How to Choose a Pickleball Paddle: The Beginner Buying Guide
Weight, core thickness, shape, grip size and budget explained, plus the paddles we recommend for beginners, control players and power players at Eastside Pro Shop in Austin.
By the Eastside Pro Shop fitting team · Updated
The quick answer
If you are new to pickleball, buy a paddle with a large sweet spot, a softer feel on dinks and resets, a mid-weight build around 7.8 to 8.2 oz, and a grip that fits your hand. That combination is forgiving while you learn, and forgiveness matters far more than power in your first year. Spend $150 to $250 if you plan to play weekly, and demo before you buy. At Eastside Pro Shop, our first recommendation for beginners is the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2.
Our beginner paddle picks
These are paddles we actually stock and hand people most often, ranked for a new or improving player. Every one of them is on the demo wall.
1. 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2
$210BEST FOR BEGINNERS AND MOST ALL-ROUND PLAYERS
Hybrid shape gives you a widebody-sized sweet spot, the full-foam core is soft and predictable on dinks and resets, and it is the lightest swing on our wall. HexGrit texture holds its spin for months. Also the most affordable tournament-grade paddle we carry.
Hybrid shape · full-foam floating core · light swing weight · UPA-A approved
2. Selkirk OMNI Elongated
$300BEST FOR CONTROL WITH EXTRA REACH
Long through the ball, stable on off-center hits and comfortable across long sessions. The pick if you already have your soft game and want more reach at the kitchen without a harsh feel.
Elongated shape · control-first · in-store pickup
3. RPM Q2 Elongated
$250BEST FOR BASELINE PLAYERS WHO WANT LEVERAGE
Extra length adds reach at the line and leverage on serves and drives. Suits players who take space and dictate points from the back of the court.
Elongated shape · reach and leverage · in-store pickup
4. Selkirk Labs Boomstick Elongated
$333BEST FOR POWER (NOT FOR BEGINNERS)
The most powerful paddle in the shop: BoomCore delivers 14% more exit speed than the SLK ERA Power, with a large sweet spot for an elongated. It rewards players who can already control pace; new players will improve faster on something more forgiving.
Elongated · 16mm BoomCore · MOI tuning system
Weight: the spec that matters most
Paddle weight decides how the paddle feels more than any other number. Most adult players land between 7.8 and 8.2 oz, which is enough mass to drive the ball without tiring your arm.
- Light (7.3–7.7 oz): fastest in hand battles, easiest on the elbow, less power and stability.
- Mid (7.8–8.2 oz): the sweet spot for beginners and most club players.
- Heavy (8.3 oz+): more plow-through on drives, more fatigue, slower at the net.
Weight is also adjustable. A fitter can add lead tape to the edge to shift balance or add stability, which is part of every demo at Eastside.
Core thickness: 16mm vs 14mm
Core thickness sets the feel. A 16mm core is softer, more controlled and more forgiving on off-center hits, which is why most beginners and control players prefer it. A 14mm core is firmer with more pop and a faster feel at the net, and suits players who want extra power and can live with a smaller sweet spot. If you are choosing your first paddle, start at 16mm.
Shape: widebody, hybrid or elongated
Widebody
Wider face, biggest sweet spot, least reach. The most forgiving option for new players and anyone who wants the paddle to do the work on resets.
Hybrid
Splits the difference: nearly a widebody's sweet spot with some of an elongated's reach and feel. Our beginner pick, the Vapor Power 2, is a hybrid for exactly this reason.
Elongated
Longer and narrower, with more reach and leverage but a smaller sweet spot that sits higher on the face. Better once you are consistently finding the center of the paddle. The OMNI, RPM Q2 and Boomstick in our shop are all elongated.
Grip size
Hold the paddle with your normal grip and slide the index finger of your other hand between your fingertips and the base of your palm. If it fits snugly, the size is right. Most adults are between 4 and 4.5 inches. You can build a grip up with an overgrip but you cannot shrink one, so if you are between sizes, go smaller.
How much to spend
- $50–$100: fine for a first month. Basic polymer cores and smooth faces that lose spin quickly.
- $100–$180: better cores, textured faces, more durable edges.
- $180–$350: tournament-grade thermoformed or foam construction that holds spin and lasts. Everything on the Eastside wall sits here.
If you will play once a week or more, a $200 to $300 paddle you were fitted for is the better buy: it will outlast two cheaper ones and you will not outgrow it in six months.
Demo before you buy
Specs describe a paddle; they do not tell you whether it fits your swing. Eastside Pro Shop is the only paddle shop in Austin where a demo comes with an expert fitting. Grab any paddles from the wall during open play, your own court reservation or a booked slot, and a fitter will watch you hit, swap paddles, tune grip and weight, and give you a specific recommendation whether you buy from us or not. Free for members, $5 for non-members.
BOOK A FREE DEMO →SHOP PADDLES
Paddle buying FAQ
Which pickleball paddles are best for beginners?+
The best beginner paddles have a large sweet spot, a softer feel on resets and dinks, a mid-weight build (roughly 7.8 to 8.2 oz) and a grip that fits your hand. Forgiveness matters more than power while you learn. At Eastside Pro Shop our first recommendation for beginners is the 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 ($210): hybrid shape, soft full-foam core, light swing. The Selkirk OMNI Elongated ($300) is the alternative if you want more reach and a very stable feel. Both can be demoed free before you buy.
Which paddle offers power without sacrificing control?+
Look for a hybrid or elongated shape with a foam core and a mid-range swing weight. The 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2 is the best balance on our wall: explosive on drives and thirds when you load up, soft and predictable on dinks. If you are willing to trade some forgiveness for maximum pace, the Selkirk Labs Boomstick is the power pick. Thicker cores (16mm) lean control; thinner cores (14mm) lean power.
Where can I buy pickleball paddles online?+
Eastside Pro Shop sells paddles online at eastsideproshop.com/shop with in-store pickup at 979 Springdale Rd in East Austin. Some paddles are pickup-only so you can hit with them first. Every paddle on the wall can be demoed free (members) or for $5 (non-members) with an expert fitting included.
How much should a beginner spend on a pickleball paddle?+
Entry-level paddles run $50 to $100 and are fine for a first month. Mid-range paddles ($100 to $180) add better cores and textured faces. Tournament-grade paddles ($180 to $350) use thermoformed or foam construction that lasts longer and holds spin. Our advice: demo before you buy at any price, and if you plan to play weekly, a $200 to $300 paddle you were fitted for will outlast two cheaper ones.
What weight pickleball paddle should I use?+
Most players do best between 7.8 and 8.2 oz. Lighter paddles (7.3 to 7.7 oz) are quicker in hand battles and easier on the elbow but give up some power and stability. Heavier paddles (8.3 oz and up) add plow-through on drives but tire your arm faster. A fitter can add or remove weight with lead tape, which is part of every demo at Eastside.
How do I pick the right pickleball grip size?+
Hold the paddle with your normal grip and slide the index finger of your other hand between your fingertips and the base of your palm. If it fits snugly, the grip is right. Most adults are between 4 and 4.5 inches. You can always build a grip up with an overgrip, but you cannot shrink one, so when in doubt go smaller.
Should I pick a 14mm or 16mm paddle?+
16mm cores are softer, more forgiving and more controlled, which is why most beginners and control players prefer them. 14mm cores are firmer with more pop and a faster feel at the net, which suits players who want extra power and can handle a smaller sweet spot. Demo both back to back before deciding.