Top 7 Best Pickleball Paddles Under $100 – Game On Budget

Many pickleball players struggle to find the perfect paddle within their budget. There are too many options out there to choose from. Some players get overwhelmed by technical specifications, while others end up with paddles that don’t suit their playing style. 

Quality paddles can often cost well over $100, discouraging beginners. After testing over 18 affordable paddles, I discovered some outstanding Best pickleball paddles under $100.

In this guide, I will summarize the top picks and highlight what makes them a great value. I aim to help you choose a paddle that matches your skill level and strengths.

Since I recently Covered the Best quiet Paddles for players who have sensitive neighbours it’s time to cover the best affordable paddles.

7 Best Pickleball Paddles Under 100 – A Comprehensive List

1. Vatic Pro Prism Carbon Fiber – Editors Choice

The best Paddle under $100 and my Personal Favorite is the Vatic Pro. It is my favorite due to the given reasons.

Control Like No Other

As someone who has been using this control paddle for quite some time now, I can confidently say it gives you unbelievable control over your shots.

The surface is super grippy, allowing me to generate tons of spin on my shots. With this paddle in my hands, my dinks, drop shots, and third shots have become very consistent due to the great feel and control I get near the net.

Power 

While this is more of a control-oriented paddle, it still packs plenty of power when I need to go for a winner. I can smash overheads and drives with authority using this paddle.

After using it, I’ve found it has a slightly forgiving sweet spot, too, so even shots that aren’t perfectly centered still have enough power. If power is important for your game like it is for mine, I think you need to try this paddle.

Spin In A Way That’s Unique 

One thing that stands out about this paddle is the great spin I can put on the ball. The raw carbon fiber face grabs it perfectly, and I’ve easily developed different spins. My opponents have noticed the dip and movement I can achieve with this paddle.

Comfort and Control

Despite being a little longer and heavier than some other paddles I’ve tried, the Vatic Pro Prism feels incredibly well-balanced in my hands and very smooth during play. The grip size is perfect for my hands and provides a comfortable hold.

Its weight distribution allows easy maneuvering when holding ground shots at the baseline and finishing plays at the net. Its adjustable weight has also proven very useful for my needs.

2. SLK Evo Hybrid – Best Lightweight Pickleball Paddles

The Second On our list today is the SLK Evo Hybrid. After Vatic Pro this is my favorite in the 100 category. It is my favorite due to the given reasons.

Powerful Design

The smashes and groundstrokes I generate using this paddle feel incredibly powerful. Even some of my reaction shots that hit near the baseline are powerful. 

While it doesn’t provide as much feel and control as some other paddles I’ve tried, the strength I can put into my shots with the SLK Evo sometimes surprises my opponents.

As a result of its lightweight design, I had trouble understanding the power I could achieve in my shots, but once I did, I could drive the ball very deep when I needed to.

Comfortable Grip

The soft grip feels awesome in my hand during play. At just 4 1/4 inches around, I could see it feeling a bit small for players with really large hands. 

But adding an overgrip solved that issue for me comfortably. I appreciate how my hands don’t feel fatigued even after long, tiring rallies. 

Its anti-slip texture also gives me a secure hold, even when my hands get sweaty as matches heat up.

Lightweight Design

If you’re a player who prefers a lighter paddle with a lower swing weight like myself, I think this one makes it an excellent choice.

It took some time to adjust to it since I had been using some heavier paddles in the past, but once I got used to it, I found the lightweight nature made it incredibly easy to maneuver both for attacking shots and defending.

The thin body also absorbs very little vibration, which suits me as I Have tennis elbow issues.

If you’re a player with a tennis elbow, check out our article, Best Tennis Elbow Paddles.

Overall, though, Evo achieves a beautifully well-balanced feel in my hands.

Textured Surface

The depth of shots I can achieve using this paddle’s SpinFlex surface is too impressive. While it may not create quite the extreme spins as other more abrasive surfaces, I’ve had great success putting proper topspins and slices on my balls.

This thing has certainly kept opponents less predictable on my shots. 

