Pickleball Paddles

Quick Answer

Key Takeaways

• Three price bands, three brands: Selkirk covers $129 and $219, CRBN sits at $159, JOOLA at $219.
• Core thickness beats brand: a 20 mm Selkirk and a 13 mm Selkirk feel more different than a Selkirk and a JOOLA of similar thickness.
• Weight sits near 8 oz: the published ranges run from 7.7 to 8.4 oz, so most players never need to add weight.
• Spin comes from the face: raw carbon, textured carbon and InfiniGrit surfaces all grip the ball well.
• A paddle is not a padel racket: pickleball paddles are solid, lighter and hit a plastic ball, so the feel is very different.

Quick Links

• What is in our pickleball paddles range
• What I see in my students' bags
• Pickleball paddle vs padel racket
• How to choose a pickleball paddle
• Pickleball paddles compared
• Where to buy
• FAQ

What Is in Our Pickleball Paddles Range

I am Tomás Reyes, a padel coach who spends a growing share of the week on pickleball courts with crossover students. You can read how I test gear on my bio page. The grid above holds every paddle we sell, and it splits into three brands.

Selkirk: the widest choice

Twelve of the 18 paddles are Selkirk. The LUXX Control Air family uses a thick X7 honeycomb core (19 or 20 mm) for control. The Vanguard Power Air uses a 13 mm core and a hybrid face for power. The LABS Project 007 is a 14 mm experimental power paddle with InfiniGrit. The SLK Control XL is the budget entry. Shop them all in the Selkirk paddles collection.

JOOLA: spin and signature paddles

Four JOOLA paddles: the Ben Johns Perseus, the Simone Jardim Hyperion and the Pro Carbon Edition A and B. All use a textured carbon face and all cost $219. See the JOOLA paddles collection.

CRBN: carbon for less

Two CRBN Power Series paddles, the 1X at 12 mm and the 3X at 16 mm, both with raw T700 carbon faces and both $159 with a cover. They live in the CRBN paddles collection.

We do not sell pre-packed paddle sets. If you want a pair for you and a partner, two paddles plus a bag gets you the same thing with better paddles, and the order ships free.

What I See in My Students' Bags

Over the last year I have kept an informal log of the pickleball paddles my crossover students bring to sessions and how they get on with them. It is not a lab test, but it is honest and it covers dozens of players.

Beginners who bought power too early

The most common story: a new player buys a thin-core power paddle because a friend uses one, then spends two months popping up dinks. Almost all of them eventually move to something thicker. When a beginner asks me now, I point them to the Selkirk SLK Control XL ($129) or, if they play often, the Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm in Blue ($219).

Intermediates who wanted spin

Players around 3.5 usually want more spin on drives and rolls. The ones who picked textured or raw carbon faces improved fastest. The CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm ($159) was the value favorite, and the JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion ($219) the premium one.

Advanced players who wanted pace

My strongest players gravitate to thin cores. The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta in Red/White ($219), the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus ($219) and the CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm ($159) show up most. Every one of those players already had a reliable soft game before switching.

Arm comfort

Across all of these, the thick-core paddles drew the fewest complaints about forearm or elbow fatigue after 90-minute sessions. If you have any arm history, lean thicker.

Pickleball Paddle vs Padel Racket: What Changes

Because we are a padel store first, I get this question a lot. A padel racket is perforated, has a foam or EVA core and typically weighs 350 to 375 g. A pickleball paddle is flat and solid with no holes, uses a honeycomb core and weighs around 7.5 to 8.5 oz, roughly 215 to 240 g. Padel is played on a 20 by 10 m glass-walled court with a pressurized ball. Pickleball uses a perforated plastic ball on a smaller open court.

The feel is completely different. A padel racket is heavier in the head and rewards firm volleys and wall play. A pickleball paddle rewards soft hands, short swings and touch at the kitchen line. My padel vs pickleball guide goes deeper, and if you are curious about the other sport, start with what padel is and browse our padel rackets.

For padel players picking up a paddle for the first time, my advice is simple. Choose a thicker core than you think you need. Your padel instincts will push you to swing firmly, and a 19 or 20 mm paddle forgives that while you learn the softer pickleball touch. After a season, most of my crossover players know whether they want to stay calm or move to something livelier, and by then the choice is easy.

