Best pickleball paddles for advanced players 2025

Buy if:

• You play in tournaments:

  unlike the banned Gen 3 Perseus, the Pro IV is approved by USA Pickleball for tournament play.

• You're a banger:

  explosive power is the Pro IV's best attribute.

• You're coming from tennis:

  popular with former tennis players for its combination of heavy topspin, power, and its elongated shape.

Pass if:

• You want max power:

  you get a further slight power boost from the Selkirk Boomstik, if you're ready to pay $50 more.

• You want more control:

  try the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 4, a fast, controlled paddle that's still super powerful.

• You’re on a budget:

  the Honolulu Sword & Shield J2NF gives you an advanced-level performance for up to $100 less (when you use our discount code).

Buy if:

• You want the latest paddle tech without the cost:

  the J2NF is an incredible value for a next-gen foam paddle – it’s around $100 cheaper than most of its rivals.

• You want a super-accurate paddle:

  with the largest sweet spot I’ve seen in a long time, this is one of the most forgiving paddles in pickleball.

• You need a lot of power too:

  not as powerful as the JOOLA or Selkirk, but plenty aggressive for most players.

Pass if:

• You want more power:

  the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV takes the power up a notch while maintaining a plush feel.

• You want max power from a foam paddle:

  the Selkirk Boomstik is the hardest-hitting paddle right now, the most powerful paddle to come out with a 100% foam core yet.

• You want the fastest paddle:

  the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 4 has a similar design to the J2NF but is even quicker in hands battles.

Buy if:

• You want the most powerful paddle:

  even the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV doesn’t match the Boomstik on sheer explosiveness.

• You want an insane amount of spin:

  the InfiniGrit surface is incredible. It’s so gritty and generates crazy spin.

• You want a big sweet spot:

  for an elongated power paddle, this has a generous sweet spot – you can swing wild and fast with less risk of sailing the ball long on mishits.

Pass if:

• You want more control:

  the CRBN and Honolulu paddles have a more even balance of power and control.

  
  

• You want to spend under $300:

  the Ben Johns’s Perseus Pro IV also has elite power, and costs $280.

• You want a quick paddle:

  if hand speed is important to you, try the lightning-fast CRBN TruFoam Genesis 4.

Buy if:

• You want a top all-court paddle:

  this is one of the best hybrid paddles I’ve ever played with – power, control, speed, spin are all here in abundance.

• You play with fast hands:

  this paddle sped up my usually slow hands immediately – it’s lightning quick at the kitchen zone.

• You want a durable paddle:

  this is yet another next-generation paddle made with foam to boost longevity versus the traditional polypropylene paddles.

Pass if:

• You want a more naturally forgiving paddle:

  you might have to tweak this paddle’s sweet spot with lead tape, or you can get the J2NF for the most forgiveness out of the box.

• You need more reach:

  this is a hybrid-shaped paddle so get an elongated paddle like the Perseus, Boomstik, or Proton.

• You want a cheaper alternative:

  the Honolulu J2NF is a similar paddle – hybrid shape, pop and control – for under $200.

Buy if:

• You want a paddle with rough surface grit:

  Proton excels in making paddles with the best texture for the highest levels of spin.

• You rely on power over control:

  the Flamingo is an unapologetic power paddle, and it hits super hard.

• You want a cheaper alternative to the Boomstik:

  this reminds me most of the Boomstik from Selkirk – hard-hitting, great spin, with a poppier feel.

Pass if:

• You need more control:

  there’s not a lot of dwell time on this paddle face, so it’s harder to shape your shots and control them – check out the JOOLA Perseus or CRBN.

• You want a fast, hybrid-shaped paddle:

  the CRBN TFG4 is quicker at the net than this elongated paddle.

• You want a cheaper paddle:

  the Honolulu J2NF is my favorite advanced paddle under $200.