It took some experimentation to understand this paddle fully, but overall, I’ve found it offers me more versatility than a basic smooth face would.

Longevity

The face held up well without damage after using it for a long time. Only the white grip wrapper may get dirty quickly. But that is easily replaceable and does not impact performance. This paddle seems well-made to last through regular use if handled carefully. 

3. Helium Versus Fiberglass  – Pickleball Set 4 Paddles

The third Great paddle under $100 is the Helium Versus Fiberglass. Using it For quite months in my Casual Weekend Play.

Lightweight Design

After using this elongated paddle, I can say that at just under 7.7 ounces, it feels like I’m holding nothing in my hand during play.

This extreme lightweight has allowed me to achieve excellent ball control, whether hitting forehands, backhands or executing overhead shots.

I can quickly change the direction of my strokes and easily execute different shots using this paddle.

Comfortable Grip

With its textured grip, this paddle feels incredibly comfortable in my hand, even during lengthy on-court sessions. The grip size is perfect, in my opinion – neither too thick nor too thin to fit my hands well. 

What stands out to me is the unique honeycomb texture that provides an excellent no-slip grip without being too abrasive. 

I’ve noticed significantly less fatigue setting into my hand when using this paddle compared to others I’ve tried in the past. It also seems to help me generate decent racquet head speed when driving the ball.

Spin-Friendly Surface 

I’ve been very impressed with how easy this paddle’s textured face makes it for me to add nice spins to the ball on both my forehands and backhands. The surface texture allows me to maneuver and shape shots easily. 

It responds beautifully whether I’m looking to impose topspin or backspin. This has become a big advantage for my game as I enjoy varying things at my intermediate level. 

The different spins I can achieve help me more effectively control ball placement.

4. ONIX Graphite Z5 – Best Cheap Pickleball Paddle Set

Fourth on my Cheap But quality Paddle list is the Onix Graphite Z5. As a tournament player, I have used this a lot. It’s one of my go-to paddles 

Large Sweet Spot for Forgiveness

With this paddle, I’ve found that, unlike some beginner paddles, which seem to have an extremely small sweet spot, this one has a generously sized sweet spot that has seriously improved the consistency of my shots.

Even when I don’t make perfect center contact,  the ball clears the net easily, giving me more opportunities to work on my placement. 

The sweet spot also provides plenty of surface area for generating power on balls. I’ve noticed a big drop in error shots since adopting this paddle.

Ability to Put Spin

With the textured composite surface, I can put some amazing spin on my serves and groundstrokes that keep opponents guessing my next move, making it the perfect paddle for enhancing my play style.

The different rotations I can achieve with this paddle help me lift short balls higher, make balls skid off at sharp angles, and extend rallies until the opponent makes a mistake.

Whether lobs, drives, or dinks, this paddle has helped me vary my game to keep opponents on their toes.

Comfortable Grip for Hours of Play

This paddle has a perfect grip size – a perfect balance of thin and thick, making it very comfortable for me to use even after lengthy on-court sessions. 

As someone who plays a lot of long rallies, choosing a grip that doesn’t cause hand fatigue is really important. While some prefer thicker grips, I’ve found this to be the right fit for my hands. 

Durability and Value

After using this paddle regularly in my games over time, I can confidently say that the graphite composite construction makes it durable. I’m impressed with how well it withstands the vibration of repeated powerful shot-making. 

Best of all, you can’t beat this level of dependable performance for a very affordable price tag of under $100. 

Compared to cheaper beginner paddles that need frequent replacing, this one has already provided me with fantastic value. I can see it lasting many years, even if I upgrade to a higher-end model.

Lightweight and Easy to Use

Weighing in at just 7.5 ounces, it feels extremely lightweight in my hands, making quick movements quite effortless on the court. However, it’s not so light that I feel powerless on my shots. 

The balanced feel when swinging makes it very smooth and natural for me to use on both forehands and backhands. 

As someone who previously played more with heavier wood paddles, I love how lightweight this one is. It’s taken my game to a new level since transitioning.

