Pickleball Paddles: Wired Names Nine Favorites After Three Years of Testing

Martin Cizmar, a reviewer at the US technology publication Wired, has released his third annual round of pickleball paddle tests. Pickleball is a racquet sport that blends elements of tennis and badminton and is played with a hard plastic ball. It was invented near Seattle in 1965. The game has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, and paddle makers are competing to produce the best equipment. The guide was updated in November 2026 with a new Paddletek paddle and a few accessories.

Main picks

The best overall paddle is the Selkirk Vanguard Control Invikta. It is not thermoformed, so it has less power than thermoformed models, but it stands out for control, consistency, balance, a comfortable grip and a large sweet spot. The author had not been a fan of Selkirk's higher-end paddles before.

For people who play every day, the pick is the Diadem Warrior BluCore. Instead of the usual honeycomb polymer core it has a closed-cell foam core, backed by a lifetime warranty. It feels soft and forgiving and is good in defense, though it is weaker on serves and expensive. Its face is made from aramid carbon fiber, which is more durable than raw carbon.

Beginners are pointed to the Panel Sound set, which costs under $30 and includes two paddles and a few balls. The paddles are sturdy and approved by USA Pickleball, but lack consistency, power and spin.

For power players, the recommendation is the Joola Ben Johns Perseus Pro IV, a signature model of Ben Johns, the top-ranked men's singles player in the world. It is thermoformed with plenty of pop but somewhat less control. A cheaper option is the $60 Phantom Eternal.

Other categories

The best open-throat paddle is the Onix Malice DB. The quietest is the Diadem Hush, which is not tournament-approved. For learning spin, the author suggests the Reload, whose carbon fiber surface can be replaced for $50.