Pickleball Racket: What You Are Really Looking For
Quick Answer
A pickleball racket is what many new players call a pickleball paddle, and they are the same thing. The official term is paddle: a flat, solid, stringless face with no holes, usually weighing 7.5 to 8.5 oz. Every paddle in the grid above is a genuine Selkirk, JOOLA or CRBN.
- Best for: anyone buying their first proper paddle, whatever they call it
- Weight and shape: published weights from 7.7 to 8.4 oz, all elongated where specified
- Price at Padelnox: from $129 (Selkirk SLK Control XL) to $219
Key Takeaways
- Racket, racquet, paddle: in pickleball they all point to the same solid paddle.
- No strings, no holes: that is what separates a pickleball paddle from a tennis racket or a padel racket.
- Not a racquetball paddle either: racquetball uses a strung racquet and a rubber ball on an indoor court.
- Start with a thicker core: it makes the soft shots easier while you learn.
- Every paddle here ships free: all our pickleball paddles are over the $99 free shipping line.
Quick Links
- Pickleball racket or paddle?
- What I tell students in lesson one
- A mini-guide to buying your first paddle
- Starter paddles compared
- Where to buy
- FAQ
Searching for a "Pickleball Racket"? Here Is What That Usually Means
If you typed "pickleball racket", you almost certainly want a pickleball paddle. Tennis, badminton and squash players carry the word racket over from their own sport, and it is an easy habit. In pickleball, the equipment has always been called a paddle, because it is a solid face rather than a strung frame.
Three things make a paddle different from any racket: it has no strings, it has no holes, and it is built around a honeycomb core between two faces. It hits a light plastic ball with holes in it. Padel, the sport our store started with, uses a perforated racket with a foam core, which is why I wrote a whole padel vs pickleball guide.
What I Tell Students About the Pickleball Racket in Lesson One
I am Tomás Reyes, a padel coach who also teaches pickleball to crossover players, and you can read about my testing on my bio page. In nearly every first lesson somebody asks to borrow a "racket". I hand them a paddle and ask them to tap a ball up ten times. The reaction is always the same: it feels lighter and quicker than they expected.
Then I ask them to hit a soft shot into the kitchen, the zone next to the net. The tennis players swing too big. The padel players punch it firmly. Nobody gets it right in the first five minutes, and that is the lesson. A paddle rewards short, soft swings, so the best first paddle is one that forgives you while you learn them.
A Mini-Guide to Buying Your First Pickleball Racket (Paddle)
- Pick a budget. The Selkirk SLK Control XL ($129) is our lowest-priced branded paddle and a forgiving first choice.
- Prefer a thicker core. The CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm ($159) balances control and spin with a raw carbon face.
- Consider a compact face if you play often. The Selkirk LUXX Control Air Epic in Red ($219) brings Selkirk's control family in a more compact shape.
- Save power paddles for later. The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta in Rose/Navy ($219) and the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus ($219) are superb once your soft game is steady.
- Protect it. A Pickleball Paddle Bag in Black ($19.99) keeps the face and edge safe.
Starter Pickleball Rackets (Paddles) Compared
| Paddle | Shape | Weight | Core | Price at Padelnox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selkirk SLK Control XL | - | - | - | $129 |
| CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm | Elongated | 7.8 - 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average) | Polypropylene honeycomb, 16 mm | $159 |
| Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm | Elongated (Invikta) | 7.9 - 8.3 oz | X7 Thickset honeycomb, 20 mm | $219 |
| Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm | Elongated (Invikta) | 7.7 - 8.1 oz | Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm | $219 |
| JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus | Elongated | 7.9 - 8.3 oz (8.1 oz average) | Honeycomb propulsion, hyper-foam edge wall | $219 |
For ranked picks, read my best pickleball paddle guide, or the brand guides to Selkirk, JOOLA and CRBN.
Where to Buy a Pickleball Racket
Padelnox is a US-based online store with 221 frames and bags in stock, selling genuine brand stock, never replicas. Every order is inspected before dispatch and shipped tracked, and we ship worldwide. Shipping is free over $99 and $9.95 flat below, so every paddle here ships free. Unused items can be returned within 30 days, as the shipping and returns page explains. Every racket over $150 ships with the free Court-Ready Kit, and accessories are 15% off automatically when you buy three or more. See the discount code page for how offers apply.
Browse the full pickleball paddles collection or go straight to Selkirk, JOOLA or CRBN. If you meant a padel racket after all, our padel rackets are here. Questions go to helppadelnox@outlook.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pickleball racket the same as a pickleball paddle?
Yes. "Pickleball racket" is a common name for what the sport officially calls a paddle. Players coming from tennis, badminton or squash often use the word racket out of habit. The piece of equipment is identical either way: a flat, solid paddle with no strings and no holes, built around a honeycomb core and usually weighing between 7.5 and 8.5 oz.
What is the difference between a pickleball paddle and a racquetball racquet?
A racquetball racquet is strung, like a small tennis racquet, and is used with a bouncy rubber ball on an enclosed indoor court. A pickleball paddle has no strings at all. It is a solid face over a honeycomb core, used with a light perforated plastic ball on a smaller open court. The two are not interchangeable, and neither is legal in the other sport.
What pickleball racket should a beginner buy?
Buy a paddle with a thick, forgiving core. The Selkirk SLK Control XL at $129 is my budget recommendation, and the CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm at $159 adds a raw carbon face for spin. If you already play several times a week, the Selkirk LUXX Control Air at $219 is the paddle you will not outgrow. Avoid thin-core power paddles at first.