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The best pickleball paddles for beginners

The best pickleball paddle for beginners is the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean at $89.99 with my code, because only three paddles I've tested have more control than its score of 95 out of 100.

These are the 10 paddles I'd hand a new player right now. Most of them are here for a big sweet spot and a lot of control, because that's what keeps the ball in play while you learn. A few add spin, or some real power and pop, for the beginner who wants to have a little more fun with it. If you'd rather play an elongated, I put the three I'd start with in a box under the list.

By Steven Shipler · Updated October 14, 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 · Most control for the money11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean$89.99 with my code

The top five

Updated October 14, 2026
  1. 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 16mm1Most control for the moneyPegasus Jelly Bean$89.99with my code
  2. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm2The most control there isMach 2 Forza$107.99with my code
  3. 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 2 16mm3Control with top-tier spinPegasus Jelly Bean 2$159.99with my code
  4. Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody 16mm4Forgiveness and spin under $100MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody$99.99with my code
  5. Honolulu J2NFK 16mm5Control in a hybridJ2NFK$175with my code
  1. 4MPP Turbo ArmorGrit WidebodyForgiveness and spin under $100$99.99
  2. 5J2NFKControl in a hybrid$175

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
    11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 16mm

    Most control for the money

    11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean

    Widebody16mmUSA Pickleballreleased July 2024

    $89.99with my code$99.99

    Get it at 11SIX24

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

    • D36Power
    • C58Pop
    • C64Spin
    • S93Sweet spot
    • S95Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerD3640th
    2. PopC5834th
    3. SpinC64tied 29th
    4. Sweet spotS93tied 5th
    5. ControlS952nd

    Why it's here and who it's for

    For most new players, this is where I'd start, because the hardest part of learning is keeping the ball in play. The original Pegasus Jelly Bean scored 95 out of 100 for control, and only three paddles I've tested have more, one of them the Mach 2 Forza, right below it. The Jelly Bean is also one of only seven paddles I've tested that score 90 or more for both control and sweet spot, and three of them made this list. It doesn't have much pop, so soft shots come off the face slow, which helps keep your dinks and resets down. It's a little firmer than the Jelly Bean 2, its newer foam version at No. 3. It also swings light, so your hands stay quick at the kitchen.

    Pass on this one if you want your paddle to help you put the ball away, because most of the paddles I've tested hit harder.

    Why No. 1

    It's first because it does nearly everything the Mach 2 Forza does for $18 less. The Forza has a little more control, but the sweet spot and spin are about the same, and the Jelly Bean swings lighter, with a handle that's a quarter inch longer. It's $89.99 with my code.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 2Does it beat your paddle?

  2. 2
    Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm

    The most control there is

    Volair Mach 2 Forza

    Widebody16mmUSA Pickleballreleased December 2023

    $107.99with my code$119.99

    Get it at Volair

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

    • F34Power
    • C64Pop
    • C63Spin
    • S91Sweet spot
    • S100Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerF3441st
    2. PopC6432nd
    3. SpinC63tied 31st
    4. Sweet spotS91tied 8th
    5. ControlS100best

    Why it's here and who it's for

    This is the most controllable paddle you can buy right now. The Mach 2 Forza scored 100 out of 100 for control, the top control score of any paddle I've tested. It's an older honeycomb paddle from December 2023, so it doesn't have the full foam Gen 4 core the newer paddles have, and none of them has caught it on control. It's soft and plush, and it takes pace off the ball easily, so your resets and drops land short without much effort. It's also really predictable, so when you miss, it's your swing and not the paddle. Owners have reported 8 times, from 2024 to August 2026, that their control, drops and resets got better with it.

    Players who win their points with drives and put-aways should skip it, because nearly all the paddles I've tested hit harder.

    As of October 14, 2026, Volair has the 16mm in stock in one color only, Pink.

    Why No. 2

    It's second because the original Jelly Bean gets you nearly the same paddle for less. Next to the Jelly Bean 2 below it, the Forza has clearly more control and the Jelly Bean 2 spins far more, so it comes down to whether you want spin. The Forza is $107.99 with my code.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 3Does it beat your paddle?

