Much like the pickleball ball, a pickleball paddle can be made of many materials.

Your classic pickleball paddle was made of wood. These early wooden paddles were often oval-shaped, resembling a ping-pong paddle. However, as the sport evolved, paddles grew more elaborate. The “classic” square paddle shape eventually emerged, and brands began experimenting with different paddle materials.

Today, you can still find solid wooden paddles. However, you’ll also find advanced carbon fiber options lining store shelves.

The Definition of a Pickleball Paddle

Officially, pickleball’s rules leave plenty of wiggle room. Only four rules govern the specifics of a “proper” pickleball paddle, namely:

• Paddles cannot exceed 24 inches (61 centimeters) in length. This measurement includes the entire paddle and does not specify any pre-ordained requirements for specific parts.
• Paddle faces must be smooth and free of texturing. Players cannot add texture through any means, including aftermarket adhesives.
• Paddles must be made of a “rigid, non-compressible material.” No further guidelines are provided.
• Players cannot add distracting decorations to a pickleball paddle. Reflective tape and texturing are specifically mentioned.

Those rules leave a lot of specifications in the air!

There are no officially mandated guidelines for a paddle’s handle length, head shape, or weight. Similarly, the vagueness of the material requirements permits many different core materials.

For fans of other racket sports, the open-ended rulebook may come as a shock. Tennis, pickleball’s close relative, has an essay of specifications for professional-level rackets. Its rules cover the precise dimensions of every part of its equipment. Likewise, squash, another pickleball-adjacent sport, defines its paddles to the millimeter!

A Quick Guide to Pickleball Paddle Specifications

Even so, the sport has evolved independently.

Most pickleball paddles come in set forms, following specific guidelines. These standardized molds often have two points of deviation: shape and weight.

Pickleball Paddle Shapes

Despite the lax guidelines, most manufacturers adhere to four primary paddle shapes, with measurements focusing on the head of the paddle:

• Blade Paddles: A blade paddle looks like a truncated rowboat oar. The paddle head usually measures 17×7 inches (43×18 centimeters).
• Classic Paddles: A classic paddle is squarish in shape. Most measure 16×8 inches (40.6×20 centimeters). They’re often compared to ping-pong paddles.
• Elongated Paddles: Similar to a blade paddle, these far-reaching paddles often measure 16.5×7.5 inches (42×19 centimeters). Their superior reach makes elongated paddles difficult to maneuver.
• Widebody Paddles: Perhaps the most popular paddle shape is a wide, squat rectangle. Widebody paddles measure 15.5×8.5 inches (39×22 centimeters) and offer balanced performance.

Pickleball Paddle Weight Classes

Paddles are further divided into three weight classes:

• Lightweight pickleball paddles often weigh 7–7.6 ounces. Most lightweight paddles are made with thinner materials, such as aluminum and carbon fiber.
• Midweight paddles are 7.6–8.2 ounces. Most pickleball paddles fall in this category.
• Heavyweight paddles are less common. Anything weighing more than 8.2 ounces is a heavyweight. Paddles made of hardwood and similarly dense materials are likely candidates for heavyweight classification.

Lighter paddles are easier to maneuver but require additional force to create solid, far-reaching shots. Conversely, heavy paddles provide innate power. However, choosing an overly heavy paddle places strain on your wrist and shoulders, leading to potential repetitive use injuries.

The Anatomy of a Pickleball Paddle

Regardless of the specifics, all paddles have the same anatomy.

A pickleball paddle is broken into two parts. The upper portion, known as the paddle head, is the bulk of a paddle’s design. The lower portion, the handle, provides a comfortable gripping experience.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at that upper half!

When looking at your pickleball paddle, find the tapering portion at the end of the handle; this is the throat of your paddle. It forms the transition between the paddle’s handle and its head. Including the throat, the paddle head is also inclusive of the following parts:

• Edge Guard: An edge guard wraps around the edge of the paddle and protects the internal core material from damage. Traditional designs have a distinct, angled edge guard, while more modern iterations have rounded, “edgeless” edge guards. Some players choose to augment this part with edge guard tape.
• Paddle Core: The core is sandwiched between the faces of a paddle. Most are machined with a lightweight honeycomb structure.
• Paddle Face: There are two paddle faces: front and back. These parts are often made of a layer of dense, sturdy materials, then laid atop and bonded to the inner core materials.

The Most Common Pickleball Paddle Materials

When discussing a paddle’s construction, the bulk of the discussion revolves around its core and face. In many higher-end paddles, these parts have entirely different material compositions. These are the most active parts of the paddle, and their design directly impacts the game.

