Are you someone who has recently developed a love for pickleball paddles? Well if you have, then you have come to the right place to find out all you need to know about pickleball paddles for beginners!
The most important part of looking for pickleball equipment is knowing what the basics are of this sport. While playing pickleball, every player will require a pickleball paddle, which is more modest than a tennis racquet yet bigger than a ping-pong paddle. Initially, paddles were made exclusively from wood, however, the present short or long pickleball paddles have advanced and are basically made of lightweight composite materials, including aluminium and graphite.
It is a fun sport which combines many aspects of ping pong, badminton and tennis and can be played both inside and outdoors!
One of the most important things before investing in pickleball paddles for beginners is to know how they are made!
The best pickle paddle consists of two important things, the face and the core.
The core is a layer about 3 to 4 centimetres in thickness that essentially makes the base of the paddle, all cores have a honeycomb design which was pioneered by Arlen Paranto, who was the first person to create pickleball paddles and balls that did not use any sort of wood in the core. The core of the paddle even pickleball paddles for beginners is made up of one of these three materials:
Nomex: They have small gaps in the honeycomb design which offer excellent control.
Polymer: Make little to no noise and is the most popular material pickle paddle users prefer.
Aluminium: They offer the best control but offer less power compared to polymer paddles.
However, the facing material is the layer that covers the core on both sides to prevent it from getting damaged and to accommodate other features of the paddles. The facing material is made using one of the three materials mentioned below:
Fibreglass: It is one of the most popular materials used.
Graphite: They are lightweight compared to the other materials, but also one of the most expensive ones as well.
Carbon Fibre: It is somewhat similar to graphite but more durable.
The three most important things to consider while buying a pickleball paddle for beginners or as some mistakenly call it ‘Pickleball racket’ are:
1-The price of the paddle: Good composite pickleball equipment paddles start at the price of $50 ranging all the way to $200 for the best of the best pickleball paddle. There are three main categories that are taken in consideration while setting the prices:
Wood prices ($13-$36)
Composite prices ($45-$150)
Graphite prices ($60-$145)
Wood pickleball paddles for beginners are super expensive compared to other materials used to make paddles however they are a more solid paddle with a lot of power and with a strong plywood core decreasing its chances to break easily. If this is your first time purchasing pickleball paddles and balls, it is better to buy a paddle that is inexpensive and made of graphite.
2- The grip size of the paddle: The grip size is an essential part of investing in a pickleball paddle, why? It is important to play with a paddle that has the correct grip circumference for your hand. If you buy a paddle which is relatively bigger compared to your hand the chances of it slipping out of your hand is greater compared to if you got one the same size of your hand and it could also be a cause of elbow problems because of the extra weight you would be putting on it.
A smaller grip paddle is the best pickleball paddle as it allows the player space for more wrist action, which helps with putting the ball and also gives them full control over their play. The advantage of having a large grip is that it is more stable and is easier on your arm muscles and also gives space to the players to switch hands mid play without any difficulty, making them ideal pickleball paddles for beginners.
Competitive pickleball players mostly customise their pickleball equipment paddle grips using an over grip to re-wrap their paddle exactly to their personal preference. Most paddle grip sizes are from between 4 to 4 and a half inches in circumference, in similarity to tennis pickleball paddles grips are broken down to 1/8-inch increments.
3-The weight of the paddle: Weight is considered to be one of the most important aspects while choosing pickleball paddles for beginners. Short or long pickleball paddles may range from 6 to 14 ounces, most of the best composite or graphite paddles weigh from 6 to 9 ounces. Weight is a major part of a paddle since it influences how a paddle feels when you pick it up and swing it in the court.
For people who do not have pre-existing injuries like pickle ball shoulder etc, the choice of your paddle weight is entirely yours to decide based on your personal fitness level and comfort.
The heavier your pickleball equipment or paddle is, the more comfortable you will be to drive the ball while playing but you will have less control on the ball compared to the drive. Many people advise you to buy heavy pickleball paddles for beginners but the heavier your paddle is on beginner level the more chances you are exposed to arm fatigue and strains. Too light or too heavy are both discouraged for beginners hence the best pickleball paddle to go for is a mid-weight pickleball paddle.
You should invest in buying paddles that fulfil these three things according to your hand size for the best experience, here at courtside tennis we offer a variety of paddles to help take in consideration all of our customers need, a few of them include:
1-Lightweight paddles
2-Midweight paddles
3-Power oriented paddles
4-Spin oriented paddles
5-Control oriented paddles
6-Arm- friendly paddles
We here at courtside tennis offer a variety of different amazing brands which include:
-Babolat pickleball paddles
-Electrum paddles
-Engage pickleball paddles
-Franklin paddles
-Gearbox pickleball paddles
-Head pickleball paddles
-Kinetic paddles
-Paddletek pickleball paddles
-Pro Kennex paddles
-Selkirk pickleball paddles
-Wilson pickleball paddles
Before looking into any of these paddles, if you have what tennis experts call ‘A pickle paddle shoulder’ the best way to not add to the strain is to browse through various mid-weight paddles decreasing the chances to add on to the injury.
If you’re still confused, alot of buyers looking for pickleball paddles for beginners have some questions so here are the answers to the most asked questions:
- How do I pick pickleball paddles for beginners?
The answer is, just try them out! Maybe ask your friends who play to lend you their pickleball paddles and balls so you can have an idea about what it feels like so you can experience the different weight and grip sizes.
- Why do so many composite paddles have an overlapping edge guard?
This is because it maintains the shape of the paddles and provides a covering to the open honeycomb interior and without one there is a risk of the paddle losing its shape which may result in the paddle breaking.
- How do I find the best pickleball paddle with power?
Simple! Choose a heavy-weight or super heavyweight paddle based on your hand capacity since power is all related to weight.
- How long should a paddle last?
This depends on how you take care of your paddle and how often you play. Wooden pickleball paddles for beginnersare the most durable compared to the rest, but mostly a paddle can last up to a year or three.
- Are there indoor and outdoor paddles?
The balls are made in consideration of the outdoors and indoors but not the paddles, you can use any paddle both indoors and outdoors.
- I used to play tennis, what paddle is suitable for me?
People who have previously played with a racquet often like paddles with relatively longer handles like power elite paddles. The longer hand of the long pickleball paddles enable a two handed backhand and also provide more room for quick hand switches.
- What is a ‘sweet spot'?
Each paddle consists of a sweet spot in the centre of the hitting surface which is nothing extraordinary but just a mere matter of physics.
- Does a handle length make much of a difference?
Any paddle longer than five inches provides more reach on ground strokes and helps you achieve higher levels of power increasing chances of a good play.
- How do I know my grip on pickleball paddles for beginners is okay?
Grip a paddle along with your ordinary grip and spot if you can slide the index finger of your other hand between your fingertips and the heel of your hand gripping the paddle.. Your finger should fit perfectly between the two without you having to move your fingers.
If you liked what you read and want to find out more about the different prices and types of pickleball paddles for beginners we have to offer, visit our website.
