Walk into any pickleball shop (or scroll any pickleball feed) and you'll see hundreds of paddles. The good news: when you're starting out, only a handful of things really matter. Here's what to look at, and what you can safely ignore for now.
1. Weight: start in the middle
Paddle weight changes how the paddle feels in your hand and how quickly you can react at the net.
- Lightweight (under about 7.8 oz): quick hands, easy on the arm, a bit less natural power.
- Midweight (about 7.8–8.3 oz): the sweet spot for most new players: enough mass to drive the ball, light enough to stay quick.
- Heavyweight (over about 8.3 oz): more power and stability, but slower and harder on the elbow and shoulder.
If you have any history of elbow or shoulder trouble, lean lighter.
2. Core thickness: 13mm vs 16mm
Most modern paddles have a 13mm or 16mm core.
- 13mm paddles tend to feel livelier and give more pop.
- 16mm paddles tend to feel softer and more controlled, which helps on dinks, drops and resets.
Beginners usually benefit from control first. Power comes naturally as your swing improves.
3. Grip size
Most grips fall between about 4 and 4.5 inches around. When in doubt, go smaller: you can always build a grip up with an overgrip, but you can't make it thinner.
4. Face material
You'll see fiberglass, graphite and carbon fiber faces. Fiberglass tends to be poppier, graphite is light and responsive, and carbon fiber is known for control and spin. Any of them is fine for your first paddle. Comfort matters more than material.
Do you need a USA Pickleball approved paddle?
For rec play, no. If you think you'll ever play in sanctioned tournaments, look for a paddle that's USA Pickleball approved so you won't need to buy another one later.
Good first paddles from our shop
- NEBULA Pickleball Paddle: a lightweight graphite paddle built for beginner and developing players, with a 13mm polypropylene honeycomb core. Comes in the Orion and Medusa designs.
- CORE Beginner Paddle & Ball Bundle: an easy way to get a paddle and balls in one order.
- Clover CP1 Premium Carbon 13mm: our own carbon paddle, for players ready to step up.
The bottom line
Pick a midweight paddle with a grip that feels comfortable, and get on the court. Your first paddle doesn't have to be your forever paddle. Playing a few months will teach you what you actually want next.
Questions about which paddle fits your game? Send us a message, or find us on TikTok at @cloverpickleball.