How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle

1. Set your budget. $129 buys the Selkirk SLK Control XL, $159 a CRBN, and $219 any Selkirk premium paddle or JOOLA.
2. Pick a core thickness. 19 to 20 mm for control, 16 mm for balance, 12 to 14 mm for power. When unsure, go thicker.
3. Choose a face. Raw carbon (CRBN), textured carbon (JOOLA) or InfiniGrit (some Selkirk models) if you want spin. A hybrid face like the Vanguard's if you want pop.
4. Check weight and weight placement. Stay near 8 oz. If you add lead tape later, put it at 3 and 9 o'clock for stability, not at the tip.
5. Check the handle. Handles in our range run from 5.25 to 5.5 in. Two-handed backhand players should look at the longer end.
6. Protect it. A Pickleball Paddle Bag in Black ($19.99) and a spare overgrip from accessories keep it playing well.

For ranked picks, see my best pickleball paddle guide for 2026.

Pickleball Paddles Compared by Feel

Paddle	Shape	Weight	Core	Face	Price at Padelnox
Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm	Elongated (Invikta)	7.9 - 8.3 oz	X7 Thickset honeycomb, 20 mm	Florek carbon fiber	$219
CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm	Elongated	7.8 - 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average)	Polypropylene honeycomb, 16 mm	Raw T700 carbon fiber	$159
JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion	Elongated	7.9 - 8.3 oz (8.1 oz average)	Honeycomb propulsion, hyper-foam edge wall	Textured carbon fiber	$219
Selkirk LABS Project 007 Invikta 14mm	Elongated (Invikta)	7.9 - 8.4 oz (8.15 oz average)	Polypropylene honeycomb, 14 mm	Florek carbon fiber, InfiniGrit	$219
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm	Elongated (Invikta)	7.7 - 8.1 oz	Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm	Fiberglass and carbon fiber hybrid	$219
CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm	Elongated	7.8 - 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average)	Polypropylene honeycomb, 12 mm	Raw T700 carbon fiber	$159

I sorted the table from the calmest core to the liveliest. Read it top to bottom as a scale from control to power. Brand-level detail is in my guides to Selkirk, JOOLA and CRBN paddles.

Where to Buy Pickleball Paddles

Every paddle in the grid ships from Padelnox, a US-based online store with 221 frames and bags in stock across padel, pickleball, beach tennis and tennis. We sell genuine brand stock, never replicas. Every order is inspected before dispatch and shipped tracked, orders are processed in 1 to 3 business days, and we ship worldwide.

All of our pickleball paddles are over $99, so every one ships free and tracked. Below $99, shipping is $9.95 flat. Unused items in original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and our shipping and returns page has the details. Every racket over $150 ships with the free Court-Ready Kit, an overgrip 3-pack plus frame protector. Accessories are 15% off automatically when you buy three or more, and the discount code page confirms no code is needed. If you landed here after searching for a pickleball racket, you are in the right place. Questions go to helppadelnox@outlook.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What weight pickleball paddle should I use?

Most adult club players do best between 7.9 and 8.3 oz, which is where most paddles in our range sit. Heavier paddles feel more stable and push the ball deep with less effort. Lighter ones are quicker at the kitchen line and easier on the shoulder. Start with a stock paddle near 8 oz, play a month, and only then consider adding lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock.

How much should I spend on a pickleball paddle?

If you play once a week or less, $129 to $159 buys a genuine branded paddle such as the Selkirk SLK Control XL or a CRBN Power Series with a carbon face. If you play two or more times a week, a $219 paddle like the Selkirk LUXX Control Air or a JOOLA signature model pays for itself in feel and durability. All of them ship free.

Which pickleball paddle is best for spin?

Spin comes from the face texture and your swing. In our range, the JOOLA paddles use textured carbon, both CRBN paddles use raw T700 carbon, and the Selkirk LUXX InfiniGrit and LABS Project 007 use Selkirk's gritted InfiniGrit surface. Any of these grips the ball well. Pair the paddle with a brushing, low-to-high swing and you will see the ball dip.