  3. 3
    11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 2 16mm

    Control with top-tier spin

    11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 2

    Widebody16mmreleased August 2026UPA-A only

    $159.99with my code$169.99

    Get it at 11SIX24

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

    • C63Power
    • B72Pop
    • S94Spin
    • S91Sweet spot
    • A88Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerC63tied 25th
    2. PopB7225th
    3. SpinS942nd
    4. Sweet spotS91tied 8th
    5. ControlA88tied 5th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you want spin without giving up control, this is the one I'd get. Only 18 paddles I've tested score 90 or more out of 100 for spin, and just one of them has more control than the Jelly Bean 2. It reads 2,375 RPM, and that spin lasts, because in my wear test, 11SIX24's HexGrit face lost about 1% of its spin over 75 games. It's a soft, quiet paddle, much softer than the Pegasus Power 2, and the ball sinks into the face before it comes off. It's excellent for dinking, and it soaks up the pace when the other team speeds the ball up at you.

    I'd pass if you want easy power or you play in USA Pickleball sanctioned events, because most of the paddles I've tested hit harder and it's approved by UPA-A only.

    Why No. 3

    The Jelly Bean 2 lands third because it has a little less control than the original Jelly Bean and clearly less than the Mach 2 Forza, but it spins far more than both. The ArmorGrit Widebody below hits far harder and costs $60 less, but the Jelly Bean 2 has clearly more control. It's $159.99 with my code.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 4Does it beat your paddle?

  4. 4
    Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody 16mm

    Forgiveness and spin under $100Budget pick

    Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody

    Widebody16mmUSA Pickleballreleased October 2026

    $99.99with my code$119.99

    Get it at Enhance

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

    • A83Power
    • S90Pop
    • A86Spin
    • S93Sweet spot
    • B74Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerA83tied 7th
    2. PopS90tied 8th
    3. SpinA86tied 6th
    4. Sweet spotS93tied 5th
    5. ControlB74tied 27th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you need to stay under $100, this is the paddle I'd get, at $99.99 with my code. Its sweet spot of 93 ties the original Jelly Bean's, and Enhance says it's the same build as its original MPP Turbo, with the ArmorGrit coating added on top. Only four paddles I've tested have a sweet spot of 90 or more and a spin score of 85 or more out of 100, and this one costs $53 less than the next cheapest of them. It also has the most power on this list, so there's real pace when you want it. It sounds hollow and deep at contact, and it's the lightest swinging paddle on this list, so it's quick in your hands.

    If your dinks and resets already pop up, look somewhere else, because its control score of 74 is the lowest on this list.

    Why No. 4

    It's fourth because the Jelly Bean 2 above has clearly more control for $60 more, with about the same sweet spot and spin. The J2NFK below has clearly more control too, but the ArmorGrit has a clearly bigger sweet spot and more spin for $75.01 less.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 5Does it beat your paddle?

  5. 5
    Honolulu J2NFK 16mm

    Control in a hybrid

    Honolulu J2NFK

    Hybrid16mmUSA Pickleballreleased June 2025

    $175with my code$195

    Get it at Honolulu

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

    • B77Power
    • B68Pop
    • B73Spin
    • B79Sweet spot
    • A87Control

    Score out of 100Rank among hybrids you can buy

    1. PowerB77tied 25th
    2. PopB68tied 46th
    3. SpinB73tied 23rd
    4. Sweet spotB79tied 9th
    5. ControlA874th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    The J2NFK is the hybrid I'd look at if you want a hybrid's reach and you still want control. It scored 87 out of 100 for control, and only four hybrids I've tested have more. All four of those are older honeycomb paddles, so no full foam hybrid has more control than this one. It still scored 77 for power, so you get real pace on drives without giving up much control. It leans soft for a foam paddle, softer than Honolulu's J2NF. It's also very stable and forgiving for a hybrid, and resets stay easy to control because the ball comes off the face the same way every time.

    Players who miss the center a lot are better off with a widebody, because the J2NFK's sweet spot of 79 is the smallest on this list.

    It was in stock at Honolulu on October 14, 2026.

    Why No. 5

    As the control-first hybrid, it sits under the ArmorGrit Widebody, which has a clearly bigger sweet spot for less money, though the J2NFK has clearly more control. Next to the Dauntless below, it has about the same control and a clearly smaller sweet spot, but it spins more and has far more power. It's $175 with my code.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 6Does it beat your paddle?