There are five commonly used materials in pickleball paddles:

• Aluminum
• Composite
• Graphite and carbon fiber
• Fiberglass
• Nomex
• Polymer
• Wood

Notably, these materials have different qualities when used in different parts of the paddle. Moreover, some materials are rarely used in the core but are commonly applied to paddle faces.

So, for the sake of simplicity, let’s work our way down the list! We’ll elaborate on the specifics as needed.

Aluminum Core Pickleball Paddles

Aluminum is used primarily as a core material. You’re unlikely to see any aluminum-faced paddles.

The same malleability that helps aluminum protect your leftovers makes this core material a great choice for many advanced pickleball players. The slight give allows balls to “sink” into the material, giving you that split second of additional control.

However, that benefit is also a slight disadvantage.

Aluminum core paddles are a poor fit for beginners, requiring a fine-tuned sense of the ball’s power and trajectory. Thus, most aluminum paddles are reserved for intermediate to advanced players.

Composite Paddle Core Specifications

Like aluminum, composite materials are centralized in the paddle core. Moreover, as the name implies, composite paddles are made of different materials. Most composite paddle cores are a mix of fiberglass, graphite, and wood pulp.

Composite paddles are easy and cheap to produce, although the formulation’s variability makes it impossible to pinpoint a singular performance highlight. Nonetheless, their affordability makes them a beloved choice for many beginners.

Fiberglass Paddle Play

Fiberglass is one of the most common picks for paddle faces, particularly among regular recreational pickleball players. It is rarely used as a standalone core material, although you may find some in composite paddles.

Often compared to graphite, fiberglass pickleball paddles are given a resin dip to protect their hitting surfaces. That resin soaking produces a durable, rigid paddle with many positive qualities. Users love the material’s inherent power and spin, although its heat-treated nature gives it a relatively tiny sweet spot.

Graphite Paddle Performance

Graphite is another popular choice for the paddle face. Like fiberglass, graphite paddles offer consistent, reliable play. However, its harder surface evenly distributes the ball’s force, giving users a larger sweet spot.

Despite its relative popularity, you’ll see many a graphite paddle in discount bins. Players often drop these paddles as their skills improve.

Comparisons With Carbon Fiber

Graphite is often likened to carbon fiber, another cost-effective choice for pickleball paddle surface materials.

Technically, carbon fiber is a form of graphite. Where graphite paddle faces are tightly packed layers of surfacing, carbon fiber paddles use a ribbon-like structure. Nonetheless, both are made of the same core materials: graphite!

Interestingly, the structural “ribbons” of carbon fiber cover more surface area than the equivalent amount of pure graphite. Thus, carbon fiber paddles are slightly lighter than graphite equivalents, although they offer many of the same benefits.

Graphite Composite Paddles

You may also see a graphite and fiberglass composite paddle on store shelves. These high-end pickleball paddles balance the perks of the most popular pickleball paddle face materials. You get the same durability with a large sweet spot.

However, you can expect a price tag equal to its performance!

Nomex Core Paddle Play

Nomex is a longstanding pickleball paddle core material based on a decades-old Dupont development. Under a microscope, you’ll see that Nomex cores are comprised of tiny honeycomb shapes. Those repetitive shapes lower the paddle’s core density without sacrificing structural stability. Many manufacturers mimic those internal honeycomb structure features when laying down layers of pickleball paddle core materials.

But don’t let the airy structure fool you! A Nomex paddle core is fairly heavy; most are 7.5–8 ounces.

Polymer Core Paddles

Polymer is the most common core material.

Polymer core paddles have a long and storied history in the sport. Like composite paddles, they’re (usually) affordable and durable picks for newcomers. Their precise performance specifications vary by thickness, although all polymer core paddles provide a balanced experience.

Today, polymer core paddles are at the forefront of paddle technology. Scientists are working to create quieter paddles, and poly core picks seem the most promising.

Classic Wooden Paddles

Finally, we have the classic wood paddle.

Most wooden paddles are solid wood. They may have additional surface treatments, but all-natural wood is the bulk of their surface and core materials.

While these were once the only way to play pickleball, they’ve since fallen out of widespread favor. Newcomers often complain of wooden paddles’ weight and poor handling. They also lack the “stylish” accouterments of newer models.

Nonetheless, you can find many wonderful wood paddles! Depending on the specifics, wooden paddles come in various core densities. Their heft helps power hard-hitting lobs, while the lack of exterior materials makes for a reliable, durable paddle for rough-and-tumble play.

What’s Your Pickleball Paddle Pick?

Ultimately, everyone prefers different paddles. Your “perfect match” probably won’t be the same as your teammate’s! Don’t be afraid to try many paddles to find what fits your play style.

In the meantime, keep learning and growing! Browse the rest of the blog to find more tips and tricks. We also encourage you to share this post if it helped you learn more about pickleball paddle materials!