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The best pickleball paddles for advanced players

The best pickleball paddle for advanced players is the Selkirk Boomstik Elongated, because its pop scored 99 out of 100 and only two paddles I've tested have more, and it's $333.

These are the 10 paddles I'd hand a player who already hits the center most of the time and has a soft game that holds up. At this level you can give away sweet spot and control to get more power and pop, but you still want as much spin as you can get. Most of the top-end power is in elongated paddles, so 8 of the 10 are elongateds. Each card tells you who the paddle is for and who should skip it.

By Steven Shipler · Updated October 21, 2026 · Stock and prices checked October 14, 2026Most of these paddles were sent to me free by the brands. I earn a commission when you buy through my links or codes. It never changes a rank. How I test

See all 10 at a glanceCompare No. 1 and No. 2

No. 1 · Best for advanced playersSelkirk Boomstik Elongated$333 plus a $40 gift card with my code

All 10 at a glance

My picks, in the order I'd recommend them. Tap a pick to jump to it.

Budget pick Under $100 with my code, and it earned its spot on the list.

UPA-A only Approved for UPA-A events such as the PPA Tour, but not on USA Pickleball's list, so not for USA Pickleball tournaments. Fine for rec play.

Compare No. 1 and No. 2 side by sideSearch every paddle I've tested

Prices are after my code.

  1. 1

    Best for advanced players

    Selkirk Boomstik Elongated

    Elongated16mmUSA Pickleballreleased August 2025

    $333plus a $40 gift card with my code

    Get it at Selkirk

    Code INF-STSPICKLEBALL adds a $40 gift card, the most Selkirk gives on an order this size, and my link applies it. How the Selkirk code works

    • S97Power
    • S99Pop
    • B78Spin
    • B74Sweet spot
    • C56Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. S973rd
    2. S992nd
    3. B78tied 21st
    4. B74best
    5. C56tied 26th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you want top-end pace without a tiny sweet spot, this is the paddle I'd get. The Boomstik Elongated scored 99 out of 100 for pop, and only two paddles I've tested have more. It hits about as hard as anything on this list, too. What sets it apart from the other big hitters is the sweet spot, because at 74 out of 100, it's the biggest of any elongated I've tested. Selkirk clamps weights to the edge guard, so it's stable for an elongated when you miss the center. It's firm and stiff for a foam paddle, with that loud, hollow crack the Boomstik is known for, and the pop is instant, so counters and speed-ups come off fast.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if spin comes first for you, because its 2,305 RPM is the second lowest on this list.

    Why No. 1

    The unMARKed 2026 right below it hits about as hard for $162.01 less, but the Boomstik has a little more pop, a little bigger sweet spot and clearly more control. The Boomstik is $333. Selkirk's code INF-STSPICKLEBALL adds a Selkirk gift card instead of lowering the price.

  2. 2

    Boomstik power, half the price

    MARK unMARKed 2026

    Elongated16mmUSA Pickleballreleased July 2026

    $170.99with my codelist price $189.99

    Get it at MARK

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it.

    • S95Power
    • S90Pop
    • A84Spin
    • B66Sweet spot
    • D45Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. S95tied 4th
    2. S90tied 7th
    3. A84tied 12th
    4. B66tied 13th
    5. D45tied 39th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    This is Boomstik-style pace in an elongated for $162.01 less than a Boomstik. The unMARKed scored 95 out of 100 for power and 90 for pop, so it rewards players who end points with drives, speed-ups and counters, and its sweet spot of 66 is clearly bigger than the average elongated's 52. It's USA Pickleball approved, and it's a pre-order: new orders are expected to ship November 13, 2026.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if your resets still need work, because its control score of 45 is just the average elongated's.

    Why No. 2

    It hits about as hard as the Boomstik above it for $162.01 less, though the Boomstik has a little more pop and clearly more control. Next to the Inferno2 M1 below, it has clearly more pop, a clearly bigger sweet spot and far more control for $44.11 less, while the Inferno2 has the most power of any elongated I've tested, 99 against 95. The unMARKed is $170.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL.

