15 Best Pickleball Paddles for 3.5 Players and Up
The Paddle Reviewers
Below is a quick description of each player’s play style, rating, when they started playing, and current go-to paddle. Click through to the spreadsheet if you want to dive deeper into how each player rated the paddles.
JACOB
Play Style: Focused on control, ball placement, and defense. Can put away at angles but doesn’t focus on power.
Rating: 3.5+ Player
Started Playing for eight months in 2017, then restarted in May 2023
Current Paddle: Selkirk 006 or Six Zero Double Black Diamond (Played the most with SLK Halo 16mm)
GREG
Play Style: First time playing a paddle sport or any sport actually. Here to have fun, exercise, and do trick shots!
Rating: 2.69-3.0 Player trying 5.0 things
Started Playing: January 2023
Current Paddle: Head Radical Elite
TONY
Play Style: Focused on soft game (dinks, drops, resets) and powerful putaways and serves. Quick and athletic.
Rating: 3.5 Player
Started Playing: January 2023
Current Paddle: Vatic Pro Flash and V7 (mostly Flash)
JEREMY
Play Style: Prefer control over power, but focus on a well-rounded game.
Rating: 3.5+ Player
Started Playing in the summer of 2019 but more consistently for the past 2+ years.
Current Paddle: Vatic Pro Prism V7
UNCLE ROGER
Play Style: Banger, defense/blocks, shot placement.
Rating: 2.5 Player
Started Playing: January 2023
Current Paddle: Franklin Centre
PONO
Play Style: Wanting to be more controlled but can put it away if needed.
Rating: 3.0-3.5 Player
Started Playing: July 2023
Current Paddle: Six Zero Double Black Diamond Infinity
RYAN
Play Style: Defensive/soft. Prioritize resets and dinking over aggression.
Rating: 3.0-3.5 Player
Started Playing: December 2022
Current Paddle: Volair Mach 1 Forza