  6. 6
    Selkirk SLK Dauntless Widebody 16mm

    Built for touch

    Selkirk SLK Dauntless Widebody

    Widebody16mmUSA Pickleballreleased February 2026

    $150plus a $20 gift card with my code

    Get it at Selkirk

    Code INF-STSPICKLEBALL adds a $20 gift card, the most Selkirk gives on an order this size, and my link applies it. How the Selkirk code works

    • C50Power
    • B70Pop
    • D38Spin
    • A89Sweet spot
    • A89Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerC5033rd
    2. PopB7028th
    3. SpinD3841st
    4. Sweet spotA89tied 12th
    5. ControlA894th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    This is a touch paddle, and it's one I'd give a new player who mostly plays the soft game. The Dauntless Widebody scored 89 out of 100 for both control and sweet spot, and only 15 paddles I've tested have more control. It's soft and dense, so the ball settles into the face instead of springing off, and it doesn't add pace on blocks, which makes your dinks and drops easy to keep low. It's also very stable, so off-center hits stay on line. Owners have reported 8 times, from March to September 2026, that their control at the kitchen got better, and in 3 other reports, owners lent theirs to a newer player or bought one for someone just starting out.

    Skip it if you want a paddle that helps you spin the ball, because most of the paddles I've tested spin more.

    Why No. 6

    Spin is what drops it to sixth, because it reads 2,185 RPM and even the J2NFK above it spins more. The J2CR Crystal Blue below spins far more and has far more pop, but the Dauntless has clearly more control for $25.50 less. It's $150, and Selkirk's code adds a gift card instead of a discount.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 7Does it beat your paddle?

  7. 7
    Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue 16mm

    For beginners who want pace

    Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue

    Hybrid16mmreleased April 2026UPA-A only

    $175.50with my code$195

    Get it at Honolulu

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

    • A81Power
    • S91Pop
    • S94Spin
    • A84Sweet spot
    • B75Control

    Score out of 100Rank among hybrids you can buy

    1. PowerA8116th
    2. PopS912nd
    3. SpinS946th
    4. Sweet spotA84tied 2nd
    5. ControlB75tied 18th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    For a beginner who wants to play with some pace, this is my own pick, but I wouldn't hand this much pop to everyone. The J2CR scored 91 out of 100 for pop, and only 12 paddles I've tested have more. It reads 2,375 RPM, and Honolulu's Crystal Blue held up just as well as 11SIX24's HexGrit in my wear test. What makes it work for a beginner is that its sweet spot and control are about the same as the typical widebody's, which is a lot for a hybrid with this much pop. It's also very quick in the hands. If you hit a two-handed backhand, the Long Handle version costs the same and has a 6 inch handle.

    If your dinks and resets already come up too high, or you play in USA Pickleball sanctioned events, I'd pass, because it has the most pop on this list and it's approved by UPA-A only.

    It was in stock at Honolulu on October 14, 2026, where it's listed as the J2CR Crystal Blue Endurance Surface.

    Why No. 7

    Its pop is the reason it isn't higher than seventh, and the Dauntless above has clearly more control. The OMNI Widebody below has about the same control, but the J2CR has clearly more pop and more spin for $124.50 less. It's $175.50 with the code STS10.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 8Does it beat your paddle?

  8. 8
    Selkirk OMNI Widebody 16mm

    The most stable face

    Selkirk OMNI Widebody

    Widebody16mmUSA Pickleball and UPA-Areleased June 2026

    $300plus 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

    • B73Power
    • A80Pop
    • A83Spin
    • A89Sweet spot
    • B76Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerB7316th
    2. PopA80tied 20th
    3. SpinA8310th
    4. Sweet spotA89tied 12th
    5. ControlB76tied 20th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    If you miss the center a lot, the OMNI Widebody has the most stable face you can buy. Its twist weight of 7.72 is the highest of any paddle I've tested, and its sweet spot is 89 out of 100. It plays like a toned-down version of the Boomstik, Selkirk's loud, poppy power paddle. With the stock clip weights in, it's stiff and hollow, a step softer than a Boomstik, with less pop at the kitchen. You can move the clip weights by hand to tune it. It also comes with a lifetime warranty, and it's approved by both USA Pickleball and UPA-A.

    Anyone on a budget should skip it, because it costs more than anything else on this list.