  3. 3

    Most power in an elongated

    Luzz Inferno2 M1

    Elongated16mmreleased August 2026UPA-A only

    $215.10with my codelist price $239

    Get it at Luzz

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it. How the Luzz code works

    • S99Power
    • B79Pop
    • S90Spin
    • C52Sweet spot
    • F25Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. S99best
    2. B79tied 29th
    3. S905th
    4. C5241st
    5. F25tied 63rd

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you want the most pace you can get with an elongated's reach, this is the one. The Inferno2 M1 scored 99 out of 100 for power, the most of any elongated I've tested, and only one paddle of any shape hits harder, a hybrid, the Zen S+. The Inferno2 also spins more than an average elongated, and it's one of only four paddles that score 90 or more for both power and spin. Its sweet spot is about the same as an average elongated's, so what you give up is control. It also has a heavy, head-weighted swing, so it's slower in quick exchanges. For this much power, the response is predictable, with no sudden jump off the face.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if your resets and drops still need help, because its control score of 25 is far below the 45 an average elongated scores for control.

    Why No. 3

    It has the most power of any elongated I've tested, 99 against the unMARKed's 95 above it, but the unMARKed has clearly more pop, a clearly bigger sweet spot and far more control for $44.11 less. Next to the Ultré Power 2, my fourth pick, it hits a little harder and spins about the same, but the Ultré has a far bigger sweet spot and far more control. The Inferno2 is here for reach and raw pace. It's $215.10 with code STSPICKLEBALL.

  4. 4

    Hybrid power and spin

    11SIX24 Ultré Power 2

    Hybrid16mmreleased June 2026UPA-A only

    $199.99with my codelist price $209.99

    Get it at 11SIX24

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes $10 off, and my link applies it. How the 11SIX24 code works

    • S94Power
    • A89Pop
    • S95Spin
    • B76Sweet spot
    • C58Control

    Score out of 100Rank among hybrids you can buy

    1. S942nd
    2. A89tied 5th
    3. S955th
    4. B76tied 17th
    5. C58tied 45th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    This is the pick if you want power and spin near the top of this list without giving up as much sweet spot. The Ultré Power 2 scored 94 out of 100 for power, and only eight paddles I've tested spin faster than its 2,387 RPM. Only four paddles I've tested score 90 or more for both power and spin, and of the three on this list, the Ultré's sweet spot of 76 out of 100 is far bigger than the other two. It's on the firm side, and even short strokes come off with pop, so go easy on your dinks and drops. Where it really shines is when you attack first, because speed-ups and counters jump off the face. Owners say all that pop and drive power still stays under control.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if your soft game is still coming along, because its control scored 58 out of 100 and most of the paddles I've tested are more controllable.

    Why No. 4

    Next to the J6CR Crystal Blue, my fifth pick, the Ultré hits a little harder, but the J6CR has clearly more control and costs $24.49 less, with about the same spin and sweet spot. On an advanced list, that extra power wins out. The Ultré is $199.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL.

  5. 5

    Most spin in an elongated

    Honolulu J6CR Crystal Blue

    Elongated16mmreleased May 2026UPA-A only

    $175.50with my codelist price $195

    Code STS10 takes 10% off, and my link applies it. How the Honolulu code works

    • A87Power
    • A85Pop
    • S100Spin
    • B72Sweet spot
    • B69Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. A87tied 18th
    2. A85tied 17th
    3. S100best
    4. B723rd
    5. B6914th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If spin is how you win points, this is the elongated I'd get. The J6CR Crystal Blue measured 2,424 RPM, the most of any elongated I've tested, and only two paddles of any shape spin faster. The reason it works on an advanced list is the control that comes with that spin. It scored 69 for control, far more than the average elongated's control score of 45. It's quick for an elongated, and dinks stay down and take spin well. It's a bit stiffer than the raw J6CR, but you still get a little of that Honolulu softness compared to most power paddles. Owners have reported it became their main paddle because it gives them power, pop, spin and control together.