5. JoncAye Paddles Set

I do not own this paddle, but borrowed it from a friend for a week. It has a lot of features that impressed me. I’ve been using it for 1.5 months now.

Lightweight and Durable Construction

Ever since I started using these paddles from JoncAye in my practices, I’ve been incredibly impressed by just how lightweight they feel while also seeming extremely sturdy at the same time, thanks to their foam injected walls.

As someone who plays pickleball regularly, the lightweight nature has ensured my arms don’t tire out nearly as quickly, even after hours on the court.

It’s given me so much more longevity in my sessions. Moreover, I can confirm their quality and value are long-lasting and affordable.

Comfortable and User-Friendly Design

I find the grip size to be just right for a beginner. These paddles feel very nice and secure in my hand during play. The textured grip surface does an excellent job of providing a firm, non-slip hold as well. In my view, the overall design seems well-considered for ease of use.

I can focus more on technique rather than struggle with weight. They are easy to control, giving me more accuracy than heavy paddles. 

6. SLK NEO – Best For Beginners

The Given Features of this paddle impressed me the most.

Comfortable Grip and Feel

The grip on this paddle is just perfect for me, especially for players who use a two handed backhand. It is neither too thin nor too thick. The texture provides a nice, non-slip feel without being sticky. The grip fits comfortably in my hands even though I have large hands.

The feel and sound produced when I am hitting the ball is fantastic, quite different from the cheaper wooden paddles I have used before. It gives me a nice pop on my shots and enables me to put spin on the ball easily.

Sweet Spot Of Large Size

One thing I like about this paddle is its large sweet spot. Even if I do not make ideal contact and hit slightly off-center, it still produces a good-quality shot.

This is great for beginners and helps improve your ball control. It minimizes missed hits. When hitting the ball, the sweet spot seems evenly balanced from edge to edge.

Lightweight And Resilient

This paddle is extremely lightweight at only 7.5 ounces. Being so lightweight makes it very easy for me to use and maneuver. I don’t feel fatigued even after playing for long durations with it. Despite being lightweight, it feels durable to me.

It has sustained no damage after scraping it against the ground and walls several times during play. Several other players who have been using it for over 4 months haven’t reported any issues to me, either. 

The graphite face and honeycomb core construction make it strong yet lightweight for long-lasting play.

7. Vinsguir VIENTO X23

Currently Used this Paddle a Week Ago. I was most impressed by the following features.

Surface Grip

The textured surface of this raw carbon fiber paddle is a real standout feature. It grips the ball exceptionally well in my experience, making it incredibly effortless for me to impart various spins.

I can easily generate heavy topspin or sliced backspin compared to other paddles I’ve used.

My opponents find it difficult to return balls with the extra spin I can add. The grippy texture provides far more feel and control than other paddles at this price point.

Control and Feel

This paddle provides excellent control for my game, whether at the baseline or near the kitchen line. The 16mm thickness helps absorb vibrations, providing a very comfortable feel for me. I can precisely place my shots even with heavy topspin. 

Since the paddle is longer, I can reach balls I could not reach with other paddles I have used in the past.

Balance and Power

It feels perfectly balanced in my hands during play. At the same time, its lightweight design makes quick movements like drops and lobs much easier to execute. 

Despite being lighter than most, the honeycomb core ensures no power shortage on my drives and slices either. 

No matter what shot I want to hit, I feel completely in command of the ball.

Ending Thoughts

I hope this guide has provided useful insights on the Best Pickleball Paddle Under $100. While the selection process can feel complicated, focusing the Top Picks will help narrow down your selection.

Consider whether you prioritize power, control, spin potential, or ease of use. Knowing key attributes like weight, grip size, and sweet spot will ensure you have a paddle that hurts your game.

Above all, choose an affordable paddle with features that fire up your passion to get out on the courts and practice. There are many top pickleball paddles available, that offer great performance and value. Continued play with the right paddle will elevate your skills and enjoyment of this great sport.

Happy hitting, and best of luck in your next game!!