Best pickleball paddles for power 2025

Buy if:

• You simply want the most power:

  if power is your top focus, no paddle is as explosive as the Boomstik.

• You like nasty spin:

  Selkirk updated their famous InfiniGrit surface once again, and it’s never been better – I can generate the best spin of any paddle with the Boomstik.

• You want more forgiveness than some traditional power paddles:

  the large sweet spot is a great touch, increasing your accuracy and punishing you less on off-center hits.

Pass if:

• You need more control:

  try a paddle with a softer touch like the Honolulu J2NF – it still has plenty of power when you need it.

• You want to save $50:

  Ben Johns’s Perseus Pro IV is a pro-level power paddle at $280.

• You want a faster paddle:

  the Boomstik Elongated isn’t the quickest paddle – try the Widebody shape or look at the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 4, or Bread & Butter Loco.

Buy if:

• You want an all-rounder:

  the Loco hits hard when you need strong putaway power, and softens up when you need to place a dink or hit a reset with the best accuracy.

• You want the highest levels of spin:

  the paddle face is insanely gritty, up there with the best paddles for spin.

• You want a quick paddle:

  the Loco is faster than the Boomstik, increasing your speed in hands battles.

Pass if:

• You want max power:

  if you don’t mind sacrificing some control for ultimate power, the Boomstik is for you.

• You want a budget power paddle:

  the Luzz Pro Cannon is a steal at just $109.

• You want the biggest sweet spot:

  the J2NF from Honolulu has the most generous sweet spot I’ve seen, and somehow maintains a lot of power.

Buy if:

• You want power on a budget:

  at just $109, this is almost as powerful as the $280 CRBN TFG4.

• You’re coming from tennis:

  the elongated shape is the closest to a tennis racket, and you’ll get the right kind of power and heavier feel.

• You want a durable budget paddle:

  this isn’t a flimsy cheap paddle – it’s made with premium carbon and built to last.

Pass if:

• You prefer lighter, faster paddles:

  the head-heavy design may slow some players down – the Honolulu J2NF and CRBN TFG4 are the fastest power paddles.

• You’re not on a budget:

  if you have no price limit, scale up for a more expensive paddle that delivers all the raw power with a more premium all-round feel.

• You need more control and forgiveness:

  the Luzz is decent on control but not as plush-feeling as the J2NF, Loco, CRBN, or JOOLA paddles.

Buy if:

• You want a controlled power paddle:

  you won’t have to worry about fliers and mishits here – the huge sweet spot means the ball is landing on the court 99% of the time.

• You like fast paddles:

  thanks to the hybrid curved shape and the low swing weight, my speed in hands battles goes up drastically with this quick paddle.

• You want a durable paddle:

  your investment should go a long way with this well-built foam paddle.

Pass if:

• You’re less concerned about control:

  if you don’t need the large sweet spot, the Boomstik is the most powerful paddle outright.

• You want a more plush feel:

  the CRBN TFG4 has better dwell time (where the ball lingers on the paddle face) than this poppier paddle.

• You want a budget alternative:

  the Luzz Pro Cannon is an incredible value at just over $100.

Buy if:

• You want a balanced paddle:

  this is what a premium hybrid paddle should do – you get a plush, soft touch when you need control, and plenty of pop when you need to turn aggressive.

• You want a quick paddle:

  this is one of the fastest paddles I’ve played with – improving my usually slower hand speed.

• You want a long-lasting paddle:

  the 100% foam core aims to improve durability big time against traditional polypropylene paddles.

Pass if:

• You need a bigger sweet spot:

  this paddle has a smallish sweet spot so try adjusting it with lead tape, or get the J2NF.

• You want more reach:

  an elongated paddles will give you more reach – check out the Boomstik, Loco, Luzz, and JOOLA paddles.

• You want a budget paddle:

  the Luzz Pro Cannon gives you almost as much power for just $109.

Buy if:

• You want a power paddle that's legal:

  the Perseus Pro IV manages to generate crazy power without having the "trampoline effect" that got the JOOLA Perseus 3 banned by USA Pickleball.

• You want lots of spin:

  you can put plenty of shape on your shots thanks to the trademark JOOLA Carbon Friction Surface (CFS) which really grabs the ball.

• You want the choice of more pop or more control:

  choose either the poppier 14 mm core or the thicker 16 mm core (for more cushion on touch shots).

Pass if:

• You want a powerful paddle with more forgiveness:

  the Honolulu J2NF has a huge sweet spot so it's more forgiving, without sacrificing too much power.

• You want the best all-court paddle with power:

  I really like the B&B Loco for players who want a paddle that does everything well.

• You have $333 to spend:

  if you can afford the price hike, compare the Perseus with the Selkirk Boomstik – two amazing premium elongated power paddles.