    Who should skip it: If you mostly win by driving from the baseline, look higher on this list, since its power scored 87 out of 100 and about one in ten paddles I've tested hit harder.

    It ships in numbered pre-order batches. When I checked on October 14, 2026, batch 12 had sold out, and batch 13 was due to ship November 13, 2026.

    Why No. 5

    Next to the Hurache-X Power 2, my sixth pick, the J6CR gives up a little power, but it has far more control, spins more and costs $24.49 less, with the same 6 inch handle. The J6CR is $175.50 with code STS10.

  6. 6

    Power 2 with reach

    11SIX24 Hurache-X Power 2

    Elongated16mmreleased March 2026UPA-A only

    $199.99with my codelist price $209.99

    Get it at 11SIX24

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes $10 off, and my link applies it. How the 11SIX24 code works

    • S92Power
    • A89Pop
    • A89Spin
    • C64Sweet spot
    • F32Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. S92tied 7th
    2. A89tied 9th
    3. A896th
    4. C64tied 16th
    5. F32tied 53rd

    Why it's here and who it's for

    This is the reach shape of 11SIX24's Power 2 line, and it's built for drives. The Hurache-X Power 2 scored 92 out of 100 for power, and only 10 paddles I've tested hit harder. It also spins more than an average elongated, on HexGrit, the same grit face 11SIX24 puts on the Ultré Power 2. Its sweet spot is clearly bigger than an average elongated's, though it's still the least forgiving shape in the Power 2 line. It's firm and crisp with a hollow sound, and the elongated reach gives you real leverage on drives and serves. Owners like the 6 inch handle for two-handed backhands.

    Who should skip it: If your resets still sit up too high, pass on this one, because its control scored 32 out of 100 and most of the paddles I've tested are more controllable.

    Why No. 6

    It sits below the J6CR Crystal Blue because it makes the opposite trade, a little more power for far less control. Next to the EPP Turbo Elongated, my seventh pick, the power, pop and control are about the same, but the Hurache-X spins more and has a little bigger sweet spot, for $100 more. It's $199.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL.

  7. 7

    Elongated power on a budgetBudget pick

    Enhance EPP Turbo Elongated

    Elongated16mmUSA Pickleballreleased March 2026

    $99.99with my codelist price $119.99

    Get it at Enhance

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes $20 off, and my link applies it. How the Enhance code works

    • S91Power
    • A86Pop
    • B72Spin
    • C59Sweet spot
    • F32Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. S91tied 11th
    2. A86tied 14th
    3. B72tied 39th
    4. C5923rd
    5. F32tied 53rd

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you want advanced-level pace with an elongated's reach and you'd rather spend under $100, this is the one. It's $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL, and no paddle you can buy under $100 with my codes hits harder than its power score of 91 out of 100. At any price, only 13 paddles I've tested hit harder. Its power and pop are about the same as the Hurache-X Power 2's, for $100 less. It's on the firm side for a foam paddle, close in feel to the Bread & Butter Loco, and it has plenty of pop at the kitchen. Resets take some getting used to, though, since it won't soak up pace for you. It's also USA Pickleball approved.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if spin comes first for you, because its 2,277 RPM is the lowest on this list.

    Why No. 7

    It's the price pick. The Hurache-X above it adds more spin, a little bigger sweet spot and a 6 inch handle for $100 more. Next to the J2CR Long Handle, my eighth pick, the EPP hits a little harder, but the J2CR spins far more, has a far bigger sweet spot and far more control, for $75.51 more.