    Why No. 8

    The price is why it's eighth, because the ArmorGrit Widebody at No. 4 has about the same sweet spot and spin for $200.01 less. It still sits above the Harmony V, since it has far more power and pop, though the Harmony V has clearly more control. The OMNI is $300, and Selkirk's code adds a gift card instead of a discount.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 9Does it beat your paddle?

  9. 9
    Pickleball Apes Harmony V 16.5mm

    Control on a tight budget

    Pickleball Apes Harmony V

    Widebody16.5mmUSA Pickleballreleased July 2025

    $71.99with my code$79.99

    Get it at Pickleball Apes

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

    • C52Power
    • D44Pop
    • B68Spin
    • S90Sweet spot
    • S92Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerC5231st
    2. PopD4438th
    3. SpinB6827th
    4. Sweet spotS90tied 10th
    5. ControlS923rd

    Why it's here and who it's for

    On a tight budget, the Harmony V is the one I'd pick if control matters most to you. It's $71.99 with my code, the cheapest paddle on this list, and only eight paddles I've tested have more control than its 92 out of 100. It's dense and plush, and it's quiet at contact. It's very predictable, so you get exactly what you swing. It's light in your hands but still very stable for a light widebody, and resets come easily and stay low. Owners have reported 6 times, from October 2025 to September 2026, that they like its control, touch and forgiveness.

    It's not the one for you if you want pace on your counters and speed-ups, because its pop is the lowest on this list.

    Why No. 9

    It's ninth because it does one job, which is keeping the ball low, and the OMNI above gives you far more power and pop to play with. The Loco below has a little bigger sweet spot and far more pop, but the Harmony V has clearly more control for $62.34 less.

    Full reviewCompare with No. 10Does it beat your paddle?

  10. 10
    Bread & Butter Loco Standard 16mm

    Biggest sweet spot here

    Bread & Butter Loco Standard

    Widebody16mmUSA Pickleballreleased August 2025

    $134.33with my code$149.25

    Get it at Bread & Butter

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

    • B77Power
    • A82Pop
    • B77Spin
    • S95Sweet spot
    • B79Control

    Score out of 100Rank among widebodies you can buy

    1. PowerB77tied 13th
    2. PopA8218th
    3. SpinB77tied 12th
    4. Sweet spotS954th
    5. ControlB79tied 13th

    Why it's here and who it's for

    The Loco Standard has the biggest sweet spot on this list. Its sweet spot scored 95 out of 100, and only four paddles I've tested are bigger, including the Boomstik Widebody and 11SIX24's two Pegasus Power paddles. The Loco hits, too, with a power score of 77. It's firm and dense for a foam paddle, with plenty of pop at the kitchen, though a step less than a Boomstik. It's also the quickest of Bread & Butter's Loco shapes in your hand. Owners have reported 14 times, from November 2025 to September 2026, that it gave them power with control and better resets, and that it became their main paddle.

    If your resets already come up too high, or you hit a two-handed backhand, pass, because its control is clearly below my No. 1's and its 5.3 inch handle is tight for two hands.

    Only the Black was in stock at Bread & Butter on October 14, 2026, and the Loco 2 Elongated is on pre-order, shipping November 4, 2026.

    Why No. 10

    It sits tenth because the ArmorGrit Widebody at No. 4 covers the same ground for $34.34 less. The two have about the same sweet spot and spin, and the ArmorGrit has a little more power and pop, while the Loco keeps a little more control. It's $134.33 with my code.

    Full reviewDoes it beat your paddle?

Picks by situation

Want an elongated?

Only eight elongateds I've tested have a sweet spot of 70 or more out of 100, which is why the main list has none. If you still want the reach, these are the three I'd start with.

  1. Elongated on a budget

    Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Elongated

    This is the budget elongated I'd start with, at $99.99 with my code, and it's No. 1 on my under $100 list. Its sweet spot of 66 is clearly bigger than the typical elongated's 52, and it swings lighter than the typical elongated, so it doesn't feel slow at the kitchen. Just know its control is still far below anything on the main list, so dinks and resets take more care.

