I had a funny exchange the other day with a coworker who plays pickleball casually. He showed me his paddle – red and white, around $250, so I guessed it was a Selkirk Power Air. "I got the power version," he said, "because I'm skinny and need the help!"
He later mentioned trying the Bread & Butter Filth and claimed it actually hit harder. That made me pause. The Power Air is one of the poppiest paddles you can buy. So, if it doesn't feel powerful, something else is going on.
I've seen this happen a lot. Players buy a "power" paddle expecting it to hit hard, but what they get feels… flat. So, why is that?
Power doesn't matter if you can't find the sweet spot
Here's the thing most players miss: paddles only feel powerful when you hit the sweet spot consistently. Miss it by even a little (toward the throat or edge) and the ball dies off the face. You lose pace, control, and confidence.
That's what I think was happening with my coworker. The Selkirk Power Air has a small, tight sweet spot. If you can find it, the paddle absolutely rips. However, if you're not dialed in or you're still building your technique, it can feel unpredictable or even weak.
Now, take a paddle like the Filth. It's still plenty fast, but with a bigger, more forgiving sweet spot. So, even if it doesn't technically generate more power, it can feel like it does. This is because you're connecting clean more often.
"Forgiveness" is what most players actually want
We toss around the term "forgiveness" a lot in reviews, but I don't think we always explain it well enough. To me, forgiveness refers to how well a paddle performs when you don't hit it perfectly.
Most players (myself included) aren't pros. We mishit. We're late. We catch the ball off-center. When that happens, forgiveness is what keeps the ball alive – and maybe even helps you win the point.
So, if you're using a stiff, poppy paddle with a small sweet spot and wondering why it doesn't feel explosive, the issue might not be you. You might just need something that gives you a little more margin for error.
My advice
If you're still finding your groove as a player – say you're in that 3.0-4.0 range – I'd recommend starting with a more forgiving paddle. Something with a big sweet spot that lets you swing freely and build confidence. The power will come.
If you're not sure what that paddle looks like, try our pickleball paddle quiz. It's a quick way to find something that fits your game – not just the one that looks cool on the shelf.