  8. 8

    Most spin I've tested

    Honolulu J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue

    Hybrid16mmreleased April 2026UPA-A only

    $175.50with my codelist price $195

    Code STS10 takes 10% off, and my link applies it. How the Honolulu code works

    • A86Power
    • S90Pop
    • S100Spin
    • A82Sweet spot
    • B73Control

    Score out of 100Rank among hybrids you can buy

    1. A8610th
    2. S90tied 3rd
    3. S100tied best
    4. A82tied 4th
    5. B73tied 23rd

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you win at the kitchen with spin and fast hands, this is my pick. The J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue measured 2,467 RPM, more spin than any other paddle I've tested. It's also the most forgiving paddle on this list, with a sweet spot of 82, and it has the lightest swing here. The light swing and its pop make it strong in hands battles. It's a bit stiffer than the raw J2CR, but it's still more plush than most durable grit paddles, and the sweet spot feels bigger. It's less stable on mishits than most hybrids out of the box, so a little weight on the sides helps. The 6 inch handle has room for a two-handed backhand.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if you end points with pure pace, because about one in eight paddles I've tested hit harder.

    It's sold on the same Honolulu listing as the J2CR Crystal Blue, as the Extended J2 handle option.

    Why No. 8

    Its power score of 86 is the third lowest here, and the EPP Turbo above it hits a little harder for $75.51 less. Next to the RPM Q2 Elongated, my ninth pick, the Q2 hits clearly harder, but the J2CR spins more, with a far bigger sweet spot and far more control, for $49.49 less. It's $175.50 with code STS10.

  9. 9

    Most power with USAP approval

    RPM Q2 Elongated

    Elongated16mmUSA Pickleballreleased February 2026

    $224.99with my codelist price $249.99

    Get it at RPM

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it.

    • S98Power
    • A89Pop
    • S92Spin
    • D38Sweet spot
    • F20Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. S982nd
    2. A89tied 9th
    3. S924th
    4. D38tied 70th
    5. F20tied 70th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    This is Boomstik-style power and sound for $108.01 less, if you hit the center cleanly or like to add weight. The Q2 Elongated scored 98 out of 100 for power, and only two paddles I've tested hit harder. It also spins more than the Boomstik Elongated. It's loud, boomy and hollow, close to a sound-alike for the Boomstik, and it's very poppy off short strokes. It swings lighter than most full foam elongateds, but its twist weight is low, so off-center hits cost you more until you add weight. It's $224.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if you still miss the center a few times a game, because nearly all the paddles I've tested have a bigger sweet spot.

    Why No. 9

    Its sweet spot of 38 is the smallest here, so it sits below the J2CR Long Handle, which forgives far more. The Inferno2 M1, my third pick, has about the same power and spin with a clearly bigger sweet spot, for $9.89 less. Next to the Axiom Elongated, my tenth pick, the Q2 hits clearly harder for $45 more.

  10. 10

    Honeycomb feel with spin

    Engage Axiom Elongated

    Elongated16mmUSA Pickleball and UPA-Areleased August 2026

    $179.99with my codelist price $199.99

    Get it at Engage

    Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it.

    • A80Power
    • S91Pop
    • S96Spin
    • C53Sweet spot
    • F31Control

    Score out of 100Rank among elongateds you can buy

    1. A80tied 41st
    2. S916th
    3. S963rd
    4. C53tied 37th
    5. F31tied 56th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you never warmed up to foam but still want spin, this is the one I'd hand you. Engage put the Axiom Elongated out in August 2026 with a polymer honeycomb core, and its 2,394 RPM is the most of any honeycomb paddle I've tested. Its pop scored 91 out of 100, and only 12 paddles I've tested have more. It has that stiff, crisp honeycomb feel, and short swings come off the face fast. You can take it to both USA Pickleball and UPA-A events, which no other pick here can say, and Engage backs it with a lifetime warranty.

    Who should skip it: Skip it if you want easy pace, because 72 paddles I've tested hit harder.