    • S90Power
    • A82Pop
    • A85Spin
    • B66Sweet spot
    • C53Control

    $99.99with my codeGet it at Enhance

  2. Spin and reach

    Honolulu J6CR Crystal Blue

    It's No. 1 on my Best of 2026 list and No. 1 on my elongated list. Its sweet spot of 72 out of 100 trails only two elongateds I've tested, and it has far more control than the typical elongated. It reads 2,424 RPM with the same Crystal Blue as the J2CR, and it's quick for an elongated. It's $175.50 with the code STS10. It's approved by UPA-A only, and the next pre-order batch ships November 13, 2026.

    • A87Power
    • A85Pop
    • S100Spin
    • B72Sweet spot
    • B69Control

    $175.50with my codeGet it at Honolulu

  3. The most stable elongated

    Selkirk OMNI Elongated

    Its twist weight of 7.02 is the highest of any elongated I've tested, and only eight of them have a bigger sweet spot. Its control is far above the typical elongated's, too. The catch is that it swings heavy, and only about one in eight paddles I've tested swing heavier. It's $300, and Selkirk's code adds a gift card instead of a discount. It's approved by both USA Pickleball and UPA-A, with a lifetime warranty.

    • B79Power
    • B79Pop
    • A88Spin
    • B69Sweet spot
    • B68Control

    $300plus a $40 gift card with my codeGet it at Selkirk

How I picked them

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

  1. 1

    These are my picks, in the order I'd recommend them. Every score comes from my own tests, run the same way on every paddle.

  2. 2

    For a beginner, I start with the sweet spot and control. Then I look at spin, and at how much power and pop a new player can actually handle. Price, approval and handle length come after that.

  3. 3

    I checked stock and prices on each brand's own store on October 14, 2026, and everything here could be ordered that day, with the J6CR Crystal Blue as a pre-order.

  4. 4

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

How I test every paddle

How do you choose a beginner paddle?

When you're new, you're going to miss the center a lot, so the sweet spot matters more than anything else, and shape does most of the work there. The typical widebody scores 83 for sweet spot, and the typical elongated scores only 52. That's why 8 of my 10 picks are widebodies and the other 2 are hybrids. Twist weight is how hard the face resists turning when you miss, and it lines up with sweet spot. The 34 paddles I've tested with a twist weight of 7.0 or more have a median sweet spot of 88.5, and 29 of them are widebodies.

Next is control, which is what keeps your dinks and resets low enough that the other team can't attack them. Pop works against it. The 55 paddles I've tested with a pop score of 85 or more have a median control score of 58, and the ones under 70 for pop sit clearly higher, at a median control score of 71. If control is all you want, the 10 most controllable widebodies I've tested are all honeycomb paddles, including the Mach 2 Forza, the original Jelly Bean and the Harmony V.

Spin is where I'd have a little fun, and the face is the place to look. The four picks here with a grit face, the Jelly Bean 2, the ArmorGrit Widebody, the J2CR Crystal Blue and the OMNI Widebody, all read 2,322 RPM or more, and the six with a plain raw face all read 2,301 RPM or less. If you want to play with some pace too, the ArmorGrit Widebody, the J2CR and the Loco add real power and pop and still keep a sweet spot of 84 or more.

I'd also get a 16mm paddle, because I've tested 13 paddle models that come in both 14mm and 16mm, and the 16mm had more control and a bigger sweet spot all 13 times. If you hit a two-handed backhand, get a handle that's 5.5 inches or longer, and on this list, only the Loco and the J2CR come in under that. My under $100 list has more budget picks.

Questions people ask

What is the best pickleball paddle for a beginner?

For most beginners, I'd get the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean. It's $89.99 with my code, and only three paddles I've tested have more control than its 95 out of 100. If you want the most control there is, get the Volair Mach 2 Forza for $107.99. And if you want spin too, the Pegasus Jelly Bean 2 reads 2,375 RPM and costs $159.99.

Should a beginner get a widebody, hybrid or elongated paddle?

I'd start with a widebody. The typical widebody scores 83 for sweet spot and 76 for control, and the typical elongated has far less of both, at 52 for sweet spot and 45 for control. Hybrids sit in between, and the J2NFK and the J2CR on this list are both hybrids. If you still want an elongated for the reach, start with the three in the box under my list.

Is a paddle under $100 good enough for a beginner?

Yes, it is. Three of my picks are under $100 with my code. The cheapest is the Harmony V at $71.99, and only eight paddles I've tested have more control. The original Jelly Bean is $89.99, and the ArmorGrit Widebody is $99.99 if you want spin and far more pace. My under $100 list has more.

