for the highest level of comfort in your games.
I’ve tried cheaper wooden paddles, too, but they become slippery with sweat. However, the SLK grip stays solidly in hand, giving good control in my shots.
The lightweight construction gives great flexibility without compromising power or control.
Sweet Spot
With its oversized surface shape, the SLK paddle has an exceptionally large sweet spot that helps improve consistency for beginner players.
I can make solid contact with the ball across a much wider area of the paddle face than others.
This gives me confidence in my strokes and allows me to focus more on strategy and placement rather than just placing the ball perfectly on the court.
Between the lightweight feel and large sweet spot, the SLK is an excellent value paddle for you in case you want to improve your skills.
2. Asbocer Pickleball Paddle – Best Pickleball Paddle For Intermediate Players
best pickleball paddles for intermediate players
Quick Features:
Surface Material | Fiberglass |
Core Material | Polymer |
Weight | 7.8 ounces |
Handle Length | 4.92 |
Grip Circumference | 4.25 |
These are the top features of this paddle that amazed me after using it in court.
Grip
This paddle is a good choice for intermediate Players who have a good amount of experience. It has a textured grip that sticks to your hand and allows you to control your shots easily. It ensures the paddle stays firm on your hand, even on sweaty days.
With this comfortable grip that stays firm in hand, you can generate power shots without fearing losing control over your paddle.
Pick this Asbocer Pickleball Paddle if you sweat a lot and you want a paddle that stays firm in your hand on sweaty days.
Durability
Even though the Ascobar weighs only 7.6 oz, it feels durable and solid whenever I play with it. Its core is made up of polymer, making it stiff to hard return.
Despite my hard returns, this paddle doesn’t vibrate like paddles with weak cores do.
The edge guarding of it also protects it from having cracks when I accidentally drop it and the paddle hits the ground.
I have been using this one for months now, and it still looks like it was bought yesterday.
It amazes me that such a durable paddle can be found at an affordable price.
Larger surface area
Ascobar’s large surface area increases my confidence that I can reliably return shots without mishits.
Shots feel great whether I hit them with the centre of my paddle or slightly off-centre. It has allowed me to focus more on strategy and placement rather than just focusing on how to keep the ball in play. (A major problem many pickleball players complain about)
If you’re a player who doesn’t have accuracy in your shots and you do mishit frequently, try this one with a Larger Surface Area.
3. VINSGUIR Pickleball Paddle Set – Best Value Pickleball Paddles
Before reviewing the paddle, let’s discuss some of its short features.
Core Material | HoneyComb |
Weight Of the Paddle | 7.8 ounces |
Grip Length | 4.8 |
Grip circumference | 4.25 |
Size of the surface | Wide |
After using this paddle on the court, these are the most impressive features of this paddle.
Comfort
To improve your skills and play comfortably, you need a comfortable paddle. The VINSGUIR paddle has a grip and shape that fits nicely in hands. It has a soft yet tacky feel that prevents my hand from slipping during play.
I’ve tried cheaper paddles where the grip was hard and rough, leading to hand discomfort, but the VINSGUIR grip stays comfortable even during long volley sessions.
It’s the best option for players with smaller hands like my friend.
I can focus on my game rather than thinking about how the paddle feels.
Lightweight
The paddle weighs just 7.8 ounces, making it easy to swing quickly when needed. My arms do not hurt when playing longer rallies.
Although this paddle is lightweight, it does not mean that it has less power. It generates great power shots in the game when needed.
I can build skills without feeling tired with the VINSGUIR set.
Durability
Although the VINSGUIR paddle is lightweight, it feels solid and durable on the court. The polymer construction can handle the hardest shot without having any vibration on my hand.
Many players, including myself, add Warping or the grip when using less durable paddles or paddles with weak core materials to make it harder to survive the hard shots, but with the VINSGUIR, you don’t need to worry about these things.
The paddle is a good choice if you are looking for something that is cheap and lasts a long time.
4. MTEN Pickleball Paddle – Best Pickleball Paddles For Beginners
Let’s discuss some of the paddle short features before we review it.
Grip Size | 4.57 inches |
Paddle Lightest Version | 7.8 Ounces |
Paddle Standard Version | 8.11 Ounces |
Surface Material | Fiberglass |
Sweet Spot Size | 7.8 |
Core Material | Honeycomb |
Following are the top features of this paddle that impressed me after I used it on the court.
A Great Choice For Beginners
Just got my hands on this set, and I am just amazed by the features it provides. It is lightweight and easy to handle on the court.
The lightweight fibreglass face keeps my arm from getting sore during longer games. It is Good for returns and volleys.
It has a large sweet spot that makes solid contact on the ball most of the time, even when I aim for the wrong shot.
My skills have improved over the last few months using this paddle.
If you’re a beginner, The quality is certainly good enough to take you to the intermediate level.
Built to Last Long
After nearly daily use for several months, my MTEN still looks and plays like new. Its fibreglass face faces all the impacts without any chipping or cracking. No wear or tear has been noticed on the paddle’s grip.
If you’re a casual player and not having that much budget to spend on a Paddle, then this long-lasting paddle can be a great choice.
The Cushioned Grip
The first thing every person notices on a paddle once he holds it is the grip. It is the first impression of any paddle.
The first thing I also noticed was the comfortable grip on it. I feel confident hitting shots with the textured face grip without worrying about losing control of my paddle.
The grip size is perfect for average hand size, but it may be too thin for players with large hands.
5. JP WinLook Premium – Inexpensive Pickleball Paddles
Short Features:
Paddle Face | Graphite |
Weight | 7.5 Ounces |
Sweet Spot Size | 7.85 |
Handle length | 5.27 |
In my testing, these were the features I liked most about this paddle.
Control
As I mentioned,, one thing I always look at in my paddle is control and spin. This paddle delivers both of them. The graphite face paddle makes it easy to generate spins in the serves and returns. The paddle’s grip is comfortable even when my palms get sweaty during intense rallies.
With the lightweight material, I can move the paddle quickly and react quickly to fast volleys.
You can confidently make soft drop shots or hard drives with it.
For beginners looking to develop ball control skills or advanced players wanting to add more style to their game can chose this paddle.
Lightweight
Weighing in at just 7.5oz, the WinLook paddles are some of the lightest I’ve used. The lightweight design reduces arm fatigue, allowing me to play longer matches or rallies without tiring.
The lightweight feel makes these paddles easy to move quickly to return fast volleys at the net.
Yet despite their feather-light design, the paddles still pack plenty of pop when striking the ball.
I can generate good power on serves and returns with the WinLook paddles.
Durability
After months of frequent play, my WinLook paddles show minimal wear. The paddles still look and play almost like new after many games.
This much durability for this low price was not expected from me. If you’re a player that needs a paddle which is lasting quality and gives performance try this one.
Final Words – Best Budget Pickleball Paddle
Paddle searching is not for everyone, and it becomes even more difficult when you have a low budget.
Based on their court performance and features, I have carefully selected the Top 5 Best Cheap Pickleball Paddles mentioned above.
Choose the best paddles according to your requirements from the list. Amongst them, my personal favorite that I’m still using is the NEO Graphite.
Good luck with your game!