    Why No. 10

    Its power score of 80 is the lowest on this list, so it sits below the Q2, which hits clearly harder for $45 more. It holds the last spot over the Thrive Fury Elongated, which hits a little harder for $18 less, because the Axiom spins more and has a little more pop. The Axiom is $179.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL.

How I picked them

Five rules decide which paddles make the list and in what order.

  1. 1

    I ran the same tests on every paddle, and every score on this page comes from those tests.

  2. 2

    None of these scores under 80 for power or 79 for pop, and none measured under 2,277 RPM.

  3. 3

    Control is the big trade here, and the control scores on this list run anywhere from 20 to 73.

  4. 4

    Prices are what each brand's own store charged on October 16, 2026, with my code.

  5. 5

    "Budget pick" means an Enhance Turbo under $100 with my code.

How I test every paddle

What advanced players should look for in a paddle

Picking a paddle at this level is a min-max. The cleaner your contact and the better your touch, the more sweet spot and control you can trade away for power and pop. You can see that trade across the paddles I've tested. The 50 paddles that score 70 to 79 for power have a middle control score of 68.5 and a middle sweet spot of 69.5. At 90 and up for power, control drops to 53, but the sweet spot only drops to 67. So control is most of what you give up, and it's also the big difference from my intermediate list. The middle pick here scored 91.5 for power, compared to 87 on my intermediate list, but the middle control score drops from 70 to 33.5. The real question is how much of the soft game you can carry on your own.

What you shouldn't trade away is spin, and you don't have to. The 23 paddles I've tested at 90 or more for power actually spin more than the field, with a middle reading of 2,313 RPM against 2,263 RPM across every paddle I've tested. How long the grit lasts matters too. The Ultré Power 2 and Hurache-X Power 2 use 11SIX24's HexGrit, and the J6CR Crystal Blue and J2CR Long Handle use Honolulu's Crystal Blue. In my wear test, both grits lost only about 1% of their spin over 75 games.

Most of this list is elongated because that's where the top-end power is. Twelve of the 23 paddles I've tested that score 90 or more for power are elongateds. The catch is forgiveness. Look at just the paddles at 85 or more for power, and the middle elongated has a sweet spot of 52 and a control score of 30, while the middle hybrid keeps a sweet spot of 73 and a control score of 59.5. So if you still want some help on mishits, the Ultré Power 2 and the J2CR Long Handle are the two hybrids I put on this list.

Questions people ask

What is the best pickleball paddle for advanced players?

I'd get the Selkirk Boomstik Elongated at $333. Only two paddles I've tested beat its pop score of 99 out of 100, and no elongated has a bigger sweet spot, so you get top-end pace that still forgives a mishit. If you want the most power with an elongated's reach, the Luzz Inferno2 M1 is $215.10 with code STSPICKLEBALL. On a budget, the Enhance EPP Turbo Elongated is $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL.

What shape paddle do advanced players use?

Mostly elongated, for the reach and the power, and 8 of my 10 picks are elongateds. Twelve models I've tested come as both an elongated and a hybrid. In 10 of them the elongated hit harder, it never hit softer, and in all 12 it gave up sweet spot and control. If you still miss the center a fair amount, a hybrid like the Ultré Power 2 is where I'd start.

What thickness paddle do advanced players use?

Mostly 16mm, and all 10 of my picks are 16mm. Of the paddles I've tested, 13 models come in both 14mm and 16mm, and the 16mm version had more sweet spot and more control in all 13, and more power in 10. The 14mm had more pop in nine. So a 14mm only makes sense if quick pop at the net matters more to you than drive power.

Should advanced players use a heavier paddle?

Weight doesn't decide power. A heavier swing does carry through drives, but it slows you down in fast hands battles. The 23 paddles I've tested that score 90 or more for power have swing weights from 103.8 on the Friday Aura Pro Widebody to 121.5 on the Inferno2 M1. If you live at the kitchen, the J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue has the lightest swing on this list, with a swing weight of 108.9.

What is the most powerful paddle for advanced players?