Should a beginner use a power paddle?

I wouldn't make it your first paddle, unless you really want to play with pace. More power and pop make your dinks and resets harder to keep low, which is why none of my picks scores over 83 for power. If you want pace anyway, the J2CR Crystal Blue is my pick, because its sweet spot and control hold up well for how much pop it has. The ArmorGrit Widebody is the cheaper way in, at $99.99 with my code.

Is a 16mm or 14mm paddle better for a beginner?

I'd get 16mm, and the Mach 2 Forza shows why. Both thicknesses cost $107.99 with my code, and the 16mm has clearly more control, 100 to 81, and a little bigger sweet spot, 91 to 83. Every pick on this list is 16mm or thicker.

How much should a beginner pickleball paddle weigh?

Every pick on this list weighs between 7.7 and 8.3 ounces, so the static weight barely changes from one to the next. What you'll notice more is swing weight, which is how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. The lightest swinging pick here is the ArmorGrit Widebody, and the heaviest is the OMNI Widebody.

Close, but not on the list

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

  • Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue 16mmHonolulu J3CR Crystal BlueIt's No. 2 on my spin list and No. 3 on my widebody list. At 2,436 RPM, it spins more than any other widebody, so those lists are where it does the most good.
  • Enhance DUO Widebody 16mmEnhance DUO WidebodyThe ArmorGrit Widebody at No. 4 has about the same pop, sweet spot and control, and it spins more, 2,341 RPM against 2,288, for $55 less.
  • Enhance MPP Turbo Widebody 16mmEnhance MPP Turbo WidebodyIts ArmorGrit version at No. 4 costs the same $99.99 and spins more, 2,341 RPM against 2,259. It also has a 5.5 inch handle with room for two hands, where this one's 5.3 inch handle is tight.
  • 11SIX24 Vapor Jelly Bean 16mm11SIX24 Vapor Jelly BeanThis is the hybrid version of my No. 1, at the same $89.99, but it has a clearly smaller sweet spot and clearly less control.
  • 11SIX24 Pegasus Power 2 16mm11SIX24 Pegasus Power 2It's No. 1 on my intermediate list and No. 2 on my widebody list. Its sweet spot of 100 out of 100 is the biggest of any paddle I've tested, but with a pop score of 95 and a control score of 72, it's a paddle to move up to.

What changed

  • Rebuilt from my October 14, 2026 database after a live store check of every paddle. Paddles you can't buy anymore are gone.
  • The original Pegasus Jelly Bean moves up from the under $100 box to No. 1, with a control score of 95 and a sweet spot of 93 for $89.99. The Jelly Bean 2 moves from No. 1 to No. 3.
  • The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody replaces the MPP Turbo Widebody. It's the same $99.99 with my code, and it spins more, 2,341 RPM against 2,259.
  • The J2CR Crystal Blue comes in at No. 7 for the beginner who wants pace to play with, and the J3CR Crystal Blue comes off. The J3CR stays No. 2 on my spin list and No. 3 on my widebody list.
  • The Selkirk OMNI Widebody comes in at No. 8 and the Pickleball Apes Harmony V at No. 9. The Enhance DUO Widebody comes off, because the ArmorGrit Widebody does its job for $55 less.
  • The Dauntless Widebody moves from No. 3 to No. 6 because of its spin, 2,185 RPM. The Loco Standard moves from No. 4 to No. 10, because the ArmorGrit Widebody covers the same ground for less.
  • The under $100 box is gone, since my under $100 list covers it. In the elongated box, the MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Elongated replaces the MPP Turbo Elongated at the same price, with far more spin, 2,338 RPM against 2,232.

The close calls at the top

Each pick against the one ranked just below it. Tap one to compare every number.

Compare any paddles

My other best lists

Each one built for what you want more of.

Every paddle

Latest paddle reviews

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

All reviews

11SIX24 · Hybrid

Ultré Jelly Bean 2 review

My pick for spin players who play the soft game.

  • PowerB68
  • PopB69
  • SpinS99
  • Sweet spotB70
  • ControlB78

11SIX24 · Hybrid

Ultré Power 2 review

The pick for players whose drives and serves win them points.

  • PowerS94
  • PopA89
  • SpinS95
  • Sweet spotB76
  • ControlC58