Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners

Pickleballing has exploded in popularity over the last few years with more and more players picking up a paddle for the first time. It’s no wonder “Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners” is on of the most searched pickleballing terms. See what we did there… With this post we hope to recommend the very best beginner paddles for the new comers to pickleball no matter what your budget is. We are going to cover what you should look for in paddles for beginners and why they are important. 

3 Best Pickleball Paddles for Beginners

There are a lot of great options when it comes to entry level pickleball paddles. Below are our top 3 pickleball paddles for beginners. Not only are these our most requested pickle paddles they all come at a great entry level price. 

1. Gamma Micron Sport 2.0 – Offers all around quality at an entry level price.
2. Onix Recruit 3.0 Oversized – This is the best deal for a beginner pickleball paddle.
3. Scout Pickleball Paddle – Offers the best feel and control in their price range.

View all Beginner Pickleball Paddles

Most Popular Beginner Pickleball Paddles

Not interested in our top 3 pickleball paddles for beginners? Thats just fine, here our the most viewed entry level pickleball paddles on Go Pickleballing. With hundreds of paddle options you cant go wrong with exploring all of our suggestions. Below are 20 great choices for a new beginner paddle.

• Holbrook Pickleball Paddles - Dune Design | Sport Series | Fiberglass Surface | Polypropylene Honeycomb Core | Quality & Design Meet Pickleball $59.99
• Pickleball Paddle - Professional Grade Composite Material, Ergonomic Handle Design, Textured Surface for Increased Spin and Control, Lightweight & Balanced Pickleball Rackets, Meets USAPA Standards $49.95 $34.95
• Brooklyn Pickleball Co. Pickle Ball Paddle | Carbon Fiber | Honeycomb Core | Ribbed Non-Slip Cushion Grip | Single Racket | White Pickle-Ball Paddles $39.99
• Brooklyn Pickleball Co. Pink Pickle Ball Paddle | Carbon Fiber | Honeycomb Core | Ribbed Non-Slip Cushion Grip | Single Racket | Pickle-Ball Paddles $39.99
• Onix Z3 Pickleball Paddle, Blue (KZ1503-BLU) $69.99
• HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle,Orange/Black $64.95
• Rally Tyro 2 Advanced Composite Pickleball Paddle $39.99
• Helium Pickleball Paddle for Kids – Child Size Paddle for Children Under 12, Lightweight Honeycomb Core, Graphite Strike Face, Pickleball Paddle & Drawstring Bag - POW! $35.00
• Chuanjun Pickleball Paddle Graphite Pickleball Paddle Suitable for All Professional Skill Levels $21.99
• Kanga Wood Pickleball Paddle (1 Paddle) $14.99
• Elevens Pickle Ball Paddle, Wood Pickle Ball Paddle for Beginners and Families, 1 Backpack for Storage $17.55
• Pickleball Paddle | Rally Meister Beginner Pickle Ball Paddle | Wood Paddle with Comfort Cushion Grip & Safety Strap | USAPA Approved | Lightweight and Durable | Great Fun for All Ages $15.99
• Semi Rough Texture Surface Spin Control – USAPA Approved Pickleball Paddle Lightweight Graphite Polypropylene Honeycomb Racquet Non-Slip Cushion Comfort Contour Grip Racket by Uteeqe $39.99
• HEICK Pickleball Paddle with Spin Grit, USA Pickleball Approved, Fiberglass Face,Polypropylene Honeycomb Core,5 Inch Handle $49.99
• Scout Pickleball Paddle (Red) $59.99
• Rally Graphite Pickleball Paddle PX | Polymer Composite Honeycomb Core, Graphite Carbon Face | Lightweight | USAPA Approved | Yellow $89.99
• Franklin Sports Pickleball Paddle - Viper Carbon Fiber Core Pickleball Paddle - USA Pickleball (USAPA) Approved Paddle - 13mm Carbon Fiber Core $79.99
• Rally Flare Graphite Pickleball Paddle - Blue | Polymer Honeycomb Core, Graphite Face | Lightweight Control, Power, Spin | Paddle Cover Included in Bundle | USAPA Approved $64.99
• Franklin Sports Pickleball Paddle - Aluminum Pickleball Racket - Challenger - Green - USA Pickleball (USAPA) Approved $31.99
• HUDEF Pickleball Paddle,Pickleball Paddles, Lightweight Graphite Carbon Fiber Face Pickleball Paddle Racquet Rackets Large Grip Long Handle,Honeycomb Core,Cushion Comfort Grip USAPA Approved $69.99

Still not sure? View our all pickleball paddles for beginners below.

How do you pick your first pickleball paddle?

Picking your first pickleball paddle can be a daunting task for beginners. In most cases it is a difficult task for advanced players. We recommend when selecting an entry level pickleball paddle to look at 4 things. 

1. Price – First, understand that beginner paddles should be between $40 – $60 depending on name brand and materials.
2. Materials – Second, quality materials will always cost a little more. The best pickleball paddles for beginners are usually made of composite honeycomb mateials with a fiberglass or graphite face. A fiberglass face will allow you to spin the ball easier and have more control while a graphite face will give you more power. 
3. Weight – Pickleball paddles come in 3 weights. Light weight paddles, Mid weight paddles and Heavy Paddles. We recommend beginners go with the middle ground to give them a good mix of precision from the light and power from the heavy paddles. 
4. Grip – Grip is one of the most under rated things for most beginners when selecting their first pickleball paddle. You want to go and test out a few different options to see what size grip fits your hands best. The better you can handle your paddle the quicker you will start to improve your game. 

How much should you spend on pickleball paddles?

Like was stated above, pickleball paddles have a large price difference depending on quality and playing style. When picking out a quality pickleball paddle for beginners you should look at spending between $40.00 – $60.00. Paddles in this price range will give you a good feel and control of the pickleball while also not breaking the bank. As you get more and more addicted like us you will find that paying over $150.00 for a paddle isn’t a big deal. 

What is better for pickleball paddle graphite or composite?

Pickleball paddle construction can be tricky to understand at first. When you are a beginner its tough to know which pickleball paddle material is best for beginners. The truth is they are both great options. A graphite paddle will give you a good mix of power and control while keeping the overall weight of the paddle down. Composite or sometimes referred to as fiberglass paddles are designed to give you the control around the net. This is something most new players don’t understand. The power of the dink often is mightier than the slam.

If you are a player who likes to be up on the net go with a composite. If you like to play back in your game you may want to look at a graphite paddle. Just remember don’t get caught in the middle.

What is the best weight for a beginner pickleball paddle?

The finial topic we want to focus on is the weight of the pickleball paddle. As stated above the best pickleball paddle for beginners weight should fall in the mid weight category between 7.5 oz and 8.5 oz. This will give a new player the balance needed to control paddle loft and angle. 

Final thoughts on the best pickleball paddle for beginners

Finding the right pickleball paddle for you shouldn’t be a difficult decision. If you can follow the four things to look for in selecting your paddle you will be out play in no time. Just keep in mind the best pickleball paddles for beginners is the one you start with. Get out and get some exercise and make new friends. The sport of pickleball will continue to grow and a little practice goes a long ways. 

Thanks for reading we hope this post will help you make the best decision to get you started in your pickleball addiction. Please share this post with anyone you think might be interested and remember to get out and Go Pickleballing!