On this list, it's the Luzz Inferno2 M1, which scored 99 for power, the most of any elongated. Only one paddle I've tested hits harder, the Pickleball Apes Zen S+, a hybrid with a power score of 100. Right behind it are the RPM Q2 Elongated at 98 for power and the Boomstik Elongated at 97, and the Boomstik's sweet spot is far bigger than either of the other two.

Do advanced players need a USA Pickleball approved paddle?

You only need it for USA Pickleball sanctioned events. The Inferno2 M1, the Ultré Power 2, the J6CR Crystal Blue, the Hurache-X Power 2 and the J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue are UPA-A only, so that's five of my 10 picks. The Boomstik Elongated, the unMARKed 2026, the EPP Turbo Elongated and the Q2 Elongated are USA Pickleball approved, and the Axiom Elongated has both. For USA Pickleball events, the raw J6CR is approved and costs the same $175.50 with code STS10.

Close, but not on the list

Seven paddles people ask about, and where they are instead.

  • Thrive Fury Elongated 15.5mmThrive Fury ElongatedIt hits a little harder than the Engage Axiom, but the Axiom spins more and has a little more pop, and the Fury was tenth here until the unMARKed 2026 came in on October 21, 2026. It's $161.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL.
  • Pickleball Apes Zen S+ 16mmPickleball Apes Zen S+It's first on my power list and seventh on my Best of 2026 list, and its power score of 100 out of 100 is the most of any paddle I've tested. Pickleball Apes sells it in pre-order batches, and on October 14, 2026, Batch 5 showed no ship date.
  • Friday Aura Pro Elongated 16mmFriday Aura Pro ElongatedIt's sixth on my power list. Next to the EPP Turbo Elongated here, the power and spin are about the same, but the EPP has a clearly bigger sweet spot and clearly more control, for $52.11 less.
  • Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Elongated 16mmEnhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit ElongatedIt's first on my under $100 list and eighth on my elongated list. At the same $99.99 as the EPP Turbo Elongated here, it has about the same power and pop, but it spins more and has far more control, so it's the one if you want more help on resets.
  • Honolulu J6CR 16mmHonolulu J6CRIt's the USA Pickleball approved version of the J6CR Crystal Blue here, at the same $175.50 with code STS10. It hits a little harder, but the Crystal Blue spins more, and the sweet spot and control are about the same.
  • Luzz Pro 4 Inferno 16mmLuzz Pro 4 InfernoIt's the original Inferno from August 2025, approved by both USA Pickleball and UPA-A, and it's $27 less than the Inferno2 M1 with my code. The Inferno2 M1 hits a little harder and has a little more pop, and the spin, sweet spot and control are about the same.
  • JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mmJOOLA Perseus Pro IVSpin is the gap. It measured 2,121 RPM, and nearly every paddle I've tested spins more, while every pick here measured 2,277 RPM or more.

What changed

  • The MARK unMARKed 2026 comes in at second. The Thrive Fury Elongated, which was tenth, drops off.
  • Rebuilt from my October 14, 2026 database after a live store check of every paddle. Paddles you can't buy anymore are gone.
  • The 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 moves from No. 6 to No. 3, because it scores 90 or more for power and spin with a far bigger sweet spot than the other two picks that do.
  • The Enhance EPP Turbo Elongated moves from No. 3 to No. 6, as the budget pick for advanced players who want an elongated.

Latest paddle reviews

Every one starts with my verdict, then shows the numbers behind it.

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11SIX24 · Elongated

Hurache-X Power 2 review

Get it for reach and drives if your soft game is clean, and skip it if your resets float.

  • PowerS92
  • PopA89
  • SpinA89
  • Sweet spotC64
  • ControlF32

11SIX24 · Widebody

Pegasus Jelly Bean review

Get it if your soft game is still coming, and skip it if you win with power.

  • PowerD36
  • PopC58
  • SpinC64
  • Sweet spotS93
  • ControlS95